Choosing Between a New Computer or Used Computer

When times get tough and money is tight, people often put off buying new appliances - washers, dryers, toasters, TVs - and either fix the ones they have or buy a used or refurbished one. And the fact is, computers are appliances, too, sometimes the most popular ones of all, since they are now our "windows to the world," as well as being the devices that everyone in every profession uses for work and people everywhere use for their entertainment.

Computer makers and big retailers have a big incentive to sell the "new and improved" message with every advance, big or small, in computing technology. But the fact is, not everyone needs the latest and greatest, and millions of people can do everything they need to do on models that are one, two or even five years old. How do you know what to buy? How do you go about choosing between a new or used computer?

Know your needs
The most recent generations of CPUs (Central Processing Unit, the computer's "brain") are dramatically faster than those of just five years ago. Along with much bigger (and cheaper) hard drives, better graphics subsystems and more installed(the Random Access Memory where the CPU does its work), today's computers are much faster at such labor-intensive tasks as video editing, audio recording, 3D drawing and others advanced work. If you are a professional video editor or technical illustrator, you will need the speed to keep up with your profession (and your competitors). Some people really do have to have the newest and fastest PCs, but do you?

Clearly, not everyone is doing this kind of demanding work, particularly casual home users. The fact is, you don't need that kind of horsepower to do the word processing, web surfing, lightweight photo editing, garage sale flyer layout and other lower-tech tasks that are the main things the casual user does. If you don't need to do the challenging tasks, you don't need the most powerful computer around. If you are, in fact, doing the same things you were doing ten years ago, it is likely that some of you reading this article are still working on a 10-year-old computer. And why shouldn't you be?

Connectivity issues
This last question deserves a quick answer, because there are some reasons to stay at least somewhat current. If you are using an older computer with an older web browser, you may not be able to surf as widely as you once did. With an "antique" OS (Operating System), you may not be able to run the software you need to run, connect to your broadband account or open newer file types. This still doesn't mean you need to replace your computer - and even if you do need to, it doesn't necessarily have to be a brand new one. There are some other options you should check out before buying anything, of course.

If your older computer can be upgraded to a new OS (from Windows 98 to XP, for example, or Macintosh OS 9 to OS X) and still run with sufficient speed, you would then be able to install newer software and utilities. You could also upgrade certain components - get a bigger hard drive, some expansion cards for USB or Firewire connections or a flat panel monitor - that will modernize your computing experience. You'll have to decide if it makes economic sense, though, because it may be that you can get a newer (not new) computer for the same amount or even less than your planned upgrades would cost.

Narrowing the field
Of course, if you are not a "techie" you will have to pay someone to install all those new goodies, so you really do need to crunch the numbers on this. Just take an honest look at what you need to do with your computer and get what you need to be productive. If your teenagers expect to play the latest, greatest computer games, you are going to have a tough time with even a two-year old model, although some smart shopping, with help from knowledgeable friends or coworkers, might land you a capable "gaming PC" for a reasonable price. You will, of course, pay more for every advanced capability you need.

If your needs, in fact, are simple and your power requirements are in the "normal use" range, then you definitely need to shop in the used and refurbished market. Remember, four-color magazines were being laid out and produced on computers 15 years ago, although not quite as quickly and without what we would now consider the latest, greatest software tools. But it was being done, as were 3D drawings and video editing. The issue is whether or not that particular computer setup could connect to and communicate with other systems - the Internet, home and business networks, etc. - now in place.

Final considerations
Theoretically, of course, if you didn't want to connect to anything, and you keep the old computer in "standalone" mode, you could conceivably use it forever for certain things. But then you would need a second PC for e-mail, the Internet and all the rest. This just doesn't seem like a practical thing to do, and since we're talking hundreds, not thousands, of dollars for an entirely capable computer just a couple of years old, there is no compelling reason to do it.

The issue now becomes one of getting the best deal from a reputable source. You can buy right out of the newspaper classifieds, certainly, but many people like the idea of having some recourse if something goes wrong. Dealing with a reputable computer sales firm is probably the smartest move, as you can not only work out any problems with your purchase but get some good advice before you make one. There are literally millions of solid, dependable and capable used computers out there, ready to give you years of good service for not much money. With used computers, it's always a buyer's market, so start shopping!