How and why to Buy a Refurbished Computers

July 8, 2009 - PRLog -- What is important, if you plan to invest in these cheap computers, is to know how to buy them. Even if you were buying a cheap PC, you naturally would want to make sure that it would work smoothly and will not give you a headache for at least two years. There is really no point in buying a reconditioned computer for $200 if you have to constantly bring it to a service center for repairs. Here are some tips on how to buy a reconditioned computer that is perfect for you.
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The first step in buying any gadget, including a desktop computer, is to know what you need them for. Are you buying refurbished computers for your small business? Or are you planning to give your 10-year old son a computer or notebook to help with his studies? Once you have determined what your primary purpose for the computer is, you will then know what speed, memory, RAM and other specifications are needed in cheap computers in order to achieve your main purpose.
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In the United States, you can find refurbished laptops, desktops, handheld devices, and nearly any other type of hardware in a wide variety of models and specifications. Does this mean that you should run out and pick up a refurbished computer the next time you need a new PC at your office? Perhaps — but not without doing some research and planning in advance. Below, we'll provide some tips for finding a quality, affordable refurbished machine that works for your organization's needs, and identify some good places to get started.
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Before Purchasing a Refurbished Computer
1.   Carefully think through your current and future computing needs.
A three-year-old refurbished PC may have enough juice to run Microsoft Office, but it might choke on the latest video-editing software. A quick Google search or a glance at the packaging will tell you the minimum and recommended system requirements for a particular piece of software. Make sure your computers meet at least the recommended requirements for the operating system you plan to install, and anything else you will need to use on a regular basis. Good tech planning and a thorough needs assessment are good ways to ensure that you know what your requirements will be today — and down the road.
2.   Always buy from a qualified refurbisher.
If you buy used computers from a flea market or the classified section, you probably won’t be happy with the results. Authorized refurbishers, on the other hand, test each computer they receive thoroughly, repair them if necessary, and may do some simple upgrades. (At the end of the article, we'll show you places to find authorized refurbishers.)
3.   As with new computers, try to buy machines with identical parts.
Refurbishers often receive hundreds or thousands of PCs from a particular company, allowing you to buy a batch of 50 computers that have the same hard drive, motherboard, sound card, and more.
4.   Pay attention to the warranty and the return policy.
You probably won’t get a three-year warranty on a refurbished machine, but a three-month warranty to cover any out-of-the-box problems is fairly standard. Also, how quickly can the company or refurbisher respond when a machine needs repairs under the warranty?
5.   Check the refurbisher’s fail and return rates.
According to Jim Lynch, Computer Recycling & Reuse Director for TechSoup’s GreenTech Program, the industry standard has a less than 12 percent failure rate, which means it’s worth finding out if the refurbisher you’re considering has a higher or lower rate of returns or failures for the equipment they sell.
6.   Find out what operating system (if any) comes with the computer.
Some refurbished computers come with Windows Vista or Windows XP, while others will include an older operating system — or none at all. This may not make a difference if you plan to configure the computer with an image CD, however: Since many refurbished computers arrive with little or no software installed, disk cloning is often the best way to quickly and efficiently prepare the workstation for deployment. Keep in mind that you would still need individual licenses for any software whether it is preinstalled on a refurbished machine or installed using disk cloning or an image CD.
7.   Learn what peripherals are included.
Refurbished computers rarely come with a monitor, so be sure to include that in your budget. If you need DVD drives, wireless network cards, or other optional components, examine the details of the specification sheet to make sure those are included as well.
Buying from the manufacturer
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Ideally, the best place to buy a refurbished computer is straight from the manufacturer. The computers they sell tend to be merchandise that was either returned by a customer or used as a store model. "If you've had your computer for one week and then decide to take it back to the store, they can't sell it as new again," says Ted Kritsonis, a contributing writer at DemystifyingDigital.com.
One of the benefits of going this route is that most manufacturers will make sure to give the refurbished computer its stamp of approval before it goes on sale. "They take these machines through yet one more quality control pass, so it's actually been touched by more quality control people than a new machine has," says Rob Enderle, principal analyst at Enderle Group.
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Of course, not all refurbished computer programs are 100% failsafe. To help improve your odds, ask the retailer when and why the computer was returned so you can determine whether the item is as good as new or if it had to undergo some extensive repairs first.

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ElectroComputerWarehouse.com is a Re-Marketer of Grade "A" Refurbished/Off-lease computer systems. We strive to provide our customers with the best quality products at prices not found anywhere else.

http://www.electrocomputerwarehouse.com/