Secondhand Computers or Laptops

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Keigo

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Want to ask how everyone feel toward secondhand computers or laptops?

Personally I feel like purchasing a secondhand car, cheaper than a new one and there will always be a 50 50 chance of good and bad. :p
 
2nd hand laptops aren't a great idea. You generally find too old hardware, hence the seller selling or its stolen.

Buying hardware 2nd hand can give you great uograde option for low price. That could help with getting your pc up to scratch for some time. But buying desktops from Dell, HP etc is useless.
 
funkzar said:
2nd hand laptops aren't a great idea. You generally find too old hardware, hence the seller selling or its stolen.
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I agree there is a high chance is stolen property, which I trying to avoid.

funkzar said:
Buying hardware 2nd hand can give you great uograde option for low price. That could help with getting your pc up to scratch for some time. But buying desktops from Dell, HP etc is useless.
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Because of OEM build? I see many CRS dealers are selling some good spec desktop at good price.
 
You can get official refurbs from Partserve and others. Around R1500 for HP business class Core 2 Duo laptop (2006-2007) with Windows XP Pro installed. All depends what you need. If you settle for new entry level Lenovo G5xx by example, you get 100Mbps Ethernet. Business class laptop circa 2006 comes with Gigabit Ethernet, but outdated WiFi a/b/g which will bring down your home network to the old standard.
Windows 7 laptops are more expensive and offers come with 2GB RAM maximum, not good.
 
sajunky said:
You can get official refurbs from Partserve and others. Around R1500 for HP business class Core 2 Duo laptop (2006-2007) with Windows XP Pro installed. All depends what you need. If you settle for new entry level Lenovo G5xx by example, you get 100Mbps Ethernet. Business class laptop circa 2006 comes with Gigabit Ethernet, but outdated WiFi a/b/g which will bring down your home network to the old standard.
Windows 7 laptops are more expensive and offers come with 2GB RAM maximum, not good.
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Indeed, you point out many downside buying secondhand laptop.

If the spec is good enough and price is right, will you buy a refurbished system?
 
I am currently using HP/Compaq 6715b which matches above spec, plus crisp 1680x1050 screen. It was scrapped due to overheating. Just replaced thermal paste between radiator and CPU and installed legal copy of Windows XP Pro (licence is stored in BIOS). If you want a new laptop with Full HD screen you have to spend R9K or more, and it is difficult to find it. Hard drive is only 80Gigs, but Gigabit Ethernet allows to store large files (like movies) on the LAN.

For games, graphics design, software development you need a new equipment, this one will be not good. :)
 
1680x1050 (16:10) is a good resolution before manufacture moving toward 16:9 ratio. :cry:

I am a refurbish computer user, reason of choice is affordable. OEM build mostly comes with legit copy of windows and build is silent. Spec wise is good enough for me for daily web browsing and watching anime. The downside that I find most refurbish computer/laptop's HDD is degrading, replacing the HDD and it runs smooth again.
 
Keigo said:
1680x1050 (16:10) is a good resolution before manufacture moving toward 16:9 ratio. :cry:
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It is because most of people use computers for displaying movies. Also good for spreadsheets. Wide screen is a disaster for ordinary reading. Many years ago newspapers researchers discovered that it is easier to read text formatted in columns. But WEB designers (including MyBB) do not understand it and don't follow these rules. They force user to open full screen by using fixed column (very wide) format. This is intentional, as more ads can attract visitor. In my opinion wide screen trend is not good from productivity point of view.
 
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sajunky said:
In my opinion wide screen trend is not good from productivity point of view.
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Very true, when people ask me what to check buying a laptop. I tell them the following.

1. CPU i5 or better

2. Screen Resolution 1600x900 or better
 
It depends what component as seen above. :)
More 'no' to SSD than hard drive. I can estimate condition of hard drive with high probability, it doesn't apply to SSD.
 
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