Refurbished or New? What Should Your Next Portable Computer Be?

When it comes to purchasing a laptop computer you can't help but consider the cost of the unit. While they have come down in price considerably since I sold them for Gateway back in 1998 through 2002 they are still a significant investment for most people. When I was working for Gateway the idea of purchasing a refurbished anything electronic was strictly out of the question! Man how times have changed! A wife and three kids later, two cars, a house payment, insurance, etc, etc........ Well now you can see why refurbished seemed a little more attractive at this stage in my life.
After several months and weeks of consideration and weighing the pros and cons of new and refurbished I (thanks John) I finally decided to go the refurbished route. Do I have any regrets? Well, I'm happy to report that I don't have any! In fact I may never buy a new laptop again! When I purchased the unit I knew I would have to wait at least 5 days to get it, and during those five days I went over and over in my mind of what the condition might be once I got it. Would there be dust and lint stuck between the keys? Would the screen have scratches all over it? Would there be burned out pixels? Would the chassis be dented and scratched? Boy was I relieved when I pulled it out of the box and noticed only 1 imperfection. The front grill of the speakers has about an inch long dent. I hardly noticed it until I stepped back and viewed it from a distance. The screen is in excellent condition, as is the chassis and keys. No dust or lint in the keys, and it looks just like you would expect a brand new laptop to look. I was really put at ease when I pulled it out of the box and saw the HP seal on the sticker that held the box shut.
I purchased mine on EBay but you can also buy them direct from the manufacturer. I paid $599.99 for mine, plus $39 shipping and handling. for what I got with it I have no complaints and I highly recommend anyone looking for an inexpensive laptop to check out a refurbished model. You might be pleasantly surprised just as I was.

DT