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What is a fair price for this laptop

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  • What is a fair price for this laptop

    It is an IBM Thinkpad A31. Refurbished and came to me pretty much new. One of my friends loaned it to me but I'd like to offer to buy it as I've bought a router and wireless card already as well as installed a virus scanner.

    It runs Windows XP Pro SP 2 with 1.9ghz processor speed and 384 RAM. Barebones but enough for my purposes as long as the son doesn't start adding games. I'd like to buy it from my friend and want to give her a fair price.

    I'm waiting on installing a copy I have of Microsoft Suite ( XL word etc ) until it's officially mine.
    Lawren
    ------------------------
    There are many wonderful places in the world, but one of my favourite places is on the back of my horse.
    - Rolf Kopfle

  • #2
    Between $325-$375. everyone is getting a fair deal. Those are real workhorses and will last as long as you are satisfied with the performance.

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    • #3
      I am using an old laptop with high-speed internet

      It's a Dell and about six years old. We decided when we got the thing that we would use it only for our business database and would not junk it up with lots of programs and downloads. We were going to buy a new one and could not justify it. This thing is great! I prefer it over my desktop for playing around on the internet. The key to a lasting computer seems to be in ignoring all the prompts, encouraging the downloading of various programs and "media players" that I have loaded onto my desktop to view particular files.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by timeos2
        Between $325-$375. everyone is getting a fair deal. Those are real workhorses and will last as long as you are satisfied with the performance.

        Thanks! I tried to find similar completed ebay auctions but 386RAM is an unusual amount ( even to me, who knows a little more than enough to be nearly dangerous. Maybe it only came with 128 and the guy that refurbed it popped in a cheap-o 256 or vice versa?) and some had no power cords but more memory and others already had a wireless card..... I didn't want to take advantage by under-paying.

        I agree that $325 is a fair amount for a computer that they weren't using. It does or will do what I need it to do and travels with us. A bargain for a wireless laptop at $450 (including the extras I bought or have on hand to customize it a bit ). and at this point in my life a prefectly fine "bargain" is much preferable to $1k.

        I like that you term it a workhorse. That means that as long as I can maintain and upgrade it will more than pay us back.

        I probably will add RAM going forward if that isn't too complicated. I can do all sorts of things to my desktop, including breaking it back down to as new but I haven't done anything (yet) to laptops.
        Lawren
        ------------------------
        There are many wonderful places in the world, but one of my favourite places is on the back of my horse.
        - Rolf Kopfle

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        • #5
          As a person who buys used computers all the time I can tell you that the rule of thumb in purchasing an older used computer the going rates are:

          .25 per MHz for good condition with good battery and power supply. Should also have cd rom drive.

          The price from here goes up to max out at about .32 per MHz when the unit has a DVD burner, and 512mg or better Ram.

          This is just a rule of thumb but you decide what you think is fair.

          Good Luck

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          • #6
            Upgrading the RAM on your laptop

            Go to the IBM web site to download the specs and find out what the max RAM capacity is ( 2 256Mb chips, 2 512Mb chips or if your lucky 2 1Gb chips). I swapped out 2 256Mb chips for 2 512Mb chips in a 3 year old Compaq.

            Keep an eye out on the Circuity City and Best Buy ads; occasionally Office Max, Office Depot and Staples offer loss leaders to get you into their stores.

            Many laptops have the RAM slots on the bottom of the computer. Its usually two or more screws to remove and then you remove the plastic / metal protector. It should be a piece of cake ... good luck!
            Dave

            My wife's idea of camping is staying in a Timeshare!!
            Fairfield Owners, Be cool and join the Fairfield HOA forum!

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