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Refurbished laptops: Used models like new
Used notebooks are still met with mistrust, especially in the professional sector. In this process, refurbished notebooks undergo an elaborate process in which they are completely overhauled and cleaned. You can find out what you can expect from a refurbished laptop and what was to be considered when purchasing it in our guide. Was you interested in the purchase of a laptop?
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What was the exact meaning of refurbished?
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Uses of refurbished notebooks
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What equipment can ich expect from a refurbished notebook?
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Why should ich value a built-in SSD?
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What types of display panels are there?
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What should ich pay attention to when buying a refurbished notebook?
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Our practical tip: Pay attention to the installed operating system!
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FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about refurbished notebooks
What was the exact meaning of refurbished?
Refurbished means as much as "refurbished" or "refurbished". The term already indicates that such a laptop is not just a simple second-hand device. During the refurbishment process, the notebook is checked for optical condition and technical functionality. Defective parts are usually replaced by original parts. Finally, intensive cleaning is carried out before resale.
And where do the notebooks come from her? Most of the time, they are leasing returns from companies that have been used in the field. Such laptops are usually about 2 to 3 years old and can show little signs of use. Companies do not usually buy cheap consumer laptops, but instead rely on robust and durable business notebooks from well-known manufacturers. The housings of these computers are often made of aluminum, carbon or magnesium alloys and are therefore particularly resistant. Such a laptop can cost several thousand euros when it comes to new purchases. After the refurbishment, you can buy a notebook at a fraction of the original price and get a real bargain.
Uses of refurbished notebooks
A refurbished notebook can be used wherever the latest hardware is not required. For example, it could be used in educational institutions: Schools can save a lot of money by using refurbished notebooks and equip each class with such a laptop. But also in companies, refurbished business laptops can be used sensibly – whether as equipment for trainees, as a back-up solution or to enable employees to work in the home office. Good used laptops are far from the old iron.
What equipment can ich expect from a refurbished notebook?
Laptops that have been refurbished are mostly high-quality business devices. Often the notebooks are smaller than 15 inches to be as portable as possible. In addition to a very high stability and a high-quality processing, these portable computers with a good keyboard are also suitable for multi-recorders. Some devices already have a fast SSD. If this is not the case, retrofitting is usually possible without any problems. The display of a professional notebook usually has a matte surface so that there are no disturbing reflections in bright environments. The resolution of the displays rarely moves above Full HD, was largely due to the small formats, which are usually between 12 and 14 inches. In the meantime, most used notebooks already have a processor with at least two cores. Such CPUs offer a good compromise between performance and energy efficiency. The computing power is still sufficient for office use.
The amount of RAM usually varies between 4 and 8 GB. DEPENDING on the model, DDR4 or DDR3 SO-DIMMs are installed as standard. However, this has no influence on the performance of an Office computer. Dedicated graphics cards are rare in business notebooks. Most of the time, the graphics card integrated in the CPU is used for image output. The performance of such a graphics solution is sufficiently dimensioned for the usual office activities. However, it goes without saying that such an integrated graphics card is not suitable for complex multimedia applications or computer games. Some devices have dedicated graphics chips such as a NVIDIA Quadro or AMD FirePro, whose drivers are optimized for special applications, such as CAD programs. In terms of connectivity, the used laptops can also convince. Modern interfaces like USB 3.0 are usually available, many notebooks can be retrofitted with an optional docking station. In addition to an integrated WLAN module and an Ethernet connection, some models also have a WWAN module. This allows you to connect to the Internet on the go via UMTS or LTE.
Why should ich value a built-in SSD?
Especially in a laptop, an SSD is a very sensible investment. In comparison to a conventional hard disk, an SSD is made up of flash memory blocks rather than rotating magnetic disks. This results in many practical advantages: Unlike a hard disk, an SSD is immune to vibrations and vibrations. An HDD, on the other hand, can be destroyed in case of strong impacts. In addition, an SSD is much faster. A 2.5" model for the SATA interface comes at about 530 MB/s when writing, while a modern 2.5" hard disk achieves 180 MB/s in the best case Current SSD modules for the M.2 slot are once again much faster when connected via PCI Express with over 3000 MB/s. The speed advantage of an SSD is already noticeable at rapid system start-up, which only takes a few seconds. The installation of Windows updates is also done quickly. While working, you benefit from a fast-response system that does not need annoying recharging pauses. Of course, the high transfer rates also have a positive effect when you copy larger files.
What types of display panels are there?
If you have a used notebook, you will find either IPS or TN panels. The modern OLED panels are still relatively new on the market and are only available with a few devices so far. The TN panel (Twisted Nematic) is the most cost-effective version for implementing an LCD panel. The advantages are the favorable price as well as the fast response times. On the other hand, color rendering and contrast are less good. Another negative feature is the limited viewing angles. If you do not look at the image exactly from the front, color distortion can occur relatively quickly. The higher quality alternative is IPS panels (in-plane switching). The excellent viewing angle stability speaks for an IPS display. In addition, the color reproduction and the good contrast can satisfy even the most demanding users. However, IPS panels are more expensive than TN panels and also have poorer response times and higher power consumption. It must be said that the problem with the response time is negligible with the latest IPS generation; the switching times are almost as good as with a TN panel.
What should ich pay attention to when buying a refurbished notebook?
When purchasing a used notebook, make sure that all possible defects are listed in the product description. A display with pixel defects should also be mentioned in the article description. Strictly speaking, this is not a defect. Dead pixels can occur at any time even on the best and most expensive screens. Usually, the manufacturer's warranty does not come into effect on a new device until three or more of these errors are present. Defective hardware is replaced with a used notebook. However, this does not apply to rechargeable batteries with a limited capacity. The regulations vary according to the dealer. In most cases, a certain capacity or a certain minimum duration is guaranteed. Many business devices can replace the battery, but not all of them. If you want the longest possible operating time, you should use a device that allows you to replace the energy cell.
The layout of the keyboard is also important: Since not only devices from Germany are being refurbished, laptops with a different layout can also be offered. Before purchasing, make sure that the keyboard on your device has the so-called QWERTY layout.
Our practical tip: Pay attention to the installed operating system!
Do not purchase a laptop that does not have Windows 10 installed. Older versions of Windows, such as Windows 7 or Windows XP, no longer receive updates and are no longer secure when browsing the Internet. An alternative to Windows can be a free Linux distribution like Ubuntu.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about refurbished notebooks
What was the difference between A-goods and B-goods?
A-Ware is used when a laptop is in a new condition. This means that there are no more than small signs of use. This can be a small scratch in the top cover or on the floor. On the other hand, clearer signs of use and wear are the rule for a device that is offered as B-goods. These are always visual impairments, and the laptops are technically fully functional.
How much memory do ich need?
Most refurbished laptops of newer date come with GB of RAM. This is absolutely sufficient for office activities. However, if a used notebook has less than GB of memory, you can usually upgrade at a low cost.
What was DDR memory?
If you are looking through the specifications of a computer, you will sooner find abbreviations such as DDR3 or DDR4. In fact, the full term is DDR-SDRAM, which stands for Double Date Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory. In today's computers only DDR RAM is used, the older standard single date rate (SDR) is no longer used. The primary difference between Double Data Rate and Single Data Rate is that DDR memory transmits data over both the rising and falling edge of the clock signal. DDR-RAM thus works twice as fast as SDR-RAM. For DDR2, DDR3 and DDR4, the maximum transfer rate has been increased and the supply voltage reduced.