Used/Refurb Laptop

[Barlow]

I am looking to purchase my first laptop ever. I've always had a desktop. Still do and it is my workhorse, so to speak. I am interested in a previously leased or used laptop. It doesn't have to be the latest and the greatest. It would be used primarily for fun. To surf the internet. Some downloading of music and movies. Possibly communication. Also could be used as a dvd player when away from home. I dont know a lot about laptops. Looking for some suggestions of what you think I might think about getting. And a good reputable dealer of used / refurbished laptops. There use to be a company called "Rebox" that had what looked like some great deals. And did purchase a desktop from them and was very satisfied with the purchase. But, they're no longer in business, or were bought out. I've always heard, get the most you can afford. But I am afraid all I can afford will be wasted. Thanks.

[edDV]

I just went through that exercise and concluded prices are dropping so fast on new dual core models + mobile chipsets and graphics chips are getting better + new models have built in wireless that I concluded new beats refurb.

The basic Pentium and AMD X2 models (with DVD Writer) can be found as low as $400 on rebate specials. These models usually lack a PC Card port and IEEE-1394 but have nice screens and multiple USB2 ports. The Compaq F730US that I got for $429ar at Staples has the NVIDIA GeForce 6100 chipset that even supports analog component HD out and includes Vista Premium with MCE. I upgraded memory to 2GB from Frys for just $44.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01150100&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&produ...548244&lang=en
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834107003

Next level models add PC Card port, IEEE-1394 and Core2Duo processors in the $600-800 range.

[lordsmurf]

I purchased my last laptop, an HP, as a refurb from Microcenter. They have a .com storefront too. The ecost.com is another good source for products like this.

[stiltman]

http://www.salescircular.com/

http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineSales/topics/global.aspx/arb/online/en/InventorySea...=22&l=en&s=dfh

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/can.do;HHOJSID=1KW5HJzC8ZZTYmJVvjzLv2P1hXZSpb1QVMV 6GcWHLQF0ZgXL0j0h!293488432?landing=outlet&categor y=Notebook%20PC&catLevel=1&storeName=storefronts&l anAttr=Computing

http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/bstorelist.to?coid=-29405

[classfour]

If you watch and see what one-year or older laptops are going for on ebay and other sites, you'll likely end up buying a new one.

Warranty.

One Year (or more) less wear and tear.

OEM support.

If I had $400 or more to spend: I'd buy new.

[lordsmurf]

Warranties are often overrated.

With a laptop, it's only good for the screen. By and large, the warranty is long gone by the time the screen has issues. Nothing else inside really should go bad, and probably won't.

When it comes to refurbs, it's my opinion that whatever could go wrong already happened. And now it's fixed. The unknowns of buying new are now gone. It's like new again, and without any potential problems. I rarely hear about refurb products going bad ever again.

My refurb was about 50-66% of the price of a new one with comparable specs.

[videobread]

In my opinion, a real IBM is the best. You can get a deal on factory refurbs with full warranty at:

http://www.seattlelaptop.com/

Did you know that most laptops out there have never had a spare part made for them? All repairs are from used parts. Laptop repairs are really expensive. Do you really need a laptop?

[edDV]

In my opinion, a real IBM is the best. You can get a deal on factory refurbs with full warranty at:

http://www.seattlelaptop.com/

Did you know that most laptops out there have never had a spare part made for them? All repairs are from used parts. Laptop repairs are really expensive. Do you really need a laptop?

I've had my share of laptop failures in the past so now I bottom fish for basic needs and consider it disposable. My last laptop cost me close to $2000. This new one is under $500 complete and quite satisfactory. Having ethernet and wireless built in eliminated the need for a PC Card slot.

[oldandinthe way]

Your requirements can be met by a minimally configured NEW laptop.

Walmart had an acer laptop with a celeron M (single core) 1gb memory, 80gb HD, DVD/CR-RW, Vista, wireless-g etc etc before thanksgiving for $348. Multiple USB 2.0 ports, ethernet 100mb and firewire. 15" screen.

I saw a similar Acer unit for $399 in one of this weekend sale circulars (microcenter I think).

There are occaisional sales on Compaq laptops at $399.

Buy used and you get less disk, less memory, less horsepower, USB 1. No warranty. We have already reached the point where a replacement notebook IDE drive exceeds the cost of a larger notebook SATA drive. PCMCIA wireless cards used in older laptops are obsolete - many used laptops don't include this because they are used as spares for repair. And then there is the battery issue. Is the battery safe or is it a recalled model?

Many of the laptops being shipped by major manufacturers use the same motherboard for single and dual core Intel processors and can be upgraded. I have no experience with AMD laptop processors.

My worthy Lenovo laptop (the successor to IBM's PC operation)with its Centrino Duo can be upgraded to Core Duo or downgraded to Celeron M or Pentium M.

[classfour]

Whichever way you go, do your research. Many models that can be had cheap (or not cheap) on ebay have a gloomy forcast. A friend of mine bought a Toshiba off ebay for $500 and was quite proud of his purchase. When I researched it for him, there were many mobo failures. Luckily for him: Toshiba replaced the mobo no questions asked. Had HP done the same for me in 2005 (Compaq Presario 1200XL125 which had known mobo failures, and a dedicated method of dying), I would've likely bought HP instead of Dell (FOUR times); and would recommend HP to others - which I never do.

Old is right: you get better specs with a new machine.

EdDV is right: Laptop repair is quite expensive, as are the parts. While I've dabbled in laptop repair, I really don't want to do it - even on my own. It's one thing to change out a hard drive or add memory, but a full mobo swap is a royal pain. With laptops starting at $400 or less, you can buy a new model, put it in a safe bag (I use those with the air pockets), don't leave it out in the cold (or heat), and you should get 5 years or more out of it - well beyond the useful life of the OS.

[Barlow]

Thanks for the opinions. I wish I had asked this question a day earlier. I might have had a chance at one of the $450 Toshibas at BB. I guess brand is something to consider also.

[lordsmurf]

My refurb was a top-of-the-line machine, and still cost well over a grand. When you scrape the bottom of the list, those $250-400 laptops, of course you'll end up with something crappy. But that has nothing to do with it being refurb or not.