Save Money On A Computer

Why do so many people buy new computers? I hear and read a lot about buying new versus used cars, yet many of us shell out several thousand dollars to get a new computer every few years without giving it a second thought!

My wife and are need a new computer, as her laptop is about eight years old. It even has a floppy disk drive…how retro! I’ve decided to give her my laptop to use for now, which is five years old, in the hopes that we can be a one computer family for a little while longer.

Since we’ve owned laptops for five to eight years already, clearly computers can last quite a while. We don’t need a super-fast, state of the art system in order to meet our needs. And since we already have a monitor and the other peripherals we don’t need to buy a bunch of extra stuff.

Computers can last for decades, although it’s likely that they won’t be able to run the absolute latest and greatest operating system after about five or six years (unless you run Linux). The question is: Why do you need to run the latest operating system?

I spend most of my computer time on the web, blogging, or writing java programs. I can do all of those things on a computer running vista or a computer running Windows95. It’s convenient to run the latest OS if you download freeware or require any heavy-duty applications. Heavy-duty gamers may also require a more beefy system. Most people, however, probably don’t need a new computer or the latest version of software for that matter.

Key Watchouts:

• I would recommend going with a name brand used computer. Dell, HP, Compaq, Apple, etc.
• You may want to buy a new hard drive, as this is the main component of a computer that has moving parts (besides the fan) and is therefore more likely to wear out or have problems.
• If you have any friends that work as software developers, ask them if their company sells their old machines. Developer machines are typically stocked with RAM and other goodies that would make them a good choice for a lot of people.
• Make sure you get legal, licensed copies of the operating system and any other software that will be included on the system.
• Shop around! Be sure to compare used systems with new systems in detail to ensure you are getting a great deal.
• If you’re using Ebay, try to find a seller in your area so you can pick the computer up yourself.
• Older laptops tend to have battery issues, and sometimes it’s the charging mechanism rather than the battery itself that is the problem. If you have to have a long battery life, buying a new laptop may be your only choice.
• If you determine that you need a new computer, investigate the lower-end models that might meet your needs.
• Electronics stores often have “loss-leader” sales around the holiday if you decide that a new computer will suit you best. Usually it’s just one model though, so you don’t get much choice with these types of promotional deals.

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