Darlene asked me yesterday as we were driving by some Laptops-R-Us store, "Is it a good idea to buy a used laptop?" I immediately blurted out "No!", but I knew I should probably back that up. A laptop is a very delicate package of hardware that typically gets a great deal of physical abuse in proportion to what it can actually take. Unfortunately, you can never really know how well someone has treated their laptop, and this establishes a significant risk. If we just look at the value per dollar of a used laptop, some private sales offer OK value but still carry the risk. Retail stores that sell used laptops are trying to make a profit and often charge way too much for what you're getting. Then there's accessories. If it doesn't come with that extra battery, travel charger, docking station or whatever - good luck ever finding one.This week, one of our megabox stores offers a Toshiba with 512MB of RAM, a 60GB hard drive for only $600 plus tax. That's brand new. No abuse. No risk. Accessories still available. Granted - it's not a powerhouse computer, but you weren't going to get a powerhouse in a used model either in most instances. Because people typically sell their laptops when there's something bigger and faster out there. Or because they dropped it one too many times and need to offload the sucker before it has a massive breakdown.......
So do yourself a favour. Get the new one.
13 comments:
Hey Karl.
Some points.
"A laptop is a very delicate package of hardware that typically gets a great deal of physical abuse in proportion to what it can actually take."
Well, so is a PC. And they get used as footstools, coffee cup holders, step ladders etc.
"Retail stores that sell used laptops are trying to make a profit."
Well, that is why they are in business.
Your comments are akin to saying "Don't buy a used car, cause you don't know how it was driven." or "Don't buy a used toaster just in case someone did too many pop-tarts".
Like anything, buying used equipment or any kind carries risks. But to generally dismiss "all" used laptops or anything, is not an educated approach. Many stores sell quality used equipment, hell, I sell used equipment on top of refurbished and brand new stuff. And it comes with a warranty. And dollar for dollar, you can get more equipment for less money. And from all the stuff that I sell, no one has ever complained about any of the used equipment. Just remember 'Caveat emptor'.
This would be a good link for anyone considering buying a used laptop
http://www.used-laptops-notebooks-guide.com/
Buying a laptop is never a good investment to start with. You end up paying a lot more money than you would for a comparable desktop. And upgrades will usually be horrendoulsy expensive, let alone repairs etc.
There is, however, a need, be it perceived or real, for some people to own laptops. Students, travelling salesmen, people who want to look like geeks, and others. Apart from the salesmen and people who want to look like geeks, not many people can afford the high price of a new laptop, or even care about all the fancy options. All students want is something on which to type their homework, term papers, and maybe surf for a little porn once in awhile.
I am not saying to go out and buy used, but through intelligent research people can find some pretty good bargains.
That's it, have a fantastic summer.
Chris.
V.V.V.
All opinions are valid. Conversation stimulates thought. If you think before you buy, you'll do better.
In rebuttal:
Desktops can take more physical abuse than laptops can.
I'm still convinced that dollar for dollar, a used laptop is no longer as good of a deal as a new one. This is especially true now that retailers are aggressively pricing new gear. In general, if we went to the store with $600, I venture that I would get better value new than used. The point about available accessories still stands too. I did mention that private sales often offer better value. This in no way suggests that all used merchandise (including laptops) is a bad idea.
Try not to take the titles of my posts too literally. They are designed to attract attention. (I guess I succeeded in that regard hey Chris?)
Nice to see you Chris. I knew you would stop in sooner or later.
In rebuttal rebuttal:
"Desktops can take more physical abuse than laptops can." The Panasonic toughbook puts most desktops to shame when it comes to taking physical abuse.
Laptops are generally constructed in better ways than desktops, they are designed to take abuse. They are not designed to be dropped from the 15th floor of a building, but from a design standpoint, they can be moved, shaken, used in different angles and put in situations where a desktop would cry uncle.
I am not talking about the desktop replacement laptops, which are heavy and fragile, but the real laptops, those you can actually put on your lap without fear of burning your flesh.
As for quality and value, I would rather give my hard earned coins to a dealer than to Joe next door. The dealer has a reputation to uphold, so the quality of the product will by necessity be higher. Joe is, well, Joe. (Apologies in advance to all the Joes out there.)
And of course I have to take the title literaly. How else can I stir the pot?
Chris
V.V.V.
"How else can I stir the pot?"
Indeed.
My discussion was more in the realm of "low end" product, not expensive, specialized gear like the Toughbook.
But I digress........
Maxflex says,
Nice to see you both at it again.
How many of us can afford, or have a need for a toughbook, Cf28 etc? Not many I would venture. I agree with Karl's original post. If I have $600 in my pocket it would in fact be spent on the lower end, warranteed, guaranteed, laptop.
How did this post get to where it is now?
Ken Kyswaty
I must be bored out of my tree to do this, however, I can hardly resist.
Karl:
"This in no way suggests that all used merchandise (including laptops) is a bad idea."
"Is it a good idea to buy a used laptop?" I immediately blurted out "No!",
Sounds all encompassing to me. :-)
Karl:
"My discussion was more in the realm of "low end" product, not expensive, specialized gear like the Toughbook."
"Is it a good idea to buy a used laptop?" I immediately blurted out "No!",
Ok, how could I miss that? :-)
Karl:
"Try not to take the titles of my posts too literally. They are designed to attract attention. "
Ditto for the comments from the peanut gallery, they are designed to get some kind of discussion going.
Ken Kyswaty
"How did this post get to where it is now? "
People actually had something to say beyond parotting others.
Just to be fair to the whole world, Karl is correct in the value aspect. As long as FutureShop (I can say that, yes?) and others continue to drive down prices, you will be able to buy very good quality equipment for the same or cheaper than used. That is a good thing for the consumer. It is bad for the economy in the same sense as WalMart, Krispy Kreme, Starbucks and other mega dispensers are bad for the economy, but that is another story.
Oh yes, I went to politically correct school once, I was thrown out. So there.
And Karl. I understand you had some issues with big companies, so if you need to edit the big names out of this feel free.
And continue posting. Once in awhile I may just come back, rattle your cage, drink your beer, or do other unmentionable things.
Chris
V.V.V.
I have been following this post for some time now and I think its about time that I jumped in to add some sanity to all the ‘circle talk’.
Yes Chris, you must be pretty bored but you finally came around and talked yourself into agreeing to what Karls original point was. I can just imagine him sitting there each day, scratching his head wondering where the heck some of your narrow minded comments were coming from. It only took 7 posts but the light finally came on in the tool shed.
Will Chris take the bait this time? Who is this 'anonymous' character? If Karl wrote the post - who is really stirring the pot? Where is Karl hiding the beer on his blog? Are people actually using PCs as coffee cup holders? Will the US ever leave Iraq? Does Karl really have something against big companies? Are the Russians still controlling the weather? What is the meaning of life? Stay tuned.........
Anonymous? Not worth my time considering. I have tried to care about it, I just can seem to get around to it.
Beer? Where the hell is the beer?
Coffee? Now, one can always talk about coffee and have my attention.
Russians and weather? Of course they control the weather, who else would be so devious.
Will the US leave Iraq? One can only hope, but one can also hope that WalMart would sell quality merchandise. Pipe dreams all.
People using PCs as coffee cup holder? Unlikely, but I have heard that humans have tried.
Karl and big companies? Wow. That is a head scratcher.
Meaning of life? 42.
Stay tuned? Damn, I am drifting again. Need a new tube.
Chris
V.V.V.
Cool title. :-)
Chris
VVV
It seemed to be the source of such angst........ so I changed it.
People need to learn to relax. Take it easy. Play ping pong. Ok, maybe not ping pong.
Chris
VVV
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