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Thread ID: 135999	2014-01-08 01:20:00	Buy a Used High-end Laptop Instead of New?	Winston001 (3612)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1364655	2014-01-08 01:20:00	I've only ever had two laptops, both HP business level machines. And both have performed very well. I'm posting from the Compaq 6710B which must be nine years old by now and thinking its time to upgrade. The various laptop threads on Press F1 are always of interest. There are refurbished and ex-lease machines for sale and while I wouldn't usually consider second hand computers, maybe a pro-level HP is a better choice than a brand new Toshiba or Asus. www.trademe.co.nz www.trademe.co.nz Thoughts?	Winston001 (3612)
1364656	2014-01-08 02:13:00	Both of those prices look pretty good. Buying refurbished ex lease is also a good bet.	Webdevguy (17166)
1364657	2014-01-08 02:33:00	Man. Don't buy 3-4 year old machines. A 30 day warranty that doesn't cover battery? And even if they did replace batteries, the life they offer would still be considerably less compared to a current-generation laptop.	Cato (6936)
1364658	2014-01-08 04:46:00	The business class machines have far better quality components than the normal retail models (as you have found out by your current ones) But you have to also keep in mind the age they already are. What you have to decide is are you prepared to buy a pre owned Laptop and have it fail soon after its warranty runs out ? The Business class laptops can come ( from new) with a standard 3 year warranty, where as the basic consumers come with 1. HP are not stupid, they wouldn't put a 3 year warranty on a Laptop thats not expected to last that long. General rule is manufactures usually work on the principle they expect their product to last the length of warranty before possible failure. Being refurbished usually means they have been through a series of tests to make sure they still work, given a visual inspection to make sure nothing is looking like failing ( capacitors leaking as an example) a clean out / up and fresh install (usually).	wainuitech (129)
1364659	2014-01-09 09:04:00	Thanks guys for your thoughts. My views on new machines are tempered by the threads on here about problems with 18 month - 3 year old laptops which I'd have expected to run for 6 years. Also the Toshiba laptop we bought for our daughter had a hard drive failure at 18 months. I was appalled.	Winston001 (3612)
1364660	2014-01-09 22:49:00	Being refurbished usually means they have been through a series of tests to make sure they still work, given a visual inspection to make sure nothing is looking like failing ( capacitors leaking as an example) a clean out / up and fresh install (usually). Yeah, but often it's just used to give more credibility to the item.	Agent_24 (57)
1364661	2014-01-10 10:13:00	Sooo...buying a laptop and expecting it to perform reliably for 5+ years is unrealistic? I have had 2 HPs over 16 years and they both still work. The NX9005 has slowed to a crawl and has no power supply but it still functions. Plus they simply feel more robust. I understand light weight is user-friendly but the lappies I looked at yesterday in Noel Leeming felt flimsy. Probably why I prefer a 4WD. :D Anyway does it now come down to buying the cheapest laptop instead of quality - for a light user? If Toshiba and Asus consumer models were reliable for 3 years and beyond, that would be great but that isn't the impression I have. Possibly thats incorrect.	Winston001 (3612)
1364662	2014-01-10 21:52:00	Sooo...buying a laptop and expecting it to perform reliably for 5+ years is unrealistic? For most consumer models sold nowadays, I would say yes.	Agent_24 (57)
1364663	2014-01-11 01:12:00	Thanks guys for your thoughts. My views on new machines are tempered by the threads on here about problems with 18 month - 3 year old laptops which I'd have expected to run for 6 years. Also the Toshiba laptop we bought for our daughter had a hard drive failure at 18 months. I was appalled. It can depend a lot on how they are treated. My nieces' 1+ year old Toshiba laptop hard drive failed because she was rather careless about handling it and had dropped it several times I think. Non-technical people seem to think you can chuck a laptop around like a book and it will be fine. She also left it under a seat and then someone managed to put said seat on top of the screen and cracked it ... no warranty can cover that sort of abuse! I'm not saying your daughter did similar but sometimes people can be so careless and accidents do happen. Magnetic hard drives are prone to shock damage (I'm actually amazed they are so reliable in laptops) and the newer SSD's are certainly the way to go in laptops. Even when you do everything right though hard drives can die, I've had several fail just outside the warranty period for no apparent reason.	Rod J (451)
1364664	2014-01-12 20:38:00	Refurbished = wipe it down with a wet cloth, wipe & reload Win. Seriously. If it was really refurbished, where is the 1 year warranty ?? Where is the new battery ?? Exlease : it was used buy someone who didnt own it, was just a employee. There is a 50/50 chance it had a pretty hard life, used buy someone who didnt give a stuff about the companies leased lappy. Nice NB's though. A bit pricey for something with almost no warranty.	1101 (13337)
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