Computer Equipment--Secondhand

It used to be that a second hand computer meant a slow, unreliable machine that was incapable of doing much real work. Now, the market is flooded with cheap, name-brand second hand desktops and laptops.

Refurbished desktop computers include a keyboard, mouse and LCD monitor, which makes them ideal for people who are new to computers or have trouble reading small text. Some – but not all – second hand computer retailers will be able to include software with the machine. Be careful: there’s no point getting the computer home to find that you have to spend as much as it’s worth again on software before you can use it. But many retailers will include Microsoft Office and anti-virus software in the price of the computer.

If you imagine yourself using your computer on the go, perhaps tapping in to the free wi-fi networks that some businesses offer customers, then you will need a second hand laptop or notebook computer. These are also good if you have limited space – if you will be doing your work sitting in a lounge chair or at the kitchen table, for example. Laptop computers are now extremely powerful and you can pick a basic second hand one up fairly cheaply, although the software may be additional. Many second hand computer retailers will offer a warranty of 30 days, but this usually includes hardware, not software.

Whatever type of second hand computer you choose, one of the most important things is anti-virus software so that the chances of your system being attacked and your content lost are minimal. Ask about the anti-virus software on your computer and if necessary get the retailer to install it for you for safer computing.