Refurbished Vs. New – Which Is Excellent When Purchasing A Computer?

Refurbish (v): to brighten or renew - Merriam-Webster's Online dictionary. In essence, when one refurbishes something, and for purpose of discussion, a pc, one is actually utilizing an old item that has undergone adjustments to give it the appearance that it's new. When one purchases a refurbished computer, one also purchases a headache waiting to occur. So just why is purchasing a new computer much better than investing in a refurbished one? The list below shows the reasons why:

1) A brand new computer assures you that the parts are all new and have not gone through any misuse or usage. Upon purchase, the computer has a seal of warranty plus a warranty card saying that all its parts are new and in good working condition. A refurbished computer, on the other hand, does not have this guarantee and might even be an electronic "Frankenstein". Since a refurbished computer has logged minutes of use, wear and tear, or even damage can be hidden. When this happens, the pc is much more vulnerable to bogging down, and even losing information. However, a brand new computer removes any doubt as to its parts and ensures that it has the capability to work like a new item should, without defects or hidden damage.

2) A new computer's problems may easily be solved. At the point of purchase, a new computer comes with a tech support team system which refurbished computers don't have. Once your pc experiences a glitch, help is simply one phone call away. And the problem is easily identifiable. However, a refurbished computer, with all of the various parts and cosmetic changes, apart from being more prone to breakdown, is more prone to hidden glitches (for instance viruses or system malfunctions) due to the previous use of the hardware. So when a refurbished computer has a problem, there isn't any twenty four hour, 7 days a week help-desk to request assistance. In the long run, one has to identify the issue through trial and error, and this not merely increases cost but in addition inflates losses.

3) A whole new computer's cost may be front loaded, but over time it would be more cost effective. The argument that it might be cheaper to purchase a refurbished computer than a new one is misleading. Firstly, though it is more expensive to buy a brand new unit, this cost is only a one time expense at the start. Costs for maintenance and repair are practically nil since it is a brand new item. This also translates to productivity for the purchaser. However, a refurbished computer might have low front-end cost upon purchase, if the computer bogs down, the price of repair is magnified by the loss in productivity. Also, it is much more expensiveto keep an on-call technician to diagnose a problem unlike a new one, the help desk can simply provide solutions.

So why is a new computer a more cost effective investment? It is due to the warranties and the free of charge help desk. Though initially it's costlier to buy a brand new computer, the long term benefit far outweighs the cost of getting a refurbished computer.

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