Where are all the computer deals? We started flipping through the Black Friday sites and circulars in search of tempting laptops, desktops, and netbooks. The results? It’s a mixed bag.
You’ll have to work hard to find the best deals. Our favorite so far? The Sony VGN-NW235F/W that will be on sale Friday at Best Buy. Normally priced at $999, on Friday limited quantities will be available for $399. But you’ll need a ticket to be eligible to make this purchase.
Best Buy will also have a $197 HP laptop with a 15.6-inch display. It uses a Celeron processor, which is a lesser performer than the processors used in most laptops. If you're interested in this one, think of it as a netbook-like performer in a larger laptop package. Actually, at that price it’s a pretty good deal for the kids or the grandparents.
Here are Best Buy’s instructions for getting a ticket:
Each store will decide when to hand out tickets in the two hours before store opening. Stores base their decisions on multiple factors, including the length of the line, the weather, and store personnel levels. Tickets will be handed out until they are gone. Lines tend to form early, and Best Buy is unable to guarantee that all customers will receive a ticket.
My local Best Buy opens at 5 a.m. You do the math—don’t bother going to bed.
Many of the computers we found on sale were either underpowered or minimally discounted. Take Walmart’s circular. It included a $198 eMachines laptop. Great price for a 15.6-inch computer, but it uses an older single-core processor, promises only 2.5 hours of battery life, and weighs a hefty six pounds. Don’t expect a lot of speed, and even the hard drive is smaller than the laptops currently in our Ratings. Most of those have dual-core processors, at least double the hard-drive capacity and memory, and at least 3 hours (if not more!) of battery life.
Amazon deals include several netbooks, such as the Asus Eee PC 1005HA, which we rated. We paid $360 for this netbook. Amazon is selling it for $350. Not such a hefty price cut.
Our advice? Keep checking our list of Black Friday sites. Then look back at our Ratings to see if you can find anything similar. If you’re interested in an Apple computer, check the Apple site first thing on Friday. The company hasn’t revealed all the details yet, but it is planning a one-day shopping event that will include “Mac gifts” and free shipping. Also keep checking Amazon for its Black Friday Week Deals.
What deals are you finding? Let us know where you’ll be computer shopping this weekend. —Donna Tapellini
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