Why is this computer so cheap? Am I missing something?

No internal optic drive. I would not buy a computer that doesn’t have a cd/dvd/blu ray disk rewritable player. Also 32 gigs of storage will run out fast unless you only use it as a typing WordPerfect/word storage. Never heard of Nuvision before.

I would get a Chromebook for a new $200 computer for Internet use. And I would not get an unknown brand like Nuvision.

The computer has the specs of a Chromebook. The processor is typical for an 8 or 10 year old Windows computer.

Which is fine to “to surf the net and post on Facebook and Fluther.” But Windows takes up a lot of power just to look pretty and run Cortana.

Chromebooks run fast because you’re not dealing with the cruft of installed bloatware programs and the antivirus and the eventual virus.

Essentially a Chromebook is only an Internet machine.

If you really want a Windows machine let me know. I can guide you towards used models for $200 – $300 that would be A LOT better than the Costco machine.

Some laptops with specs like that are just that cheap nowadays. $199 has been able to get a 4GB RAM laptop for at least a couple of years if you shop around, though you can certainly pay more or get less – shopping around and comparing and reading reviews can be a pain and take time but it’s worth it considering how much the prices and what you get can vary.

Those specs should be good enough to do what you want with it, though I would read the reviews looking for complaints. The HDMI port should allow you to send the video to a larger TV, too, though if that’s a main thing you do with it, I’d find out if the HDMI sends sound as well as video to the TV. Otherwise if you want good sound you may want to also get and set up some speakers. It does bluetooth so you could get some wireless speakers for that, too.

Specwise, because it is pathetically underpowered in every conceivable way.

That’s essentially a netbook, ok for browsing and MS office.

Dont’t buy it—penny wise, pound foolish. Despite the rosy marketing claims, it will be slow, lacking features you may need, probably buggy, certainly unable to play video even if you spring for an external dvd drive, and not upgradable.

In my experience—and I’ve bought many, many, computers over the years—the cheaper the price, the worse the computer.

I agree with a suggestion above about your buying a chromebook. Check out the Samsung Chromebook Plus. No dvd drive but a decent computer/tablet combo.

One more thing: electronics found at Costco and other big box stores are often (maybe usually) prior product generations.

Comparing processor speeds is pretty important. Some lower-priced computers have very slow processors, which (depending on what you are used to) can be disappointing and torturously slow, making you wish you’d spent a little more money.

With laptops (maybe with PCs too, I don’t know), you can’t just take it back to the store and have them change-out the processor for a faster one. They make you buy a whole new Mother Board, which will cancel-out any savings you enjoyed when buying the cheapest computer you could find…..

… a reasonable suggestion, but I think it’s better to buy what you need upfront and not fool with upgrading or trying to upgrade it. You’ll definitely save money and time in the long run.

Pachy, I wasn’t suggesting to buy cheap, then upgrade. I only meant that sometimes buyers look at bottom-line price, thinking that processor speeds don’t really make much of a difference these days.

As I’m sure you know…..they certainly do…..

I currently have a netbook as I don’t use it for anything other than the internet, Facebook, Fluther and watching Netflix.

Eh, for Facebook, Fluther, and Netflix, this looks like enough power to me. The hard drive size is the wimpy bit. There were computers with 10x the hard drive space for the same price a couple of years ago.

I would ask to try out streaming videos on it, and/or read reviews to make sure it’s not flawed somehow, and/or ask about Costco’s return policy for it, but I think for Fluther, Facebook and Netflix, you could do those with even less power.

Unless the video or something else about it stinks, which is why I’d still read reviews, ask to test it, ask for return policy, etc.

IMO you’re better off getting a refurbished machine of higher quality. Business class dell laptops are available for a couple hundred bucks and are solidly built. Every “walmart” PC I have seen or worked on was garbage, don’t care who’s label is on it.