In the age of technology, a computer is as essential as toilet paper! With the introduction of the world wide web, we now have more technology at our fingertips than anyone could have ever foreseen. From illnesses and treatments to purchasing household items and cars, computers have opened up a whole new world and changed the way that we will live our lives forever. With computers being a “must have” items in most household, how exactly can you save on these super machines? Read below for a few ideas of how to score a sweet deal on a super machine….
Ignore the name – If you are shopping for a PC, such as business laptops for example, the best rule of thumb is to ignore the brand name. Most PC’s are similar in the quality department, and companies such as Asus, although unknown for many years, have been offering quality computers for some time now at a very low price. Of course, being the Mac enthusiast that I am, I always recommend Mac over a PC any day, but realize that these are not the most cost effective machines and a PC will cost you much less, especially if you ignore the brand name.
Know Your Memory – The more memory a computer has, the harder it’s going to hit your wallet! If you’re going to be using your computer for everyday tasks, such as surfing the web, emailing, etc. you can purchase a computer with much less memory at a much lower price. However, if you are looking to buy laptops for students who will be working and saving a large amount of work, or you plan to do video editing or gaming, then you will need to purchase a computer with a larger amount of memory. You may also want to look into purchasing a computer with a small amount of memory and upgrading it later. This may be a more cost-effective option in the end.
Purchase an Older Model – Just because a newer version of a computer has been released, doesn’t mean that the old model is old hat! You will find that older models will be discounted up to 50% off to make room for the newer models. The best part? You still get a quality machine with maybe a few less features, but your wallet will thank you later!
Consider a Refurbished Machine – The word “refurbished” sounds so terrible, however it holds the key savings for you! Most refurbished products are either units that failed initial testing or were returned for one reason or another. The manufacturers take these units and rebuild them equal to the level of a brand new unit! You could save nearly 50% by buying refurbished and still score a quality machine!
Compare – Don’t forget to use online comparison shopping tools, and compare desktop computers to laptop computers. You may find that you will find the same features, memory, etc. and one may be priced much lower than the other. For instance an HP tablet PC mini may offer you many of the same features of a full sized PC in a smaller package, and won’t hit your wallet quite as hard. Of course, don’t forget to also ask your friends for suggestions!