Why Buy a Used Laptop Instead of New

If you're planning to purchase a laptop or notebook (note that laptops and notebooks are the same thing), consider buying used or refurbished laptop. A refurbished laptop is a used laptop that has been rebuilt by a professional, and made to be like new again.

First, let us take a moment to consider your needs in a laptop. What do you plan to do with your laptop? Do you your plans include the following:

Surfing the internet

Checking emails

Instant messenger

Writing papers

Printing Papers

Making spreadsheets

Slide Presentations

Playing Solitaire

Downloading MP3's

Listening to MP3's

Burning to CD's

Watching DVD's

Digital camera photo

Children's games

Keeping bank figures

Small business use

The lists goes on...

Most used laptops will easily complete all of the above mentioned tasks for you. What's really great is that for most current applications on a refurbished laptop, you won't notice a performance difference compared to a brand new laptop.

How is that possible to not notice a difference between a brand new laptop and a refurbished one?

That's a good question. The fact is, most current software for your computer is not designed to need the high performance of a brand new laptop. Computer manufactures are moving so fast, that software makers simply do not keep up. Most current software will run on a computer 4 times slower than the fastest laptops made.

Most current software will run flawlessly on a computer 4 times slower than the fastest laptops made.

What does that mean for you? It means that it's not necessary to spend $1500 or more on a top of the line laptop. Depending on your needs from your laptop, you may be able to buy a laptop for as low as $250. A $250 laptop will perform all the necessary tasks for most people. However, if you are looking for a laptop that will burn CD's and watch DVD movies, expect to spend $400 - $750.

Dell says I can buy a brand new laptop for $699, why should I buy a used one?

This is a very smart, and very much overlooked, marketing trick. Let me start by saying that I think Dell is the best computer manufacture on the market, and I endorse their products myself. However, try this yourself on any given day with any manufacture : Today I went to do and browsed new inspiron laptops (The Dell line designed for home users). On the home page was an ad for a laptop "from" $699. This is after a $100 rebate, so make that price $799. I click the ad and attempt to purchase the item. I am offered to "Customize" or choose "Recommended Solutions". Customizing sounds great. I'm the customer, and I should get what I want. After choosing "Customize", without selecting any upgrades at all, suddenly the price of the laptop is $1371. I don't like that, so I chose all of the lowest possible choices for all available features to achieve the lowest price. The lowest available configuration made the price $907. I don't want to give up, so I go back and choose "Reco mmended Solutions" because these configurations are pre-manufactured in quantity, and are therefore cheaper. Four options were offered at these prices: $949, $1249, $999, and $1319. Each one of these options was offered a $150 rebate (keep in mind this is a mail-in rebate so it doesn't lower your price at checkout) so respectively, if I were to purchase, then wait for my rebate, I could get a laptop for $799, $1099, $849, or $1169. Not one option was available to purchase this laptop at the advertised priced price of $699, even after a mail-in rebate! You will find the same scenario anywhere you go, no matter what manufacture.

No option was available to purchase a laptop for $699, even after a mail-in rebate!

They have to get you to buy from them somehow. All of the computer manufactures have been using this marketing technique (as described above) for years. Imagine if everyone knew about this and the money they could save on buying a refurbished laptop, without having to sacrifice any of their goals and needs from the computer. These manufactures would not be the same companies that they are today.

There are more reasons to consider a refurbished laptop.

Another aspect of buying a refurbished computer that should be considered is this: Most refurbished laptops available are not the "low end" home user based laptops. Examples of home user laptops are: Compaq Presario, Dell Inspiron, eMachines, Hewlett Packard Pavilion, Sony Vaio, and Toshiba Satellite. Refurbished laptops are almost always business model laptops that are off-lease from major corporations.

Business laptops have parts available even long after warranty expires.

Business laptops provide a better solution because they are the laptops provided by a company that are proven to work well. Examples of business laptops are: Compaq Armada, Dell Latitude, Hewlett Packard Compaq Mobile/Business Workstation, and Toshiba Tecra. Home user laptops, believe it or not, are usually testing grounds for new engineering of laptop equipment. Home user laptops are typically given shorter warranty, and are designed to last until that warranty expires. After the laptop's warranty has expired, the newer "experimental" home user model available uses different parts. Since the older models are no longer under warranty, and they use "out of date" parts, the manufacture no longer stocks the parts. Therefore, when your home user laptop has an out of warranty problem (which it will), the parts that are available to fix your laptop are very expensive, if they are available at all. This leaves the home user with the attitude to "throw away and buy new", which is exactly what the manufacture wants you to do.

Since business laptops use technology that is proven to work, their parts seldom change from model to model. Due to this fact as well as the fact that business laptops are leased to corporations, huge stock piles of parts are kept at the manufacture for extended warranties as well as out of warranty purchases. For example, you can still call Dell today to order parts for an out of warranty laptop that was manufactured in 1997 or 1998 for the same cost as laptops manufactured in 2002.

Business laptops are more expensive than home laptops (as much as $3000), buy used and save a ton.

Business laptops, due to their stability, are far more expensive than home user laptops. Using the Dell example, the cheapest Dell business laptop (Latitude), currently available is $2000. Many of the refurbished laptops being sold today for $250-$800 originally sold for $3000 or more. This means you can buy refurbished and save as much as 80% over buying new.

Purchase a refurbished laptop that will suit your needs and last for years, at a great savings.

What all of this means is that if you purchase a refurbished laptop, you can expect the following:

Able to complete all tasks necessary to an everyday user

Half the cost of a brand new home user laptop

Up to 80% less than a brand new business laptop

Proven technology that will last for years

Parts always available if your laptop has a problem

Take control in your life, and put extra money in your pocket for other things that are important to you!

Find a Great Refurbished Laptop on the Web Today at

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10 Things To Be Considered Before Buying Student Laptops - Computers

With falling prices, buying a student laptop has become a cake walk for many of those who could not afford it before. The present day laptops are smarter, sleeker and sturdier. All in all, they have become better equipped to meet the hard wear and tear treatment by the students.

But how would a first time buyer who hasn't used the laptop before will get the best laptop from his purchase? Here is the list of top 10 things you must consider before buying a student laptop:

1.First things first, before investing your resources in this ideal machine, you should be clear with some of the basic fundamentals of your requirement, like what are your major requirements as for computer hardware and software? Can your laptop be used in the classroom for taking notes and connecting to the internet? What internet connections are available in your campus and how can you connect to the University's/School's intranet? These are some of the basic questions that need to be answered before you invest into your dream machine.

2.The next step which follows after making your requirements clear is that what kind of laptop is best suited for your needs. Consider, what attributes it should carry in order to fulfill your basic requirements, without involving much management from your side.

3.While buying a laptop make sure that you buy it from a vendor who will be able to support your needs. If you purchase it from a shop local to you but far away from the place where it is intended to be used, it makes difficult for the service calls.

Other things to be considered are:

4.Size: An ideal student laptop must be small, light-weighted and very portable as students peculiarly need the one they can carry easily to places.Sturdiness: Your laptop should be tough and sturdy enough to bear any kind of treatment given by you.

5.Software compatibility: Shop for the software section before buying your machine to make sure that in the end you can afford both the machine and the software of your choice.

6.Convenience: It should be convenient for you to use it anytime.

7.Connections: Access to internet is a must for any student. So, this facility should be available to you anywhere and anytime.

8.Besides a proper internet connection there are some of the must checks which you need to make in your laptop-- a printer port, a 56 kbps-modem, at least one USB port for external keyboard/mouse, drive, digital cameras and MP3 players. A VGA port for an external monitor will be an added advantage.

9.Technical specifications: your laptop should have enough storage space, RAM and the right computing speed to accomplish any kind of job. For example: Your laptop should posses a reasonable battery life which can be of five hours or more.

10.Price: Last but never the least, there always exist price constraints for students. Therefore your laptop should be reasonably priced. For this matter refurbished laptops may be a good option for those who are on a real strict budget.

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Are Netbooks the Perfect Student Laptops? - Computers

Netbooks are everywhere, on buses, on trains, on planes... and in the classroom. It seems the little netbook has come out of nowhere to become extremely popular overnight.

But what is a netbook?

Netbooks usually have screens of 10 inches or less, runs Windows or Linux and generally sell for well under $500. As its name indicates, the netbook's main purpose is to keep its owner conveniently connected to the net - anywhere, anytime.

First introduced by Asustek when it launched the first Eee PC in the fall of 2007. But it was only in the last year when we saw the explosive growth of these so-called mini-laptops. Now we have many computer companies such as HP, Dell, Lenovo... all jumping on this craze for a small portable laptop. So much so, that netbooks now is the fastest growing segment of the laptop industry and is expected to reach 139 million units by 2013.

Why is there a sudden popularity for the small netbook? Perhaps the answer lies mainly in our constant quest for mobility. We want a portable device that will keep us connected to the Internet and yet be small and light enough to be carried around all day. A truly ultra-portable device that keeps us connected with family, friends and the web.

The next question you have to ask: why do netbooks make for great student laptops? If the above reasons aren't enough, try the following:

Size

Netbooks are small with 10 inch displays or less, which make them ideal for students. Plus, they are usually very lightweight - around 2 or 3 pounds. They are compact enough to tuck into your school bag or backpack, and small enough to carry around all day without developing a hernia.

Portability

As mentioned above because the netbook is so small and compact, it is very portable. A very mobile device that we can use to stay connected to the web and friends. Connectability is one of the main features - you are connected to the web at all times.

Sturdiness

Most netbooks are designed to be sturdy and tough. They can take a few hard knocks and still keep on working. Students are not exactly the most gentle creatures on the planet, so a sturdy tough machine is needed to handle the demands put upon it.

Battery Life

Because of their small size, you will usually get better battery life than with a regular sized laptop. This is important to the student since you may have to go all day without a chance to re-charge the battery. Long lasting battery life makes the netbook the perfect student laptop.

Performance

Although small, these mini-laptops still sports some very impressive specs. Many now come with at least 1 Gig of RAM and Intel Atom processors. There are even some with Solid State Hard Drives which make them more durable and less likely to be damaged. Most use Windows XP - newer models debuting this year with the Nvidia's Ion platform may have Vista or Windows 7, but still don't expect the kind of performance you would get from a regular laptop.

Storage

While storage on netbooks is constantly increasing, it is still nowhere near the kind of storage you will find on a regular sized laptop. Usually, most devices have around 30 or 60 Gig hard drives which should be adequate for most student's needs. Many newer netbooks have 160 Gigs of storage.

Price

Perhaps, the main reason netbooks make the perfect student laptops is the low price. Students are usually on a very limited budget and the low price-tag is a perfect fit. Many perfectly adequate machines are now priced in the $300 to $500 range - while many good ones go for well under $300. Plus, prices are steadily dropping so almost any student can now afford a netbook.

As you can plainly see, the netbook does have many features to make it a perfect student laptop: small size, very portable, excellent connections, very sturdy, long battery life, good performance, adequate storage and most of all, a very affordable price almost any student can take advantage of. Overall, netbooks are well suited for the classroom and the student.

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Information About Student Laptops - Computers

If you are considering to buy laptops, then here are certain factors, which you need to consider. Student laptops need to possess certain element. It will make the chosen laptop suitable for students.

The first thing that you need to consider is the sturdiness of a laptop. The student environment is usually harsh as well as unpredictable. Hence, you require a sturdy and brawny laptop. The covering of the student laptop ought to have a protective covering. Simply make sure that the laptop you choose can sustain bumps as well as drops. Also, make sure that your laptop has security features, so that you can locate it if it is stolen.

Secondly, consider the portability of the laptop. If you have to use the laptop in classroom more often, then check for its battery life. An ideal laptop need to have a battery that can work for long hours. It has to be sleek, compact and need to fit in backpack or under your arm. Next, make sure that the laptop has sufficient wireless connections, because the Internet has now become the most valuable tool in student's life.

Another imperative factor that you need to check is the performance of the laptop. Select the one, which offers adequate performance as well as power so that you can perform your computing tasks with ease.

Check The Technical Factors of Student Laptops:

Laptops are available in present days are par with desktop computer pertaining to performance.

CPU/Processor:

CPU (central processing unit) or processor is the most significant part of any laptop or computer. You need to check the power as well as speed of the laptop before buying it. Most laptops have in built dual core processor, which are capable to furnish the most challenging computing tasks.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

RAM is also one of the imperative element present in laptop, it determines as how fast your laptop will perform. Therefore, if your RAM has higher bit, you will be able to perform the tasks faster. That means it is a 32-bit unit, it will use up 4 GB RAM and if it is a 64-bit system, it uses 8 GB or more of RAM strength.

If you wish to run Windows XP, then the RAM strength needs to be around 128MB or more than that. If you wish more optimal performance, then opt for 512 MB RAM. Whereas, if you wish to use Linux as OS (Office System), then your student laptop can work nicely even on 4MB RAM.

Graphics Card/GPU:

If you study graphics and store and make plenty of graphics on the laptop, then you will have to install graphics card in your laptop. Next, if you want high graphics performance, then you may install high-end card, or else opt for dual graphics data card.

Laptop Display:

The display of a laptop is also an important thing that you need to consider before buying it. Most students choose laptops, which have convertible or cross-filed displays, so that they can take down notes easily on such laptops. Thus, select a laptop, which meets all your educational requirements.

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10 Advantages Of A Student Laptop - Computers

Laptops or note books are mobile computers that weigh around 2 kilos and are quite sturdy. The term laptop came into use in 1983. And, today in the world of technology schools and colleges use laptops so that students can learn using multi-media learning modules where lessons are taught innovatively using all the sensory senses. Using laptops for learning gives students hands on experiences to learn become technology savvy.

The World Wide Web is a knowledge highway and more and more students are using online libraries to complete their assignments and do research. A laptop or note book facilitates learning in many ways:

1. The laptop along with references and notes is with you always and the internet libraries and other website have tools that help students' format assignments and references in MLA or APA formats.

2. With a laptop a student can take notes in class, type up assignments, share notes, and work with groups on projects.

3. Students can use the internet to speak to and communicate with family and friends without incurring huge phone bills.

4. Laptops enable students to watch films and video clips as well as download music from the net.

5. Students even use laptops for creating software and designing things to earn a little pocket money. Those with writing or research skills can consider freelance writing.

6. There are students to launch websites while students along with friends and these ventures become huge successes creating millionaires.

7. Online libraries and other websites allow students to download whole books online. It save time and money and students can read books published as far back as the 18th century to new ones.

8. Laptops make students self sufficient and they learn to type, manage their schedules, learn to budget by using online planners, and become citizens of the world.

9. A laptop with an internet connection encourages learning and keeps students abreast of news. Online news sites cover not just a state or country but the whole world. Students will know how people live elsewhere and all about war, political strife, natural disasters, as well as new discoveries and cultures distinct from their own.

10. Laptops encourage students to be technological whizzes. They keep abreast of all that's new in the world.

When choosing a laptop factors to consider are: durability, warranties, size and weight, capabilities as in specifications of ram, speed, and hard disk space. Find out from the school or college authorities what are the needs for the course and what the school or college recommends for laptops in terms of specifications. With this in hand visit computer stores online and offline to find a student laptop that will suit the needs and be affordable. Visit college websites as well as auction sites to check whether there are any laptops being sold as second hand on auction. Often high end laptops can be bought at auctions for the cost of a student laptop. So be internet savvy and find a good deal on a laptop.

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