Lenovo has just been found to be guilty of preloading spyware from hell so steer clear. If you want quality, look at low end PRO series of the top brand names.that match your price. If you want all the bells and whistles, look at high end models of the budget series. I just bought an "End of Line" but top end 15" notebook really cheap. Has a metal chassis and built like a brick, Heavy too but will last. And being top end you know the guts are the best and not budget bits. Save some money and add a SSD ASAP as this makes it near bullet proof if / when dropped . I found it easy to swap out the HDD.
Make a list of what it has to have b4 you buy and discover that special deal doesn't have that 1 thing you needed.
Shops sometimes getting rid of "End of Line Models" to make space for the new models. Tip: Ask the shop manager if they have such models as sometimes they are always on display, (so I found out.)
Unfortunately Compaq is now bottom end since HP bought them out and many cheaper HP's get very HOT due to poor designed cooling fan and layout. Ask a computer repair shop what their biggest brand and models they fix and why. (this is how I found out about HP) May save you money too.
Make your list of what you need it to have , find the brand that has these and the level of quality, google problems with that model (theres always some) just make sure its not hundreds of them or a complete recall and thats why its on super sale. By this stage you should have it down to just a couple.Then its usually down to looks.
Don't get sucked into extended warranties IF your country has consumer protection laws.