June 2008
Buying a laptop?
Add-ons can add up
Only $450 for a new Compaq Presario 15.4-inch laptop with a Pentium dual-core processor, 1GB of memory, 120GB hard drive,
CD/DVD drive/burner, and Windows Vista Home Premium operating system? Sweet! But needed updates or tempting additions can
more than double that bargain's cost.
For example, if you've been nursing older software on your existing PC, you'll probably need some upgraded applications, because versions designed before Vista was born might not install or operate on Vista. You might want other extras, too. Below, how the costs added up for our reporter (prices are rounded to the nearest dollar).
For example, if you've been nursing older software on your existing PC, you'll probably need some upgraded applications, because versions designed before Vista was born might not install or operate on Vista. You might want other extras, too. Below, how the costs added up for our reporter (prices are rounded to the nearest dollar).
| $ 600 | Compaq Presario T2330 (Model #C751NR) |
| -150 | Instant rebate at Best Buy (3/9/08) |
| $ 450 | Final price of laptop (before sales tax) |
| + 132 | Kensington wall/auto/air notebook power adapter |
| + 103 | Pinnacle Studio Plus 11 |
| + 94 | Punch Home Design Pro Suite Platinum 12 |
| + 94 | Targus leather notebook carrying case |
| + 90 | Lojack for Laptops (3-year subscription) |
| + 30 | Microsoft Money Plus Deluxe (2008) |
| + 27 | Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 |
| $ 570 | Cost of add-ons |
| $1,020 | Total cost |
