HP 15-dy5131wm 15.6" Laptop Computer - Natural Silver; Intel Core i3 12th Gen 1215U 0.9GHz Processor; 8GB DDR4-3200 - Micro Center - $$229.99

This isn't a bad deal at $230, though it's not nearly as compelling as at $200. The biggest downside to this laptop is it's screen, which is NOT IPS. I don't know why the deal editors in previous deals keep listing it as ips.

Previous deal at $200 with lots of discussion: https://slickdeals.net/f/17252290-hp-15-dy5131wm-15-6-laptop-1080p-i3-1215u-8gb-ram-256gb-ssd-microcenter-in-store-pickup-199-99

Summary of specs:
Screen: 15.6" diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080), micro-edge, anti-glare, 250 nits, 45% NTSC (not ips)
Processor: Intel® Core™ i3-1215U (up to 4.4 GHz with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology, 10 MB L3 cache, 6 cores (2 performance + 4 efficiency cores), 8 threads)
Memory: 8 GB DDR4-3200 MHz RAM (2 x 4 GB, occupying both memory slots)
Storage: 256 GB PCIe® NVMe™ M.2 SSD
Internet connectivity: Realtek RTL8821CE-M 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (1x1) Wi-Fi® (wi-fi 5) and Bluetooth® 4.2 wireless card
Battery: 3-cell, 41 Wh Li-ion
Keyboard: Full-size, natural silver keyboard with numeric keypad (no backlighting)
Weight: 1.69 kg
Ports: 2x USB 3.1 (Gen 1 Type-A), 1x USB 3.1 (Gen 1 Type-C), AC Smart Pin x1, Hdmi 1.4 port, 3.5mm audio jack, Sd card reader
Operating system: Windows 11 Home S mode, you can switch to regular windows 11 home at any time for no cost, here's the faq for windows s mode: https://support.microsoft.com/en-...Windows_11

At $230 this is still the cheapest you can find a new laptop with a 12th gen intel cpu, though it's in closer competition with other options at this price point. For example, the constant dell inspiron laptop deals with the same processor and a superior screen (though the inspirion has been known to have hinge issues). Keep in mind some other vendors such as dell will have a bunch of additional ways to save money (credit card offers, cashback, coupon codes, etc.). If you need a budget laptop now and don't want to buy refurb this is a decent deal, but you'll likely be able to get something better in the future if you wait.

Worth mentioning... a business grade laptop used might be a better buy.

I just bought off ebay an HP elitebook g8 for $250 with an i5 11th gen 16gb ram and 512gb samsung nvme drive. It looks like it spent its life on a dock because it was mint. This one here might be slightly faster processor wise, but I bet the components are lower quality... trackpad, keyboard, webcam, speakers, hinges, display picture quality, durability.

Do you want a base model nissan sentra new or a 2 year old certified used premium trim Honda CRV?

Why would they advertise 0.9ghz processor? I had 900mhz in 2001. This is a useless spec without context of cores and boost speed. They should go by passmark scores or something more useful.

11th gen is way slower than 12 literally ANY 12th gen cpu will still beats i7 11th gen

Benchmarks prove you wrong. I also only buy clean used business laptops and get a ton of life out of them. For way less than this $200 I got a laptop that has 2 batteries, giving me over 12 hours of battery life. Upgrading it to 32GB and it will still be less than this.

It all depends on what you are looking for and this is not a bad laptop for many people.

If it was only 900 mhz if would blow a 2001 CPU out of the water. Processors do so much more work per mhz these days. Anyway, this is a 6 core chips with 8 threads and can boost to 4.4 ghz. It will bench 30% slower than a high end 9770k desktop which was a top teir i7 from 6 years ago.

Worth mentioning... a business grade laptop used might be a better buy.

I just bought off ebay an HP elitebook g8 for $250 with an i5 11th gen 16gb ram and 512gb samsung nvme drive. It looks like it spent its life on a dock because it was mint. This one here might be slightly faster processor wise, but I bet the components are lower quality... trackpad, keyboard, webcam, speakers, hinges, display picture quality, durability.

Do you want a base model nissan sentra new or a 2 year old certified used premium trim Honda CRV?

You could have rather got a brand new HP elitebook for $300 a couple of weeks back (now $350). Even at $350 it's a good buy:

https://www.microcenter.com/produ...p-computer

These laptops only come with S Mode Windows. Can't install anything outside the Microsoft store without upgrading windows ($)