Recommend a laptop?

[Anayo]

My family wants to get my brother a laptop for Christmas. I've already done a little research and managed to find one that meets his needs and our budget on BestBuy's website, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask around here. Someone might know of something better.

My bro doesn't want a netbook. He has big hands and wants something with a big keyboard. A netbook is also no good since he wants something with a CD-DVD drive.

As for specs, 2 GB RAM and a 2 Ghz processor would probably suffice. Video is inconsequential since there's no way he's getting Direct X 9 compatible stuff on our budget. Our budget is $300. We're hoping to get something new, since it would suck to get pre-owned or refurbished and then have it malfunction a couple months later.

If any computer gurus can point out a bargain along these lines that would be cool.

[Contagion13]

Im not really up to date on laptop prices but I would recommend ASUS. They make excellent computers and components.

[YoshiEgg25]

Im not really up to date on laptop prices but I would recommend ASUS. They make excellent computers and components.

Absolutely don't get an ASUS. If anything goes wrong with it, they will essentially hold your computer hostage. My friend sent his computer in for repairs, and they said it would take a week. AFAIK, they still haven't fixed it. I know it took them at least five weeks, and this is around week 8 or 9 right now.

He said that he wouldn't wish this idiocy on his worst enemy.

[Nostalgia Addict]

Thinkpads have great build quality and the most comfortable (and decently sized) keyboard I've ever used on a laptop.
You'd probably be able to get a second hand one for under $300, though I'm not sure how big a deal for him that would be.

Edit: Duuuuuh. Obviously I didn't read that last paragraph.

[avrame]

Thinkpads have great build quality and the most comfortable (and decently sized) keyboard I've ever used on a laptop.
You'd probably be able to get a second hand one for under $300, though I'm not sure how big a deal for him that would be.

Really? Thinkpads hold their value pretty well, especially since they are heavily marketed as a work laptop. Maybe you are mistaking the pricepoint for their consumer Ideapad line.

Im not really up to date on laptop prices but I would recommend ASUS. They make excellent computers and components.

Absolutely don't get an ASUS. If anything goes wrong with it, they will essentially hold your computer hostage. My friend sent his computer in for repairs, and they said it would take a week. AFAIK, they still haven't fixed it. I know it took them at least five weeks, and this is around week 8 or 9 right now.

He said that he wouldn't wish this idiocy on his worst enemy.

Never happened to my family. Both times we had to send it an ASUS laptop over the course of 3 years, we received it back in less than 2 weeks. Nowadays, we just fix it ourselves.

To the OP:
I would suggest hitting up a local Staples, Office Depot or Office Max. They carry all the well known brands, and typically, they carry the lower end of the lines to make a competitive price point. If you goto a frys or Bestbuy, you can expect to find the newer and more powerful models there at a 600+ pricerange.

As for brands, Asus, HP or Dell work well. If you want more bang of the buck, grab a 17" model, they are actually cheaper than the 15" models as component space is not a limiting factor in the design.

[Pulsar_t]

600 = 2x300. Ergo, your advice is misplaced I'd recommend an AMD Neo II K125 netbook with an external drive, but that could easily cost +$400 and availability is sketchy. If you're willing to wait till early next year AMD is shipping a new platform that promises even better performance, but I don't know if they'll manage to sustain that sweet sub-$300 spot.

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php Using this page as reference, you'll notice that most Atom processors are indeed dire in performance. Perhaps you're better off with a used laptop, or as mentioned ordering an AMD netbook with an external DVD drive, but surpassing your budget in the process. The upshot is that the K125 is on par with a Pentium4 but doesn't come cheap. Also, the integrated video in AMD netbooks easily destroys Intel's efforts.

[avrame]

600 = 2x300. Ergo, your advice is misplaced .

Oops, I guess my post was a little blurry, but I meant if you goto Bestbuy or Frys, they cater towards the 600+ range, and not the $300 range they wants. Thus, they should check out Staple, Offect Depot, or Office Max.