$300 Wal-Mart laptop: For sale online as part of $448 bundle

Because of real (the number of searches on CNET) and perceived (that whoosh sound you hear is trillions of dollars leaving our economy) interest in the cheap $300 Wal-Mart laptop, I set out at the start of the week to see if I could find the Compaq CQ50-139WM. I wondered whether supplies were so limited that the laptop sold out during its one-day sale last Saturday, or how much it'd cost me if there were still units to be had this week. With some help, I found that some Wal-Mart stores had the Compaq CQ50-139WM in stock for a post-sale price of $398 (it wasn't for sale online). CNET copy editor Daren Darrow found it at the Henryetta, OK store, and CNET readers e-mailed me to say they found it in Glenwood Springs, CO; Athens, GA; and Oklahoma City, OK.

This morning, a CNET reader e-mailed me to say the Compaq CQ50-139WM is for sale on Wal-Mart's site, but only as part of a $448 bundle that includes a laptop bag and optical mouse. At this price, however, the single-core Celeron-based Compaq CQ50-139WM is creeping up in price to the point that it's not much less than a low-end dual-core laptop, like the $499 Acer Aspire 5735-4624 (though it looks like this model has quickly sold out at Best Buy) or the HP G60-125nr, which is currently discounted to $549.

(Credit: Wal-Mart)

(Thanks, Danny)

[Maruuk]

Exactly. Beware bundles. This is a major rip. They do this so you won't be able to price compare easily. Avoid it like the plague.

[z1221]

this is news why?

[Christopher Hendrix]

re; "This is news why?" WELL its news because Christmas is coming up, the economy is in the toilet, and people who can't afford to lay out a grand or even half that can't afford to even think of getting a laptop for Christmas UNLESS they are able to find such a deal like this one REALLY WAS. The notion that I've seen posted at places claiming its not a laptop but a 12" Notebook is rubbish. ITS A COMPAQ, 15" Full Size Laptop with decent specs. I personally have the just released NEW Macbook Pro, but I got this for FREE due to the fact my 2yr old Macbook pro (Which I bought the extended warranty on) was a lemon and after 4 times of having it fixed by Apple, they finally REPLACED it for me with their new top of the line Macbook Pro 15" which has a start price of $2,499.00 NOW that is money people don't have these days, I was lucky that Apple did this for me, but if they didn't and I had a broken down Mac or PC, I might definitely be interested in that laptop, and I KNOW for SURE if my sister could get one for my niece this Christmas at $300, then she would, but I've been looking for her and the CHEAPEST I have found so far is for $499, 65% MORE MONEY than the $300 dollar Walmart Compaq. YES THIS IS NEWS that is relevant to a LARGE portion of the population, all news doesn't have to be about war, obama, the auto bailout, some of it can be focused on positive things like finding great deals so that low to middle income families can afford to buy a laptop for their family, Child, Spouse, or themselves this CHRISTMAS.

[Frank197435]

I know someone who picked one up for $300.

[maafla1]

I know four people at work (in Florida) who found the laptop at four different Wal Marts with no problem.

[jscott418]

I have found that places like Wal Mart are not the best for buying computer hardware. Unless they have a special buy. You can always get more for your money online at Amazon,Buy.com, or NewEgg.
Even going to Dell's web site and looking through the outlet tends to give you better deals.

[raptor99]

If I would have known this was going to be that much of a big deal, I would have picked up another last week. By the way, I've had it almost a week now and it has been working great granted I only use it for Internet. At $298 you can't go wrong. Don't expect it to replace your desktop though!

[Maruuk]

Actually, stats say the vast majority of users don't have demands beyond what this bottom feeder can do. PC gamers and video freaks are still very much in the minority. For student tasks, and most business applications, web surfing, DVDs, YouTube, this thing can handle all the mainstream uses without breathing hard.

That's a problem for notebook manufacturers which are trying desperately to convince us all we need an expensive V-8 under the hood (read: Core 2 Duo+) when all we really need is a little monocore Celeron/Atom/Athlon to get us to the store and Grandma's house.

Folks who come on tech forums tend to be the heavy users, real world folks could care less, as long as it doesn't crash. Most folks want a toaster, not some overclocked science experiment with a price tag equal to their mortgage payment.

[raptor99]

I agree with you 100%. I should have clarified when I stated about replacing your desktop. I would consider myself a heavy user. Being in the IT field I use my PC for work,for gaming, video rendering (some light CAD stuff), downloading from newsgroups and so on so I could never replace my desktop with this laptop BUT my wife loves it. I can do what I need to do on my desktop and she can use the laptop to go on Facebook and I don't have to hear her complain I'm always on the computer. $298 made us both happy!!

[lauraneil17]

I just am looking for a cheap laptop even though i bought a 700$ one from walmart which is a dell very fast and awesome.