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So you think you want to buy a used notebook? Many people do. With the price of an entry level notebook in the $700 to $1000 range, one can't help thinking that a cheaper notebook solution must exist. However, just like informed judgment should be exercised when buying a used car, a used notebook purchase requires similar scrutiny.
They are many aspects to buying a used notebook. In this article we discuss; whether or not you should buy a used notebook, what you should know before buying a used notebook, and what you should pay for a used notebook.
Should you Buy a Used Notebook?
While a $400 used notebook might seem like a great bargain compared to a $1,500 new notebook, a used notebook might just be a $400 mistake. Several questions need to be answered before you even think of shopping for a used notebook.
How will the used notebook be repaired? Since you are buying a used notebook, you really don't know if the notebook has been properly cared for. Used notebooks have a high tendency to break especially when moved frequently. If you are going to pay $300 or more for a used notebook, do you really want to pay a computer repair person $50 or more every time something goes wrong?
Do used notebooks have a warranty? Used notebooks sold by the original manufacturers (sometimes called "reconditioned" notebooks) usually have some form of warranty.
Used notebooks may have a 90 day warranty if purchased from a dealer, or they will have no warranty if purchased from an individual or an auction.
Warning: You should never buy a used notebook unless you can have your money returned if the notebook does not work, usually this is called a DOA (dead on arrival) return policy. The best way to make sure your money will be returned is to purchase the used notebook with a credit card.
Warranty Hint: Keep in mind that a new notebook generally has a 1-3 year parts and labor warranty.
So do you really want to pay $400 or more for a used notebook with no warranty? |
Used Notebook Buying Guide - Page 2
What price should you pay for a used notebook?
A notebook has a useful life of about 3 years before it reaches its salvage value. After 3 years, the notebook will no longer run new software efficiently.
Also, a new notebook loses between 5-20% of its value as soon as it is sold. If you can buy a new notebook for the price someone wants to sell you a used one, wouldn't you buy the new notebook instead?
| General Pricing Rule. A notebook loses about 20% to 30% of its value every year until it reaches its salvage value at the end of the 3rd year. |
Example: You buy a new notebook for $2000. After 1 year the notebook is worth about $1400. After 2 years the notebook is worth $800 and after 3 years the notebook is worth only its salvage value of $400 depending on its condition.
What price should you pay for software that is included with the notebook? Software that is included on the notebook hard drive, without original installation disks, is worthless. The only exception is that on some older notebooks you can make backup installation disks of Windows.
Keep in mind that it is usually your responsibility to supply an operating system (Windows, Linux, etc.) unless you specifically purchase it with the notebook.
| Used Software Rule: You should not pay additional money for a notebook with a hard drive full of software. If original installation disks are included or you can make backup system disks, then the software has at least some value. |
Windows software drivers must be available. While applications and operating system software are worthless without backup disks, it is important to remember that without the appropriate Windows drivers your notebook will not run. At the very least you need a Windows video driver and you might need a sound, modem, SCSI, USB, or other drivers.
These drivers should either come with the notebook or ideally be available on the notebook manufacturer's Web site. Don't assume that you can obtain the driver from the component manufacturers or think you can locate drivers after the purchase.
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Shopping Rule. Windows software drivers must be available when the notebook is purchased, otherwise shop somewhere else.
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Hard Drive Formatting Rule. Never ever format a notebooks hard drive unless you are sure you have operating system software (Windows) and software drivers that can be used to restore the hard drive.
Formatting a hard drive is the absolute last thing you should ever do on a notebook or laptop computer.
If you need help restoring your laptop or notebooks operating system or drivers see our article Computer Problem Help.
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Used Notebook Buying Guide - Page 3
What type of used notebook should you buy?
The brand of notebook is a very important factor. You will have a much happier experience with your used notebook if you buy a brand name used computer. Why? Because the larger computer companies provide much better support (parts, software, drivers, and technical support) than a smaller computer company.
We are often asked what brands of notebooks we recommend. We recommend you concentrate your used notebook hunt on Dell, Sony, Toshiba, and IBM. I would also feel pretty comfortable buying a used HP, Compaq, Gateway or Micron notebook.
Does this mean you shouldn't buy other company's used notebooks? No, but I certainly would pay less than I would for any of the above brands.
| General Buying Rule. Buy a name brand used notebook |
Buy a notebook that can run the software you want to use
Your notebook needs to be powerful enough to run the software that you want to use. If you want to use Windows 2000, Windows XP or run Adobe PhotoShop you need to buy a notebook that can at least meet the minimum requirements to run that software. To find out the minimum requirements to run software, visit the software manufacturer's Web site.
We also recommend that you buy a used notebook with at least the speed of a Pentium III 1 GHz or faster. If you just want to word process, by all means choose a less powerful notebook. (You can find a notebook CPU speed comparison in our Laptop Buying Guide.)
Other important notebook hardware features including system RAM, video resolution, and hard drive capacity are also discussed in our Laptop Buying Guide.
Hint: Unless you want to load software from floppy disks, buy a used notebook with a CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, or DVD-RW drive. An external CD/CD-RW/DVD drive is also a good choice.
| General Buying Rule. Buy a notebook that can run the software you want to use. |
Final Thoughts
-- Remember that a used notebook is not necessarily the best solution. While a new notebook will cost more than a used one, it could actually save you money with its 3 year warranty, newer parts, and newer software.
-- A notebook older than 3 years old can only be expected to efficiently run an operating system and software that was available when it was manufactured.
-- Always compare the features of a used notebook to an affordable new notebook. Think about how long you expect to keep the notebook and how long it will be able to run the software you want to use. You may be surprised that the newer notebook with the higher price will actually save you money in the long run.
-- If you aren't comfortable with buying a used notebook --- then don't do it.
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