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Thread ID: 29251 2003-01-14 21:33:00 Anybody know a source of quality 2nd hand laptops in AK? Billy T (70) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
113922 2003-01-15 07:46:00 Bump again :D

I would appreciate some expert advice as to whether this is a good deal or not. My knowledge of laptops and pricing is lamentable. :8}

Thanks to all who offered their advice earlier in this thread. It started me off on the right track.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
113923 2003-01-15 07:56:00 From my point of view, I can definately not recommend this. You could get much much more than this.

As a suggestion check out http://www.megacomputer.co.nz, this is definately not the cheapest but is something to look to.
~~~~~ s y ~~~~~ (2054)
113924 2003-01-15 08:16:00 Billy, there are 2 rules when buying a laptop for travelling with .

Rule no 1- Weight (lack of)
Rule No 2 - See rule 1

I speak from experience, as I disregarded this advice and bought on price . There is a large price premium for lightness, and any comparison must take this into account . Its all very well co compare other features but they count for little when you lug it round the country or the world .

I pack mine into checked luggage internationally now, but it really is suffering for the treatment .

Airlines are enforcing the 5 kg hand luggage limit .

So when comparing prices only compare equivalent weights, see how that looks . The Portege is light . Very light .
godfather (25)
113925 2003-01-15 09:59:00 Thanks God

It was the light weight that attracted me, that and the fact that unwanted accessories like the FDD and the CDR could be left behind to keep travelling weight down. I used to carry a Compaq Contura Aero 4/33 8" sub-notebook around and although it only weighd 2.5kg it felt like ten times that at the end of a days travel.

Do I deduce from your response that the quality and weight are OK but the price is nothing special? I haven't looked at it yet but the impression I get is that it has had little if any use.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
113926 2003-01-15 18:35:00 Hello Billy,

My wife needed a laptop for university and business use, and we debated and fretted about what to do, just last month. After posting here on PF1, we went for a new laptop that was only a few hundred more than decent second hand ones. And a decent warranty that 2nd hand ones will not have. In fact, we saved around$800 off the Noel Lemming price, on a Compaq Presario 901, AMD 1500XP, 256 RAM, and even a $50 worth of vouchers - found this bargain at Aquila Technology in Lower Hutt (never went there, ordered over phone and got it the next day). They are at: www.aquilatech.co.nz

Anyway, it is best to do a thorough search on the Net to compare prices. I used the back adverts in PC World to get started.
Steve_L (763)
113927 2003-01-15 19:54:00 What about JDI?
JDI.co.nz should be their online addy :)
Chilling_Silence (9)
113928 2003-01-15 23:57:00 Have a look at www.computerdisposals.co.nz and http: -=JM=- (16)
113929 2003-01-16 02:04:00 Hi Team

I have found and purchased my preferred solution, a Toshiba Portege as specified earlier in this thread which met my features, performance and price criteria. Nett cost to me was $1600 (I get the GST back) and it even came with a spare US power cord for my trip to the States. Condition is good and it is running a clean instal of W2K. A PIII 700 is plenty fast enough for my work (remember, Old Faithful is a P166 and she is still comfortably meeting my needs for everything except larger graphics files!)

Thanks to all who offered advice, and to those who suggested finance options, sorry but if I can't buy something with cash up front then I don't buy at all. IMHO credit on computers is an especially slippery slope as interest inflates the price while the march of technology depreciates the value. You end up still paying for the old clunker when you need to upgrade or replace.

New price is astronomical and I could never have considered spending that much. I wanted to stay under $2000 and above PIII550 & 10GB so I met my criteria quire well.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)

Shuts office door and sits down to play with new toy :D
Billy T (70)
113930 2003-01-16 04:28:00 Thats a good purchase Billy, and you have chosen OK and for all the right reasons.

The speed as you say is immaterial. More speed=more heat=bigger unit=heavier.

If I chose again it would be for a similar solution.

Happy flying. Get an aircraft adapter, and use it while you travel. (You ARE going business class aren't you?)

If you see a man named Jack on board the plane, DONT SPEAK TO HIM!

< Hi Jack?>
godfather (25)
113931 2003-01-16 05:08:00 Business Class? In my dreams:( I'm going to the West Coast and that's nearly $10,000 business class (I did ask). You can buy a brand new Portege plus a Dell as a backup for that kind of money:D

I've been invited to give a technical address to a conference (hence the laptop & PowerPoint) but have to pay my own travel & incidental expenses. I guess I'm doing it for the glory (sought after International speaker donchaknow) so unless Lotto comes up trumps on Saturday I'm travelling steerage. Actually there's a chance that it will bring some consultancy commissions in the US so the expenditure should be considered seed capital I guess.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)

Scurries back to the Portege, should work out how to
switch it on soon then I can get serious. Bit of an explosion
when the wife got home and found that I had added yet another
computer to the household but she was soon won over by the
style and light weight. Funny things women, entirely different
value sets but good blokes all the same. :8}
Billy T (70)
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