laptop help!

[b r i / /]

well my mum has decided to get all of us a laptop to share, however she doesnt wanna spend big...

she found one in harvey normal for $699. http://www.harveynorman.com.au/viewPage.tho?targetType=claSitePage&target=449&crumbTrail=+Hardware+%3E+Notebooks+%3E+Refurbished+Notebook+ Computers
its a refurbished ibm, i did my research and worked out that these are just like 'approved 2nd hand computers' but i mean, they dont sound trustworthy to me...

i was then looking some more, and found this Compaq Presario V2417AU 1.80GHz Notebook which is $899 cash back. Doesnt sound too expensive to me.
Obviously sounds better than 'refurbished' as it is new. and i have heard compaq is a good brand for computers.

What would be the one to get, cuz i dont want mum wasting her money on a $700 one wen if she spent an extra $200 she could get a brand new one.

SO please help me!!! thanks everyone, it will be mainly used for homework, sometimes internet and most likely games

[provenzano]

if the difference between a brand new one and a refrusbished is $200. buy the brand new one. if the price difference is $500 or more buy the refurbished. i bought a 2nd hand non refurbished lap top a few yrs back and i havnt had any troubles with it. i hope i helped u in some way.

[petermicha]

Why do you want a laptop? You can get a better desktop for the price you'd pay for the laptop.

[BoOsTeD_MaCoO]

ummmm just buy the parts and build it urself if u no alot cheaper and better

[LOVEJ]

mac mini :)

[~RaVn ItAlIaN~]

ummmm just buy the parts and build it urself if u no alot cheaper and better
Not everyone knows how to build their own laptop..

[petermicha]

building your own laptop aint that easy, i can tell ya that much. desktop is pretty simple.

[shaheen]

Get the new one, unless the refurbished one comes with warranty don't do it. My sister bought a refurbished one, she got it cause it came with 5 year warranty so I approved of it.

[Gabbo]

Ok, first of all, you can not build your own laptop. People try it but don't get them very small.

Second, you don't buy any laptop that isn't new. If you buy a seond hand one, you won't get warranty and you're fucked if the laptop shits itself.

Acer laptops are cheap, good, reliable and have a very good warranty. Nuff said.

[dj_stick]

She wants a portable machine, not a desktop, even if it can be moved with ease,you still need a monitor, keyboard, mouse

New is almost always better, better warranty

Dell laptops (i'm not talking about their shitty desktops here) probably have the best build quality of those sold, but Acer are respectable for their price.

[Gabbo]

Dell doesn't have on site warranty.