<p>My daughter has a friend who has a lot of family problems - absent alcoholic Dad, narcissist, emotional, unemployed Mother with live in boy friend. I could go on but you get the picture.</p>
<p>Despite everything, the child is very sweet and polite and extremely intelligent and self motivated. Right now she is taking the very heaviest class load that a freshman can take at their high school. I think she realized that the best way to escape her home situation is to get great grades and a college scholarship. And she is doing it with an ancient computer and no home internet.</p>
<p>I'd like to anonymously buy the child a lap top/ tablet/ notebook that she can take to Starbucks or McDonald's (we have no library close by) so she can use their wifi and do her homework.</p>
<p>I'm not up on all the latest gadgets and am wondering if an inexpensive laptop is the best option? I'd like to keep the cost under $300. Thanks.</p>
<p>I would go to Best Buy or similar and tell them what you’re doing. They may know of a model that they’re discontinuing and would willing to give you a deal. </p>
<p>I think BB also sells some refurbished laptops for cheap…</p>
<p>Another way is to look on eBay for laptops that people are selling…some sell theirs when they’re buying a Mac or whatever. </p>
<p>A netbook would be cheap but very limiting…so try to find a laptop.</p>
<p>I volunteer for a non-profit and we posted a notice on Craigslist and we were inundated with offers for pretty recent (0-3 year old) computers. Local law firm was upgrading; a couple of at-home businesses which had just upgraded and had a bunch of “last year’s model” sitting in a closet, etc. We did specify the model years we were interested in…</p>
<p>If there is a local computer store which repairs computers, they have something in that price range. I managed to get my wife a refurbished laptop for $250. It works great.</p>
<p>You are doing a very kind thing. You know the situation better then anyone on the boards, my fear though is whether any of the adults would take it away from her.</p>
<p>Try places like Staples too…sometimes they have inexpensive computers.</p>
<p>BTW…I am using a Netbook and it has WAY more power and capabilities than both my previous laptop AND my previous desktop computers (which were not that old). I love it…and it is very portable.</p>
<p>Some Goodwills have a program that collects used computers, wipes the hard disks, refurbishes them, and then sells them VERY inexpensively. Some of them aren’t all that “old”.</p>
<p>I am trying right now to see if I can get you one so if you PM me just to say what State you are in, I will see if I can get my employer to donate one to you (couple of years old) fully loaded with windows XP (Unfortunately) but would also have licensed microsoft office, WI-FI and DVD burner. I cannot guarantee that I can do it because it would all depends on my employer, shipping cost and hastles getting it across the border. There would be no cost for the laptop and just so everyone doesnt ask me I would never do this for anyone else but your story really strikes home.</p>
<p>BJ’s Wholesale Club is selling small laptops for as little as $220 (WiFi, real keyboard, 10" screen). Other wholesale warehouse stores likely have similar offerings (brand new product in box w/ warranty).</p>
<p>This laptop is reasonably equipped for a student in the next 2-4 years, and at a low price.</p>
<p>$329.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping (probably no sales tax from Amazon)</p>
<p>AMD C50 Dual Core Processor;AMD Radeon HD 4250 Graphics
3GB of DDR3 1333MHz DRAM, 2 slots, 8GB Max;320GB Hard Drive (5400 RPM);Super Multi DVD Drive
Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit) Operating System;5-in-1 Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO/SDHC)
15.6-Inch HD Display (1366x768);0.3MP Webcam;HDMI and VGA Port;Wireless 802.11bgn;3 USB 2.0 Ports
1 Year Accidental Damage Protection and 1 Year Standard Global Warranty Included</p>
<p>Aside from used or discontinued items, a ‘netbook’ should fit her needs. I just checked Best Buy’s website and they have a new netbook for $229.99.</p>
<p>I don’t know if you have Freecycle in your area, but people post what they want/need all the time. It’s worth a try, especially if you post a little bit of the backstory. I haven’t asked for anything yet, but I have given away quite a few items via Freecycle.</p>
<p>I’ve recently bought 2 refurbished computers from Dell Outlet. They are almost new machines in a variety of price ranges. </p>
<p>Every week, sites such as techbargains. com post a coupon code for 15% to 20% off laptops and desktops from Dell Outlet. The end result is that the computers are 50% off list price, plus have free shipping. There is a home part of the site and a business part of the site, but at the lower prices models, the machines are virtually identical, but with different names. Therefore, go with a home or business model depending on which has the best coupon code. </p>
<p>The coupon codes typically only work for one or two days, so you just have to check each day for a good one. You can set up a “google alert” so that you get an email when a new coupon code is posted. </p>
<p>You should be able to find a decent Inspiron laptop for $300.</p>
<p>I’d browse sites like Amazon, Tiger Direct, New Egg, etc. And even Ebay.</p>
<p>But here, this is a pretty good computer for a very good price, and it’s barely more than the figure you quote:
<a href=“TigerDirect Sunset”>TigerDirect Sunset;
<p>I suggest BensBargains.net, which features daily deals on many things including computers, including very cheap, refurbished computers that are more than powerful enough for anything a typical student would want to do.</p>
<p>One caution: If the home situation is as bad as you imply, think about whether someone might steal the computer and sell it for booze or drug money, or damage it out of spite, etc. If you think there is a realistic chance of this happening, consider using the money to provide something less susceptible to abuse.</p>
<p>Also, why be anonymous? The mother doesn’t have to know what you’re doing, and you would make an indelible impression on the girl. I imagine you are just being modest, but perhaps it would mean more if she knew exactly who was looking out for her, whom she can come to when times are tough. Just a thought.</p>