Where do you find laptops?

The Lenovo you want is probably an X220, X220i, or X230. You're going to have a hard time finding a new-condition two-year-old model, though. There are lots of used ones on eBay for within your budget.

If you're in the US, Laptop Closeout have the http://www.laptopcloseout.com/usa/en-us/dept_5.html#item_332 for $900. I've bought a couple of Thinkpads from them before (from their Canadian division) and found them to be helpful.

I'm typing this on a nice lightly used Lenovo T520 that I got on eBay for under $400. There are tons of nice lightly used Lenovos on eBay for fairly cheap.

I've bought a couple of IBM/Lenovo machines from their refurbished store directly, and never had any issues with them. You can get ones that are cheaper and/or a bit older by looking around on eBay, Amazon Marketplace, and various third-party vendors though. But I don't really believe anybody but Lenovo really "refurbishes" the machines. In all other cases you're really just buying "used". Which is probably fine, just as long as you're ready for key wear and other signs of a not-new computer. If I was going to buy a used one today I'd probably look at the Amazon Marketplace pretty hard before I started trolling eBay. In the last few years I've had much better luck buying from them than the 'bay.

I bought a Lenovo laptop from a eBay vendor called laptopexperience, and I am very satisfied with the item. It looks like this vendor gets them after 1 or 2 year leases, cleans them up, and sells them. Not a new item, but a good machine costing less than half your budget. I figure mine will last three years or more.

Seconding the Lenovo outlet, various vendors on ebay, and Amazon Marketplace. You could also try overstock.com and newegg.com. where are the old models available The thing is, whether you're a manufacturer, a wholesaler, or a retailer, you want to get rid of stuff before it gets "old." This is probably especially true for high-tech stuff like laptops, where the industry is constantly coming out with newer sexier models with improved specs. Unsold stock sitting on your shelves is actually costing you money, and it's not at all unusual for a company to sell something at a loss just so they can get some cash to put towards new units that they can actually make a profit on. So, generally, first a manufacturer will try to sell last year's model through their regular sources at a steep discount at the end of their "manufacturing year" cycle, which may or may not coincide with a calendar year. Then they'll dump any unused models for an even cheaper price to various other sellers, like overstock and newegg and companies on ebay, and those companies then try to sell the stuff as quick as they can while they can get the highest possible price. IOW, you're not missing any obvious or even any "seekrit" sources for 2+ year old new laptops - they're gonna be rare because that's how the system works. All of which is a long-winded way of pointing out that being willing to buy lightly used or refurbished computers will significantly expand your possible choices. All of my personal computers have been refurbs or lightly used, and so far (knock on wood) I've made some good/lucky choices, and they've lasted for years.