Canhon

Mitch Edwards asked:


 

Laptops are fast becoming a necessity for professionals and students alike. Gone are typewriters, pen and papers and messy handwritings. One can easily take an office or a library anywhere he want with just a laptop.

High prices of brand new laptops however can be quite overwhelming for some people on a tight budget. So they can settle for cheaper kinds – used laptops or refurbished laptops. Used laptops are not highly recommend though, unlike refurbished laptops which are being raved on by many people today.

There are several advantages of buying Refurbished Laptop computers:

Reduced Cost: Buying refurbished laptop computers can save you 10 to 30 percent off the price of a new computer.

High Quality. Refurbished laptops go through high levels of performance standard tests at factories before they’re repackaged and sent out for selling. You are assured of a high quality laptop even though they’re refurbished.

Discounts. Usually, these refurbished laptops are offered at great discount prices for students, senior citizens, military personnel and etc. Aside from the 30 percent slash off, you can also get additional discounts!

Warranty Advantage. Oftentimes, these refurbished laptops come with longer warranty period. Normal warranties last for 1 year, while refurbished laptops can extended warranty period of up to 3 years.

Now you might be real excited to get that refurbished laptop for yourself. But wait, here are a few things to keep in mind before you buy a refurbished laptop:

First, you must check the date of the first purchase of the unit to know how old the hardware parts are – you don’t want to end up with a laptop filled with almost obsolete parts that’ll be difficult to repair or replace right? Second, you need to find out how many users the laptop had before. A laptop with 2 or more users probably will not be that good. The laptop’s condition is very important because you have to get the same kind of performance capability such as that of a new or a newer laptop. Many buyers also prefer laptops previously owned by women. Make sure that you buy a refurbished laptop from your own country so can easily reach the dealer without much hassle. Shop around till you find a good price for great quality. And lastly, make sure you buy a refurbished laptop that comes with a warranty. If the manufacturer’s warranty has already expired, the vendor then should give one. This way, you can reach the vendor if any problems, repairs or replacement arises.

Refurbished Laptops: Save on Cost, Not on Quality

Sometimes desktops and laptop computers seem to be priced real low. Descriptions of these products might include the term refurbished. Manufacturers and retailers offer refurbished systems much cheaper than normal PC and laptop costs, but are they safe to buy?

Refurbished laptops typically fall into two categories. First are the units which failed a quality control check during manufacturing. Rather than simply disposing them, manufacturers rebuild them to pass quality control checks but them sells them at discounted prices. Another kind is a rebuilt system from customer return maybe because of a certain component failure.

Refurbishment can be done by a manufacturer of a third party. While manufacturers rebuild the system with the same parts used in new laptops, third parties may use alternative parts to fix it up and get it running. These alternate parts may change the system from the original design so it is important for customers to read the specifications and compare them to the standard specs of the product.

And another type that customer will find discounted is an open box product, unlike refurbished laptops, these has not been rebuilt. The product is simply a customer return that was never opened and tested. Buyers should be very careful when purchasing any open box products.

Costs Savings

Primarily, cost savings is the one reason considered why many people purchase refurbished laptops. These are usually priced below average computer systems currently sold. But of course the reduced price is only relevant if you are looking at the same exact product. Most refurbished laptops available will typically be a bit older products that are being compared to the original suggested retail prices for the products on its first release. When looked at this way, deals may not always be the best.

When fishing for refurbished laptops, it is important to note if the model is still available for new sale. If it is, you can easily determine the price comparison. These usually have modest discounts of 10 to 25 percent off the retail prices. So long as they have similar warranties as the new ones, these can be an excellent way of having a laptop for a cheaper price.

However, customers are often tricked into paying for a unit that looks like a good deal but are actually not. This problem comes from older laptops that are no longer sold. This is where the specifications become tremendously important. Check out your prospective refurbished laptop’s specifications and try to find a comparable brand new or newer system. If you can find one, them the cost analysis of 10 to 25 percent still holds. But if you can no longer find a comparable system, search for a comparably priced system and see what you can get. In this case, customers usually will find that they can have a better, newer product for that same price.

So try to be careful when choosing refurbished laptops. Go for those refurbished by manufacturers to get real cost savings and better quality for your money.

Warranties

The key to any refurbished computer system is the warranty. These are products that typically were returned or rejected due to a defect. While that defect may have been corrected and no further problems may develop you want to make sure that some coverage is included for potential faults. The problem is that warranties are typically modified for refurbished products.

First and foremost, the warranty should be a manufacturer one. If the warranty is not provided by the manufacturer it should raise a red flag for consumers. A manufacturer warranty will guarantee that the system will be repaired to the original specifications with manufacturer parts or certified replacements can be used with the system. Third party warranties can cause major problems as replacements parts may not be guaranteed and it may take longer for the system to be repaired.

The next thing to look at is the length of the warranty. It should provide the same length as if it was purchased new. If the manufacturer is not offering the same coverage consumers should once again beware. The lower cost of the system may be the result of them not offering to support the product.

Finally, be wary of extended warranties. If an optional warranty is offered for purchase with the system, it should be a manufacturer extended warranty and not one through a third party. Also be wary of the cost for extended warranties. If the cost of the extended warranties makes the system cost more than buying it new, avoid the purchase.

Conclusions

Refurbished laptops and desktops are one way consumers can find a good deal, but they have to be much more informed before the purchase. The key is to ask several key questions to know if it is really a good and safe deal:

Is it sold by the manufacturer or a retailer? What is the price relative to the same PC new? Is the system comparable to an equivalent priced new PC? What type of warranty comes with the PC? Who will handle warranty work?

If all of these can be answered satisfactorily, then consumers can generally feel secure in the purchase of a refurbished PC.

What are refurbished notebooks

Imagine you could buy cheap, used laptop that fits all your performance and portability needs and keeps all advantages of new notebook like good condition, warranty and technical support. That’s what refurbished laptop is.

Before being offered as reconditioned each laptop is tested, than repaired (if anything needs to be repaired), than thoroughly tested again. Each notebook is also cleaned and comes with warranty. Sometimes warranty includes battery and sometimes not, depending on seller and offered laptop.

What vast majority of people really use laptop for are simple tasks like browsing the Internet, reading and writing e-mails, word processing or working with other office applications. These do not demand cutting-edge, flashing laptop packaged with the latest technical innovations and gadgets for over $2000. Even people doing more complex tasks like programming, web development or working with CAD/CAM applications do not need it in most cases. I run my CAD software on cheap, factory refurbished Dell Inspiron 1100 laptop for under $800. Before it also used to work fine on 900MHz IBM.

Factory remanufactured laptops

There are generally two ways to buy renewed laptop. The best is to buy factory remanufactured laptop directly from its manufacturer. Almost every bigger laptop manufacturer has an outlet section in its online shop, where you can find deals on refurbished notebooks. They are reconditioned and tested by qualified manufacturer’s technicians to meet the same requirements as new items. They also often come with the same warranty conditions and technical support as for new notebooks. The only significant difference is that they are from about $100 to several hundreds dollars cheaper than the same models new. Dell, IBM and Compaq  brands currently presented on our site, all run outlet shops on their web sites.

Third party reconditioned laptops

The second way is to hunt a deal from one of countless third party laptops resellers. Buying from third party reseller, you usually get better prices for the same items. You can also find older models that are not available on manufacturers sites. Each laptop is tested, repaired if needed and cleaned to be in good, working condition. They usually come with warranty but its period rarely extends 90 days. It is also common that battery is not covered by warranty. You can find very good deals on third party refurbished laptops but be careful to buy only from respected and established resellers.

I hope this site will convince you that good laptop doesn’t need to be expensive. The articles should answer most of your questions regarding laptop parts, equipment, accessories, peripherals and upgrading issues. Sellers review should help you to learn how to find quality online resellers. It also presents detailed description of several popular online resellers, where you can find deals on reconditioned and used computers. The brand categories you see at the top of the menu contain information on refurbished laptops offers from specific brands and reviews of the most popular and common models.

 

For more information on where to buy used laptops please visit buy used laptops now.

 

 

Alienware Laptop Expart asked:


Alienware Area 51 – M7700 - The Dream

Flashback year 2006, everyone in the computer world got stunned as Alienware unveiled their new breed of customizable gaming laptop, the Alienware Area 51. Back then, this gaming laptop was hands down every gamers’ dream for a gaming laptop. If not for its steep price back then, everyone would probably work double jobs just to get their hands on this formerly jaw-dropping gaming notebook – including myself.

What more could a gamer ask for in a gaming laptop? What game or 3d application do you think would not be running without a snag on the Alienware Area 51 M7700’s 3.8 GHz of hyper threading raw processing power provided by Intel’s Pentium 4 processor? Add Nvidia’s GeForce 7800 GTX with 256mb of dedicated memory for stunning visuals. Not to mention its 4 GB of PC5300 DDR 2 of ram. And of course, nobody with a right mind would settle for less than 7200 rpm for a hard drive given you already have all the previously mentioned top performing specs. Definitely not I!

Oh well, those were the days when all I could do is daydream on getting my hands on the world’s best gaming laptop. Luckily for me, the time for daydreaming is over. Even with our present economic challenges, I have managed well enough to be able to finally get myself the gaming laptop that I deserve.

Dilemma to get Alienware Area 51 - M7700

Ok. Now here is the funny part. I finally got enough cash to splurge on my dream gaming laptop right? So shopping I tried to do. And guess what? Alienware does not sell my dream no more! How ironic. How ironic indeed. I guess my dream will have to remain a dream for a little bit longer – Oh yes! I definitely am not giving up on this baby!

After countless hours trying to get quality information from Alienware’s customer support on how I could get my hands on the Alienware Area 51 M7700, I gave up on the Alienware’s horrific customer service and I took a step back to assess what options I got left in getting what I have dreamed of.

Then it hit me. EBay! There, I finally found one Alienware Area 51 M7700! Right then and there, I almost purchased it outright specially with it’s less than $ 1,000 price tag. Lucky for me I did not let my emotions get the better of me. I checked on the details of the unit being sold by this EBay seller. It does look like it’s in excellent condition; I will give the unit that. However, the configured specs are a little low for my taste. And the worst part? No option for a warranty! Oh no! Definitely not going with that one now. Not unless I want to end up going bald for issues that might arise after buying the rig.

The Solution

Just when things seemed too dark, a light shined at service.ztronics.com. They had some of the few Alienware Area 51 M7700 left on the planet. And not just that. There units are configured even better than how I dreamed it should be years back. And the best part? They have a 1 year warranty as an option. Need I say more?

At long last, I’m off gaming with what the critics and gamers alike dubbed as the best gaming laptop for months on end. All thanks to everyone at service.ztronics.com specially their top-notch customer service!

For more details on any variant of Alienware Area 51 you may contact http://service.ztronics.com or call at - 714-979-9877

JiaLi Kung asked:


It is from our Central London IT repair centre that we have been serving London and UK customers for the past 15 years. We have made a name for ourselves for offering expert laptop and computer repair solutions to businesses and home users. Our highly trained laptop and computer engineers and technicians will promptly and resourcefully find the perfect solutions to all your PC computer, laptop, Apple Mac and data recovery requirements.

They provide comprehensive support and repair solutions for home users and also for both public and private sector organizations in London and throughout the UK.

We provide our expert laptop repair service for many branded laptops such as IBM laptop repair, Sony laptop repair, Compaq laptop repair, Dell laptop repair, Toshiba laptop repair, Apple laptop repair, Asus laptop repair, Panasonic laptop repair, Packard Bell laptop repair, Siemens laptop repair, HP laptop repair, Gateway laptop repair, Fujitsu laptop repair, Lenovo laptop repair, NEC laptop repair, Alienware laptop repair and many others. Whether it is for general repairs or upgrades, our laptop and notebook repair company offers competitive rates for any brand of laptop. We are experts in notebook repair, laptop repairs, lcd repair, laptop screen repair, laptop motherboard repair, broken laptop repair, laptop screens repair, LCD replacement, hard drive repair, DC power jack repair etc.

We can resolve problems like random shut downs, booting problems, and display problems. If you have lost your important data, we can also recover your data through our efficient data recovery services.

We have successfully recovered data from thousands of hard drives and other storage devices. Our data recovery services are suitable for small and medium sized businesses and individuals all over the UK. Our commitment to provide the highest level of hard drive data recovery has made as one of the best choices among prospective London and UK clients. Unlike our competitors, we provide our clients with professional quality and excellent data backup and recovery at competitive rates.

We offer data recovery from any type of storage media including:

» Hard drive recovery (data recovery expertise on almost all file systems including FAT12, FAT16, FAT32,NFS, NTFS, HPFS, UFS, Ext2, Ext3).

» RAID data recovery

» Flash memory data recovery

» Optical media data recovery

» Pen drive data recovery

» Zip drive data recovery

» Laptop data recovery

Our UK hard disk data recovery experts provide prompt data recovery from operating systems such as MS-DOS, Win95 / 98 / ME / NT / 2000 / XP, MAC OS X or higher, Apple Mac O.S. 3.0, Unix (Solaris, AIX, BSD, HP), Sun Solaris 8 and Linux (RedHat, Mandrake, Corel, Debian).

For any further queries or information, please call us on 0207 237 6805 or email:  info@creativeit.tv.

Silvia Holloran asked:


The correct term should be what is the best laptop for the needs of the user, as there is a whole multitude of laptop makes – models with different specifications there really is no best laptop. To find the laptop that’s right for you we first need to ascertain the basics that just about every laptop should have – Wired and wireless networking capabilities – at least 2gb of ram and the hard drive should be a minimum of 80gb as just about every later version of operating systems, applications and games are larger than previous versions requiring more disk space, and today a 40gb hard drive is simply not large enough.

What else needs to be considered? Size / Portability – Processor or CPU – Operating system – Graphics – USB Ports – CD/DVD drive – Screen Size – Aesthetics – Laptop Role – Saving Money.

Size / Portability – the most common laptop screen sizes are between 13-15 inches, due to this it generally means the lowest prices, which is great if you are out to save some money, but if you travel around a lot then a heavy laptop could work out to be more in Osteopath fees than the total cost of the laptop, so if you travel a lot a small laptop is a real blessing, after all even if the laptop itself is not too heavy, by the time we add the mains adapter, a padded case, plus anything else you need to carry, it can start to get pretty heavy specially if carried around for a while. The same cannot really be said for 17” laptops, if your looking for something with a larger screen that is fine, but if you need to travel at all why not invest in a small laptop and put the extra money towards getting a 19” external screen which is bigger and can also be used in conjunction with the laptop screen, in effect giving two screens.

Processor or CPU – Processors have changed a lot over the past few years and now it seems many companies appear to be bolting on more and more processor cores. So at present a laptop needs to have a dual core processor or above. Dual core is the present standard with Intel’s Core 2 Duo and AMD’s Turion 64 x2, both are very good processors, but my personal opinion is AMD has the edge due to its cheaper price. If you don’t mind waiting and have the money, checkout some of the Quad core laptops coming onto the market.

The Operating system – If you want a laptop with Windows XP and you have found you can only purchase with Windows Vista (which is more common now) do not just presume that you can simply wipe away Vista and replace with XP, a lot of new pc hardware may not have XP drivers developed for it, this can create real headaches when trying to change over to XP.

Graphics Cards – it is generally not possible to replace or upgrade the video capabilities on a laptop computer, usually whatever video card is installed thats what your laptops stuck with, If you are into gaming or need other high end graphic performance the laptop will need a graphics card with dedicated memory, otherwise graphic performance of your application will suffer if it involves in depth graphics or high end gaming.

USB ports – You can never have enough, the average amount of USB ports on a laptop is 4 this may sound like plenty, but once you plug in peripherals such as a keyboard –printer– mouse – pen drive it wont seem so many, of course you could always purchase an external hub, as they are very cheap, but best option is to buy a laptop with more ports in the first place. Another point worth checking; Every laptop should have USB type 2 ports, but its worth checking this to confirm as USB 1 is around 10 times slower.

DVD & CD drive – A lot of the information given in regards to CD/DVD drives can be a little confusing terms such as Single and Dual layer - CD/RW DVD/Rom. Just about all new laptops now should have a Dual layer DVD writer drive this will do just about everything such as reading and writing to CD’s and DVD’s and reading and playing them too.

Screen size – this really covers the portability of the laptop again, the bigger the screen the heavier its going to be, there are also some nice screen technologies around such as tru brite which give the screen a glossy brighter look.

Aesthetics – what would you prefer a slow laptop that looks superb or a faster machine that looks like a brick? When looking for a laptop there is a wide choice available so you should not have to compromise on either, but as a general rule if you have to, compromise on the looks a little but not on the spec.

Laptop role – what will the laptop be used for, general Internet browsing – word documents, pretty much any laptop could do this standing on its head, so the world of laptops is your Oyster. Business applications – large spreadsheets etc, then mid power will be fine, do not need to worry too much about the graphic abilities and a shared memory type should be fine. Gaming or high end graphics require the most powerful processors and graphics cards, be prepared to dig deep if you want to play the latest games with all the extra effects switched on.

Saving Money – If you want a good laptop for a cheaper price you have a number of choices, the first of these is a second user computer, you can save a lot of money this way, but you need to know what your looking at or you could purchase a problem machine or one that is not all what it seems, plus unless it still has warranty left you simply take the risk.

Refurbished computers can offer good value for money, plus you get a warranty too.

Bargain basements – many large computer stores frequently have special offers which can be great value, check on websites for models that have been replaced by a newer model there are some good bargains to be had this way, but be quick as they sell very quickly. checkout more of our other articles at www.computer-adviser.com

Alienware Laptop Professional asked:


Have you ever tried of getting your Alienware laptops serviced? If not, did it ever occur to you that the time would eventually come for your beloved machines to get its well deserved pampering if not a complete laptop repair? If your situation is the latter, I am pretty sure you are up for a big surprise. For those who are new to this, I bet you are itching to relate.

I wish the surprise I mentioned earlier was a positive one. I really do. Especially given the fact that Alienware laptops are supposed to be aiming for the upper end of the laptop market, nobody would expect to get such horrendous service for such expensive machines. I could write about the nightmares I have gone through their technical support for days on end. Believe me you do not? Then please feel free to Google other customer experiences yourself.

Alienware Service – Freelance Laptop Technicians

Then we got the so-called freelance technicians on eBay. I know. Even I have not imagined that a Alienware Laptop Repair Service could be sold on eBay. Regardless of what you or I think, freelance laptop technicians do exist on the popular site. Many of them might even offer a tempting and affordable package for a laptop overhaul. The catch? Technical skills aside, such freelancers just do not have the resources (human or hardware) to be able to give you a good turn around time. So please feel free to try some of them Alienware service providers on eBay IF you are in no hurry to get your rig back in top shape.

After having had excruciating experiences on getting my Alienware workhorse serviced from the manufacturer and eBay technicians, I almost gave up. Luckily, I decided to try to get this baby fix one last time so I tried searching again for someone that might be able to do a better job. Then I found out that there are indeed some third-party companies that specialize in providing Alienware service.

Solution for Alienware Service

I wish I could say I have tried and tested all of them, luckily I can not since the guys at http://service.ztronics.com/ have done a hell of a good job bringing my rig back to its prime. These guys from Santa Ana, California sure did know their thing. The best part? I did not just have my alienware laptop overhauled inside out, I am also better off with the knowledge that I can still use my Alienware for years to come. And if I will ever need to get a more powerful machine, I need not throw this since I do have a number of upgrade options to make it run at par with any other notebook on the market. So now, all smiles I sure am.

David Hawks asked:


Using Compare Laptops tool to select a laptop that meets all your needs

Buying a laptop is not a guessing game and with so many laptops in the market. Most often, it becomes very difficult for you to make up your mind on what to buy. Every laptop manufacturer today has at least a minimum of 10-25 notebook models to offer, and even if you have the basic idea of what you want, it becomes hard to narrow down to your perfect choice.

Today laptops are not just machines that provide mobile computing. Rather they have evolved into tools of digital lifestyle. Today a laptop is used for computing, entertainment, mobile internet, video conferencing, gaming and much more. But not all laptops have all the functionalities, and each functionality adds to the cost. So how should you systematically go about selecting a laptop that meets your needs and comes at the affordable price?

One feature that is effectively used by comparison websites is Compare Laptop tool. This tool allows you to compare various models on price and features across brands and also different models of the same brand. The common mistake committed by most of the first time buyers of laptop is that they tend to compare only prices of laptops without looking at the features and configuration of the laptops, and therefore buying decision reached is never right.  It is like comparing Maruti 800 with Mercedes Benz C220, and if price is the only consideration then nobody would ever buy Mercedes Benz C220. Compare Laptop tool not only allows you to compare prices of different laptops , but it offers comparison based on features and specifications like Processor, Ram, Hard Drive, Optical Disc Drive and so on. Basically Compare Laptop tool allows you to do like- to- like comparison to arrive at the right buying decision.

A simple three step process will help you select right laptop or any other technology gadget:

Decide what you need laptop for.  For instance, do you need it for basic computing, or running high end applications, or graphic work, or gaming or entertainment? For example a HP pavilion laptop offers more multimedia capabilities when compared to a Dell Studio laptop, but at the same time a Dell Studio is much more suited for heavy computing as compared to HP pavilion notebooks. After you’ve decided on the use, shortlist models using Compare Laptop tool that meet your criteria with respect to features, components and overall specifications. Finally compare price of shortlisted models and further narrow down your choice to one to three models that are lowest priced.

Having said that, comparison tool as used in most the comparison websites today has its own limitations and it becomes difficult to narrow down your choices beyond a point.  www.consumermate.com takes this concept a step further and tries to address some of these anomalies. Consumermate allows you to shortlist models based on brand, screen-size, weight, and price before you do comparison on components & features. This allows you to specify your basic requirements before you go to detailed specification sheet. The buying decision is much more simple, accurate and precise this way.

Besides, Consumermate has a user friendly feature of Laptop Guru that through set of simple questions guides a lay-man to ascertain his exact requirements and select appropriate models. This is a very handy tool if you are unable to define your requirements, which is the case most often. In addition, Consumermate has features like Expert Ratings & reviews and user reviews that help you further refine your search.

The whole idea behind comparison tool is to provide choice and transparency to the prospective buyers and thus helping them reach objective and correct buying decision.

Read more about Laptops on www.consumermate.com, your expert buying advice.

Twinomugisha Charles asked:


laptop stands , the laptop is at a level that will keep it cool for a long time and that also keeps you safe from laptop radiation and laptop heat from time to time, but on top of that it also safeguard the laptop from heat. Using laptop cooling fans would be suggested if you happen to use the laptop indoors for long hours. Laptop cooling fans and certain laptop cooling pads help in stabilizing the heat and stopping it from spreading to your furniture or your legs for that matter.

 

How to Pack Your Laptop Wisely

When you are on the move, it is said that you use well-padded laptop cases like aluminum cases, which have been strategically designed to keep the laptop insulated from direct sunlight, heat and moisture. If you plan to buy laptop case or any other laptop accessory like a laptop backpack, or a laptop tote, beach bag, or notebook cooling pad, make sure the accessory is efficient to sustain the heat of the laptop and the outside temperature as well.

If you are one of those who are using laptop in outdoors, never keep your laptop in direct contact with sunrays, This may shut down your laptop when still in use. If you do plan to use your laptop one glaring sunny afternoon, in the outdoors, you should use a laptop hood for cutting down on the direct sunlight on the laptop screen. Or, you can also use a laptop shield that will act as a bullet proof laptop shield to protect the laptop screen from being damaged due to the harsh sunlight.

Much as you love your computer, you should bear in mind that apart from the laptop exterior and laptop screen, the internal laptop parts like the laptop hard drive also stand a chance of developing malfunctions due to exposure to the sun or any other heating object. You must keep it in mind that using laptop accessories like notebook cooling pad, laptop cooling stand, laptop mat or laptop cooling fans is the only solution of protecting laptop from heat. You wouldn’t want your laptop to shut down due to over heat. Would you?