Cheapest Cheap Laptops

Basic notebook computers for $600 and less

Laptop buyers at $600 and below are usually faced with some serious tradeoffs, including less powerful processors, less memory, smaller hard drives and poorer connectivity. However, expert and user reviews tell us that as long as expectations are in line with price, it is possible to get a truly cheap laptop that will perform the basics and then some in a more than acceptable fashion.

The most common trade-off is in the processor. Many of the cheapest laptops offer underpowered Intel Celeron or AMD CPUs, but we also found a few that use more capable Intel Core 2 Duo processors. For example, The Dell I15-157B (*Est. $600) is a preconfigured version of Dell's user-configurable Inspiron 15 laptop. It includes a 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4 GB of memory and a 320 GB hard drive. Connectivity is ample and includes HDMI out and a 7-in-1 digital memory card reader. CNET tests performance and says that it's virtually identical to that of other similarly equipped budget laptops. Design is not a strong point, but it's not a weakness either. "The system looks basic, but not cheap," writes CNET's Dan Ackerman. It should be noted that, although still available, supplies are running low at many retailers.

Though they use older, dual-core Pentium processors, certain configurations of the HP G60t draw raves. Though not quite as capable as the Core 2 Duo, the dual-core Pentium is a decent performer in its own right, at least if expectations are kept reasonable. In any event, dual-core Pentium processors typically beat other budget options -- such as the AMD Turion X2 or the even wimpier Intel Celeron CPUs -- in benchmark testing.

HP lets users customize the HP G60t to their heart's content on its website, but also offers attractively priced pre-configured models that have drawn good comments from experts and users. The company's previous generation of preconfigured laptops includes the HP G60-235dx, which was named CNET's favorite entry-level laptop this past March and the essentially identical HP G60-230us. HP has since dropped both configurations, but we still see lots of availability for the HP G60-230us (*Est. $600), though prices have begun to creep upward.

HP's current preconfigured G60t is the HP G60-440us (*Est. $580). It is similar to the HP G60-230us but uses a very slightly speedier 2.1 GHz (vs. 2.0 GHz) Pentium dual-core processor. Though we have not yet seen benchmark testing of the newest preconfigured G60, we expect that any performance boost will be modest and that real-world performance will be essentially the same as the G60-230us/G60-235dx.

The HP G60-440us includes 3 GB of RAM, a 320 GB hard drive, a DVD+/-RW drive with LightScribe support and a 16-inch display. That's about the most impressive lineup of components you are likely to find at this price point, and they deliver solid (though not spectacular) performance. CNET mainly benchmarks the G60-235DX against other AMD-powered, entry-level laptops and sees a definite difference in performance, though the difference isn't earth-shattering. Battery life is unimpressive overall, but it's better than most competitors in its class. Like the G60-230us, the Wi-Fi radio is compatible with IEEE802.11 a/b/g/n; the G60-235dx only supported IEEE 802.11 b/g. The media card reader has been upgraded to a 5-in-1.

A couple of other very cheap laptops draw mild kudos, but don't seem to stand up well to the package offered by the HP G60s. The Toshiba Satellite L355D-S7901 (*Est. $550) is also benchmarked by CNET. Joshua Goldman says that the L355D-S7901 offers a larger 17-inch screen at near the same price, but that this AMD-powered laptop has poorer performance, shorter battery life and a smaller hard drive than the HP G60-235DX. Laptop Magazine looks at the Toshiba Satellite L305-S5921 (*Est. $550) and gives it a moderately positive review, saying it is a compelling choice for those whose needs are basic. However, it uses a slightly slower Pentium dual-core processor than the HP G60 and also has a smaller hard drive (160 GB) and just 2 GB of RAM.

As you look about, you can't help but notice the exploding number of small, cute and cheap computers called netbooks, subnotebooks or mini notebooks. These differ from the laptops discussed in this report in several notable ways. Most offer much smaller screen sizes and more cramped keyboards. Most are driven by relatively weak processors -- such as the Intel Atom -- which are fine for the most basic of tasks but wilt when called upon to do much serious work. Some mini laptops are more capable, of course, but the prices of those often reach or surpass those of the cheap laptops discussed here, though performance still lags. However, mini laptops are the ultimate traveling companion and are capable of doing real work and play, as long as expectations are reasonable. For more information, see the separate ConsumerSearch report on netbooks.