‘Tis the season to buy presents. Fa la la la la…
Sometimes buying a new computer for a loved one, or even yourself, can be financially out of reach. That’s okay, there are plenty of used computers on the market that can fit your needs just fine.
When looking at purchasing a used computer you want to keep an eye on three major factors:
1) System specifications.
A computer’s system specifications can tell you a lot about a particular machine: How old it is. How much processing power it has. How much memory is available.
You’re going to be looking for something that has enough oomph to run the applications that you use the most. If you’re a student or in an office environment you’ll want sufficient data storage. Gamers are looking for powerful processors (CPU) and Graphics Cards (GPU). Grandma and Grandpa need a decent wifi connection to get online to check emails and download pictures of the grandkids.
2) Price.
Of course, a used or refurbished computer isn’t going to be nearly as expensive as buying new. Electronics depreciate in value rather quickly especially given the fact that new models are being released constantly. With this fact in mind, you can realistically expect to find some pretty good bargains out there. However, it’s always important to remember that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
3) Warranty.
When buying a computer you always want to protect your investment. Whether buying new or used you want to look for a decent warranty. You can’t expect to find the same “full coverage” and “extended” warranties on a used computer that you can when buying new, but most online outlets or local shops provide something like a 90 day warranty, barring user mishap (which means watch that cup of coffee around that laptop). When buying from an individual you can expect to purchase the computer “as is”, so take some extra time to really check the machine out before purchase.
If you have any questions about buying a used computer, want to know if a certain deal you found is good or too good to be true, or just have some general computer questions, feel free to give us here at No Ware Computer Repair a call, we’re always more than happy to help.