http://hardwarecentral.dealtime.com/xPF-IBM_ThinkPad_600E_2645_26455JU

For $175? My dad's name got drawn and so he can choose to buy the laptop, but if I don't want it or can't use it's because it's not poweful enough for me, then he's going to sell it to his friend. I mean, this laptop isn't bad for basic computer needs, right? Like using Microsoft word, checking email, etc.?

My dad told me that his friends are saying how it's a really good deal and how it's selling on the net for $400, is that true? Because I seriously doubt it.

Also, I do plan on upgrading some of the things in it if it's not already upgraded, like memory, hard drive space, etc. I can do this all for free too, because a friend of my mom is willing to give me memory and a network card for free (she's going to see if she can get me some more hard drive space as well).

So with all this calculated in, should I keep the laptop or let my dad's friend have it?

That is actually quite a good deal. I recently bought a Thinkpad 600 for $170 off ebay (although they usually go for ~$300+). I havn't recieved it yet though :-\

The current spec's will do everything you said you want it to do, and plenty fast as well, and at $175 you're getting a good price on it.

I dont see a need to upgrade just for Word, email, and web browsing.

Well, I do use programs like Adobe and Paint Shop Pro and I seriously doubt that this laptop can handle it.

You'll be pushing it there, but for your original intentions it'll be fine.

I'd go for it ...

I just checked out the above mentioned site.. When every they have very low prices for things like lap tops.. It actually goes to another site selling Xerox toner cartridges :D


A good example: http://hardwarecentral.dealtime.com/xPO-Hewlett_Packard_HP_OmniBook_6000_F2083KTABA