Windows 8 laptops for less than $1000

Want to buy a Windows 8 laptop, but don't have a lot of money?

We've asked manufacturers what models they have out today in stores, and got some details about their base specification (models with slightly different model suffixes may have a higher processor speed, more RAM, improved screen resolution, more storage or better optical drive, for example).

At $1000 and less, you won't find any convertible laptop-tablets, or any form of Windows 8 tablet, just yet. What you will get is a selection of all-purpose products to suit most productivity uses - internet browsing, word processing, watching videos and the like.

If you're after one of the newer Intel Core processors, you'll have to spend $1000 or more (the $1,099 Dell Inspiron 15z even has a Core i7).

Product	Type	Base specifications	Price (NZD RRP)	Available at
Acer Gateway NE56R	laptop	15.6-inch, 1366 x 768, 2.2GHz Intel Pentium dual-core 960B, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, DVD-RW D/L, 802.11bgn	$599	Harvey Norman
Toshiba C850/00X	laptop	15.6-inch, 1.4GHz AMD E1-1200, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD	$699	Harvey Norman
HP Compaq CQ45-802TU	laptop	14-inch, 1366 x 768, Intel Celeron B830 dual-core, 2GB RAM, 500GB HDD, DVD-RW, 802.11bgn	$699	Harvey Norman
HP Pavilion 14-B006AU (black) and 14-B013AU (red)	laptop	14-inch, 1366 x 768, AMD E2-1800 dual-core, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 802.11bgn	$799	Harvey Norman
HP Pavilion G6-2201AU	laptop	15.6-inch, 1366 x 768, AMD A4-4300M dual-core, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, DVD-RW, 802.11bgn	$899	Harvey Norman
HP Pavilion G6-2203AU (silver) and G6-2202AU (black)	laptop	15.6-inch, 1366 x 768, AMD A6-4400M dual-core, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, DVD-RW, 802.11bgn	$999	Harvey Norman