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I'm gonna be needing one real soon and wondered if there are particular features I shold look for or stay away from in searching for a used machine?
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Posts: 6806 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Rick....If it is a used machine you are looking for..then I'd say just get the best deal you can...Once you have one, you can then determine for yourself what you would want in a new or newer one.
One thing to look at for sure, in a used laptop, is how good the battery is. Don't be in a hurry, start it up when fully charged and play with it until the battery goes down to the 10% range. Heck even take some program that you use alot and install it on the thing to see how long it will last on battery power with that program being used. Replacement batteries are quite expensive and are one of the reasons that laptops get traded in.
In a new/newer laptop I would say that screen size is quite important in the business that we are in. And of course, all the usual other things like as much processing power as you can afford etc.
------------------ Dave Grundy AKA "applicator" on mIRC "stickin' sticky stuff to valuable vessels and vehicles!" in Granton, Ontario, Canada 1-519-225-2634 dave.grundy@quadro.net www.quadro.net/~shirley
If your gonna go used try ebay, summertime is a good time to pick up computers because nobody is thinking about computers.
Every one is busy outdoors and the computer industry is in a lull. Make sure you buy before school time or forget it.
I bought 2 used laptops off of ebay, I made sure both times I bought from reputable sources and the most important feature is they are UNDER WARRANTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I bought Compaq Armada series, they are corporate laptops not home user laptops. That means very good battery life and more room for more batteries, I have 2 batteries that will give me 8 hours of continuous use.
Also look for a system that will have a docking station, they are handy for networking as well as leaving it docked at the office to use a bigger monitor, keyboard and mouse.
I leave mine docked all day at the shop, save files right to it from my main graphics system and then I can take them to the client or home to work on.
A built in CD rom is a must, having on that you can have the floppy and the CD in at the same time is nice. A modem is a must, usb port is nice if you can get it, but they make pcmcia cards with usb ports for add-on.
But you MUST find one still within warranty in case anything goes wrong, laptops are quirky and fragile.
My last laptop was under warranty, I had a problem, Compaq picked it up the next day, 3 weeks later I called and they had lost it ( not standard compaq support, they are excellant in support on their corporate lines.) I now have a brand new Armada ( well I've had it 7 months now) E-500 PIII-700 with 128 megs of ram, 12 gig hard drive with a 15" TFT screen, my cost = $0, retail was $2900.00 plus a $765.00 docking base also cost me $0.
All for buying a used laptop off of E-bay for 650.00 that was still under warranty.
Not bad huh?
I actually pick up another docking station of f of e-bay brand new for 65.00 that sold on the street for 300.00. I use it at home, which I am right now typing from my laptop. Sooo convenient.
Oh one more important thing, make sure the screen is a TFT screen and not a dual scan. The TFT screens give much better graphics.
Have fun and good luck
------------------ Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA bob@creativesignworks.com
"Some people's kids"
[This message has been edited by Bob Rochon (edited May 13, 2001).]
[This message has been edited by Bob Rochon (edited May 13, 2001).]
Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hey Rick, did you say you would be "needing" one soon ? What gives?.....You changing careers or something? Your area seems kinda a small and laid-back, so I can't imagine you needing a laptop,....please ease my fears of your "Redwood Empire" becoming "silicon-like".
------------------ Rich Stebbing #945 RichSigns Rohnert Park CA
Posts: 755 | From: Rohnert Park, CA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Hi Rick, well I am a laptopaholic, I think they are wonderful. I use a PC for Signlab but a notebook for everything else! Personally, I wouldn't buy a used one, I think they can be too easily abused, you don't always know what you're buying. The cost of new ones is coming down quite a bit. Buying new gets you the latest technology and a good warranty as well as insuring a better trade-up or resell price. (I know, I'm a hypocrite, I would sell a notebook but not buy a used one).
------------------ Gray M. Hodge Cam River Signs Somerset, Tasmania.
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better then ebay....is OFFICE DEPOT, CIRCUIT CITY, BEST BUYS, STAPELS...etc. check with mangment and see if they have any "open box or returned items"....i got a brand new ibm thinkpad(dont like the little red button for a mouse control, but i just added a ps-2 mouse to it)433, 4 gig, 64 megs ram,cd, for $750.00new it sells for $12-1400. it has full warrenty and i registered it with ibm. 1st think i did when i got it home was to wipe h/d then set it up the way i want it...i use it in the mobile sign truck....and lov to walk in a prospective clients office with it, fire it up and do his design right in front of him....goten every job ive done this way....no haggle with price.....
------------------ joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-944-5060 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND
Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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If your're gonna buy used, I would buy a refurbished model from the manufacturer instead. At least they have warrantees.
IBM, Dell, Compaq, and all the main companies have refurbished models for sale via their websites, some of them are the same exact models they are currently selling!
If you plan on doing alot of design on it, I would not settle for less than a 15" TFT Super XGA screen. That size screen has the same viewing area as a 17" tube monitor, which is borderline.. especially if you like working in higher resolution settings.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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