Laptop Offer: Need advice on purchase

[noob_saibot]

Hello there,

I recently got offered a core i5 laptop for around R3600.

I asked the guy why the price was so low and he said because it is a demo. I asked him what demo meant and he said that it was a repair job from an insurance company.

The laptop looks pretty new.

Here are the specs he gave me:

I think it was a Toshiba/Lenovo
core i5
4GB DDR3
(it looked like a 17" screen)
3 month warranty

Does this offer sound too good to be true?

I'm a bit concerned that the 3 month warranty indicates how long the thing will last me. I'm not a "power user", but I'd like to make an investment in a laptop that I'd like to use for 5 years (my current machine is going on 6-7 years).

Any advice will be much appreciated.

 

[Tman*]

Where are you buying it from? A Nigerian flea market in JHB CBD, or from Incredible Connection (or similar)?

 

[MrGray]

Depends on how old it is. If it works, it's not a bad deal. Usually R5-6k for a new i5.

 

[mr_norris]

Model number and brand?

 

[noob_saibot]

Where are you buying it from? A Nigerian flea market in JHB CBD, or from Incredible Connection (or similar)?

A small local IT store. they say they mostly do wholesale though.

 

[noob_saibot]

Model number and brand?

I'll get to you on this tomorrow.

 

[Yotch]

Check how long the battery lasts between charges? Download a copy of hddscan and check on the G-Shock/Free-fall Event Count in the SMART Data for the hard drive.
http://www.hddscan.com/
http://mybroadband.co.za/photos/showfull.php?photo=35196
Try the online ray tracing benchmark from silver.urih.com (click on the Benchmark button - 4 threads) for comparison purposes. A current generation i5-3337U 1.80GHz, nVidia Geforce 630M 2GB, 8GB Ram Win 8 laptop should score around P5556 (new price ~R7000-R8000).

 

[CataclysmZA]

Does this offer sound too good to be true?

Yes.

I'm a bit concerned that the 3 month warranty indicates how long the thing will last me. I'm not a "power user", but I'd like to make an investment in a laptop that I'd like to use for 5 years (my current machine is going on 6-7 years).

Never consider laptops or any kind of mobile device an investment. Technology is always a loss-maker for buyers and there's no chance of making money on it when you resell it.

With that said if you want a laptop that's going to last you the five years you seek, don't look at cheap demo models. Unless its in pristine condition (and depending on what the original fault was) I'd tread with caution. Its a much better idea to look at something newer with a longer warranty from Dell, Lenovo, Acer, MSI or HP.

 

[noob_saibot]

Thanks for the help everyone.

I went back to the store and discussed my options with the guy.

He also had a Fujitsu i7 available, but after reading reviews on Fujitsus, I'm definitely avoiding that brand.

Although the prices quoted are great, it makes sense to just buy something brand new (even at retail value). I'm currently evaluating the Dell XPS13, as that looks like a reasonable laptop to buy (it's i3 and that seems reasonable enough for my needs). Also, Lenovo looks like a decent company too. I've found a local company making laptops as well, but from their prices, it seems like they're buying the parts at retail value and marking up the laptops even more ($699 for an i3?).

@Yotch: thanks for the technical evaluation tools. I will find this useful for other things (like desktop purchase).

@ NAG - Wesley: Yeah, you're right about small electronics not being considered an investment that you can resell, but I am looking for something I won't need to replace in 2-3 years either.

 

[CataclysmZA]

He also had a Fujitsu i7 available, but after reading reviews on Fujitsus, I'm definitely avoiding that brand.

For what it's worth, we've owned two Fujistu laptops in the family. My dad's one has been going strong for just over seven years now and it spends most of its life at sea. When my one broke (was a design fault that affected Amilos back in 2006) I sent it off to the local repairs channel and it was repaired and returned within a week. They make some really sturdy notebooks and bloatware is minimal.

Although the prices quoted are great, it makes sense to just buy something brand new (even at retail value). I'm currently evaluating the Dell XPS13, as that looks like a reasonable laptop to buy (it's i3 and that seems reasonable enough for my needs). Also, Lenovo looks like a decent company too.

The XPS13 is a really nice system, although the most recent ones are so highly priced that you could just as well buy a Macbook Air 13 for the same money. If you're interested, there are also less expensive Ultrabook-like models in the Vostro line that are decently priced/specced and also have the three-year on-site business warranty.

 

[noob_saibot]

Interesting feedback Wesley. All the reviews seem to indicate that Fujitsu uses cheaper parts than the other vendors. Perhaps your experience with them has to do with the age of your laptops and maybe back then the quality was good. I wonder if that still is the case now.

 

[CataclysmZA]

Interesting feedback Wesley. All the reviews seem to indicate that Fujitsu uses cheaper parts than the other vendors. Perhaps your experience with them has to do with the age of your laptops and maybe back then the quality was good. I wonder if that still is the case now.

If it's cheaper parts they're using, it'll be no worse quality-wise than a Packard Bell or HP, which both cut many corners in their consumer products. Just remember, the consumer protection act has your back here - if you buy a laptop and it doesn't fit your purpose and isn't of a good quality you can return it. I've also had good experiences from Acer products recently, they're upping their game really quickly with regards to reliability.

 

[ponder]

I I've also had good experiences from Acer products recently, they're upping their game really quickly with regards to reliability.

Build quality also seems more solid as well. Never use to be fan but these day I have no issues recommending them.