$300 Budget for Laptop

expatOz on 08/09/2016 - 22:12

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to buy a budget laptop for my wife under $300, but I need it asap (today, tomorrow but this week).

She just need it for basic browsing, presentations etc so the only essential requirement is a FHD (or better) display, everything else is secondary.

I was thinking of buying something from eBay with 20% off coupon but too many options to choose from. She is studying (diploma) and has a USI (Unique Student Identifier) if that helps get a discount somewhere else?

Thanks for your suggestions!

Computing

Comments

  • toristo on 08/09/2016 - 22:30
    +1

    $300 could be painful to be honest.

    For that price, I'd be checking second hand to get something with better specs and if you're lucky, Office included (though, she's probably eligible to get it for $15 with the Microsoft HUP). Does she need to take it with her? $300 will be a heavy, slow brick with poor battery life brand new.

  • iforgotmysocks on 08/09/2016 - 22:34
    +1

    Not really any FHD laptops under 800-1000 or so you that could pick up from a retail store.

    Better off scouting gumtree, or be more realistic with your budget. Or get a tablet.

  • Riczter on 08/09/2016 - 22:59
    +1

    $300 will usually get you bottom of the barrel rubbish. This is the best deal I've seen on a laptop under $400 in quite a while, but expired now. You won't get FHD at that budget but why do you need FHD for basic browsing and presentations?

    If $300 is a hard budget constraint then generally all the laptops at that price are the same - good enough for web browsing but not serious multitasking, and very low build quality, more likely to break down after a year. Most will have tiny 32GB eMMC Storage and 2GB RAM, try and get one with 4GB RAM. Something like this is available locally:
    12" https://www.jbhifi.com.au/computers-tablets/laptops/dell/del…
    14" https://www.jbhifi.com.au/computers-tablets/laptops/lenovo/l…

    If you want better value for money and something that's going to actually be useful then you probably need to raise your budget.

  • PVA on 08/09/2016 - 23:03
    +1

    no good buying from Ebay if you want it tomorrow, unless you pick up in store.

    You say plenty of options on ebay 20% off but there will be no options. no one will have a FHD screen laptop for $300.

  • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2016 - 00:16

    It's 320 but it's apparently good for the money you pay.
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/264444

  • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2016 - 00:21

    I spent $300 on a Compaq laptop, named it craptop in honour of it's slowness, the backlight died early and I decided never again.

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