Tips for Buying a Used Laptop

It is often said that all fingers are not equal. Limited financial resources often force many people to go for a used laptop when making a purchase as that saves some extra funds to be used for other things. There is nothing wrong in that; in fact, it could be a quite prudent decision. However, it has to be stressed that it could be a risky decision as well buying a used laptop because the previous user of such a computer may want to do away with it due to a fault. Here are some tips for buying a used laptop without regrets.

Determine Purpose

The use to which you want to put the used laptop in focus should be given special consideration. Do you need a machine just for typing emails, browsing, downloading files or playing games? You should know that not all laptops can handle these functions well without issues, which is why their prices vary widely. For example, a professional-grade or gaming laptop is usually more expensive than a computer designed for simpler operations such as typing because it comes with improved capability and features.

Determine Preferred Brand

People have preferences for different things. So, the first thing to do when buying a used laptop is to make up your mind on the brand and model of laptop that you would love to buy. You can easily determine this by checking around for used computers that were in top demand in the previous two years or thereabouts as those are likely to give you lesser problems, and you may also want to check for a used computer that comes loaded with a friendlier operating system such as Windows 7 or 8 instead of the problematic Vista. After deciding on the type of used laptop to buy, now look around for places where you can get a great deal; Craigslist and eBay may be great places to start online. You could also check Nairaland or OLX, but be wary of some dubious characters that are usually on the prowl on these sites.

Check Working Condition

Once you have located a seller of a used laptop, the next thing to do would be to check the computer for damages and whether it’s in good working condition. Try verifying by yourself to see that the operating system is original and working – you will be asking for too much in this regard if the used laptop is dirt cheap. Switch the computer on and then off to ensure there is no start-up problem. Also make sure that the operating system is capable of running the type of applications that you may be planning to use on it. Make sure to also check for any damage to the screen as that could be quite costly to replace if there is any. Don’t forget to ask the seller for manuals and licenses that accompany the computer – again consider how much you are paying before deciding to do this.

Miscellaneous Considerations

The next set of things to do when buying a used laptop would be to check that all the sockets, plugs and connection points for wireless like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are in perfect working condition. Also, if you plan to use some computer components such as a printer and monitor that you already have with the used laptop being bought, try making sure that the components are compatible with the system. Assess the processing speed of the used laptop to determine what it offers is sufficient for your needs. Drives and hardware components (both internal and external) like keyboard, mouse, speakers, sound card and so on should ideally be checked. Check the number of RAM sockets available on the used and laptop as well as whether system and hard drive memory can be upgraded.

There you have some tips for buying a used laptop. Make sure you buy from a reliable individual or dealer to avoid having issues after purchase. It helps to also get some sort of guarantee from the seller, especially when the price being paid is a bit steep.