Community Newsletter: Q&A: Your thoughts on refurbished or "recertified" computers
- 2/29/08 3:23 PM
Build Your Own
by lolbobjoe - 2/23/08 6:12 AM In reply to: Your thoughts on refurbished or "recertified" computers by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
There are many sites to buy parts and build your own and that is way less expensive. It only takes a weekend, and not that much more complex.
You don't need to get an HP machine.
by Themisive - 2/23/08 6:21 AM In reply to: Your thoughts on refurbished or "recertified" computers by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Just about all machines will accept HP drivers, just remember to keep them up to date. In addition, you may well find it cheaper to get a different type of machine; just beware of some of the used models - you could very well find a new one more reliable.
Two other things you will need to watch out for, (1) the PSU - this needs to ideally be around the 450-550W output area to allow for upgrades, and (2) get as much RAM as you can afford, if possible about 2Gb - again to allow for updates and so-on.
Refurbished Computers
by frugum2 - 2/23/08 6:24 AM In reply to: Your thoughts on refurbished or "recertified" computers by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Try going on Dell's website and using keyword "outlet". That gives you a list of machines available. I know at least a dozen people (including myself) who got refurbished from Dell - saved a bunch of money - and never had a problem (and if you never mentioned it was "refurbished" no one would know). The only trade off is - it's usually with only a 90 day guarantee - but if you're saving a couple of hundred dollars - so what?
Refurbished CPU
by rrc1950 - 2/23/08 6:28 AM In reply to: Your thoughts on refurbished or "recertified" computers by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have had a personal experience with Dell.
They offer returned, or refurbished CPU's at a very
good Discount, and often with New Warranty. If you
were to Check with (Consumers Reports) They are always
among the top, and TECH support is Great.
Costco Refurbished Computers
by gerrygraf - 2/23/08 6:41 AM In reply to: Your thoughts on refurbished or "recertified" computers by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Costco has a subsidiary called EHS Computer Sales. They refurbish and sell computers returned by members and out of box units. I have purchased from them several times and never disappointed. Everything comes with a warranty.
New or Refurbished
by waytron - 2/23/08 6:48 AM In reply to: Your thoughts on refurbished or "recertified" computers by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I can appreciate you’re your thought process here, but I would probably have to recommend against purchasing a refurbished or recertified computer unless you are a real hands on type of person that does not mind having to make a few tech support calls or even possibly packing the thing back up and sending it back. It is not to say that you are absolutely going to have problems, but rather you increase your odds of getting a lemon. Unfortunately, you just don’t know what you are getting. Was it originally a customer return because of simple operator error or a minor problem or was that model just a bad design, and returned for repair? Did the tech who recertified it really find the original problem? Computers are relatively cheap these days and I can’t imagine they can afford to spend a whole lot of time on recertifying them. If you decide to go this way, please make sure you have a rock solid warranty with it and it would probably be best if you purchased it from a local store where you can walk back in to return it rather that having to deal with shipping. I would really watch out for used, refurbished and recertified when it comes to laptops.
BRAND NAME PC’S
As far as brand name PC’s go, I am not personally a big fan of HP/Compaq computers in general. It might be just me but I sometimes think they have an ongoing contest at the factory to see who can cram the most junkware and trial software on a single computer without it crashing. I once considered their printers to be the industries best and still have many of their original Laserjet and Inkjet printers in service. But have lost all faith in their printers of today, especially the All-In-One units. They are not made as well their previous printers and the All-In-One software can be a nightmare to install, run, maintain and even uninstall. Don’t even think of trying to install two different All-In-One printers on the same computer. Having said that, HP Tech Support and Online Chat Support is typically pretty good and fairly easy to use. I personally prefer Dell, Lenovo (IBM), Fujitsu, Sony and of course a good home or custom built computer using quality parts is always a good choice. I usually recommend Dell the most because you can order the computer exactly the way you want it and customize it to meet your specific needs. Gateway was once a premium machine but I would probably stay clear of them now.
BUYING EVERYTHING FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER?
For the layman, sticking to purchasing all of your equipment from the same manufacturer can have its benefits. When something goes wrong, you only have to call one company and it is more difficult for them to pass the buck except they can still blame Microsoft or other software for being the problem. Other than that, all external peripherals such as Printers, Scanners and Cameras will generally work with all BRANDS of computers with out any problems, providing you have the correct physical ports to accommodate that device. I mention this because many of the new computers no longer come with a parallel ports and/or round (PS2) mouse and keyboard ports, so you may have trouble running that really old printer or Zip Drive with the 25 pin connector or maybe even that favorite mouse that you purchased a few years ago. Where you really run into problems is with compatibility between the device, its software and the exact operating system you are running. You have to make sure that your printer, scanner or other devices are compatible with the Operating System (OS) that you are planning to use and not the actual computer brand name. In your case, if you go out today and purchase a new or Refurbished computer and it comes with the new Windows Vista operating system then there is a good change that your old printer or scanner may not work with it, even if it all came from HP. You must look at each of your peripherals and go online with HP and make sure that each one will work with Windows Vista and then download the latest drivers, because there is a good chance that the original installation CD will not work. The same goes for all the software that you plan to use, it to must be compatible with the Operating System. NOTE: Some peripherals may claim to be compatible with Vista but end up with only limited functionality such as an All-In-One printer unit that will no longer scan or fax but prints fine under Vista.
So, what I am getting at here is whether or not you purchase a brand new computer or go with your original idea of going out and simply purchasing a refurbished computer for short money, could end up costing you a few more gray hairs as well as costing you hundreds more to upgrade other hardware or software on your system to get everything working.
Dana
Wayland Computer
depends on who 'refurbished' it.
by LloydSchulz - 2/23/08 7:01 AM In reply to: Your thoughts on refurbished or "recertified" computers by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
'refurbished' can mean different things to different people, so it is good to know the reputation of the supplier. I often supply my clients with computers, and primarily use refurbished equipment. There is lots of really good stuff available, and not expensive. I use mostly IBM, and HP (or Compaq) is my second choice. There are no issues with interchanging them. I use only 'business quality' equipment, and won't touch the models sold by the box stores (much better buying a high quality 'refurb' than a 'cheap' new one). Check out warehousepoint.com. All their units have 12 month warranty standard with optional 36 months, but what I like best is that the PCs work and I never have to use the warranty! LS
MAIND BORD
by LUIS R PAGAN - 2/23/08 7:07 AM In reply to: Your thoughts on refurbished or "recertified" computers by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
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Mixed experience with refurbished or "recertified" computers
by kwallberg - 2/23/08 7:13 AM In reply to: Your thoughts on refurbished or "recertified" computers by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I personally (as everyone probably has) have mixed experience with refurbished or "recertified" computers. I have bought over the years my share of new and refurbished or “recertified” and been extremely pleased, OK with or a few times had to do more work to it when I got it than it was worth. Lately I will say that I believe that the refurbish are getting a little better as the last few I have gotten have had little to no problems or when I did have a problem, the place I bought it from was very happy to help and either made the needed repairs, or sent me another. Now again, this does not mean that all brands and stores are the same. HP/Compaq in my opinion (though I have a Refurbish HP Scanner and an HP Printer that I got from Tech for Less - Name Brand Computers & Electronics at Bargain Prices (sorry for the plug) at http://www.techforless.com/cgi-bin/tech4less/index?id=X9MWwvc4&mv_pc=4 that I have had now for quite awhile and they worked great right out of the box with ALL discs and books with them and that is I think the key. Many do not ship with Factory Discs or manuals so you have to be carful about where you shop. I (and others may disagree) that EBay and UBid may be OK if it is a “Known” Dealer, but I stay away from them. Tech for Less warranties everything they sell including Refurbish and this is important. I am certain there are others that do this as I bought a Refurbish Gateway Desktop System at Tiger Direct at a great price for a “High Quality” machine and Monitor. As this was one of my first Refurbish buys, I took out the extended warranty which again, many say do not bother, but in this case, it ended up paying for itself. I paid around $1,000 for this system and elsewhere not refurbished it was around $1800. The warranty was for two years “In House” service and that was another $139.00. So on the front I had a great deal. I know you are asking specifically about HP, but any modern computer will handle just about any current device you have with no problem. Where I lucked out is it first came with a blown subwoofer. Tiger Direct sent an exact replacement overnight to me at no charge. Then wouldn’t you know, 2-weeks before the extended warranty I bought was set to expire, the power supply blew taking the motherboard with it. I called for my “in house” service and was told they had no more motherboards this model came with and would have to order one and this would take three weeks. I obviously did not want to wait this long so I called Tiger Direct and they sent me a brand new complete motherboard with 2-Gigs of Ram (it started out with one) and said they would deal with the warranty company as they felt good customer service from them is better than a unhappy customer who had bought many things from them over the years. Well I replaced the motherboard and all was now fine and wouldn’t you now it, 10-days later I received a refund check “IN FULL” from the extended warranty place as they stated they could not fulfill the contract. So win/win.
I am not going to say this is a typical experience, but know who you are dealing with, compare it to new models as prices are coming down and if you can get a “Rocket” at a fraction of the price, I say go for it.
Refurbished PC a good option
by Kurogin - 2/23/08 7:19 AM In reply to: Your thoughts on refurbished or "recertified" computers by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I recently puchased a refurbished HP Pavilion a6110n and it is a very good machine, so far I have had no hardware problems and HP has been very good about helping me fix any software problems. The best thing about refurbished is that you know that any problems that the computer had, have been fixed by technicians at the factory. I think refurbished is a good option and a much more affordable one at that. And HP is a very good brand, this is my first HP PC and I am very satisfied with it.
purchase refurbished computer
by dxjanis - 2/23/08 7:33 AM In reply to: Your thoughts on refurbished or "recertified" computers by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
i have purchased three refurbished computers from the dell website and have had tremendous success with them. also, several of my co-workers (as many as 6), have followed my lead, all with excellent results. all of these computers were desktops. i also purchased two refurbished lcd monitors from dell; both are still working quite well. what i mean by "still" is that they are over three years old. i would hope that h-p is as successful with their refurbishment program as dell as they are in direct competition. when i need a new computer, i will return to the dell refurbished website. good luck!
Worth a buy, just as good as another PC
by Jake_Turner - 2/23/08 7:42 AM In reply to: Your thoughts on refurbished or "recertified" computers by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Julianne, my parents had been asking the same question ever since their refurbished eMachine failed, after two solid years of use. One day it simply failed to start. Luckily, the hard drive wasn't damaged, but they decided to buy a new PC anyways, even though the power supply was to blame, and could have been replaced.
So that's the only "bad" experience I've had with a refurbished machine.
Last August, I bought a relatively fast eMachine for 250 dollars. It came with Windows Vista on a 120GB hard drive, and 512MB of RAM. I paid 125 extra dollars to buy more RAM and a video card, bringing my system up to par with 800-dollar computers from a few years back. I use it for game development whenever I'm not doing homework with it. I haven't had a single problem with the eMachine, aside from having to buy a new fan for my graphics card (didn't come with the PC, so that's not really related). And if any of the parts were to fail, the Celeron processor my PC uses (and most of every component in the PC) can be bought for less than 100 dollars.
And as to whether your HP printers and scanners will work on a non-HP PC; Yes, they will. Just so long as they use USB connections.
So to recap:A refurb seems to have just as much a chance to fail as a new PC will. It will have even less of a chance if you buy from a reputable vendor such as TigerDirect. And if you buy a PC that uses older parts, it will be cheaper to replace them should they fail(think Intel Celeron/Pentium Dual Core and DDR2 RAM). Your HP-branded printers and scanners will work with any PC that has USB connections (provided the printers and scanners use them).
I hope this helps!
Please anything but eMachine
by waytron - 2/23/08 7:56 AM In reply to: Worth a buy, just as good as another PC by Jake_TurnerPlease Avoid eMachine, I am sorry to report that out of all the computers that I work on, they fail the most often. The motherboard and/or powersupplies seem to fail at about 2-3 years. Many of the ones that I have, the power supply failed and took out the motherboard too. I have a whole floor pile of bad units if anyone wants them.
Refurbished computers
by Phil Crase - 2/23/08 7:52 AM In reply to: Your thoughts on refurbished or "recertified" computers by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Be cautious if you are purchasing something used or refurbished. A system that has been upgraded from a prior(older) operating system, Win 98 to Win XP for example could be an issue both from hardware and software standpoints. Also be aware that the new O.S., Win Vista, may not run some software/hardware germane to earlier operating systems, at least not without some upgrading (patch downloads specifically) and perhaps even then not. Processor and memory are important, in an older system try to stay with the Intel P-4 processor series or the AMD Athlon a MINIMUM of 512 mb of ram, preferably a gigabyte. Video and audio upgrading could be done later if needed.As far as hard drive size is concerned anything over 60 gigabytes is generally more than sufficient for the average user, even less might be acceptable depending upon individual use. GOOD LUCK!!
REFERBISHED PC
by TERRY PYLES - 2/23/08 8:08 AM In reply to: Your thoughts on refurbished or "recertified" computers by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A GOOD REFURBISHED PC TRY WWW.HEARTLANDAMERICA.COM, I HAVE A PC I BOUGHT FROM THEM AND IT IS VERY GOOD ALL I BOUGHT WAS THE PC IT CAME WITH KEYBOARD AND MOUSE BUT I ALREADY HAD THE REST
BUT I HAVE HAD IT FOR 2 YEARS NOW AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT, OVER THE 2 YEARS I HAVE ADDED MORE STUFF TO IT IE DVD ROM, EXTRA HARD DRIVE, WIRELESS KEYBOARD AND MOUSE,
I HATE TO TELL YOU THIS BUT IT IS A DELL, NOT AN HP
BUT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND AN HP AT THIS SITE, AND YOU ARE NO CRAZY FOR WANTING AN HP BECAUSE I PREFERE TO BY ONLY DELL, THIS SITE HAS VERY CHEAP PC'S
terrypyles@sbcglobal.net
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