Laptops Under 300 & 400 Dollars

While laptop computers continue to fall in price, netbooks keep getting better and better. It’s hard to find new laptops under 300 until recently. If an optical drive (CD/DVD) is not a necessity then you should take a good look at a netbook. They are some of the laptops under 300 dollars and with a few minor tweaks you can really maximize what you have.

One of my long time customers called me up a few months back and told me she needed a laptop. She isn’t very computer literate and I used to constantly answer miniscule questions pertaining to her work computers. With this in mind I started brainstorming on how I could better solve her needs and cut out the multiple calls per week that usually ended up in me talking her through scanning computers for adware/malware. I have been a long time Linux user and love the fact that there is no need to have anti-virus software.

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I ordered a netbook for her and downloaded Ubuntu Netbook Remix. About an hour later I had reformatted the hard drive, installed Ubuntu Netbook Remix and was downloading updates. All of the drivers installed perfectly with no issues. The layout is extremely user friendly and you can customize what you want and need without the extra clutter of unnecessary applications. That evening I tested the device and was amazed at how well everything ran! Battery life was almost double and speed was much better than any netbook I’ve used with Windows installed.

I’m glad to say every week when I call to check in she is still very happy and has had virtually no problems! She is the best success story to date on converting to Linux and is going to have me set up ten more of these for her employees. Netbooks can be the best new laptops under 300 and with a few minor tweaks they can be amazing mini laptop computers!

While the components inside of laptops keep getting better and better, laptops under 300 are now laptops worth owning. You don’t need to be as cautious as before when purchasing one of these devices because for the average user cheap laptops under 300 will suit you just fine. Unless you’re a gamer there is no need to drop big bucks on a new computer.

Most users are going to need a laptop that is capable of accessing the internet and doing some word processing. All new laptops you purchase today are very capable of performing these tasks quite
well. There are a few key features you should look for when searching for laptops under 300. First is processor. I would try to find one that is 2Ghz or faster. Next is memory. You should get at least 2GB if a laptop, and 1GB if it’s a netbook. And more is always better. The hard drive should be at least 160GB of storage space and you should look for hard drive speed of at least 5400 rpm.

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The best places to look for laptops in this price range are EBay and Craigslist. These are also considered the most dangerous places to buy from as well. If purchasing on EBay, be sure to check the
seller’s feedback and make sure they are a reputable seller. I usually ask a few redundant questions to see what the seller’s response time is. With Craigslist, ask as many questions as you can. Be sure to thoroughly test the laptop and meet at a safe place. My usual is the police department parking lot. I have never had a bad experience when the buyer/seller meets at the local police department! Make sure the surroundings are safe and you have somebody with you! Whichever was you decide to go, be smart in your decision. Ask any question that comes to mind not only to answer your questions but test the seller!