Used laptop computers are everywhere these days. How can you sift through the mass of available used laptop computers to narrow your search down to the right laptop for you? This is the third part of a series of articles designed to give you a few suggestions for your next purchase.
There are many avenues to consider if you are thinking about purchasing a used laptop. You may decide to check your local ads, purchase one off lease, or purchase a refurbished computer. There is no right or wrong answer when deciding which method is best for your purchase; it is really up to you.
Laptop batteries generally don’t maintain a full charge for more than a year or two at most. The manufacture date of the laptop is often found on its underside. If the manufacture date is more than two years and it has an original battery, consider yourself lucky with any battery life you get. Most used computer dealers will not give you any warranty for the battery. An extra battery is always a wise purchase when buying a used laptop. Consider asking the dealer what it would cost to get another one.
Whereas you have to deal with an unknown individual if you purchase through a newspaper ad, buying a leased or refurbished used laptop offers a bit more security, as most times you are dealing directly with a company; and it is much easier, most times, to solve potential problems with your purchase when you are dealing with a company.
If you plan on watching movies on the laptop, you may want to consider choosing a used laptop computer with a DVD-ROM drive in it. If that is important to you, I would suggest you carry a DVD movie with you to evaluate how well the laptop plays back video. If it pauses and labors with the DVD, you may want to consider another laptop.