Get a Dell Inspiron 11.6-inch Windows laptop for $109.99
From the Cheapskate: That's a ridiculously good deal on this perfect-for-students system, which includes a free year of Office 365 Personal. Plus: return of the $9.99 Bluetooth speaker!
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Hello, New York! No, really, hi -- I'm in you right now. So much to see and do, so little time. And yet here I am, up before dawn to start spreading the news.
Which is this: For a limited time, and while supplies last, Best Buy has the Dell Inspiron 11.6-inch laptop in blue for $109.99 shipped (plus sales tax) -- a price that includes a six-month subscription to Kaspersky Internet Security.
I consider this a back-to-school laptop, one that's just the right size and speed for a middle schooler or early high schooler. It's no speed demon, no sir, what with its Celeron processor and paltry 2GB of RAM.
But kids will likely use it for just a smattering of simple tasks, including Google Docs, web browsing, YouTube, email and, when you're not looking, Flash games. For all that, it should be just fine.
And, aw, cute! The color is "Bail Blue," and the weight is a manageable 2.8 pounds. The similarly spec'd Lenovo 100S (currently on sale for $149.99) is even cuter (and lighter: 2.2 pounds), but not an extra 40 dollars' worth.
Also, that system has only USB 2.0 ports; the Inspiron comes with a USB 3.0 port, though only one of them. It also comes with a one-year Office 365 Personal subscription, which has a value of $70 all by itself. If your kid specifically needs that for school, this is kind of like getting a laptop for $40.
The 500-plus user reviews combine to give this a rating of 4.0 (out of 5), the big complaint being -- you guessed it -- speed. If this is for you and you need something faster, by all means get something faster. But kids won't care; probably won't even notice.
Your thoughts?
$9.99, cheeps. Enough said.
Bonus deal: While you're strolling the virtual aisles at Best Buy, toss the Insignia Portable Bluetooth Speaker into your cart. It's on sale for $9.99! Shipping is free if your total order exceeds $9.99; if not, try for in-store pickup. Available in your choice of black, red or blue (to match the Dell!), the speaker is your basic Bluetooth brick -- one with a 4.5-star average from over 3,100 buyers. Uh, yes, please!