If you're in the market for a cheap laptop, there are few things you should keep in mind so that you don't walk away with an outdated or faulty machine that won't meet your requirement. Careful thought and the willingness to shop around and ask questions are necessary to ensure that you get what you paid for.
Know what you want ahead of time.
If you're working to a tight budget, make a list of features your laptop needs to have before you start shopping. Think carefully about what you really need, and what you can get away with not having. For example, you may be able to get a USB wireless connector cheaper than having a laptop with inbuilt wireless.
If you're going for a cheap laptop, you probably aren't going to be doing anything too extravagant on it. 40GB of space should be plenty, and you can probably get away with buying a laptop with 256MB of RAM and upgrading to 1GB much cheaper than buying it already installed. Basic Intel processors are suitable for general use without buying anything too expensive.
Vista uses more RAM and is less compatible with current programs than Windows XP.
Battery life can have a big impact on the cost, but may not be an important factor for the user. Ask yourself how often you are actually going to use your laptop in places without access to power points. Outdoors you are likely to experience screen glare anyway, so you will probably be able to use your laptop charger most places you go.
Cheaper laptops tend to come with bigger screens, which is great for watching movies and the like, but may not be so good for text display. It can also make the laptop bulkier and harder to carry around or fit into standard laptop cases. On the other hand, mini laptop screens may prove too small for your needs, so it is important to shop around and find something that fits both your budget and your requirements.
Buying a second hand laptop.
Used laptops are risky business, and for inexperienced computer purchasers, are probably best avoided. Of course, there are some excellent deals out there on quality second hand computers, and there are a few guidelines that can help you find a great buy.
1. The best people to buy computers from are people you know, or reputable resalers.
2. Find out why the laptop is being sold. You don't want to find out too late that it was sold because the original owner was having problems with it. A good reason might be if they have just moved in with a partner who already has a laptop, or if they have upgraded to something better and just have no use for the old one any more.
3. Don't get anything older than three or four years, or you'll find that it just doesn't run the way you need it to with the programs you want. Then again, if it's really new, you should be asking why it's back on the market.
4. The best combination for price is a laptop that is one or two years old and being sold at about half its original selling price. An over-priced laptop that is older than four or five years is a money waster, and a really cheap computer in near-new condition is likely to be faulty.
5. Does it have a warranty? If not, you may have difficulty getting your laptop repaired or replaced should anything go wrong.
6. The original proof of purchase is a good thing to have, both in making sure that the item isn't stolen, and in case it is required to validate the warranty.
7. Is the seller prepared to provide a full refund if you aren't completely satisfied with your purchase? If not, don't bother. You may end up paying for a lemon.
Know what you want ahead of time.
If you're working to a tight budget, make a list of features your laptop needs to have before you start shopping. Think carefully about what you really need, and what you can get away with not having. For example, you may be able to get a USB wireless connector cheaper than having a laptop with inbuilt wireless.
If you're going for a cheap laptop, you probably aren't going to be doing anything too extravagant on it. 40GB of space should be plenty, and you can probably get away with buying a laptop with 256MB of RAM and upgrading to 1GB much cheaper than buying it already installed. Basic Intel processors are suitable for general use without buying anything too expensive.
Vista uses more RAM and is less compatible with current programs than Windows XP.
Battery life can have a big impact on the cost, but may not be an important factor for the user. Ask yourself how often you are actually going to use your laptop in places without access to power points. Outdoors you are likely to experience screen glare anyway, so you will probably be able to use your laptop charger most places you go.
Cheaper laptops tend to come with bigger screens, which is great for watching movies and the like, but may not be so good for text display. It can also make the laptop bulkier and harder to carry around or fit into standard laptop cases. On the other hand, mini laptop screens may prove too small for your needs, so it is important to shop around and find something that fits both your budget and your requirements.
Buying a second hand laptop.
Used laptops are risky business, and for inexperienced computer purchasers, are probably best avoided. Of course, there are some excellent deals out there on quality second hand computers, and there are a few guidelines that can help you find a great buy.
1. The best people to buy computers from are people you know, or reputable resalers.
2. Find out why the laptop is being sold. You don't want to find out too late that it was sold because the original owner was having problems with it. A good reason might be if they have just moved in with a partner who already has a laptop, or if they have upgraded to something better and just have no use for the old one any more.
3. Don't get anything older than three or four years, or you'll find that it just doesn't run the way you need it to with the programs you want. Then again, if it's really new, you should be asking why it's back on the market.
4. The best combination for price is a laptop that is one or two years old and being sold at about half its original selling price. An over-priced laptop that is older than four or five years is a money waster, and a really cheap computer in near-new condition is likely to be faulty.
5. Does it have a warranty? If not, you may have difficulty getting your laptop repaired or replaced should anything go wrong.
6. The original proof of purchase is a good thing to have, both in making sure that the item isn't stolen, and in case it is required to validate the warranty.
7. Is the seller prepared to provide a full refund if you aren't completely satisfied with your purchase? If not, don't bother. You may end up paying for a lemon.
About the Author:
Andrew Johnson is an expert in computer consumables. If you want further information about types of cheap laptop or are searching for a trusted computer retailer please visit http://www.ebuyer.com
