These days it’s easy to obtain a cheap laptop that’s not only affordable, but also includes the latest technology. Most consumers can find a laptop that fits their individual need for under $1000, brand new. It is possible to spend as little as $260. However, even a more customized computer for listening to music, basic videogame play, or watching TV can be as low as $500.

There are several inexpensive laptop models available on the market today. One of the cheapest is the Dell mini, with its 10 inch screen it is ultra portable. It has a keyboard that is 92% that of a traditional laptop, so you don’t have to sacrifice efficiency to price or size. It is also equipped with a long life Lithium-Ion battery, wireless capabilities, 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM memory, a wide screen, mobile connectivity, Intel Atom processor, video card, a 120- 160 GB hard drive; and it comes with Ubuntu or Windows XP already loaded, so you’re ready to go.

Cheap laptops can be obtained in many different locations on or off line. If a local store is preferable, Wal-Mart, K-mart, or Target have great deals. They carry a fair selection, ranging from Dell or Toshiba, to Acer. CompUSA and BestBuy carry a few lower end laptops as well. And bulk stores, like Sam’s Club or Costco, have excellent deals, but they can be pricier as they generally come bundled with other goods.

Online stores are equally, if not better, stocked with cheap laptops. Consumers might be shocked to learn that Dell.com has a large selection of cheaply priced laptops, starting at $360. Macintosh.com doesn’t quite have the same selection, but they offer a few low end laptops too. The best place to search online for a good buy is TigerDirect.com. They have a wide selection, low prices, and top of the line support.

If you don’t mind them, refurbished laptops are a great way to go. Though they were previously owned, or defective in some way, a company specializing in rebuilding laptops can not only make them as good as new, but can give you a lower price. You can get more bang for your buck with one of these laptops, because you can pay less for more options. If you don’t have a lot of money, and need something specific, it’s definitely the way to go.

When attempting to purchase a refurbished computer, be aware that not all companies are reputable. Do some research into the company before buying anything from them. Most top selling computer companies, such as Dell, Toshiba, or Macintosh sell their own refurbished computers, and websites like TigerDirect.com also sells some of the cheapest.

Cheap laptops equal less worry. If a laptop is required for school, or travel, less expensive is better because there’s no high replacement cost if it is lost, stolen, or accidently falls off a balcony. Even cheap laptops come with a one year warranty, so theirs no worry if something should doesn’t work. Besides, in this case, with so many top companies providing affordable pricing options, cheap doesn’t equal low quality.

Buying laptops on the cheap is half art and half mathematics. Dont confuse cheap laptops with low quality, but rather associate them with a good bargain. So the question becomes: It is important to remember not to sacrifice quality or functionality for the sake of price.

It is important to clearly define your portable computing needs and separate them from the wants. How big (or small) a screen is really needed? Is 17 or more inches really necessary or would that go into the would be nice category? Does one really need 8 gigabytes of RAM or would 2 gigabytes suffice for now? Will one need to be burning Blu-Ray discs or will burning CD-ROMs be sufficient?

Do not pass up expandability for a discounted price today. Do this by ensuring that laptops with 2 gigabytes of RAM are expandable to 4 or even 8 gigabytes of RAM in the future, or that the DVD reader/CD burner can be swapped out for a Blu-Ray burner down the road.

Settling for modest hardware should only thought of as a temporary condition to be rectified later or else one will probably be looking for cheap laptops again sooner rather than later. Spending a few extra dollars today and a few on an upgrade in the future is actually quite responsible.

Some laptop components such as CPUs and video cards generally cannot be upgraded except for the very highest quality laptops from top tier vendors. The hardware that can be upgraded on a cheap laptop is typically limited to the hard drive(s), memory, and optical disc drive(s).

For those who use their laptops for gaming, rather than paying the price for the most current chipset it may be worth settling for a previous generations technology that will still meet your gaming needs. For serious gamers, a desktop may be a better choice due to the more power desktops can provide.

One does not have to settle for a generic brand to get a decent price. Inexpensive, customized laptops from manufacturers such as Dell, Gateway, and HP can all be ordered online. Better yet, these very same manufacturers tend to sell last generation laptops at significant discounts until they clear their inventory. Most of these companies also offer refurbished models with factory warranties at incredible discounts.

When making the decision of which laptop to buy make sure you know which features you need and which features you dont. Whilst paying for features that you will never use is a waste of money, it can be more expensive in the long run to buy a laptop with not enough features to meet your needs.