People buy cheap laptops for all different reasons. There are certainly enough of them out there, but it can be difficult to find a computer that will meet your needs as well as your budget. You’ve really got to have your wits about you to make sure you don’t end up with an outdated piece of junk instead of a decent, cheap laptop.

Decide what you want before you start looking.

Don’t get roped into buying a laptop that is beyond your budget and comes with extras that you just don’t need. Write out a list of things you must have, and things you can get away without. One example of this is buying a laptop that doesn’t have wireless internet built into it, then buying a cheap USB connector for as little as $10.

Cheap laptops won’t have the same capabilities as a more expensive one. For bigger projects you may need to invest in a better machine. For ordinary activities like word processing and emailing, you can easily get away with a standard Intel processing unit, 40GB of hard disk space and 1GB of RAM. The cheapest option with regards to RAM is often to buy a computer with less RAM and upgrade to the amount you need.

Out of Windows XP and Vista, XP will probably suit your needs better. It works with current programs and uses less RAM to run.

The cost of your laptop will go up substantially with battery capacity. However, if you mostly work indoors you probably won’t even need much battery as you can run your laptop off the charger. Outside you’ll have problems with glare, anyway, so working inside is the better option.

A big bulky screen is typical on a cheap laptop, but may not be what you are after. Great for movies, big screens tend not to be so good for text documents as it distorts the characters a little and can be bothersome. Bigger screens also may not fit into regular carry bags. Mini screens may be better for text, but it is up to the individual and what they prefer.

Pre-used laptops.

Used laptops are risky business, and for inexperienced computer purchasers, are probably best avoided. Of course, there are some excellent deals out there on quality second hand computers, and there are a few guidelines that can help you find a great buy.

1. Where possible, buy from someone you know, or a reputable computer resaler.

2.Ask the seller why they are selling it. They may have been having problems with their laptop, in which case you should probably find something else. Or, they may have just upgraded and simply don’t need their old laptop any more.

3. Age matters with laptops. Anything older than five years will have fewer capabilities than more recent models, and will start to become incompatible with newer software products. If you find a laptop for sale that is less than one year old then you should be asking why it is being resold so soon.

4. A one or two year old laptop selling at half the price it was originally bought for is the ideal combination. Older laptops with price tags close to the original are bad value. New laptops that are going very cheap are to be regarded with suspicion as there’s likely to something wrong with them.

5. Does it have a warranty? If not, you may have difficulty getting your laptop repaired or replaced should anything go wrong.

6. Ask the seller for the original proof of purchase. This will verify that the item has not been stolen, and may come in handy later on for warranty purposes.

7. Make sure that if you find that the item doesn’t meet the description you were given, the seller is prepared to give you a complete refund. If they refuse, don’t go ahead with the sale.

Andrew Johnson is an expert in computer consumables. If you would like more information about types of cheap laptop or are looking for a trusted computer retailer please visit http://www.ebuyer.com

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