Discounted Computers

In an age of blistering technological development, discounted computers are not hard to find. One commonly accepted principle is that technological capacities, especially as reflected in microprocessing speeds, double every five to seven years. That means from the time you enter college until graduation, that new computer you've just purchased will become obsolete.

While this may be a depressing prospect, consider the flip side of the equation. Every time a new chip hits the market there are sellers who are saddled with old inventory and have to move it any cost or else take a huge loss. If you've ever waited for a new year of car models to be released before buying the (hitherto) current model, you're already familiar with this maneuver. Just think, Accord '03 owners don't drown their sorrows when the '04s hit the streets. So why despair over your outmoded PC?

Finding Discounted Computers

The real secret to finding discounted computers--aside from waiting for new models to come out--is knowing your own needs. It's easy to get in way over your head when talking with a sales agent, who will not only convince you you need a 10-year extended warranty at double the price of the computer itself, but also that this insurance policy will grant you superhuman strength or invincibility. If you know your primary needs are e-mail and word processing, which, along with internet access, constitute about 90 percent of total computer operations, you can rule out the latest supersonic chip.

Inexpensive computers are lurking everywhere, from the back rooms of your local electronics shop to internet auction sites. Anyone looking to buy computers online from any seller other than the manufacturer or licensed outlet is taking a gamble. Unless your seller offers the same factory warranty you'd get from a store, it's not worth the risk just to save a few hundred dollars. Cracking your machine open to fix a defective part will make those savings disappear in a matter of hours.