Korean Job Discussion Forums

cmr · Joined: 22 Mar 2006

I've seen so many times cheap laptops, but usually they were cheap because they were refurbished.

I'm not talking about Korea alone, I've seen plenty before coming to Korea but was always scared to make a big mistake buying one.

So, what's what with refurbished laptops, are they any good? If you go with a well-known brand name, does it make any difference?

Wrench · Joined: 07 Apr 2005

Never buy refurbs. Why cause they come with 3 month warranty or no warranty at all. You might save your self some cash in the short run but you might have to buy another laptop in the near future.

jazblanc77 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004

If you are only planning on using it for a year or so, then a refurb isn't so bad of an idea. But, expect it to become a disaster of a system at some point in the not so far future.

jazblanc77 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004

double post

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

gsxr750r · Joined: 29 Jan 2007

I purchased a refurbished "certified" computer from Gateway once. The hard drive was making a slight whine from day one, which grew worse, and began to intermittently lock up.

So much for "certified" reconditioned. Obviously, it was returned for the same problem, but when checked by Gateway, it started up and some tech called it all-good and marked it "Certified" A-OK for resale.

I spent a good three hours on the phone with tech support as they ran through every possible detail in order to avoid the obvious -- that the machine needed a new hard drive. It wasn't until the hard drive made an awful sound (not unlike a radial saw locking-up in a thick piece of wood) that the tech said, "What the heck was that?!?" He heard it over the phone, and sent me a new hard drive (which I had to reinstall Windows on myself -- but they walked me through).

It was sort of a like hands-on Windows installation training, and I learned a lot about taking my computer apart, but I'm sure 99% of people would rather have avoided the problem entirely.

I would buy a refurbished computer again IF the price were worth it (they never are anymore -- often they are MORE than new from Gateway, Dell, etc.), but never a refurbished laptop. I don't know enough about fixing those, and have always ended up with extra screws every time I've opened one up.

Don't buy a referb.

cmr · Joined: 22 Mar 2006

Thanks all for the pieces of advice. I guess I was right to be too scared to buy one in the first place. I'll stick to that.