If you can afford it, a brand new laptop computer (with a factory warranty) is a nice way to go. But, when you need a less expensive laptop, you're probably going to be looking at the used ones (or "pre-owned" as a famous auto manufacturer likes to term it).

If you can fix laptops you will run across plenty of great deals. You can buy pieces and non-working "AS-IS" systems and make functional machines. For the rest of us, we want a laptop that works and that we don't want to mess with. Most laptop repairs are expensive. I build and service my own desktop PCs but, the last time I needed to repair a laptop, I found it was cheaper to buy another one.

But back to the issue at hand. When you buy a used laptop, you want to make sure that it works (or, at least works for you). With that in mind, you want to view the listings with an eye on the condition several items. Here is the brief list of those which I consider to be most important in your purchase:

• Screen
• Keyboard
• Battery
• Battery Charger / Power Adaptor
• Operating System / Software
• Hard Drive Size
• Memory Size

Now let's look at these in a little more detail:

Screen

This is probably the most important item to consider (and the most overlooked). For two main reasons:

1. You're going to be looking at the screen every time you use the laptop.
2. When it breaks, it's the most expensive part to replace.

You may see listings that have "screen burn-in," bad areas of the screen, bad lighting, etc.... These computers should sell for deep discounts. So, if you want something cheap, they're not bad to consider.

If you do purchase a laptop with screen damage, make sure that you know what the problem is, and see if it works with your needs.

• If a certain portion of the screen will not display, it still might work for you, if the software you generally use does not have important items in that area.
• If the screen is dim, that could be a good deal, if your eyes don't get too tired looking at it.

So check out the screen, especially looking for damage. And, if the damage is not acceptable to your needs, then look elsewhere.

Keyboard

This is almost as important as the screen. I don't believe it's as expensive to replace, but it is still a pain. A missing key or two may be acceptable to you (especially if it's the "` / ~" that you don't use often). But if the problem is with sticking or tough to press keys, you're probably not going to be satisfied with the machine until you have paid an expensive service fee.

Also, try to get an idea if it's a format you like. Some formats are different. Laptops may eliminate or double-up keys to fit in the limited space. If the computer is fairly recent, you might visit a local computer store to get a feel for the particular keyboard. You might be surprised at how much you either love or hate the keyboard.

Battery

This is the item that goes out most often, and is likely to be weaker on used laptops. Even new computers have limited warranties on battery life. So a battery that won't hold a charge (or last only a brief time) is not a showstopper. In some cases, you just want a "portable" computer that you'll be running from the power cord anyway (such as on a trip).

Unless the battery has a guarantee or warranty (not likely), you should probably check out the cost of a replacement battery. You can start with the following eBay search:

laptop batter*

and navigate to the battery for the specific computer. It will at least give you some information that will help you make an informed decision.

Battery Charger / Power Adaptor

This is actually more important than the battery itself. If you have a fully charged battery, sooner or later (a few hours use maximum), you will need to recharge. If you do not have a working battery charger, you have an expensive doorstop.

Start with the following search:

laptop power (charge*,adapt*)

and see if you can find a decent-priced version for the computer you are considering.

Of note, there are "universal" adaptors out there. I have never seen one that works for all laptops. And I have seen some laptops for which none of these work for. So make sure that the "universal" adaptor specifically lists the laptop in question before making a decision based on it.

Operating System / Software

You will need an operating system (such as Windows) to run your computer. And you will need software (such as a word processor or spreadsheet) to make any use of it. And you will need the actual installation disks to make the whole thing legal.

If a laptop computer comes with software loaded but with no disks, or with software (including an operating system) that is included for demonstration purposes only, then it doesn't come with software. The best thing is if you get the system with original disks, just as the seller originally got. However, if you have your own software (or can buy it at a good deal), then a machine without software can still be a good deal.

Hard Drive Size

Nowadays you should be able to pick up a new hard drive for most laptop systems. But you have to make sure that it works with the laptop in question. And you have to remember that laptop hard drives cost several times more than those that go in desktop computers.

Your best bet is to buy a machine that has a big enough hard drive to begin with.

As an alternative, you might consider picking up an external hard drive, if all you need to do is store the work from your laptop. Not only should it be less expensive than a laptop drive, but it can also interface with your desktop machine.

Try the following eBay search:

usb external hard drive

as a starting point.

Memory Size

You can generally upgrade memory easier than upgrading the hard drive. However, even if you wanted to buy a lot of memory, you are limited by how much memory the computer can hold. Try to find this out in advance.

Again, it is nice to have the computer up to your specifications before you buy it. But - if the deal is good enough and the expandability is high enough, you might look for a deal on a low-memory machine.

For memory, my personal preference is to buy it new, on sale and at a local dealer. That way, if it doesn't work (and it doesn't always) I can quickly have it replaced. However, you can also get deals on new and used memory on eBay. Just remember to factor in shipping costs when you plan your purchase.

There are, of course, many other considerations.

• Do you like the brand?
• Is it the right design?
• And does it just feel right?

The items I have listed in detail are more along the practical line. They deal with the basic reliability of the machine. They should help you decide if a particular used laptop computer is worth buying and upgrading (if necessary).

But, ultimately, you have to decide if it's the machine you want and the machine you can afford.

Enjoy the search, and happy eBaying!