~$300 Laptop/Netbook recommendations

[tomos]

$329 - TOSHIBA Satellite C855-S5231 Notebook Intel Pentium B970(2.3GHz) 15.6" 4GB Memory etc
http://www.newegg.co...Item=N82E16834214863

The Intel Pentium B970 is a dual core processor for entry-level laptops. It is based on the Sandy Bridge architecture but many of the features like Turbo Boost for the CPU part, HyperThreading, AES, Virtualization (VT-x and VT-d), Trusted Execution or Intel Quick Sync are deactivated. The Pentium B970 integrates a graphics card called Intel HD Graphics that is based on the HD Graphics 2000 clocked at 650 / 1100 (with Turbo Boost).

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http://www.notebookc...ocessor.67248.0.html

[skwire]

Thanks for all the suggestions, folks.  To close this loop, I ended up getting this model, new, for $329 on an Amazon lightning deal:

http://www.amazon.co...p;smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

• Intel Core i3-2370M 2.4GHz
• 4 GB DIMM
• 500 GB 5400 rpm Hard Drive
• 15-Inch Screen

[wraith808]

Great!  I hope it works out well for you... I haven't had anything but positive experiences with Dell.

[skwire]

Great!  I hope it works out well for you... I haven't had anything but positive experiences with Dell.

-wraith808 (November 23, 2012, 11:12 AM)

Thanks.  My wife has a very similar i5-based Dell laptop that she loves so I'm thinking this experience will be much the same.

[Ath]

Looks like you made a great deal! 

The i3 processor (and the rest of the system) is fast enough for kids of her age, for doing what they need/want to do, and by the time she has some real work for her PC, she'll need a new one anyway because of this one being too low-tech by then.

[skwire]

The i3 processor (and the rest of the system) is fast enough for kids of her age, for doing what they need/want to do, and by the time she has some real work for her PC, she'll need a new one anyway because of this one being too low-tech by then.

-Ath (November 23, 2012, 11:27 AM)

Yep, we didn't intend for this to last more than a couple of years for her.  At that point, it'll become a project box for me (or her younger sister).