Wal-Mart and HP Offering $398 Laptop -- $199 Laptops Coming for the Holidays?

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Here we go again. Last year Wal-Mart and HP offered a $397 laptop on the big shopping day after Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. They're not waiting around this year, the Compaq v5000z laptop with an AMD Sempron processor is available online and in stores for $398 now.

Wal Mart this year is offering the Compaq v5000z for $398 with the following specs:

• 15.4-inch WXGA BrightView widescreen monitor
• AMD Sempron 3300+ 2.0GHz processor
• 512MB of RAM, max supported 2048MB
• 24X DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
• 60GB (5400RPM) Hard Drive
• ATI RADEON XPRESS 200M IGP with 128MB DDR (shared)
• Integrated 10/100Base-T Ethernet LAN (RJ45 connector)
• 54g 802.11b/g WLAN with 125HSM / SpeedBooster support
• High Speed 56K modem
• PC Card Slots: 1 ExpressCard/54 Slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)
• Available External Ports: 2 USB 2.0, Headphone out, microphone-in, 1 VGA (15-pin) 1 TV-Out (S-video), 1 RJ-11 (modem), 1 RJ-45 (LAN)
• Software Included: Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition (Windows Vista Capable)
• 1 year HP Total Care Help &amp; Support Center
• Dimensions: 10.2&quot; (L) x 14.1&quot;(W) x 1.38&quot;(min) /1.77&quot;(max)
• Weight: 6.4 lbs

Compaq Presario v5305WM (v5000z) on sale for $398 at Wal-Mart (view large image)

Okay, so it's not a top of the line gaming notebook, but for $398 that's a lot. It has the essentials such as a Wi-Fi 802.11g, 512MB of RAM, a processor that's okay and BrightView widescreen display. Here's a link to the product on Wal-Mart. Most people buying a laptop for the first time go with a 15.4&quot; screen notebook, so this is spot on for those types of buyers.

HP offering v3000z for $399 ($359 for students or those in academics)

Compaq v3000z available via HP.com for $399 (view large image)

HP is also offering an amazing deal for a notebook on their own site. They've got the popular and new Presario v3000z notebook available for $399 after rebate at HP.com. To see a review of the Compaq v3000z notebook with an AMD Turion X2 processor click here. You can also customize at HP.com to get a few better options and pay a bit more than $399. The specs for the v3000z as configured at $399 are:

• AMD Sempron 3500+ 1.80GHz processor
• 14.1&quot; WXGA widescreen
• Nvidia Go 6150
• 512MB of RAM afer free upgrade
• 40GB hard drive
• DVD-CR/RW
• Black shiny finish
• 802.11g wireless

But wait, there's more! HP offers discounts if you buy online via HP.com and you're a student. To get the student/academic discount, called Academic Purchase Plan (APP), use the following link to sign up: https://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/register_app.do

As you can see above, the Compaq v3000z is $359.19 after the APP discount, instant savings and mail-in rebate.

$199 Laptop coming?

According to NPD Techworld analyst Stephen Baker, &quot;We're probably going to see a $199 notebook on Black Friday, certainly we are going to see aggressive prices.&quot; Black Friday is the day after the Thanksgiving Day holiday in the U.S., this year it falls on Friday, November 24th. It's hard to imagine what kind of notebook exactly would sell for that price, but it's not hard to believe that such deals will be available after rebates and other tricks

 

 

great for entry level buyers and people that are just learning about computers, surprising amount of those still out there. I'm a strong believer in standardisation of components hope this works for that also.

 

I could go for the z3000 series, except that the site says 499$ after rebate. Maybe its an error, and that is before rebate...

A 199$ notebook seems too cheap, even for rebates...but it might be a buy one notebook at full price get one (a crappy one) for 199$.

 

Two issues: One, it's not called "Black Friday." At least not by retailers. It's called "Hot Friday" and it's the day where retail sales people working on commission can make enough cash to fund their own holiday lists. Talking from experience here from when I was in college.

And, two, Thanksgiving falls on the 23rd this year. Hot Friday will be November 24.

Back on topic, I really like the idea of such a lot of useful, but not over-the-top, stuff in a laptop at that price point. I've got people asking me what they should get to go to college, and this makes for an easy recommendation (they're not gamers, of course).

 

Two very solid $400 laptops. I just saw the Wal-Mart one while working with a young buyer in WNSIB.

If a $199 notebook really becomes available--it will make the $100 laptop project seem overpriced considering the specs that I would expect a $199 notebook to have.

 

Thanks for that date correction. "Hot Friday" though, I've never heard of such a thing? If you Google Black Friday you get sites dedicated to posting deals on the day after Thanksgiving ahead of the 1869 stock market crash for the "other" Black Friday. Is the retail industry trying to change the terminology or something?

 

Ya its definitely called black friday by retailers. I work at one. So back in the day when you were in college doesnt apply to today. So I guess we just solved that "issue".

 

FYI, the V3000z is even more cheaper if the buyer qualifies for APP/EPP discounts...

 

It's called "black friday" because traditionally that's the day that retailers are running "in the black", or profiting. All the money they make up until then is eaten by operating expenses such as salaries, rent, inventory, etc.

But that's only what I've heard... it could be totally wrong.

 

Holy moly, that's scary cheap! Here's the link to academic pricing https://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/register_app.do

I'll post this as an update to the original post.

 

Heh, yeah, "back in the day" like as in "last year." Just relating what we called it when I was working at Radio Shack, guys. The Best Buy crew also knew the lingo, as well as the Circuit City guys.

I guess it means something different to a retail sales person working on commission than to management looking at a daily balance sheet.

(And yes, I know traditionally it's called Black Friday, and why it's called that. Just trying to have a little fun and point out the little guy's perspective versus the CEO perspective.)


BTW: 1929 Stock Market Crash = "Black Tuesday" | 1869 Gold Market Scandal = "Black Friday"

 

Oh wow... that's two impressive offers from HP and Compaq. And while those aren't exactly "gaming" notebooks, the occasional gamer will still find them appealing. You can play Far Cry, Half-Life 2, Civilization IV, and The Sims 2 on a Sempron + ATi 200m/Go6150. Quite good indeed! I'll recommend either of these to a broke but enthusiastic friend in search of a cheap laptop.

C.

 

The HP is a nice price ($359) with the Student discount, but nearly $100 for tax, shipping, CA waste fee, its not as tempting anymore ($452).

 

Hmm, the Wal-Mart product link claims it's only available in stores and not online, at least for right now. I'd consider getting one just because I can, but not if I have to go looking for a Wal-Mart in real life.

 

I wonder if the $199 laptop could just be a manufacturer's older model, rebadged and priced to sell.

 

Notice those prices are after heavy rebates . I'm still waiting for cash back rebates submitted and approved 2 months ago from Amazon & Toshiba .

Consider the full price (500$) and think of the time & effort you might have to put into getting this rebate , I think PCmag did an article about this sometime ago .

I don't find the 199$ laptops alluring considering your current laptop or even 1-2 yrs. old notebooks are probably much better then those . 400$ core duo entry level will be more interesting .

 

Considering people got punched in the face last year in fights for the $398 notebooks, I wonder what it will come to this year for $199 notebooks. All I know is that if I were crazy enough to hit Wally Mart on Black Friday, I'd be packing a little heat...or at least a taser.

 

walmart's deal has already gone! too popular i suppose.

hp deal is still around, but it pays NOT to customise. everything looks tantalisingly attractive, but once u're done with firewire, 1gb vista ready 60gb, brightview so as not to squint, dvd/rw to save pictures, & shipping, u're at nearly $550. now for only $200 more u could get a core duo latitude refurb with 3 yr on site from dell.....much more, but good value?
;-)

 

It's probably not such a bad thing - better not to support Wal Mart anyway, for their poor ethical practices.

 

maybe as u say - so i wnt onto hp instead -the most ethical of people???? - & did the deal. & it jsut got a whole lot better - an $80 coupon on printer worth $80!!! i'll post as separate deal so people get in while they can.