I don’t need a new PC, but I want one anyway. All those Black Friday deals are mighty tempting. But, if you’re going to give in to temptation here are some hints to keep in mind.

First, those deals that are too good to be true? Many of them are too good to be true. If you are the first person in line at 4 AM you may get the one ultra-low price laptop that a store will have in stock. But, if you’re a ‘late’ riser, who doesn’t make it to the store until 4:05, you can forget about the miracle-priced computer.

Other computers may also be on sale at insane prices, but take a careful look at exactly what it is that you’re buying. I’ve seen several netbooks deals that sound great… until I looked closer and saw that they require pricey, two-year mobile phone contracts on top of the up-front price.

I’m not saying you can’t get a good deal. You can. Just don’t get too worked up about sub-$100 priced computers, or you may end up disappointed or with a PC that costs you far more in the long-run.
More >