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Is $299 too much for a laptop? Wal-Mart has answered Best Buy's $299 laptop challenge with a $298 offer.

Wal-Mart's $298 laptop.

(Credit: Wal-Mart)

"For the first time, a 3GB memory laptop from a well-known brand has ventured below $300," Wal-Mart said in a statement Thursday.

Starting July 26 (this coming Sunday), Wal-Mart will begin selling a $298 Compaq Presario notebook (CQ60-419WM) with the following specifications: a 15.6-inch display, 3GB of memory, a 160GB hard-disk drive, a CD-DVD drive, and Windows Vista pre-loaded. The laptop will use a 2.10 GHz AMD Sempron SI-42 processor and Nvidia GeForce 8200M graphics.

The $1 discount gets you a Compaq-branded laptop versus the Acer (subsequently sold out) from Best Buy. And the Compaq bests Acer with 3GB of memory versus 2GB.

A Wal-Mart blog said that quantities "are limited and will begin selling at 8 a.m. on Sunday, July 26," adding parenthetically, "May want to pass that along because we expect this one will be quite popular."

Wal-Mart will also begin offering, on the same day, a 15.6-inch Acer ultrathin laptop for $548. The AS5810-4657 model will sport Windows Vista Home Premium (qualified for free Windows 7 upgrade); an Intel ULV (ultra low voltage) SU2700 processor; 3GB memory; a 320GB hard-disk drive; and "all-day" eight-hour battery life, according to a Wal-Mart statement.

In August, Wal-Mart will sell the new 10.1-inch HP Mini 110-131NR Netbook too.

Looks the same as other HP laptops, but not nearly as powerful inside.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Editors' note: This review is part of our 2009 Retail Laptop and Desktop Back-to-School roundup, covering specific fixed configurations of popular systems that can be found in retail stores.

One thing we noticed when reviewing the lowest-priced entry-level laptops in our retail roundup was the presence of the Intel Celeron 900 processor. Showing up twice (in the Compaq CQ60-417DX and the Toshiba L305-S5955, discussed below), it's an outdated, poorly performing CPU.

The sneaky thing, however, is that this processor shows up in a chassis that also houses more highly powered machines. Perhaps this downgrading and price-cutting has been inspired by the success of Netbooks. Regardless, it can be confusing for consumers. $350 or $399 sounds like a great deal for a laptop, but is it still worth it with an processor that's not much better than a Netbook?

In our Back-to-School retail laptop roundup, we've taken a look at a few real bargain-basement machines. Along with the Toshiba Satellite L305-S5955, the Compaq Presario CQ60-417DX comes in at less than $400. Although it's 50 dollars more than the Satellite L305-S5955, it also has a larger, 15.6-inch, higher-resolution 16:9 screen, comes with a Windows 7-upgrade-eligible Windows Vista Home Premium OS, and has a keyboard and touch pad that were far more comfortable for us. But, you should be forewarned: both systems are nearly identical otherwise, and both come with a pretty bare-bones Celeron 900 processor.

However, for only $29 more, you can get a laptop with a significantly better dual-core processor in the Dell Inspiron 1545-012B, so the underpowered processor at the CQ60-417DX's core can't be overlooked. For your entry-level computing needs, we recommend looking elsewhere.

For the same price, would you rather have a larger screen and Vista, or a Netbook?

Read the rest of our review.

Barely more expensive than a decently configured Netbook, the $449 Compaq Presario CQ60-215DX looks like a good bargain at first, with its 16:9 screen and separate number pad, but this is a case where spending a little more can pay big dividends.

The AMD CPU gave us the overall slowest performance in the entry-level category of our current retail laptop roundup, and the battery lasted for less than two hours. Interestingly, this laptop is built into the exact same chassis as the HP G60-235dx, our favorite current entry-level retail laptop. For $599, that system gives you a faster Intel Dual-Core CPU, a bigger hard drive, more RAM, and even an HDMI output.

Then again, for $450, you should be happy this model comes with both mouse buttons.

Read the full review of the Compaq Presario CQ60-215DX.

Maybe a little too cheap: the Compaq Presario CQ60-215DX

Believe it or not, not every PC out there is a Netbook. All the usual suspects still have new systems flowing into retail, and we have a pile of them here in our lab waiting for a review. Each of the systems here is available at Best Buy, and we have four categories represented: sub-$500, $500 to $750, $750 to $1,000, and $1,000-plus.

Acer's Aspire X1700 is our favorite low-cost desktop.

(Credit: CNET)

With the posting of our Acer Aspire X1700 review Wednesday afternoon, we have the sub-$500 category covered. Alongside the Acer, systems from Dell and eMachines round out this ultrabudget segment.

Of the three, the Acer Aspire X1700 impressed us the most. This little system doesn't quite have the performance of the competing Dell Inspiron I530s-119B, but at this price we tend to value overall features more than raw speed. And with an HDMI port and digital audio outputs, the Aspire X1700 can work as either a workaday desktop or a low-impact living room system. We've seen this Acer's chassis twice before, and we liked it then as we do now. We think you'll find it remarkably versatile given its cost.

Acer, Dell, and eMachines budget PC slideshow

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)

Have you seen this laptop?

(Credit: Wal-Mart)

Last Friday, Wal-Mart announced a selection of in-store discounts, including a 15-inch Compaq laptop for $298, that would be part of a one-day, in-store sale. That day, November 8, has come and gone, but what about the remaining supplies of the participating laptop, the Compaq CQ50-139WM?

The laptop is listed on Wal-Mart's Web site, but you can't buy it online or even find out the price, which is listed as varying by store. I used Walmart.com's store locator earlier today and plugged in more than a dozen zip codes chosen at random to find out if it was still available and, if so, for how much. Every result returned was the same: Not in stock.

I gave up and submitted my First Take of the product to copy edit this morning, and full-time copy editor and part-time Crave blogger Daren Darrow uncovered Compaq CQ50-139WM hiding out in his home state of Oklahoma. We both called the Henryetta, Okla., Wal-Mart and were told that they have the laptop, but it costs $398.

Even at $400, it still costs less than most Netbooks. Given that it uses a single-core Intel Celeron processor, it likely performs on par with a Netbook, but with less battery life. For those on a tight budget who care more about screen size than portability, the Compaq CQ50-139WM might work. Good luck finding though. If you've had any luck finding this laptop, please let me and Crave readers know below.

With the dire news about Circuit City this week, our roundup of off-the-shelf desktops seems even more apt. We put our hands on 10 mainstream PCs earlier this month, between a few different price and product categories. All are fixed configurations, which makes buying and reviewing them easier, as accounting for various configurable options falls to the wayside. We were also happily surprised to find 64-bit Vista in all but the two lowest-end systems. (sorry Mac fans, apparently Apple doesn't know how to make "junk.") Of them all, we found four you'll want to check out first.

$400 to $500

Dell's Inspiron 530S slim tower desktop is on the more expensive end of the scale.

(Credit: CNET)

Of the three systems in this price range, we liked Dell's $499 Inspiron 530s best. It's on the more expensive end of the scale, but it's also faster than PCs that cost $50 to $100 more. On top of its speed, we also liked its large 320GB hard drive. Unlike the eMachines and HP Compaq PCs (each $399), the Dell also includes 64-bit Vista, which, combined with its 4GB of RAM (the 32-bit PCs only have 3GB), will have a noticeable positive impact on multitasking and switching between applications. We hope to see wireless networking come to slim towers in this price range soon, but alas, this Dell does not include it.

eMachines ET1161-03

HP Compaq Presario SR5610F

Dell Inspiron I530S-114B

If you're buying a budget computer, it's worth your time to look into the Compaq Presario SR5610f desktop. It's not far off from a barebones machine, and you don't get a ton of extra features, but the price is so low that it's hard to complain. You get a dual-core 2.5GHz AMD processor, 3 gigs of ram, an integrated video card, and a 320GB hard drive, which should be enough power to get you through the standard applications, stuff like word processing, streaming video, mp3 playback, etc...but you definitely shouldn't expect it to handle intense gaming or programs that require accelerated graphics. If did have to raise a stink, it'd have to be about the lack of a dedicated media card reader! Sure, it's a sub-$600 system, but even this eMachines has one built in! If you decide on this computer, dust off that USB cord--you'll be seeing it a lot more in the future.

You'll have to read the full review for our complete analysis, but the long and short of it is that you can spend a scant $50 more and get a much better deal in the Acer x3200, a slimline PC that adds gigabit Ethernet, a more powerful video card (still integrated), more memory, and even an extra CPU core that will let you handle a wider breadth of applications. In the end, it's your choice and totally dependent on how you'll use it, but check out both reviews--they'll help you with your difficult shopping decisions.

Read our full review of the HP Compaq Presario SR5610f

If you don't have a sack full of $100 bills to spend on a desktop computer, don't worry! All is not lost; the world of budget PCs are a great option for you. Vendors are champing at the bit to release round after round of sub-$500 PCs. After all, some people just want a computer for basic applications: MP3 playback, word processing, Internet surfing, etc.

The eMachines ET1161-03 is just one system in its budget line that won't break the bank. It features a 2.3GHz AMD Athlon 64 dual-core processor, 3GB of RAM, an integrated graphics chip, and a 320GB hard drive. The chassis is nothing special, as you'd expect for the price, but there are actually subtle details that make the eMachines somewhat worth the price. For example, there's a comprehensive expansion card reader for transferring photos directly to the computer and the inside leaves adequate room for future expansion.

Our only complaint is with the hardware itself. After performing speed benchmarking, we've determined that the competition offers a better deal for $50 more. Check out our full review for more details.