Thoughts on Refurbished Models

Didn't realize I originally posted this in the sticky.

Hey I have a couple of laptop questions that I am hoping you all could help me with. And by the way this an amazing site, I am thoroughly impressed. Anyway, I am shopping around for my first laptop. I am an engineering student and I am going to be mostly using it for programming, cad, and lab write ups. Gaming isnt a priority but rather a bonus to me. I also own a video camera so video editing could be something I might want do. I commute to school every morning and have about a fifteen minute walk between the train station and the campus each morning but I am a backpacker so I am pretty used to abusing my shoulders and back.

1. What are your thoughts on HP's refurbished computers? I found these two at Costco Online and they seem to pack a pretty big bang for the dollar.

Processor & Memory:

Intel Pentium 4 2.8GHz processor
512KB L2 cache
533MHz Front Side Bus
512MB (2 x 256MB) 333MHz DDR SDRAM;
maximum memory 2048MB

Drives:
80GB EIDE hard drive (4200rpm)

CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive

Graphics & Video:
17.0" WXGA+ WVA TFT (1440 x 900) display

NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5600 graphics with 64MB DDR SDRAM (discrete)

Communications:
Broadcom 54g MaxPerformance 802.11g

Integrated 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)

Integrated v.90/v.92 56K modem (RJ-11 connector)

Approximate Weight: 9.3 lbs.

Dimensions: 15.67" L x 10.94" W x 1.67" H

120W AC adapter; 12-Cell Lithium-Ion battery
price 1299.00
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Processor & Memory:

Intel Pentium 4 3.06GHz processor with Hyper-Threading Technology
512KB L2 cache
533MHz Front Side Bus
512MB (2 x 256MB) 333MHz DDR SDRAM;
maximum memory 2048MB

Drives:
80GB EIDE hard drive (4200rpm)

CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive

Graphics & Video:
17.0" WXGA+ WVA TFT (1440 x 900) display

NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5600 graphics with 64MB DDR SDRAM (dedicated)

price 1379.00
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2. They are pretty much the same except except for the slight processor upgrade and I noticed that the video card differs in that one is dedicated and the other is discrete. To me in this case those words say the same thing. Is there a difference?

3. If refurbished is crap, could you recomend something that suits me along the lines of the specs that Quickster posted. I have a budget of about 1300 to 1400 maximum.

4. I am going to be doing some traveling in about three weeks and kind of hoped to have my new toy by then but it is not essential. Otherwise I could wait a few months till my next term starts. What kind of upgrade could I expect if I waited three months?

5. The warranty is one year. Is this a sufficient warranty?

Thanks in advance and keep up the great work all of you that support this site, the site is solid.

Tim

 

hey there, those refurbs are the HP zd7000 which is a good notebook. It is very big, and although you say you're used to heavy loads, you might want to think about a thin and light laptop for lugging around instead of a desktop replacment style (which is what the zd7000 is).

As far as buying refurbs goes, it's a great way to save money on what can often times be a notebook in perfectly good shape. However, I'm used to seeing refurbs bought direct from the manufacturer such as Dell does and I believe HP does this online also. CostCo would have different terms to what the manufacturers have, meaning that you should check to see what assurance they give the notebook is in full working condition and tested and certified. I'd honestly feel better buying direct from the manufacturer with a refurb, but if Costco backs it up with a 1-year warranty then that's decent, see if you can extend the warranty though and see what the return policy is. If there's no return policy, avoid it. If you cannot extend the warranty, be skeptical that they're not willing to back it up for more than one year and also avoid it.

Oh, Dedicated and Discrete are the same thing in these terms, the zd7000 always comes with a separate video card (meaning it is not integrated or shared which are the terms meaning it is not a dedicated or discrete card). Don't you just love all the lingo and terms [ ]

 

thanks abaxter,
The warranty and return policy seems to be in order, I am still checking on the possibility of an extended warranty.

As far as the weight issue, I am only going to be lugging it around a couple days a week but I configured this smaller compaq on the HP site and the price after rebates and stuff is about the same (1300 dollars) and it is brand new.

Compaq Presario R3000T-dedicated customize notebook
- Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 3.06 GHz w/HT
- Microsoft(R)Windows(R) XP Home
- 512MB DDR SDRAM (1x512MB)
- 40 GB 4200 RPM Hard Drive
- DVD/CDRW Combo Drive
- 54g(TM) Integrated Broadcom 802.11b/g Wireless LAN
- FREE Upgrade from 15" XGA to 15.4" WXGA (1280x800)
- 64MB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) 9600
- Microsoft(R) Works/Money
- 12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
- hpshopping in-box envelope

But I couldnt find any specifics on the weight of this computer. Does anybody know?

That sweet 17inch widescreen monitor on the hp model is still going to be very hard for me to pass up.

 

That compaq is a great machine its basically the same as mine except you have a faster processor and a cdrw. The casing is slightly different and the speakers on the HP were nicer sounding, but overall it is a great machine with a lot of power.

zx5000 :: 2.4M :: 512 DDR :: 40gb 4200 RPM HD :: 15.4" :: Radeon 9600 Mobilty M10 :: Aquamark3 22,856