Five simple steps: Inspecting a used laptop
Buying a used machine can be a harrowing experience even if you are allowed to inspect that laptop in person before committing. Did the seller lie about the actual specifications? Will all the ports work without problems? These are some of the common concerns that buyers usually have.
Though you shouldn't expect a used notebook to be in mint condition with nary a scratch, like used cars, some forms of damage are indicative of more serious internal injuries. You can safely ignore light marks or stains, but look out for the following red flags. Even if none of the above exists, there is still no guarantee that the machine has not been badly damaged and fixed up cosmetically before sale. This brings us to the next point. Step 2: Ask for warranty status Ideally, the unit should still be under warranty. If it is, insist on a stamped warranty card and original receipt. Don't take the seller's word that the unit has been registered for an online warranty unless it is a business machine like Lenovo's ThinkPads. In this case, request for a printout of the online warranty status. If the laptop doesn't have any coverage, insist on a personal warranty from the seller (at least seven days) and take down his personal identity details as mobile phone numbers can be easily ignored. If he disagrees, walk away. Step 3: Check laptop configuration If you bought the PC online, print out the description and do the following steps to ensure you get what you paid for. Step 4: Ensure ports and charger are working The USB ports are the most often used and hence subject to the greatest abuse. Bring along a USB flash drive and check that each of the ports are working. Wriggle the USB device just a little to ensure that the ports are not loose. If you are hardworking, bring along PCMCIA cards and other peripherals to test out the rest of the ports. Last, but not least, plug in the adapter to ensure that the battery can charge. As an aside, batteries are consumables and deteriorate in about a year. So don't be too concerned about the battery condition unless the seller promises a new cell. In this case, you can download freeware such as BatteryCare for Windows to determine the charge cycle and capacity. For Macs, click Applications-->Utilities-->Systems Profiler for more information on the battery's lifespan. Step 5: Look out for LCD dead pixels The problem with LCD panels is that, due to the production process, some units will turn up with dead or stuck pixels. Dead pixels are those which remain black all the time, while stuck ones turn up as a bright spot and doesn't change until the machine turns off. There are freeware applications in the market such as Pixel Tester that shows a series of images to check for dead/stuck pixels, but there is an easier way. Left-click on the desktop and select Properties. First, change the background to a solid black (after removing all desktop icons) to look for stuck pixels, then turn the desktop to a solid white for dead pixel testing. Most warranty do not coverage dead/stuck pixels so if it turns up in the used notebook, you'll have to decide if you can live with it or walk away from the deal. Tags: Notebook, Laptop Computer, Image, Cell Phone, Pixel
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