Consider buying a used laptop or pc

Cost

• The price difference between a new and used or refurbished laptop can be anywhere from $50 to much more than $100. Used laptops decrease in price based on amount of time used and the year the laptop first came out. The price of a refurbished laptop depends on the amount of upgrades or repairs the laptop needed. Even if you need the features of a newer laptop, a used or refurbished laptop will offer many of the same features at deeply discounted prices.

Tested

• All used and refurbished laptops specify whether they have been tested or not. Most retailers guarantee the quality of the laptop, especially refurbished ones. Before a retailer sells the laptop, technicians thoroughly test the laptop, including hardware and installed software. New laptops are only spot tested, meaning only a small percentage of the laptops are tested.

Warranty

• Many sellers of used and refurbished laptops offer warranties that are similar to new laptops. If the laptop is less than two years old, many manufacturers' warranties still apply as well. In the case of a retailer's warranty, you have the option of bringing the laptop in for repair for free for the first one or two years. If you still like the security of a manufacturer's warranty, use part of the price different to purchase an extended warranty from the laptop's manufacturer.

Returns

• All reliable retailers allow you to return used or refurbished laptops within a 30- to 60-day window. Unless the laptop is specifically marked "Sold As-Is," you can return the laptop if you notice any technical problems. Note that any non-technical problems, such as dropping or spilling food on the laptop, are excluded from the return policy.

Cheaper to Upgrade

• With used or refurbished laptops, you can afford to purchase an older model and upgrade. For instance, a refurbished laptop may only have 2GB of memory, be a year old and cost $500. A new laptop may have 3GB of memory and cost $700. You can purchase a 1GB memory chip for less than $50. Upgrading the refurbished laptop will save you $150.