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Score big savings on a laptop computer before Amazon’s 2024 Prime Big Deal Days
Amazon
Amazon has officially announced the dates for its Prime Big Deal Days, and early deals are already rolling in. Right now, you can score amazing discounts on laptops ahead of the Prime Day-like October event.
If you’re in the market for a new laptop, you’re in luck. Although the Prime Big Deal Days event is set for October 8-9, 2024, we’ve already found some excellent discounts on top brands like Apple, Acer, Lenovo and HP.
Best laptop computer deals ahead of Prime Big Deal Days
If you’re looking for an Apple MacBook, mid-to-high-end Windows laptop computer or a low-cost Chromebook, the time is right to shop. We’ve found great deals on some of the best laptops of 2024, perfect for your own use or giving as a holiday gift.
Apple 2024 13″ MacBook Air (256GB) with M3 processor: $949 ($150 off)
Amazon
Available in four colors — starlight, space gray, silver and midnight — this is an entry-level MacBook with a 13-inch Liquid Retina Display. It comes configured with 8GB of unified memory and a 256-gig SSD for storage.
This laptop offers up to an 18 hour battery life, runs the latest version of MacOS Sonoma and comes with the same collection of preinstalled apps as all other Mac computers. And it integrates seamlessly with Apple iCloud.
If you’re looking to make the switch from a Windows laptop to a MacBook, this is a low-cost way to get started. The computer is also the perfect companion to an new iPhone 16, iPad and Apple Watch 10.
This fall, you can upgrade to the newest version of MacOS Sequoia and take advantage of the Apple’s new AI-powered functions.
15″ Apple MacBook Air (256GB) with M3 processor: $1,199 (save $100)
Amazon
Even if you don’t need the performance of a MacBook Pro, you might still benefit from a laptop with a 15-inch display, which is what this configuration of the new-for-2024 MacBook Air offers.
The additional on-screen real estate makes multitasking easier, so you can boost your productivity. Or if you’re running just one app at a time, you can see more on the screen at once. The larger display is also great for streaming TV shows, movies and gaming.
This configuration of the 2024 MacBook Air features a 15-inch Liquid Retina Display, runs using Apple’s powerful M3 processor and comes with 8 gigs of unified memory and a 256-gig capacity SSD for storage.
13″ Apple 2022 MacBook Air (256GB) with M2 processor: $849 (15% off)
Amazon
Perfect for a middle school or high school student, or an average user looking for an affordable “starter MacBook,” we recommend this 2022 Apple MacBook Air. It’s a slightly older version of the MacBook Air, but it still runs the latest version of MacOS and comes with all of the same preinstalled as current MacBooks. However, it runs using Apple’s M2 processor, as opposed to the newer (and faster) M3 silicone.
This MacBook Air is light, ultra-thin and ready to help you tackle your everyday computing tasks. It offers a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display and comes equipped with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for internal storage. You also get a backlit keyboard and a 1080p FaceTime HD webcam, so participating in video calls, online classes, or virtual meetings is easy.
Choose between four casing colors — midnight, silver, space gray, or starlight. When purchasing this laptop on Amazon, if you feel that 256 gigs isn’t enough storage, you can upgrade the SSD to offer 512 gigs of storage.
This version of the MacBook Air is currently on sale for $849, which is 15% off its usual $1,199 price.
What we link about the 2022 MacBook Air:
- It’s both lightweight and affordable, making it a great option for students and everyday use.
- The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display offers a brilliant viewing experience.
Acer Aspire 3: $300
Acer
This configuration of the Acer Aspire 3 laptop runs Windows 11 Home. It features a 15.6-inch full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixel) display and runs using an AMD Ryzen 3 7320U quad-core processor with AMD Radeon graphics. It’s bundled with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD for storage. And for wireless connectivity, it supports Wi-Fi 6.
The computer weighs just 3.92 pounds and when folded is a mere 0.74 inches thick. Battery life is up to 11 hours. For a limited time, Amazon has the 2023 version of the Acer Aspire 3 on sale for $300 ($30 off).
Why we like the Acer Aspire 3:
- The keyboard is backlit.
- The 15.6-inch display offers a 16:9 aspect ratio and a very narrow bezel.
- The computer is powered using an AMD Ryzen 3 7320U quad-core processor with AMD Radeon graphics.
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3: $739 (18% off)
Amazon
This is a 2022 edition of the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 laptop, which as its name suggests, is designed with PC gamers in mind. However, it’s also highly capable of handling a wide range of general computing tasks.
The computer is powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 6600H processor with Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics. It also comes with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB NVMe for storage. The 15.6-inch display offers 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate.
The computer measures 14.16 x 10.49 x 1.02 inches, but is a bit on the heavier side, weighing in at 7.55 pounds.
Why we like the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3:
- The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3’s screen has an anti-glare coating.
- Games will look ultra smooth, thanks to the display’s 120Hz refresh rate.
- The rapid charging feature allows the computer to recharge up to 40% in 15 minutes.
Acer Chromebook Spin 513: $225 (25% off)
Amazon
Harness the power of a full-featured laptop computer with the convenience of a tablet when you use the Acer Chromebook Spin 513. This is a Chromebook, so it runs ChromeOS (not Windows). This means it’ll run any apps available from the Google Play Store.
This particular model is configured with a 13.3-inch FHD touchscreen display, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage (eMMC, not an SSD). The keyboard is backlit. For a processor, the Spin 513 utilizes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c.
Like all low-cost Chromebooks, this one has minimal internal storage, so it relies heavily on cloud-based applications and comes with 100GB of Google Drive online storage space. So, to get the most out of this 2-in-1 computer, it’ll need a continuous Internet connection via Wi-Fi.
Why we like the Acer Chromebook Spin 513:
- The entire 2-in-1 device measures 12 x 8 x 1 inches and weighs 2.65 pounds.
- The 13.3-inch touchscreen display offers a 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution.
- The screen and keyboard have a hinge between them that rotates up to 360 degrees.
What is Prime Big Deal Days?
Prime Big Deal Days is basically like another Amazon Prime Day, but in the fall. (The regular Prime Day occurs mid-July every year.) Think of it as the unofficial start to the 2024 holiday shopping season, or Amazon’s early version of Black Friday.
Like Prime Day, Prime Big Deal Days lasts two days and features deals across a variety of the brand’s shopping categories, including fitness, home, tech and much more. Prime Big Deal Days is Amazon’s second biggest sales event of the year (the first is Prime Day, of course), so we expect the deals to be among the best the retail giant has to offer.
When is Prime Big Deal Days 2024?
Amazon has announced that Prime Big Deal Days 2024 will be held on October 8 and 9, 2024.
Do you need to be a Prime Member to shop during Prime Big Deal Days?
Yes. Like Prime Day, the best deals at the Prime Big Deal Days sales event will be exclusive to Amazon Prime members.
Don’t have Prime? We highly encourage you to try the service (in our opinion, it’s worth it). Amazon Prime is mega-popular for a reason — not only do you get fast free shipping (two-day, one-day or even same-day shipping, depending on the products ordered), but you also get access to Prime Video, where you’ll find a plethora of award-winning movies and TV shows, discounts at Whole Foods and more.
If you’ve never tried Amazon Prime before, the retailer will likely offer you a 30-day free trial to test out the service (your trial offer may differ). And if you’re a college student or a shopper between the ages of 18 and 24, you can try out Prime for six months free, then afterward pay a discounted rate of $7.49 per month.
An Amazon Prime membership is $14.99 per month, or $139 per year if you choose to pay annually (the monthly rate for that is about $11.50).
Do products on sale during Amazon Big Deal Days sell out?
You bet they do… and sometimes things sell out within hours. If you see something on sale that you want to get your hands on during the Amazon Big Deal Days sale, order it right away. Often, quantities are limited. Once a product is sold out at the sale price, Amazon won’t always restock right away and when it does restock, the sale price likely won’t be offered.
Can products bought from Amazon during Amazon Big Deal Days be returned?
Unless it specifically states in the product description or near the “add to cart” and “buy now” buttons that the product being offered on sale is a final sale or not returnable, Amazon’s regular return policy for that product will be honored.
On the right side of a product description on Amazon, just below the “buy now” button (and where it says “ships from and sold by”), look for the heading that says “returns.”
If the text says, “eligible for return, refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt,” that’s the return policy that will be honored. However, you may be responsible for paying return shipping to Amazon, unless you drop off the product at a Whole Foods or Kohl’s, which accepts some Amazon returns.
HUNTSVILLE — A Texas man who had waived his right to appeal his death sentence was put to death Tuesday evening for killing his 3-month-old son more than 16 years ago, one of five executions scheduled within a week’s time in the U.S.
AP
Travis Mullis, 38, received a lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville and was pronounced dead at 7:01 p.m. CDT. He was condemned for stomping to death his son Alijah in January 2008.
Mullis was the fourth inmate put to death this year in Texas, the nation’s busiest capital punishment state. Another execution was carried out Tuesday evening in Missouri, and on Thursday, executions were scheduled to take place in Oklahoma and Alabama. South Carolina conducted an execution Friday.
Authorities said Mullis, then 21 and living in Brazoria County, drove to nearby Galveston with his son after fighting with his girlfriend. Mullis parked his car and sexually assaulted his son. After the infant began to cry uncontrollably, Mullis began strangling the child before taking him out of the car and stomping on his head, according to authorities.
The infant’s body was later found on the roadside. Mullis fled the state but was later arrested after surrendering to police in Philadelphia.
Mullis’ execution proceeded after one of his attorneys, Shawn Nolan, said he planned no late appeals in a bid to spare the inmate’s life. Nolan also said in a statement Tuesday afternoon that Texas would be executing a “redeemed man” who has always accepted responsibility for committing “an awful crime.”
“He never had a chance at life being abandoned by his parents and then severely abused by his adoptive father starting at age three. During his decade and a half on death row, he spent countless hours working on his redemption. And he achieved it. The Travis that Texas wanted to kill is long gone. Rest in Peace TJ,” Nolan said.
Mullis declined an offer earlier in the day to phone his attorney from a holding cell outside the death chamber, said Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokeswoman Hannah Haney. His lawyers also did not file a clemency petition with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
In a letter submitted in February to U.S. District Judge George Hanks in Houston, Mullis wrote that he had no desire to challenge his case any further. Mullis has previously taken responsibility for his son’s death and has said “his punishment fit the crime.”
At Mullis’ trial, prosecutors said Mullis was a “monster” who manipulated people, was deceitful and refused the medical and psychiatric help he had been offered.
Since his conviction in 2011, Mullis has long been at odds with his various attorneys over whether to appeal his case. At times, Mullis had asked that his appeals be waived, only to later change his mind.
Nolan had previously told the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals during a June 2023 hearing that state courts in Texas had erred in ruling that Mullis had been mentally competent when he had waived his right to appeal his case about a decade earlier.
Nolan told the appeals court that Mullis has been treated for “profound mental illness” since he was 3 years old, was sexually abused as a child and is “severely bipolar,” leading him to change his mind about appealing.
Natalie Thompson, who at the time was with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, told the appeals court that Mullis understood what he was doing and could go against his lawyers’ advice “even if he’s suffering from mental illness.”
The appeals court upheld Hank’s ruling from 2021 that found Mullis “repeatedly competently chose to waive review” of his death sentence.
The U.S. Supreme Court has prohibited the application of the death penalty for the intellectually disabled, but not for people with serious mental illness.
If the remaining executions in Texas, Alabama and Oklahoma are carried out as planned, it will mark the first time in more than 20 years — since July 2003 — that five were held in seven days, according to the nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center, which takes no position on capital punishment but has criticized the way states carry out executions.
The first took place Friday when South Carolina put inmate Freddie Owens to death. Also Tuesday, Marcellus Williams was executed in Missouri. On Thursday, executions are scheduled for Alan Miller in Alabama and Emmanuel Littlejohn in Oklahoma.
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