MacBook Air, Lenovo, and the best laptop deals this week

MacBook Air, Lenovo, and Dell Inspiron are among the laptop deals featured this week.Whether you're starting school or replacing an outdated machine, this week's best laptop feature models for everyone. 

Whether you're starting school or replacing an outdated machine, this week's best laptop deals feature models for everyone. We kick off with Apple's 13" 2014 MacBook Air, which is currently $750 at Best Buy (a valid .edu address is required). If you like the svelte shape of the MacBook Air, but don't have deep pockets, the Microsoft Store offers the 14" Aspire V5-473P complete with a 1080p touchscreen display for $499. We also have two desktop replacements from $600 and the well-rated Acer Aspire S7 for $849.

1. Apple MacBook Air Intel Haswell Core i5 1.3GHz 13.3" LED-Backlit Laptop
   Store: Best Buy
   Price: $749.99 via this link with free shipping EXPIRED
   Lowest By: $50

   Is It Worth It?: For students or faculty with an active .edu e-mail address only, Best Buy offers the 2014 MacBook Air 13" for $750. Input your address here and you'll get a coupon code that takes $100 off Best Buy's price. Compare that to Apple's back-to-school price for this machine ($949 bundled with a $100 Apple gift card) and you'll spend less money at Best Buy, which makes this deal an Editors' Choice pick. The 2.9-lb. machine features an Intel Core i5 1.4GHz dual-core processor, 13.3" 1440x900 LED-backlit LCD, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD, and 802.11ac wireless.

2. Acer Aspire Intel Haswell Core i5 1.6GHz 13.3" Touchscreen Ultrabook
   Store: Microsoft Store
   Price: $899 with free shipping
   Lowest By: $125

   Is It Worth It?: "If you want a laptop that packs both beauty and brawn, Acer's new Aspire S7-392-6807 is a strong contender," saysLaptop. Back in our roundup for the second consecutive week, this system is a refresh of last year's model. The new 2014 S7 packs a 13" WQHD 2560x1440 touchscreen, an Intel Core i5-4200U Haswell 1.6GHz dual-core processor, 8GB RAM, and a 128GB SSD. At 2.9-lbs., it keeps its predecessor's barely-there profile and it's also the cheapest price we could find for this Editors' Choice deal by $125.

3. Lenovo Z40 Intel Haswell Core i7 3GHz 14" Laptop
   Store: Lenovo
   Price: $689 via coupon code "RMNUSLENOVO3" with free shipping EXPIRED
   Lowest By: $310
   Expires: August 13

   Is It Worth It?: Released in May, the Lenovo Z40 is an entertainment-focused laptop complete with dedicated graphics and a screaming CPU. The 14" powerhouse packs a Haswell Core i7-4500U 3GHz dual-core processor, 14" 1366x768 LED-backlit LCD, 8GB RAM, 1TB hard drive with 8GB SSD, and an NVIDIA GeForce GT 820M 2GB graphics card.

4. Dell Inspiron 5748 Intel Haswell Core i5 1.7GHz 17.3" LED-Backlit Laptop
   Store: Dell Home
   Price: $599.99 with free shipping
   Lowest By: $340
   Expires: August 14

   Is It Worth It?: The Inspiron 5748 is the Inspiron 5000's big brother, packing a beefy 17.3" screen. Though it lacks the sexy curves and polish of Dell's premium line of laptops, this 6.6-lb. tank packs a more modest $600 price tag. It features an Intel Core i5-4210U 1.7GHz Haswell dual-core processor, 17.3" 1600x900 LED-backlit LCD, 8GB RAM, and a 1TB hard drive.

5. HP ENVY Touchsmart 17t Intel Haswell Core i7 2.5GHz 17.3" Touchscreen Laptop
   Store: HP Home & Home Office
   Price: $799.99 via coupon code "HPBTS20" with free shipping
   Lowest By: $200
   Expires: August 16

   Is It Worth It?: Want a desktop replacement with a touchscreen display? HP stuffs the ENVY Touchsmart 17t with all the latest tech you could want, including a 17.3" 1600x900 touchscreen LCD. Tipping the scales at 7 lbs., this multimedia powerhouse features an Intel Core i7-4710HQ 2.5GHz Haswell quad-core processor, 12GB of RAM, and a 1TB hard drive.

6. Acer Aspire Intel Haswell Core i5 1.6GHz 14" 1080p Touchscreen Laptop
   Store: Microsoft Store
   Price: $499 with free shipping
   Lowest By: $100

   Is It Worth It?: Earlier this year, the Aspire V5-473P made a quick cameo in Engadget's Laptop Buyer's Guide. Judging from its specs, it's obvious why this laptop deserved that recognition. It packs a sharp, 14" 1920x1080 (1080p) touchscreen LCD, an Intel Core i5-4200U 1.6GHz Haswell dual-core processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive. If you're still on the fence, this configuration is also the cheapest 14" touchscreen laptop we've seen with a 1080p display.

Louis Ramirez is a features writer for Dealnews.com, where this article first appeared: http://dealnews.com/features/best-laptop-deals/