4 Reasons it is Not Always a Good Idea to Sell Your Laptop
When someone has a problem with their computer or phone the first thing they think of is I need to upgrade my electronic device because it is slow, outdated or might have a small problem. While sometimes this might be best with a phone if you're ready for an upgrade, it might not be the best option for your laptop depending on what make and model you have. Just because a laptop is a newer model does not mean that it is better or faster at what you're trying to do.
A Newer Laptop is Not Always Better, Check the Hardware
When buying a laptop there are many things to look at, what size is the screen, what kind of processor (CPU) does it use, does it have a video card, do you need a 10 key, etc. the list goes on. If you're thinking that your laptop doesn't cut it anymore there are quite a few things to consider. If you bought a laptop 3 years ago and got the top of the line newest and best model chances are it will still be better than the "new" cheap version at a store. If you look at new models coming out they're using old Pentium and Centrino processors to keep costs down while having less ram and using Windows 8. The less expensive models might use these budget processors and boast a large hard driver but the truth is large hard drives are no longer expensive, in older laptops it was a big deal to get a 320GB or 500GB hard drive when that is now pretty standard for all models. Look closely at your laptop hardware versus that new model to make sure you aren't actually down grading.
When buying a laptop there are many things to look at, what size is the screen, what kind of processor (CPU) does it use, does it have a video card, do you need a 10 key, etc. the list goes on. If you're thinking that your laptop doesn't cut it anymore there are quite a few things to consider. If you bought a laptop 3 years ago and got the top of the line newest and best model chances are it will still be better than the "new" cheap version at a store. If you look at new models coming out they're using old Pentium and Centrino processors to keep costs down while having less ram and using Windows 8. The less expensive models might use these budget processors and boast a large hard driver but the truth is large hard drives are no longer expensive, in older laptops it was a big deal to get a 320GB or 500GB hard drive when that is now pretty standard for all models. Look closely at your laptop hardware versus that new model to make sure you aren't actually down grading.
Lots of people think they need a new laptop because theirs is "broken" or too expensive to repair. Depending on what is wrong or where you take it the cost might be to high, but if it's something small or you shop around it can actually be very inexpensive to have your laptop back and running. Taking your laptop to a big box store is the worst mistake you can make, Best Buy or Staples didn't build themselves off of good deals and they aren't staying open from passing on any sort of savings. They have large overhead and this is reflected in their pricing and service. Not only will you pay far more but you'll have to wait much longer on the most simple repairs for them to look for parts in their approved networks and groups. Taking a laptop to Best Buy for a $300 repair that takes two weeks might only cost you $50 and a day or two at a small mom and pop kind of repair shop. This is where shopping around will save you big time!
New Windows 8 Operating System can mean Big Problems
If you're looking to upgrade your laptop any models you'll be looking at now have Windows 8 as it is their newest operating system and they stop selling computers with Windows 7 because of this. While it is a matter of personal preference the large majority of people do not like Windows 8 and it has been plagued with bugs just like any new software or hardware that gets released. I'd highly recommend going into a store where you can play around with it a bit and see if it's what you really want. I have seen countless people choose to stick with Windows 7 because of its different interface and some stores like Costco have even had to put up signs saying "No returns because of Windows 8" it has been such a huge problem. Don't let me make up your mind though take a look for yourself and see if this is a major selling point or not.
When Buying a New Laptop Your Software won't Transfer
When you decide to buy a new laptop you will have to reinstall your laptops software programs. There is no way to just transfer a program so you will need to make sure you have the disk and it is licensed for another computer. If you decide to do get a new laptop you might lose tons of valuable data and even hundreds of dollars in software, this might turn your new laptop purchase into a huge nightmare costing thousands of dollars. Next time you think you need to sell your used or broken laptop remember it might just be easier to have your laptop fixed or upgraded. While newer doesn't always mean better, if it is a newer and quicker laptop with better hardware you must remember that there are other factors that can make it very difficult. Do a little shopping and research before you decide to cast aside your old laptop and you can save yourself hundreds or thousands of dollars and maybe even have a better laptop.