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Get a refurbished Lenovo Yoga 2 convertible for $279.99

With its 360-degree hinge, this flexible PC goes from laptop to tablet and back again. Plus: an option to knock off another $20.

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
2 min read

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Newegg

I've said it a million times: cheap things come to those who wait. And if you were waiting for convertible laptops to get cheap, your patience is about to pay off.

For a limited time and while supplies last, Newegg has the refurbished Lenovo Yoga 2 11 convertible for $279.99, shipped. That's after redeeming a $100 mail-in rebate (PDF) -- meaning, yes, a little more waiting.

I know that's a deal-breaker for some, but Newegg is among the most established and reputable vendors on the Interwebs. So, assuming you follow the rebate instructions to the letter, you'll get your money (in the form of a prepaid Visa card) in 8 to 10 weeks.

Did I mention that the Yoga 2 sells new for $500? And hit the market only a couple of months ago?

And there's more! Actually, less: If you apply coupon code MASTERPASS23 at checkout and use MasterPass to pay for the system, you'll save another $20.

OK, enough about the money -- let's talk Yoga. At first blush, it's an 11.6-inch touchscreen laptop. But when you fold the screen in ways that would break other lappies, presto: now it's a tablet! And its 360-degree hinge allows for other positioning as well, including a stand-up "tent mode" for watching movies and whatnot.

In other words, you're getting kind of a best-of-both-worlds hybrid. And at this size, it's actually useful as a tablet -- unlike, IMHO, the Yoga 2 13 and other larger, heavier convertibles.

I'll let you explore the specs for yourself, but they're mostly solid: quad-core processor, 4GB of RAM, 500GB hard drive, 1,366x768 display resolution, Windows 8, and so on. The system weighs a very manageable 2.8 pounds and measures about 0.7-inch thick.

CNET hasn't reviewed this model, but you can get a feel for it by checking out the Yoga 2 13 review . For more detailed dives into the Yoga 2 11, check out the mostly positive reviews at PC Mag and PC World (remembering that both are based on a $500 price tag).

I have no idea how long these will last at this price, but I do know a system like this would be awesome for students heading back to school next month. Oh, and I almost forgot the best part: Although it's a refurb, it comes with a full, one-year Lenovo warranty. Woo!

Bonus deal: Game time! The Humble 2K Bundle gives you BioShock, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, and The Darkness II for whatever price you want to pay. Pay at least the average (currently $7.46) to add BioShock 2, Mafia II, Spec Ops: The Line, and a soon-to-be-named additional game. Make it a cool $20 to add BioShock Infinite and XCOM: Enemy Unknown. As always, charities get a cut as well. And while you're hitting up the Humble Store, you've got a few hours left to scoop up Back to the Future: The Game for just $6.24. (That deal ends at 10 a.m. PT.)