Everybody likes a bargain, right? We've all seen the advertisements for cheap laptops, some going for as low as $150 advertised in shady strip mall stores and questionable websites. Time after time, I have had clients asking me about what my take is on these seemingly affordable computers.
The fact of the matter is- professionally refurbished computers offer an excellent value to today's consumer. You can get a laptop or desktop for a fraction of the price of a new system, with modern software installed, and an otherwise functional computer avoids being thrown in a landfill. Everybody wins.
However, just like shady used car lots, which are notorious for ripping off consumers with bad cars, laptops can be "lemons" too. Unscrupulous companies and online sellers often prey upon consumers not armed with this information. Their smooth-talking sales pitches and flashy advertisements often draw in consumers with the allure of stretching their dollar.
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The harsh reality though, is that prices below $200 are just unrealistic for laptop computers- at least one that's functional. Laptops in this price range typically come with outdated, insecure versions of Windows, such as Windows Vista and XP. Additionally, these computers have been known to be loaded with illegal copies of commercial software- something that puts your security at major risk due to the fact that viruses are often distributed with these pirated versions of popular programs, such as Microsoft Office.
The woes of "lemon laptops" do not end there, sadly. To get to that price range, it's essentially a "race to the bottom". Corners have to be cut somewhere, and the purveyors of these devices are definitely not cutting their profit margins. Often times, the quality of the parts suffer. Because the hard drive, RAM and other components subject to degradation might have been heavily used for several years, customers stuck with these systems will often end up having to spend hundreds of dollars in repairs to bring these bargain-basement systems up to par with their needs.
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Due to the dubious quality and reliability issues that these laptops pose- you could be putting your home or business documents, pictures and memories at big risk by trusting these systems. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Caveat Emptor!
Gavin Rozzi is Lacey Township's Computer Expert, offering consulting, repairs and advice at www.grtechnj.com
