Find Deals on the Best Notebooks of the Year

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are over, but we all know that in the next few weeks there will be plenty of other deals as retailers scramble to make it into the black.  This is good news for notebook buyers as you’ll be able to find some great laptops for good prices.  Of the 16 Best Notebooks of the Year, at least half are available at significant discounts.  These are the best we’ve found so far:

• Apple MacBook ($730.00) — It’s not always easy to find Apple products for deep discounts.  If you really want a MacBook yet it’s slightly out of your reach, keep an eye on the Apple Store Certified Refurbished area.  Right now they have a 13.3″ MacBook for only $949.  Limited quantities and ever-changing inventory, so keep an eye out.
• Acer Aspire one — There are a lot of great deals floating around for the Aspire one.  Just be sure to check the OS before you put it in your cart.  The lower-priced models (like this one for $249, today’s Deal of the Day) usually come with Linux.  You can get one for around $350 with Windows XP.
• MSI Wind — Another favorite netbook, the MSI Wind was famously available for $350 at Best Buy a few weeks ago.  For a little while you can get it at J&R for the same price.  When that runs out, you should still be able to get it for about $400 or a little less if you shop around.
• Sony VAIO Z Series — Ultraportables aren’t known for their low prices.  Not a surprise that if you want a good one, you’ll have to open the wallet a little wider.  Still, if you’re willing to look at different configurations, you can find a Sony VAIO Z for under $1500.
• Sony VAIO FW Series — Just as with the Z series, there are varying prices for different configurations (some just a little over $800), so check the specs.
• Lenovo ThinkPad X200 ($959.00) & X200 Tablet — Lenovo’s business ultraportables just get better and better, and thankfully (for consumers) the prices keep going down.  You can get the X200 for under $1200 and its Tablet sibling for under $1700.
• Panasonic Toughbook 30 ($2,710.24) — Coveting a rugged notebook, but wincing at the $3000 price tag?  At least one store has an open-box deal on this nigh-indestructible laptop: $1995.

Also keep in mind that the HP Pavilion dv5t and Dell Vostro 1310 usually run less than $700 regularly and are both solid performers.