Buying A Cheap Laptop Without Buying Into A Scam
People buy cheap laptops for all different reasons. There are certainly enough of them out there, but it can be difficult to find a computer that will meet your needs as well as your budget. You’ve really got to have your wits about you to make sure you don’t end up with an outdated piece of junk instead of a decent, cheap laptop.
Know what you want ahead of time.
Don’t get roped into buying a laptop that is beyond your budget and comes with extras that you just don’t need. Write out a list of things you must have, and things you can get away without. One example of this is buying a laptop that doesn’t have wireless internet built into it, then buying a cheap USB connector for as little as $10.
If you’re going for a cheap laptop, you probably aren’t going to be doing anything too extravagant on it. 40GB of space should be plenty, and you can probably get away with buying a laptop with 256MB of RAM and upgrading to 1GB much cheaper than buying it already installed. Basic Intel processors are suitable for general use without buying anything too expensive.
Vista uses more RAM and is less compatible with current programs than Windows XP.
Battery life can have a big impact on the cost, but may not be an important factor for the user. Ask yourself how often you are actually going to use your laptop in places without access to power points. Outdoors you are likely to experience screen glare anyway, so you will probably be able to use your laptop charger most places you go.
Cheaper laptops tend to come with bigger screens, which is great for watching movies and the like, but may not be so good for text display. It can also make the laptop bulkier and harder to carry around or fit into standard laptop cases. On the other hand, mini laptop screens may prove too small for your needs, so it is important to shop around and find something that fits both your budget and your requirements.
Buying a second hand laptop.
The general advice with regards to purchasing used laptops is: don’t. It’s to end up with a bad deal. However, a bit of patience and know-how can land you a fantastic bargain. In the end, it really comes down to finding a trusted buyer and asking the right questions.
1. Where possible, buy from someone you know, or a reputable computer resaler.
2.Ask the seller why they are selling it. They may have been having problems with their laptop, in which case you should probably find something else. Or, they may have just upgraded and simply don’t need their old laptop any more.
3. Age matters with laptops. Anything older than five years will have fewer capabilities than more recent models, and will start to become incompatible with newer software products. If you find a laptop for sale that is less than one year old then you should be asking why it is being resold so soon.
4. Compare the sale price of the laptop with its original price. If the seller doesn’t give you this information, you can look up the laptop model on the internet to find out how much it was originally worth. If a used computer is close to its original price, you may as well just pay the little bit extra to get a new one. If it’s dirt cheap, find out why. It’s probably too old to be very useful any more, or there’s something wrong with it. Your best bet is to find a laptop that is a couple of years old and selling at around half its original price.
5. If something goes wrong with your machine, you’re going to want to have a warranty. Ask about this before committing to a purchase.
6. Try and secure the original proof of purchase. You may need to provide this should you require repairs or maintenance. It also safeguards you against accidentally purchasing a stolen machine.
7. Make sure that if you find that the item doesn’t meet the description you were given, the seller is prepared to give you a complete refund. If they refuse, don’t go ahead with the sale.
Andrew Johnson is an expert in computer products. If you would like more information about types of cheap laptop or are searching for a reputable computer retailer please visit http://www.ebuyer.com
People buy cheap laptops for all different reasons. There are certainly enough of them out there, but it can be difficult to find a computer that will meet your needs as well as your budget. You’ve really got to have your wits about you to make sure you don’t end up with an outdated piece of junk instead of a decent, cheap laptop.
Know what you want ahead of time.
Don’t get roped into buying a laptop that is beyond your budget and comes with extras that you just don’t need. Write out a list of things you must have, and things you can get away without. One example of this is buying a laptop that doesn’t have wireless internet built into it, then buying a cheap USB connector for as little as $10.
If you’re going for a cheap laptop, you probably aren’t going to be doing anything too extravagant on it. 40GB of space should be plenty, and you can probably get away with buying a laptop with 256MB of RAM and upgrading to 1GB much cheaper than buying it already installed. Basic Intel processors are suitable for general use without buying anything too expensive.
Vista uses more RAM and is less compatible with current programs than Windows XP.
Battery life can have a big impact on the cost, but may not be an important factor for the user. Ask yourself how often you are actually going to use your laptop in places without access to power points. Outdoors you are likely to experience screen glare anyway, so you will probably be able to use your laptop charger most places you go.
Cheaper laptops tend to come with bigger screens, which is great for watching movies and the like, but may not be so good for text display. It can also make the laptop bulkier and harder to carry around or fit into standard laptop cases. On the other hand, mini laptop screens may prove too small for your needs, so it is important to shop around and find something that fits both your budget and your requirements.
Buying a second hand laptop.
The general advice with regards to purchasing used laptops is: don’t. It’s to end up with a bad deal. However, a bit of patience and know-how can land you a fantastic bargain. In the end, it really comes down to finding a trusted buyer and asking the right questions.
1. Where possible, buy from someone you know, or a reputable computer resaler.
2.Ask the seller why they are selling it. They may have been having problems with their laptop, in which case you should probably find something else. Or, they may have just upgraded and simply don’t need their old laptop any more.
3. Age matters with laptops. Anything older than five years will have fewer capabilities than more recent models, and will start to become incompatible with newer software products. If you find a laptop for sale that is less than one year old then you should be asking why it is being resold so soon.
4. Compare the sale price of the laptop with its original price. If the seller doesn’t give you this information, you can look up the laptop model on the internet to find out how much it was originally worth. If a used computer is close to its original price, you may as well just pay the little bit extra to get a new one. If it’s dirt cheap, find out why. It’s probably too old to be very useful any more, or there’s something wrong with it. Your best bet is to find a laptop that is a couple of years old and selling at around half its original price.
5. If something goes wrong with your machine, you’re going to want to have a warranty. Ask about this before committing to a purchase.
6. Try and secure the original proof of purchase. You may need to provide this should you require repairs or maintenance. It also safeguards you against accidentally purchasing a stolen machine.
7. Make sure that if you find that the item doesn’t meet the description you were given, the seller is prepared to give you a complete refund. If they refuse, don’t go ahead with the sale.
Andrew Johnson is an expert in computer products. If you would like more information about types of cheap laptop or are searching for a reputable computer retailer please visit http://www.ebuyer.com