Computer Services Department

Used Laptops

Unless they are basically GIVEN to you, don't spend hundreds of dollars on a used laptop when new ones are only hundreds of dollars. It is worth saving a little more and buying a cheap new laptop. Dell starts at under $500, and most used laptops will sell for that amount. 

Again, battery life, processor speed, screen size, memory and hard drive space still apply. If you get a 500mhz or slower laptop, with less than 256mb of ram, etc. you may not be happy with it.

For example, I am looking at an older small laptop for use with speaking notes. It doesn't matter too much with speed since I am using it to read and not so much to compute. So if all you are looking for is a word processor, then an older laptop will do fine. Just don't expect to do a bunch of things on it cause there won't be room or speed. If you get something less than 1GHz and less than a 10gb HD, then Windows XP and Logos Bible software will pretty much fill the drive. Logos needs 512mb of ram so it doesn't take 5 mins to start up -- it takes more space than Windows.

Still looking at older laptops? Don't get Windows 98, because it is too old and insecure. XP will cost more, but take that into consideration when buying. You can find academic packages priced at $84 on www.newegg.com, which you can upgrade. Just make sure you have 256mb of ram. Above all, SHOP SHOP SHOP! Compare prices and features and what you need over budget. Make your budget fit. This is after all, the computer you will have to live with at college. You should love it.

Questions? Contact Rob Linebaugh, Director of Computer Services, 607.729.1581 x 404.