If you are planning to purchase a secondhand laptop then this check list may save you much frustration. We are now seeing many secondhand laptops coming onto the market. Many of them at prices which make them most attractive as a second machine. These notes are intended as a checklist to help you avoid the proverbial lemon.
Laptop PCs may be offered for sale privately by the original owners or by dealers who have sourced a number of them from large companies. Large companies might typically update their employees' laptops after a couple of years because the units were either under lease, out of warranty or it was cheaper to purchase new laptops rather than upgrade the software to operate with the latest company office network. Buying privately is attractive, as the owner should be able to provide the original manuals and software. Buying from a reputable dealer should ensure that you get some sort of guarantee if it should fail.
Whatever the reason for the sale, there are many useful laptops available and yes there is probably a number with a problem that the previous owner is not prepared to live with, or fix.
Many of the points are self evident but to miss them beforehand might be most annoying, if not expensive later. As with any product, an honest seller with nothing to hide should not object to your giving the PC a good work over, as it should do no harm and won't even wear the tyres from a spirited test run!
Here’s a whole checklist of quick, fast facts you might want to consider before you buy your next computer. Some are very common basic computer facts you probably already know; while others deal with more recent technologies and products that you should check or be aware of when buying your new computer.
What Type of laptop?
What processor: a 386, 486, Celeron, Pentium etc? As with the desktop PC the newer the processor usually the faster and better the performance, but note that contemporary tests of many laptops showed surprising differences in operating performance benchmarks among units of apparently similar specifications. A 386 may be useful for simple word processing under Win3.1, but typically such a machine would be inadequate to run WIN9x and its battery would probably be only a Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) with a shorter life compared with later battery technologies. Also early screen displays may be difficult to read in bright surroundings. A 486 with say at least 16 MB RAM could run Win9x. Later models have a faster processor that consumes more power so don't necessarily expect battery life to be far longer on the newer models. If you only want to do minor editing of documents and don't need massive processing power then a simple 486 or Pentium 100 with a couple of spare batteries and car adaptor might be ideal. Conversely if you want to listen to CDs, watch movies or demonstrate software then at least a 400 MHz (or better) processor will probably be necessary. Some laptops operate at a lower speed when running on battery to extend the battery life so be aware that performance benchmarks could vary between running on mains power or battery.
How Much RAM?
Random Access Memory is temporary memory your computer uses to run applications and data on your operating system. Generally the more RAM you have, the faster your computer will run. You need at least 256MB for Windows XP and Mac OS X. You need at least 1 Gig of RAM for Windows Vista but 2 Gigs or more will make it run smoother. However, 32-bit Operating Systems ONLY recognizes up to 3GB of RAM, while you need 64-bit systems to take full advantage of 4GB of RAM.
Extended Warranty?
Many manufacturers and retail stores will try to sell you extended warranties on any computer system you're considering. These warranties can be expensive so it is up to the individual buyer whether or not to purchase them. It will depend upon your own resources but if you're buying an expensive unit going with an extended warranty is a real option - especially when you consider replacement costs and the "peace of mind" such things supposedly brings.
