The idea of going into a local
computer store and paying £1000+ for a computer are long gone and there are
many computer stores out there that will give change out of £400 for a new
cheap computer. I'm here to tell you that there are many other alternatives
that will mean you can acquire a cheap computer for less than £200!
There are many options out there to
buy a cheap computer, there are many shops looking to sell New, Open Box,
Graded Returns, Refurbished and used computers but which do you choose? I have
decided to compile a study looking at the differences between the above types
of computers and the pro's and con's of each.
Cheap New Computers - It is obvious
that a lot of the time the best solution is to buy new computers however when
you are working towards a budget a cheap new computer can be hard to come by,
in the rare occasions the quality is often hindered. There are many
"Clone" machines out there that are imported from places such as
China & Asia that are sold cheap mainly because of the mass amount that are
produced. It is important however to understand that in the future if a problem
does occur there may not be much you can do to repair.
Open Box Computer Systems- This type
of product is normally apparent because a delivery of a computer has been made
to the customer and has been opened however, it has never been tested. These
are normally sold at a discounted rate because of this reason. My personal
opinion is that this type of product should be avoided and should only be
considered if the price really reflects the risk at hand.
Graded Returns - Similar to 'Open
Box' products graded returns are often new computers that have been delivered
to a customer and a problem has occurred, the product is returned to the manufacturer
and instead of disposing of the product new parts are used to repair the
computer and the manufacturer then sells the product as a graded item. These
are often stated as 'factory refurbished'.
Refurbished Computers - This is
where you can get the most for your money with the peace of mind of a warranty!
Most of these computers can be up to five years old however don't be put off by
this as although the development of computers has advanced, the tasks that
consumers need their computers to perform has not changed at all! If you are
part of the majority of users who use their computer for word processing,
emails, online socialising (Facebook etc.) and downloading music then a
refurbished computer will be more than suitable. Although this all sounds
positive there are things to consider, when buying a refurbished computer ask
yourself the following questions: -
o How much warranty is with the
computer?
o Will the particular computer match your needs?
o If buying online does the company have a contact number if so is it 'real person customer service?' or is it automated?
o Is the price 'to good to be true?' If so it probably is.
o Will the particular computer match your needs?
o If buying online does the company have a contact number if so is it 'real person customer service?' or is it automated?
o Is the price 'to good to be true?' If so it probably is.
Used - If you are really
"Strapped for Cash" there are flea markets and charity shops that
stock second hand used computers at very low prices. Often in these cases,
there is no ability to test the item and computer often comes with no warranty.
This may be an extremely cheap alternative, however in some cases by spending
just a little more money you can purchase a refurbished computer that includes
a warranty.
Things to consider - If you are
buying a laptop, shop around and look at cosmetics as well as specifications.
Most laptops come with similar specifications so it is more about personal
wants such as colour, shape and additional specifications such as card readers
and built in webcams.
When looking to save money and
sourcing cheap computers, consider only buying the desktop/tower base unit, if
you have a working monitor, keyboard and mouse consider only upgrading the base
unit.
Conclusion
Well that about completes my guide
to finding cheap computers, the examples I have provided hopefully illustrate
my point that getting used computers over new computers is one smart way to go.
The sheer selection available means that you can get any specification you
want, fully refurbished and warranted.
If the specification you are looking
for is not available why not consider buying the extra parts yourself such
DVD-RW and fitting them to your new purchase or alternatively contact the
company and see if upgrades are available.
Remember only look for a computer
that matches your needs today, it is easy to get carried away looking for
features that you might and most probably will never use and you will spend
more money than you had to. Look for websites that give you options and look
for websites such as the ones I mentioned above.