A $350 Laptop & Other Tech Bargains

The editors at PC World took a stab at coming up with their own list of 5 technology bargains for products you might need to buy during these difficult economic times but don't cost a fortune.

They picked out one product in each of the following 5 categories:
- a desktop computer
- a laptop computer
- an inkjet printer
- a digital camera
- an HD-enabled TV

The desktop computer they like best is from Dell and costs around $650. It includes a 20-inch wide LCD flat-screen monitor, which is pretty nice (and can run over $100 bought separately), and seems to have enough of the basics to handle most people's needs. The laptop they offer up is an Acer and is really small, but at $350 seems like a pretty good deal if you just need something to handle the basics (like just surfing the web).

The inkjet printer they like is from Cannon. It comes with wifi and a scanner. At $150, it seems like a pretty good deal but still pays to shop around, as we recently went printer shopping and found deals that are comparable, if not better (though we trust PC World's testing/reviews of products).

For the camera, the PC World editors note that with a lot of new cameras coming on to the market, buying last year's models can be a good deal. They like the Pentax Optio A40 which they say sells for "under $200".

And finally, for the TV, they like the Vizio 42-inch LCD. While it's priced at $1000 and is not exactly an easy purchase to make when you're on a tight budget, if you do have the means and think it will provide cheaper, at-home entertainment and keep you from spending a lot on entertainment overall, it might be worth considering.

Have you found any great tech bargains of your own? Share with us by posting a column below.

To read the PC World article (slideshow, really), click the link below:

5 Great Technology Bargains

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Comments:

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Readers can do better than the desktop and printer examples cited above. I got a refurbished high-end HP desktop for 50% off retail through E-Cost.com. I also waited for a printer deal and got an HP 6480 all-in one for $99 after rebate. Don't jump at the first seemingly good deal you find. Spend a couple of weeks comparing specs and prices, and you will know when a really good bargain comes along.

Posted by bf110c4 on March 17, 2009 10:30 AM

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I have heard that Vizio Tvs are very difficult to find service for. I would research it out before buying.

Posted by emerald eyes on March 19, 2009 2:42 PM

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Google ecost complaints- you dont want to do business with them.

Posted by donna on March 19, 2009 8:33 PM

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All the stores you supplied for the Pentax Optio A40 was over $200.00 dollars except Ebay.
The sellers on Ebay are problems I don't need again. I searched for a long time looking for along for the deal PC World stated and could not find the camera for about $120.00 dollars like they stated, but $179.00. Google shows the camera for Under $120.00 but no camera on the site. In a major digital camera review site the Pentax Optio A40 had poor indoor performance and very was bad in low light.
Checking things one reads and doing your own research are good practices before posting on the internet.

Posted by Bubba Bill on March 20, 2009 10:01 AM

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I found a factory reconditioned Kodak point-and-shoot 10mp, numerous light and flash presets, with full accessories package, full year warranty, on eBay for around $100.

I have had superb luck with reconditioned products--knock on wood!

Last item I ever purchased at Circuit City was a 3 GB/250GB Gateway laptop for $699. Had all the bells and whistles except BlueRay. I could have had a complete accessories package on rebate but declined them. I have seen better deals since then for the same or equivalent laptops, from such sites as Buy.com and Newegg.com. This is a substantially higher price than the Acer but it will handle MS Office or OpenOffice and still have effective capacity for home and business

Epson printers can be had as low as $60 new on various web sites, and with a chip resetter and an ink recharge service, you are in business.

Most of these are not top-of-the-line tech, but if you need business machinery fast, you can keep your costs low.

Posted by anonymous on March 20, 2009 11:11 AM

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