Please tell me what cheap laptop to buy!

[Tazon]

i need to buy a cheap laptop as a work computer that i can carry around. i need to run winxp, office, internet and ocasionaly corel draw.
i know computers, but i don't know laptops. it seems laptops are more brand-oriented than specs-oriented. So what can i buy for around $300-$500? is there anything i should know, like some brands that suck, etc.? i live in argentina, so don't point me to offers in newegg because i can't buy them :(
thanks in advance,

emilio

[diggingforgold]

You might be able to get a budget dell or gateway for that price. Or you can try to find a cheap used one.

[kraven]

i need to buy a cheap laptop as a work computer that i can carry around. i need to run winxp, office, internet and ocasionaly corel draw.
i know computers, but i don't know laptops. it seems laptops are more brand-oriented than specs-oriented. So what can i buy for around $300-$500? is there anything i should know, like some brands that suck, etc.? i live in argentina, so don't point me to offers in newegg because i can't buy them :(
thanks in advance,

emilio

The cheapest laptop I've seen was one for $650us and that was on newegg
:( If you're able to shop at dell or gateway or any of those other ones you can try and find one of their lower end models.

[Pyros]

Check on Ebay. Probably the only way you will get one worth having that cheap.

[Tazon]

mmmh maybe the prices are different here in argentina. . . i've seen 2ghz 256mb laptops for around $500, and i consider those pretty worth having.

emilio

[Freezermug]

IMHO the best time to get a lappy is from dell at the end of thier quarters. The next good sale on them should be around the end of january. They usually have some pretty sweet deals. If you ever seen all those laptops on ebay that say dell never opened still in sealed box brand new ect its because at certain times dell has deals like 750 dollars off a laptop of 1400 dollars or more. so you end up with almost a 1500 hundred dollar lapop for half the cost.

You can get laptops for 500-600 bucks but they are not that good. Not compared to what you can get from dell for 700 if you buy at the right time.

best regards.