Let’s break it down.
Unfortunately, it isn’t.
Now that’s not always the case.
With a preponderance of resellers, the term “seller refurbished” has become common.
The degree to which you trust the refurbished unit depends on who’s selling it.
A refurbished laptop lets you trust your purchase … at least as much as you trust the seller.
In general, we’d recommend at least 8GB of RAM if you want a Windows or Mac laptop.
Chromebooks can do with 4GB.
The minimum for a modern OS is about 128GB , with Chromebooks being okay with much less again.
You be the judge.
Lenovo’s ThinkPad series, Dell’s Latitude series, and HP’s Pro/Elite series are good examples.
A nice bonus of these designs: They’re often more user-serviceable than some thinner lighter designs.
That means that you might be able to upgrade the memory or storage to more suit your needs.
Start with conventional media reviews.
You want a laptop to be good, or at least decent, when it’s new.
It isn’t going to be any better when it’s old, right?
You might want to think twice before picking one up.
Where to Shop?
Used laptops can be found in a lot of different places.
Let’s take a look at your options, from the most reliable to the least.
Just don’t expect to save a ton of money.
These tend to come from third-party sellers who are using these large retailers as a sort of bazaar.
Secondary Online Markets
We’re starting to get into the weeds here.
Secondary online markets are those that let individual sellers list items directly, likeeBay,Swappa, andBonanza.
(That’s in the U.S.—you might have different options based on where you live.)
Buying from eBay and similar sites requires some care.
Paying with a verified system, like PayPal, is a must.
These tips can generally apply to pawn shops as well, by the way.
This is especially true around major holidays, as people sell off new gift items they don’t need.
Your selection will be, too, because you’re choosing from laptops that someone no longer wants.
If you’re having trouble, consider widening your search.
Can you find the same model with less RAM or storage, and upgrade it yourself?
Can you find the previous year’s (or older) model from the same brand?
Can you find a laptop from a competing brand that has some or all of the same features?
In general, use caution, use patience, and use common sense.
You’ll be able to find a dependable affordable laptop that fits your budget.
