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 |