Laptop Died, Refurbished Desktop Replacement
It happened again. My Toshiba laptop died (again). This time it was the primary cooling fan. Cost to repair it: $300 – $400.
Instead of fixing it I decided to purchase a refurbished desktop computer. I decided not to repair it because it just broke in October and cost me close to $300 then. Desktop computers are more sturdy than laptops. I will need a new desktop for my son soon. The old desktop is 5 years old and is getting to the point of not being upgradeable or repairable anymore. So, I’ll use the refurbished desktop until I save up to buy a new laptop (the prices keep going down so that may not take long). Then my son can have the desktop once I wipe my data off of it.
I thought about saving the Toshiba and having it repaired later this year to give to my son for Christmas. He wants a laptop so badly. But, it’s old and will likely break again soon. The computer shop I deal with said I’d have to pawn it because of our current state laws, so I can’t trade it in. They buy the ones they refurbish for pennies on the dollar from local companies who do upgrades in mass.
I also considered using the old desktop for a little while, but I found it crashes frequently for unknown reasons. I’m going to spend a little time working on it over spring break, and if I can get it running again reliably, my son can keep using it for awhile longer. I think the only hardware upgrade it needs is some RAM, and that’s very cheap and I can install it myself.
I’ll have to see how much I can get for the Toshiba at the pawn shop. I can also wipe the hard drive on the old desktop and pawn it if I can’t get it working. Or I could sell both at our next garage sale.
The refurbished desktop is an hp pavilion 533w and only cost $382 including tax, wireless adapter, and IDE to USB hard drive adapter. The adapter allows me to put the laptop hard drive into the adapter and load all my data onto the desktop. It would cost the same ($40) if I had the computer shop load the data for me, so the adapter is worth the money. I can load what I need to save and dump the rest.
I considered a refurbished laptop, but those aren’t a good deal right now. I could buy a brand new laptop for $100 more than a refurbished one ($499 vs $599 for a new one). The refurbished laptops cost twice what refurbished desktops cost. They tend to fail more often and cost more to repair. If you’re buying a laptop, you should buy new or very nearly new (like 6 months old).
Right now I don’t really need a laptop. I can’t afford to go anywhere, so portability isn’t an issue. When I see it becoming an issue, then I’ll see how much I have saved and decide then if I can afford one. If I can’t I’ll have to go to a public library, Kinko’s or other local shop that rents computer time by the hour, or borrow a friend’s while I’m out of town.
It’s a pain not being able to work on your own machine. I have everything set up in my Firefox browser to maximize my productivity while I’m working on the computer. But, most everything I do is available online, so I can go to the important websites I use, login, and work. It takes a lot more time when you can’t just click a button in your bookmark tool bar, but it is doable.
Refurbished desktops or laptops are not a good idea unless you really know about computers. You can get good well loved units or abused units which is on its last legs.
If you did not treat your computer well, then it is better to get a new low end computer since it is much cheaper. Re use the monitor and you can save quite a bit
Comment by jamesw | March 16, 2008
Thanks James,
I’m very nice to my computers, but my son abuses the heck out of them. Thank goodness I’m pretty good with desktop hardware.
When I buy a desktop I try to buy the best motherboard and processor I can afford with the ability to upgrade RAM and other stuff later, like adding cards for extra USB ports or wireless capabilities, a new drive, etc. It keeps the price down but allows me to improve what we have as I can afford to add it.
The only time I ever bought a complete desktop system was back in the 90’s when I bought my first computer. Since then I only buy what we need to replace. I keep keyboards, mice, monitors, speakers and printers (all-in-ones) until they are worn out or broken. Then I replace them.
I only wish I had the same skills with laptops!
Sherri
Comment by joubess | March 16, 2008