| ge students spend an enormous amount of money | | | | •Fast – The computer needs to keep |
| on day to day living and school expenses. Dorms, | | | | up with the student so processor speed and memory |
| books, and food alone will cost parents thousands of | | | | is very important. These are not the two areas to |
| dollars per semester. Finding places to cut costs can | | | | cut cost. |
| be difficult, but one major expense can be avoided. | | | | •Light Weight – No one wants to |
| Laptop computers are very quickly becoming a | | | | carry a 50 pound boat anchor around in their already |
| necessity for any student, and they are costly. | | | | heavy book bag. Make sure the refurbished laptop is |
| Finding a cheap laptop that will get the job done can | | | | as portable as it needs to be. |
| save a great deal of money. | | | | •Wireless – The laptop should already |
| Many have found the answer in Refurbished Laptops. | | | | be wirelessly enabled or have an open slot for a |
| A refurbished laptop is one that has been returned to | | | | wireless card. Universities are becoming wireless hot |
| the manufacturer and has been restored to a | | | | spots and every student should be able to take |
| “like new” state. Although the | | | | advantage of this. |
| computer is not damaged, it can’t be sold as | | | | •Powered – Make sure that the life of |
| new so the price is slashed heavily. A $2000.00 laptop | | | | the laptop battery is respectable, and purchase a |
| might be sold as a refurbished item for $900.00 and | | | | rechargeable back-up so there is always battery |
| be no different that it’s new counterparts. | | | | power available. |
| This means that for less than half the cost, a | | | | There is more that should be considered of course, |
| powerful like new laptop can be purchased, and in | | | | but most options will depend on the needs of the |
| many cases be placed under warranty in the same | | | | individual. One drawback of a refurbished laptop is |
| way a new laptops would. Almost every major | | | | that in most cases there is very little customization |
| computer manufacturer offers refurbished laptops | | | | that can be done before the point of purchase. |
| including IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Dell. | | | | These computers are already built and ready to go |
| Once a refurbished manufacturer is chosen, the | | | | so if you don’t like a particular option then |
| laptop specifics must be looked at to make sure the | | | | you need to buy another laptop. This doesn’t |
| computer can get the job done. Students are looking | | | | mean that changes can’t be made by the |
| for a laptop that is: | | | | user after purchase, but any further customization |
| •Sturdy – Students are on the move, | | | | will cost additional money and the user needs to be |
| and their laptop will take some damage in its time. | | | | proficient in making the upgrade. |
| Make sure the computer is tough. | | | | |