I was in the middle of an important project not long ago when my laptop computer elected to self-destruct. The horrific hardware event occurred while I was traveling hundreds of miles away from home and on the weekend. I was facing a brutal Monday morning deadline. I was in dire straits.
I had rented computer equipment once before when in a pinch. But, for a host of reasons, running out and nabbing a rental was not an option on the weekend my laptop took itself into Hades. I did not want to run out and buy a new laptop from a local merchant on a whim. (I did that once and ultimately ended up being very dissatisfied in the long haul.)
In this instance, I elected to buy a used laptop to get me through my short term traveling computer needs. I found that when looking for a used laptop, I was wandering around in fairly uncharted waters getting my feet pretty well soaked in the process. As a result of that event, I decided to pull together a few points to ponder when considering the purchase of a used laptop.
First, know your seller. When purchasing a used laptop, it is best to err on the side of caution. Purchase a used laptop only from a reputable dealer or an individual you actually know or who is recommended to you by someone you trust.
Second, shop around. Understanding that some people may elect to buy a used laptop in a pinch, the time devoted to shopping around may be compressed. But, there is no reason not to make a few phone calls and to ask around about where a quality used laptop may be found.
Third, pay attention to age. Don’t buy a used laptop that is more than five years old. Indeed, in terms of a used laptop, a unit more than a few years old is a jalopy.