<p>I'm getting a computer for college as an engineering major. The school recommended I get 8GB RAM and anything Dual-Core or more. I was shopping around (nothing to do this time of senior year) and I came across this lenovo IdeaPad Z570 Gunmetal Gray. I know for sure I want a 15.6" laptop. It is currently on sale for roughly 40-50% off. I was wondering if it was a good idea to get it. It's cheaper than toshiba and hp of the same specs. The original price was $1149, and now it is $619. I'm mainly wondering if it's too early to buy the computer. Should I wait for a back to school sale? It's hard to believe it can get better than close to half off. Here are the specs</p>
<p>Processor
2nd generation Intel Core i5-2450M Processor( 2.50GHz 1333MHz 3MB)</p>
<p>Operating system
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64</p>
<p>Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M 1GB</p>
<p>Memory
8.0GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333 MHz</p>
<p>Display
15.6" HD Glare with integrated camera 1366x768</p>
<p>Pointing device
Industry Standard Touchpad</p>
<p>Hard Drive
750GB 5400</p>
<p>Optical Drive
DVD Recordable</p>
<p>Battery
6 Cell Lithium-Ion</p>
<p>Network Card
Intel 1000 BGN Wireless</p>
<p>Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version 2.1 + EDR</p>
<p>Warranty
One Year</p>
<p>Form Factor
Notebook</p>
<p>Camera
Integrated 2.0MP Camera</p>
<p>It costs more, but if yours is a Unix school you might consider Mac, which is Unix and can also boot Windows.</p>
<p>Was that an “eCoupon” price you viewed from their website? If so, they have those come up periodically - often for the same models. This is to entice customers ordering direct from them instead of going to retailers that have also paid a reduced price on the machine to turn around and sell it for profit. No need to rush. Plus, towards the end of the year we should be seeing the new line of Intel processors in those types of machines: Ivy Bridge. The processors are already out, but consumers are just waiting for the PC manufacturers to place them in their machines. Not sure what kind of effect this will have on the price though, so if you’re worried it might jack it up to your dismay, then you should pick up a computer like the model you mentioned before they’re updated.</p>
<p>The end of the year may be too late if you need the laptop when school starts. And when the new line comes out it will be at a premium. However, if you’ll have the money and can wait then you’ll have a top of the line machine. Keep in mind the back to school sale is a chance retailers have to clear out inventory before it becomes dated, an example being Apples trend of releasing new devices around October. On the other hand, the laptop you’re looking at is good and ~45% off is a good deal. You could buy it now and save some money and then get a newer machine in 2, 3, 4 years if you need it. Also, you can usually put a laptop on to a home owners insurance policy so if it fries you’ll get some (or all) money back.</p>
<p>That laptop isn’t originally worth over $1000 in the first place. You’ll find plenty of deals in the summer before school starts.</p>
<p>turtlerock, laptops with quad-core Ivy Bridge CPUs have come out, and by July laptops the dual core CPUs will be released. </p>
<p>OP, just wait for a month and two and I guarantee you prices will drop as laptops with new CPUs will come out.</p>
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<p>Tech, I think I implied that they were already out but not in this particular machine - seeing as manufacturers would try to get rid of a chunk of their ‘old’ Intel machines instead of trashing them before laying out production of millions of the same models with just the updated CPUs. Hence: but consumers are just waiting for the PC manufacturers to place them in their machines.</p>
<p>If you wanted more proof: [Ivy</a> Bridge laptops to look out for [updated] - Notebooks - CNET - CNET Asia](<a href=“Page Not Found (404) - CNET”>Page Not Found (404) - CNET)</p>
<p>See the updating notes along some paragraphs detailing each manufacturer’s newest Ivy Bridge machines (which, again, doesn’t include the one the OP mentioned)? I think that would infer that a) not all machines are equipped with them yet, but b) manufacturers are working on it in a time basis - as in ‘eventually’, but not everything right now (depending on which company is in question). Yeesh.</p>
<p>“And when the new line comes out it will be at a premium.”</p>
<p>It seems like Apple usually keeps prices about the same for new models, dropping them for the old, so maybe premium is relative.</p>