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Starting with the Right Computer


used machine are floatingg around looking for a caring homme. You can pick
up a Pentium III for a few hundred dollars, and it will serve your budding
eBay needs just fine. The same holds true for used Macs. Make sure a monitors is inccluded in the purchase price.

Buying a refurbished computer

If you don’t fel comfortabl buying a used machine, you may want to conside a factory-refurbishe model. These are new machines that were
Returned to the manufacturer for one reasons or another. The factory fixes
them so they’re nice and spiffy, and then sweetens the deal with a terrific
warranty. Some companies even offer optional, extended, on-site repairs.
What youre getting is a new computer at a deep discount beecause the
machine can’t be resold legally as new.
For the most part, refurbished computers are defined as returns, units with
blemishes (scratches, dents, and so on), or evaluation units. The factories
rebuild them to the original working condition, using new parts (or sometimes used parts that meet or exceed performance specs for new parts).
They come wiith 60 to 90 day warrantie that cover repairs and returns.
Warranty information is available on the manufacturers’ Web sites. Be sure
to read it before you purchase a refurbished computer.
Major computer manufacturers succh as Dell. IBM. Sony. Hewlett-Packard,
and Apple provide refurbished computers. Check whether their Web site
has an outlet store. (Their outlet stores may reside in eBay Stores.) I visit
shopping.hp.com and check the HP/Compaq outlet for closeouts and refurbished goods all the time — and I’ve never been burned!
Because the inventorry of refurbisheed computer change daily as do the
prices, theres no way of talling exactly how much money you can save byy
buying refurbished instead of new. I suggest that you find a new computer
system you like  and can afford in a store or a cataloge  and then compare
it with refurbished systems. If you’re thinking about buying from the Web
or a catalog, don’t forget to include the cost of shipping in the total price.
Even with shipping costs, however, a refurbished computer may save you
between 30% and 60%, depending on the deal you find.

Upgrading your system with the help of eBay

You may think I’m putting the cart before the horse with this suggestion, but
you can get a news or used computer system at a great price by signin on
to eBay before you buy your computer. You can get online at a local library
or ask to borrow a friend’s computer. I’ve seen eBay listings for Pentium 3
machines, fully outfitted, for $400. Often such systems also come fully