Why You Can Trust CNET Top laptop and tablet picks for Cyber Monday
There are still deals to be found on a new laptop or tablet after Black Friday.
- Author of the award-winning, NY Times-reviewed nonfiction book The Tetris Effect; Longtime consumer technology expert for CBS Mornings
While Black Friday 2013 had its fair share of deals on PCs, Macs, and tablets, the Monday after is feeling a bit thin by comparison. Maybe it's because holiday shoppers have been tuned in since early the previous week and throughout the weekend, or that the whole idea of a separate event called Cyber Monday is simply outdated (who even says "cyber" any more?).
Keeping that in mind, I've scoured the big online retailers and deal sites looking for Monday bargains that are worth a serious look. Unfortunately, most of the laptops I've seen are older systems with last-generation CPUs at minor discounts, or else bottom-of-the-barrel stuff with low-power Celeron and Pentium CPUs.
A few deals did stand out, however. Here are the best laptop and tablet deals I've found for Cyber Monday. Your finds and suggestions are welcome in the comments section below.
Amazon Kindle Fire HDX and Kindle Fire HD 2013
Amazon's tablet prices were already crazy low, but its Cyber Monday pricing approaches full-on insanity. Both the Kindle Fire HDX and Fire HD (16GB version only) are available for $50 off while supplies last. That means you can snag a Fire HDX starting at $179 (the 32GB and 64GB versions are also available for $50 off) and a 16GB Fire HD for $119 (which is actually $20 cheaper than the 8GB version, which remains undiscounted).
Asus T100
This well-reviewed small-screen convertible is a good deal at its usual $349 price, but the Microsoft Store has it for $299 (currently showing as sold out online, but you may have better luck in physical stores).
Microsoft Surface RT
The original 32GB version of the Windows RT Surface tablet is a steal at $199 at Best Buy, even if you're dubious of the entire Windows RT idea.
Dell XPS 12
This flip-screen convertible is one of the best ways to switch between a laptop and tablet on the fly. This $799 discounted version at Amazon has a last-gen Intel Core i5 CPU, so you give up some battery life, but the design is still great.
Acer Aspire E1
This was already the least-expensive laptop with a new fourth-generation Core i5 processor, at around $500. Now a handful of retailers, including Amazon and Newegg, have it for $429. Just note that it lacks a touch screen.
Lenovo IdeaCentre Flex 20
This 20-inch tabletop PC is half an all-in-one desktop PC and half a mega-tablet. It's part of the second wave of these systems, and is thankfully thinner and lighter than some of the back-breaking early versions. It's currently $749, which is $100 off, at Best Buy, and that's especially noteworthy as it's a very recent release.
Dell Venue 8 Pro
It's not much of a discount, but the new 8-inch Dell Venue Windows 8 tablet, which I liked a lot, is $30 off, down to $269, at OfficeMax.