The biggest problem with desktop PCs is that they’re not portable. This is fine if you enjoy being chained to a machine. I’ve spent countless, butt-numbing hours at my monitor, unable to adjust my body into a comfortable position. I’ve tried different chairs. Once, I even used a chaise lounge. Nothing helped. By back still hurt. My neck still strained and my carpal tunnel flared like a wall of fire.
I needed to work on a computer that I could lay on the floor, or on the coffee table or my comfy bed. I needed a computer I could tote around to my favorite café as well as the airport or the next adult webmaster convention. I needed a laptop PC.
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"When you look for a used notebook, take into account your needs as opposed to your desires." |
Have you seen the prices for new notebook computers these days? While desktop prices are at all-time lows, new notebooks still cost about as much as they did seven years ago. Laptop manufacturers know the reality. Most people who buy computers already own a desktop. Most people that love PCs want to take them wherever they go. Most people will pay extra to own a laptop. Notebook prices will stay higher than desktop prices because convenience is always more expensive than practicality.
I like new things. I’d love to go out and get a brand-new laptop PC. I’d love to own the State of Texas but that ain’t gonna happen anytime soon either. I learned a long time ago that if you can’t afford something new, something used will do just as fine. Notebook computers are no different.
If you need a notebook computer but you’re too broke to afford a new one then, by all means buy a used or refurbished one. There are tons of great deals out there for the frugal shopper. All you have to know is what to look for and what you need. Here are a few tips on how to find the used/refurbished laptop PC that’s right for you and your pocketbook:
All refurbished PCs are used but not all used PCs are refurbished. When a computer has been refurbished, that means it’s been cleaned up, the hard drive formatted (or replaced) and -most times- the machine has been upgraded hardware-wise. IE: more RAM, faster CPU, more ports. A refurbished PC is a used PC but reconditioned and improved. A used PC is a used PC. Then again, most used sellers take the time to format the hard-drive and wipe off the grime. Probably all used PCs are refurbished in a way. It’s just that some are more refurbished than others.
What Do You Need in a Laptop?
Do you really need a 80 GIG hard-drive, a 3.0 GHZ CPU, 512 Megs of RAM plus Windows XP Pro? Instead of shopping for maximum system specs, think about your actual needs.
I mostly use my laptop as a glorified word processor. The majority of my work is text-based. I don’t need a monster graphics card or some obnoxious, pre-installed software. I bought a refurbished laptop with no operating system installed. I already own OS software and all the other software I use for my work. Heck, I even had an external CD-ROM drive, so I bought a laptop that came without one. I don’t use my laptop to upload gallery images or large files so I didn’t need mega power. I bought a simple IBM with no OS, a small hard drive, a 266 MMX chip and a little bit of RAM. I installed my copy of Windows, my copy of Office Pro and my copies of other necessary programs.
The whole effort cost me about $175.00, including shipping. I bought an external modem for $6.00 and upgraded my Dialup Networking software and now I can email my articles to Cozy Frog from the comfort of my bedroom. If I need broadband, I just walk into the next room and hit the desktop.
When you look for a used notebook, take into account your needs as opposed to your desires. Less powerful laptops cost less and ones without operating systems installed cost even less.
Do You Know Where to Shop?
This is my favorite place online for used/refurbished notebook computers. I purchased my first laptop from them and it worked wonderfully until I spilled coffee on the keyboard. I bought a second notebook (the aforementioned IBM) and have been loving it ever since. They offer a 90-day warranty with every machine plus an extended warranty at extra cost. They sell models from well-known brands such as Toshiba, Gateway and Dell. The best part of all, their prices are rock-bottom.
When my kid could no longer live with her inherited laptop with the messed-up keyboard, I went in search of another used machine to replace it. I set my price at no higher than $150.00 and didn’t stop until I found what I wanted. Laptops Online was my first choice but they didn’t have anything in my price range among their current, ever-changing stock. So I turned to Ebay.
Ebay has many great features. One of the best features is the ability to refine one’s search. I was able to look for laptops that had 400 MGZ or less processor speeds. I found quite a few so I narrowed my search even more to auctions that were closing the soonest.
Among those results I began to look for laptops emanating from sellers with USER RATINGS of no less than 100. A seller with a high rating is a safer seller. I read each auction description carefully. I got outbid a few times but finally won a nice IBM. It’s in my kid’s room now and it cost me a total of $152.00, including shipping.
My third favorite option. This site doesn’t sell anything. It’s actually a search engine where you can look for deals offered by other online shops. While I’ve never bought a computer through PriceWatch, I have purchased lots of other stuff like notebook batteries, PC speakers and PCMCIA cards from this marvelous resource.
If you need a laptop computer, don’t let a little thing like prices get in your way. Buy used. Buy refurbished. Buy now!
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