Buying A Cheap Notebook Computer

Cheap notebook computers and second hand laptops are becoming more in demand then ever before, this page is designed to help you get what you need. We'll also try and help you buy a machine that doesn’t end up in the trash in 12 months time.

What to look for:

Before you set out on a search for your cheap notebook computer determine your price range and what you need the computer to be able to do.

With the way computer systems and the internet are these days you should consider some minimum specs that will allow you to perform some basic functions without headaches ie. internet browsing, cd burning, network capabilities, modem function.

Recommended minimum spec laptop for today’s world should consist of..

- Pentium III or Equivalent – 1000 MHz (1 GHz)

- Memory – 256MB

- Modem & LAN Functions – 56K Modem, Onboard or PCMCIA Network Adapter.

- Optical Drive – CDRW/DVD or DVDR

- USB1/2 – USB ports – at least 1.

- Floppy drive – Optional, not a lot of uses these days with the prevalence of USB memory sticks.

- Check to see that the system has a basic set of external ports i.e.- VGA, Parallel, PS2.

If you can lay your hands on a cheap notebook computer with these specs you're on your way.

A few things to consider..

Don’t expect a machine like this will cope with the latest games, things like Vram and 3DFX graphics cards can’t be added to laptops like this and they weren’t manufactured with gaming in mind.
It is important that you ensure that all the hardware is functional and you won’t have to replace any components in order to get them working – this will drive the cost up for you dramatically, PARTS ARE EXPENSIVE.

The importance of Minimum Spec.

Processor speed - This will directly affect all functions, this will also directly affect your frustration levels.

Memory – (See Processor)

Network I/F – Modem and more importantly LAN function will get you connected to the internet, 56k dialup will leave you wanting more but with the LAN function you will be broadband ready.

Optical Drive – These types of cheap laptops don’t have the same hard drive capacity as newer machines so having a CDRW or DVDR will enable to to backup all your downloaded goodies so you don’t have to leave them on the HDD.

USB function- Good for external devices like mice and USB memory. Also for USB modems, printers and so on..

Try before you buy..

Some basic function testing should be done before you part with your cash. If you find that the seller won’t allow this then assume that not everything is as it seems. Unfortunately you cannot take everybody’s word as the honest truth so if you find yourself looking at a dirt cheap notebook computer that appears to be too good to be true then it probably is.

$$$ saving advice..

Avoid purchasing anything you haven’t held in your hand, don’t fall into the eBay or online auction trap, you can’t guarantee what you will end up with. If you insist on doing this then ensure they have some sort of return or refund policy if you don’t get what you thought you where getting.

Do a basic function test –

1. Boot the machine several times to see if its OK.

2. Look for boot or early post error messages – note them down and research them.

3. Try the CD, burn a disk, play a DVD.

4. Try the USB port - plug in a mouse or USB stick.

5. Use the entire key set on the keyboard – use notepad or word.

6. Check the onboard mouse and mouse buttons.

7. Connect it to a LAN or broadband and check for connectivity.

8. Do a test dial with the modem, get it to dial your cell phone.

9. Connect devices to the external ports to see if they are detected or work at all.

10. Download a generic HDD testing application or run a defragmenter on the hard drive, this should pickup any potential errors. If the hard drive is noisy consider this as a potential expense if it fails.

11. Look at the screen for stability, any vertical or horizontal lines could be a sign of more to come. Check for any flickering or backlight variances.

12. And last of all check the overall condition of the case or outer shell, check for cracks – cracks only get bigger.

What you should get with it..

Try to get the original recovery CD’s that came with the machine or at least some copies, this will help you build your own SOE for the machine.

Click here for info on building an SOE once you've found your cheap notebook computer.

Adapter and power cord, ensure they work as they can be expensive to replace. All other manuals and documentation can generally be downloaded.

By doing your homework and researching your options you can find a cheap notebook computer that will do everything you need it to do and save a lot of money compared to the price of a brand new machine.