Get a triple-core Blu-ray laptop for $399.99 shipped
It's a refurb, and the 15.6-inch screen can't do anything close to 1080p, but this is still an unusually powerful laptop for the price.
I tend to post a lot of cheapie laptops, largely because I like things that are cheapie, but also because I think most users can get by with a dual-core processor, minimal RAM, and so on.
Of course, sometimes you want a bit more power, like for games and video editing. Maybe you even want to get your Blu-ray on. That brings us to today's deal.
Newegg has the refurbished HP Pavilion dv6-3259wm 15.6-inch laptop for $399.99 shipped. Among the highlights: a triple-core processor and a built-in Blu-ray drive.
I'll be the first to admit this is not an outta-the-park home run. Where laptops are concerned, I tend to prefer at least a one-year warranty; this refurb is covered by HP for just 90 days.
What's more, the 15.6-inch screen has a native resolution of just 1,366 by 768 pixels, which is equivalent to 720p, not 1080p. So some of that Blu-ray horsepower is wasted, at least if you're planning to watch movies on the go.
On the other hand, 1080p is overkill for a screen of this size--heck, it's overkill on a 37-inch HDTV--so that's not such a big deal. Thankfully, the Pavilion does have an HDMI output, so you can connect the system to your HDTV and enjoy full 1080p Blu-ray goodness.
The system is powered by a 2GHz AMD Phenom II P860 triple-core processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive. It weighs about 5.5 pounds.
Relative to other laptops I've seen lately, you're paying about $100 extra for the better processor, Blu-ray drive, and larger-than-average hard drive. Worth it? Depends on your computing needs, of course. If this doesn't quite fit the bill, or you want a non-refurbished model, stick around: there are always better deals just around the corner. (Of course, with that mindset you can end up waiting forever...)
Bonus deal: Speaking of laptops, why not turn yours into a home-security system? Today only, Giveaway of the Day is offering Zebra Media's Webcam Motion Detector software absolutely free. Regular price: $49.95.