Posted on 05/09/2011 9:41:48 PM PDT by This Just In
Good day. We are on the verge of investing in a laptop for our child. Our child will be heading off to college and will be using this tool especially for composing music. We are not particularly concerned about the gaming capabilities.
Our family's considering either a Mac or Dell. If money were no object, we would purchase the MacPro, but that is unlikely. Here are the main issues were are concerned about:
1. reliability 2. customer assistance 3. durability 4. expansion options
Would any of you recommend purchasing a refurbished laptop? If so, why? If not, why? Is there any other brand you would recommend (Lenovo, HP, etc.)? If so, why?
Have I failed to consider other important issues/specifics?
Any further recommendations or advice would be deeply appreciated.
why do you think you would ever need to upgrade? what is your kid studying? rendering full length 3D animated movies?
Forget about upgrading. You don’t need it.
People may disagree, but in general, refurbished laptops are superior.
The reason is, the refurbished laptop has to checked four times and the component that failed has been replaced. Statistically, the likely hood that the laptop is going to suffer another component failure is lower than a new unit selected at random. (yes, there are exceptions, but they are few and far between. Like the root cause of the component failing was another component not replaced. Isn’t it great to have a warranty? )
Refurbished laptops include the full warranty and full support just like the new unit. If your refurbished laptop says these aren’t included, it isn’t refurbished.
Refurbished isn’t the same as a lease return, many sellers don’t clarify this, they just call them all refurbished.
Lets take an example:
New $986, Refurbished $786, Lease Return $280
Personally, Lease returns are good for me too, most are <2 years old and still have a good 3-5 years depending on the model of heavy use in them. Most failures on computers happen between new and 2 years and in excess of 5 years (used to be new and 90 days, thank the environmentalists for ROHs). At 2 years, the electronics have just been broken in.
For lease returns, things not to expect:
1. Operating System
2. Support
3. Warranty
4. Returns after 14 days
I have purchased refurbished computers and they have all been excellent and 60 to 75% the price of a new one. They also have a full warranty. You wouldn’t even know that they were refurbished.
I’ve had a few Dell desktops, a couple of iBooks (white plastic), and one aluminum unibody MacBook. The Dell desktops - with one notable exception - were reliable.
The one that was not reliable came with the notoriously bad IBM 75GXP hard drive which crashed, and it’s two replacements crashed as well. Dell always sent someone out very quickly who replaced the hard drive. I ended up taking the last 75GXP (Deathstar) out and installing a Maxtor in it’s place, until I had to return it (it was a lease).
The white plastic iBooks were crap, not fit for use as a doorstop. The plastic was so soft, and the design so poor, that they’d flex and end up with mainboard problems.
The aluminum MacBook was Apple’s last chance with me, and it’s a winner. The thing is solid in every way. Worth every excessive penny I paid for it. Had it not worked out, I would have built a Hackintosh and farted in the general direction of Cupertino, CA.
FWIW, I use computers all day, every day, to write software. I built my main development computer from parts.
Dont waste your money on a Dell. I had terrible experience with them a few years ago. I recntly bought a toshiba thru Tiger Direct and a Sony viao from them too. Bought four desktops from them over the past eight years too. I recommend the toshiba or viao highly. they have good sales.
Because the warranty is shorter and you have no real idea just how “refurbished” the machine really is. And you don’t even save all that much, especially on a laptop.
What is the difference between Latitude and other choices?
You can get a great Asus laptop for between $500 and $800, depending on the amenities. HP has some good laptops, too. Their more recent offerings are very durable.
I wouldn’t get a refurbished one. It’s like buying a salvaged vehicle.
Several posters have mentioned this (as I did in my previous post) Does your child need the computer for classroom music composition? At my son’s college - not only did he need a Mac - but he needed one with very specific capabilities, certain software, etc. He didn’t need all of this until his junior year, but we knew we didn’t want to purchase another laptop in 2 years.
Just adding some things to think about.....
Dell makes a good product. So does HP. There are quite a few decent laptops.
I don’t know the specs you are looking for and I haven’t spec’d one out at work for a few months, but you could probably get a decent one for $800 to $1000. There are cheaper ones one the market.
I would look at bumping up the RAM to at least 3 to 4 gig. You don’t need more, unless you want to run the 64 bit version of Windows.
A laptop won’t give you gamers abilities, unless you want to spend a whole lot of money. Even then, get a desktop.
The other thing with a laptop. This is the only time I consider getting the extended warranty. If a monitor goes out on a laptop, you are looking at $400 or more.
Good luck!
PS get him an ACER and tell him good luck! /sarcasm
One more thing. If you intend on buying a refurb MacBook, do it over the phone, and ask (and expect to get) a discount on AppleCare.
Speaking of 3D; would anyone recommend the 3D Dell? I visited the site and noticed this new feature.
Some on this thread seem confused, the sellers profit from this confusion. There is a big price difference.
Beware of dishonest sellers. A real refurbished unit isn’t anything to fear.
“Refurbished isn’t the same as a lease return, many sellers don’t clarify this, they just call them all refurbished.”
Can’t beat the prices of the Toshiba Satellite series.
Acer in the whole? LOL
The college recommends no less than 4gigs.
I’m leaning towards the Dell. I wish we could purchase the Macbook Pro, but the sticker price causes me to brake out in a rash.
Thanks
“Because the warranty is shorter”
It isn’t refurbished if it doesn’t have a full warranty, the seller is trying to rip you off.
Seems to me that you've answered your own question right there.
Nice machine too. I have an Acer Aspire and the Vaio and the Toshiba is a little simple but it keeps up. Windows seven has been wonderful after my little trip into Vista world.
My Dell XPS is a beast.
Great.
On the whole, refurbished or used does not have the reliability of new.
Although I have had new computer come defective at work, I can't afford to have a system down.
Just looking at best practices.
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