Buy 2 laptops now or in January?

Ponkle22

I'd like some advice please. I need to buy two laptops. Should I buy now or in the January sales? I am wondering if with the recession there won't be so many offers after Xmas but are enough offers now?

Any advice greatfully received.

moneypooh

Don't forget that retailers will have VAT back to 17.5%, although they may not pass it on and may use it as as an offer.(we pay the extra VAT kind of thing) There are some great deals around at the moment. Last Christmas we bought a laptop and it was cheaper before than after, even though VAT went down.
If you don't mind having Windows XP there are some very good deals.

John_Gray

How long is a piece of string? If retailers have large stocks that they didn't sell over Christmas, then prices may go down. Conversely, if they didn't have large stocks and sell most of them, then there won't be a price reduction. As Moneypooh says, another 2½% will go onto VAT on 1 January.

Whichever option you choose, there will be scope for being pleased that you chose it or regret that you didn't...

jaydeeuk1

Or buy from somewhere like amazon that do a 30day price promise. If it goes down in price in new year, they'll reimburse difference.

macman

The New Year sales will all start on 27/12, if not before. That gives you 5 days to shop around and order before the VAT hike comes in.
However bear in mind that 2.5% on a £40 laptop is only a tenner, it's not going to make a huge difference.

Ponkle22

That is worth knowing. I have been looking for XP and failed to find it!!

Where do I look? Everything I see is Vista (isn't that the one that got rejected?) and Windows 7?

I would be content with XP. However, I don't want XP for the sake of a laptop that is reknown for being returned.

I'd be grateful for any pointers.

Thanks a lot!

Ponkle22

moneypooh wrote: »

Don't forget that retailers will have VAT back to 17.5%, although they may not pass it on and may use it as as an offer.(we pay the extra VAT kind of thing) There are some great deals around at the moment. Last Christmas we bought a laptop and it was cheaper before than after, even though VAT went down.
If you don't mind having Windows XP there are some very good deals.

Bowling_4_Gold

Best to look for Windows 7, really.

456789

Indeed it is pointless getting an XP laptop

macman

Who is selling new laptops with XP installed now? Unless they're netbooks, and even these will mostly go over to W7.

John_Gray

macman wrote: »

Who is selling new laptops with XP installed now? Unless they're netbooks, and even these will mostly go over to W7.

Dell will still sell XP to corporate customers for as long as they want it, and LaptopsDirect has a section for XP (just 166 when I looked!).

Yes, these are mostly netbooks, so if you really want XP, you had better get buying in the next very few months... Windows 7 will be everywhere next year.

£$&*"($£&(

You should buy when you find something that meets yor needs for a decent price. January sales are not a sign of decent prices. More hype than value.