Lenovo G580 Laptop: Core i3 3120M 2.5GHz, 15.6" 1366x768, 4GB DDR3, 500GB HDD, WiFi N, 6-Cell, Windows 8 $340 + Free Shipping

Quote from manfromnowhere : Decent price. OD return policy sucks though - it's exchange only. I don't generally return cheap laptops but once in a while there's something I absolutely can't live with (crappy touchpad or keyboard) and it's nice to be able to return it.

I hear you. I would like to have a new, faster laptop myself, and the ideo of having a number pad is very appealing (I'm SO slow with numbers otherwise), but my old Dell Vostro 1500 (from their business side) is extremely well crafted ---the fit and finish are superb, and all the ones I see in Stapes feel like crap---HPs, Samsung, Acer. I haven't seen the Lenovos lately, but without a good return policy and a local OD, I have to pass on this one. Shame, at this price.

Are Asus and Lenovos still made well? Do I have to get a Mac to get a well made laptop? Feedback is welcome.

Quote from Aquarist78 : Maybe a stupid question here....but how does this compare to the Staples sale on Toshiba Satellite C855-S5194 15.6” Laptop? The price is only $40 more but you are getting a larger HD and more memory. I will buy one of these but I'm struggling to determine which one. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Not a stupid question at all

The only major differences are essentially the ones you listed - for $40 more you get 2 more GB of RAM, an additional 140GB of HDD space. Other minor things you are getting with the Lenovo: 2 USB 3.0 ports instead of 1, almost an extra hour of battery life according to each manufacturer's spec (not sure how reliable that is), and I believe the Lenovo has better on board graphics? Not certain about that last one though. Then there's overall build quality to consider which I'm not knowledgeable on either but my gut tell's me Lenovo is better than Toshiba when it comes to laptops.

Daughter needs a new laptop for college. Looks like you can upgrade to 8GB ram.
Only drawback in my eyes is Windows 8. She has programs that she has to install that aren't compatible with Windows 8.

How does this compare to this Fry's Fujitsu laptop
http://www.frys.com/product/73617...ate:021613

Dang OOS. That is a nice price and the tote would be handy.

Quote from rjohmit : I balked on a refurb Z480 (14") on the Lenovo Outlet last night for this same price. But I think it had the i3-3110, which has a 3046 PassMark score. This G580 has the i3-3120, which has a 3516 PassMark score. That's in the neighborhood of the 2nd gen Core i5. So thanks OP...I pulled the trigger on this laptop. Obviously its slightly heavier than the Z480 but it has the number pad, which I really like. I'm sure the resolution complaints are coming (seems that's the new "No HDMI?" around here), but for $340, I don't mind.

HDMI is here in the description

"HDMI port lets you view videos and photos on your HDTV. (HDMI cable sold separately.)"

Quote from Drexqd : Daughter needs a new laptop for college. Looks like you can upgrade to 8GB ram. Only drawback in my eyes is Windows 8. She has programs that she has to install that aren't compatible with Windows 8.

You can run the program in compatibility mode. Even so... What programs aren't compatible with windows 8.. Windows 8 is more or less the same exact thing as windows 7 with added metro.

Quote from Claymont : HDMI is here in the description "HDMI port lets you view videos and photos on your HDTV. (HDMI cable sold separately.)"

I think he's just saying that the old complaint of having no HDMI port has been replaced by the complaint of a low screen res.

Quote from pdxbuysell : How does this compare to this Fry's Fujitsu laptop http://www.frys.com/product/73617...ate:021613

Lenovo has better CPU, Fujitsu has more RAM and bigger HDD

do you have to worry about cold weather when getting it shipped? Like if it sits outside your door for 8+hours?

Correct me if this is wrong, but I'm seeing it as $310 on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-15-6...B00ATANXDM

Quote from ivenovember : Correct me if this is wrong, but I'm seeing it as $310 on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-15-6...B00ATANXDM

Different specs. That is a Pentium B960 2.2ghz proc and 320gb hdd. Also that is $350 from Amazon.

Quote from ivenovember : Correct me if this is wrong, but I'm seeing it as $310 on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-15-6...B00ATANXDM

It's $335 after shipping and the specs differ greatly.

Got one! Thanks Op!

I have been looking for a <$500 laptop for web browsing, watching a youtube clip here and there and writing papers. Thats pretty much it unless I watch a movie (once every year maybe, hate watching movies on anything but a TV) I'll never play a game on it. Would you tech savvy guys recommend this laptop for me? Would it last 2+ years? I was thinking of getting a mac but like I said, the gist of my laptop use is web browsing and writing papers for college. THANKS FOR ANY HELP/SUGGESTIONS

*As far as getting a mac goes I was gonna save up on top of the few hundred dollars I have now, but I really really need a new laptop.