[thechat] how do you buy a PC?

[Luther, Ron]

Erika Meyer asked how you buy a PC ...


Hi Erika,

The last laptop I actually bought was a replacement for the one stolen from my son the college kid.  I bought that one in person at an Office Depot store because, after searching the tubes and even checking my employee discount it was still the best deal I could find. {There were, however, a few time restrictive factors in play for me then that you might not be facing now though.}

In recommending machines to other folks I generally remind them that every manufacturer sells both new *AND* refurbished machines ... cuz a lot of folks tend to forget about that and only look at new or eBay/CraigsList boxes.  Refurbs are not always the best bargains in the world, but sometimes, if you look really closely, you can find a serious gem or two in there.

Being the good shill that I am     
;-)   
here is a link:
http://tinyurl.com/988e9x

Now, (being not so good a shill), I will point out that if I cut out a part number from that list, (say 461994R-999-C2TG which is showing at a price of $499), and paste it into google with a prefix of "HP " I find a link to a reseller, [CompSource is at the top of the list at this writing], offering that same part number (although perhaps on backorder at the moment) for $405!!  [Hunting around a bit more I see a note in the forums at SlickDeals that said there were 40 of these units that could be grabbed for $375.]  {You'll have to ask someone else if these will play The Sims or not though, cuz I dunno.}

The point here is that even mfg refurb prices can be beaten sometimes, so if you really beat the bushes you *can* find those "There is no charge for awesomeness" deals!  (While <balanced reporting requirement> also, of course, keeping an eye out for 'too good to be true' deals from unscrupulous vaporhardware dealers.)

<shill />More bargain basement stuff:
http://tinyurl.com/35yd4f

I haven't spent much time here, but this looks like a forum for info on all kinds of short term 'deals' - which for electronics may include refurbs as well as 'scratch & dent' kinds of things:
http://slickdeals.net/


Remember - all the other mfgs and their resellers sell refurbs too, (even Apple).


Good Luck & HTH.


That CuperTexan shill,
RonL.

+1 on OpenOffice and/or whatever the other one was called, StarOffice wuzzntit?