EliteBook series purchase questions

Does HP ever offer any type of discounts (other than the SmartBuy) for their business notebooks? Codes? Special offers during holidays? My mouse finger is starting to get an itch to submit an order on an 8530w, but it's quite a bit more money to configure the system to order ($430 more), versus just grabbing a SmartBuy and buying third party parts and upgrading it myself. Is there any difference in return policy of a configure to order system vs. SmartBuy? And finally, are there any reliable retailers that offer a no non-sense return policy (like HP) out there?

 

Where are you located?
In some parts of the world they offer their business line notebooks discounted to university students. They call it the "Notebook ownership program" as they also offer free leases to university students. I was told that the discount is about 33% off the direct retail price from HP online.

 

Seattle area. I'm not a student, haven't been for uh... A very long time

 

Try here: https://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/register_app.do?jumpid=re_r329_search/internal/hps_app

I believe alumni's are also eligible in some places.

 

It appears that their web page only lists consumer notebooks for the academic purchase program. I guess I'll have to give them a call, as I still have my .edu E-Mail address (you'd think they'd delete it after 7 years, huh?)

 

yeah the academic purchase program is mostly consumer range only.

 

There is a 18% off on 8530p atm!

 

Weird, considering that durability would be the most important factor for most students who tote their notebooks around all the time. Personally, I think that the business lines are built a lot sturdier than their consumer lines.

 

yes the business range is better built than consumer range.

however general opinion is student = on budget and hence looking for value for money stuff..

hence less than 5% of students are going to pay that extra bucks for better quality.