Buying Used Laptop

[ed0ggyd0gg]

I'm looking for a used laptop primarily for the basics: word processing, internet, music (if possible), pretty much something I can take to school if I want to do some work there. I already have a desktop that is used for the games and serious ram-munching, so the laptop should be as cheap as possible without sacrificing those basics things. I'm not engineering or CS so I don't really need something that can handle the various types of programs that those majors use.

I've been looking on eBay and I see a lot of T23's and such for around 200-300 dollars (one had a "buy it now" for 250) but my knowledge as to whether this is a good deal or not is limited. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Kaervak]

I'd say $250 is the upper limit for a decently configured T23. If it has 1GB of memory, internal wireless, SXGA screen, 7200rpm HDD or a DVD burner then I'd be willing to pay more. If you're not afraid of a system in need of repair, you can get a really cheap T23 that way. I recently bought another T23 from eBay for a current price of $110 after adding a few needed parts and doing some soldering work on the motherboard. All it currently needs is a hard drive to be fully up and running. A big concern when buying a used T23 or any laptop for that matter, the LCD backlight. A common sign that the backlight is dying on a laptop is a pink tint to the screen when it first turns on. Definitely ask the seller of whatever laptop you're looking at if that's present. Finally, if you want a nice concentrated source of used Thinkpads, http://forum.thinkpads.com is where to go.

 

[DaWhim]

get yourself a cheap x31

 

[ed0ggyd0gg]

The x31 is the one with the small screen right? I need something at least 14". Smaller than that is unbearable.

Thanks for the advice Kaervak. I will definitely check out that site.

 

[ksaajasto]

why IBM?

 

[WackyDan]

They are built better.

I'd rather have a three year old ThinkPad than a three year old laptop of another brand.

 

[ed0ggyd0gg]

What WackyDan said.

 

[steppinthrax]

Originally posted by: WackyDan
They are built better.

I'd rather have a three year old ThinkPad than a three year old laptop of another brand.

IBMs use a lot of proprietary hardware and are expensive to repair considering the lack of parts. Pretty much for this guy anything under the sun would do. I wouldn't go over 400 and the things you should have is integrated wireless consdering it sounds like your going to be on campus and something that is light. If you want to wait, wait till thanksgiving. Every thankgiving they have a really great laptop deal. I think last year it was $400 for a new laptop. I think this year it will probably be $300. Most people think of their laptop as a second computer so you are right in the fact that your desktop is doing the heavy work. I never play games on my laptop. I would also get something with a DVD drive and have at least 3 or 4 USB ports for drives.

 

[WackyDan]

Originally posted by: steppinthrax

Originally posted by: WackyDan
They are built better.

I'd rather have a three year old ThinkPad than a three year old laptop of another brand.

IBMs use a lot of proprietary hardware and are expensive to repair considering the lack of parts. Pretty much for this guy anything under the sun would do. I wouldn't go over 400 and the things you should have is integrated wireless consdering it sounds like your going to be on campus and something that is light. If you want to wait, wait till thanksgiving. Every thankgiving they have a really great laptop deal. I think last year it was $400 for a new laptop. I think this year it will probably be $300. Most people think of their laptop as a second computer so you are right in the fact that your desktop is doing the heavy work. I never play games on my laptop. I would also get something with a DVD drive and have at least 3 or 4 USB ports for drives.

What proprietary hardware?? It is a laptop... most use unique parts to that specific brand or model. That is across all brands.