Used laptops - stores in Chicago

[Jeremiah58]

Hi,

I'll be in Chicago during August and planning to buy used laptop there.
I'm kindly asking for an advice:
What could I expect for the price range of 300 - 350 $ ?
Are there any stores to visit for used laptops or should I try my luck on eBay?

I'll be looking for the unit with no OS and software installed.

Thank you.

[Super Warrior]

Hi,

I'll be in Chicago during August and planning to buy used laptop there.
I'm kindly asking for an advice:
What could I expect for the price range of 300 - 350 $ ?
Are there any stores to visit for used laptops or should I try my luck on eBay?

I'll be looking for the unit with no OS and software installed.

Thank you.

Laptops are coming down in price nicely, you should just buy a new one. I highly recommend Dell's Inspiron B120 which i have. Only cost me $450 total(free shipping) and performs like a champ, even sold my desktop and now use it as my primary comp.

It has:

14" Screen
1.4Ghz Celeron-M w/1MB L2 Cache
256MB DDR2 Ram
40GB HDD
DVD/CD-RW drive.

BTW my previous desktop had a 2.8Ghz Celeron D CPU, and the laptop out-performs it. Also it is both EASY to upgrade and using modern CPU components, making it a snap to add-on New stuff like an internal DVD-RW drive or more Ram later if you want.

Its worth the extra money rather than spending $350 on some older used laptop that won't be nearly as good.

[edDV]

It all depends what you want to do with it.

EMail + websites look for PIII 750MHz and up. Lower can work if you are very patient.
DV work 750 min 1200 MHz better. >2.0GHz better yet . on up.

You have us guessing about what you want do go with this thing.

[Jeremiah58]

Thank you for your replies.
What do I want to do with this thing?
I want to add it to my home LAN/WLAN network and do as much as I can with it. It would be mostly in the hands of my kids (college and high school).
I 've been seeing some really good stuff selling at eBay for arround 350$ (I repeat no OS and no software - I have to pay custom duties when I return home).
For example look what could be found on eBay in the price range of 450$:
http://cm.ebay.com/cm/ck/1065-29400-2357-0?uid=74675027&site=0&ver=WNA080805&item=1700...emdescription1
or 350$:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:B:BCA:US:11&Item=150002446290

[cL0N31]

for $350 i'd sell 1.0-1.2Ghz laptop system not better... it would be ibm thinkpad or dell latitude

[Jeremiah58]

for $350 i'd sell 1.0-1.2Ghz laptop system not better... it would be ibm thinkpad or dell latitude

I uderstand.
Those laptops on eBay are probably government or corporate surplus bought as a lot, refurbished, and thus offering on a non-reserve auctions starting with law bids.
I've bought a lot of equipment for my own lab on eBay (US government surplus) for the fraction of their real price, always checking the feedback of a seller and I was never cheated.
I guess I'll try my luck on eBay with a laptop as well.
Thank you for your answers.