130 replies to this topic

[tallin]

Ron.M,

I had a thought about you this morning. In fact, Abydos's post put the idea in my head.

I googled "Second hand Computers" in my area, and came up with 100's of them at very little cost. Then I googled "Government recycled computers" and came up with even more with 12 months warranties on them too. Here is just a sample of what you can find if you do the above. You never know you may find something interesting, or even parts to assist your upgrade. You don't even have to move from your chair to find them.

Have a mosey around in your area, these are just examples of what you may find.

Just a thought.

kind regards,

[Ron.M]

tallin:...Thanks VERY much for those links...There are some REAL bargains there...
It'll be awhile as I don't have enough aluminum cans yet... ...Just trying to be funny...
Seriously , it will be awhile...I'm saveing some of that info for when I'm ready...
Big help, sir....

Most of the listings for "Government recycled computers" are for schools , colleges (?) etc...

Once again, THANK you VERY much.....

[Ron.M]

tallin , Doug & Abydos:..
I managed to scrape up a few coins...I went to Ebay.com & shopped for used computers...I bid on one that looks good to me...It is also a Dell...I need your help here quick...If it's not a good unit , I can let the bidding run past my bids...Here is the link to Ebay direct to the one I'm talking about....

EDIT: Removed link for 2 reasons..1 , bidding is closed & 2, security....

My comp is a Dell Optiplex GX1 400L... What I want to know is this ANY better (videos etc) that the one I have now...There are a LOT of other comps there , some at ONLY $ 0.99 ..Yes that's 99 cents...Holy Bargain , Batman !!
You guys have a LOT more experience with comps than I could ever hope for...That's why I'm turning to you for advice...
The only problem here is that the bidding closes tommorrow (Mar , 2nd) at about 1:00 PM....
If when you go to Ebay & see a bid for $12.50 , thats my bid...If it's higher , someone else has bid past me & I may bid again depending on your advice...

So , PLEASE reply ASAP....THANK you VERY much....

Edited by Ron.M, 04 March 2009 - 11:46 AM.

[Doug]

Ron M. Please remember that Auctions are "exciting". People who sell at auctions count on the excitement carrying the buyers beyond their limits. Please also remember that there is "some reason" why the machine is being sold at auction instead of in retail store. That's not always a bad thing, but "caveat emptor" was never more important. Opening bids are always ridiculously low. Most of the serious bidding occurs minutes before the auction closes. Many/most of the items have a "Buy it now" price. You can expect that the end price will be very close to that price. Many/most of the items with "buy it now" pricing also have an established minimum that must be met or the machine won't be sold. _______________ consider what you really need. Probably only the Tower and operating system. right? You have monitors, keyboards, mice, speakers, etc.? consider going for a Tower only, to get the lowest possible cost. I've gotta run... I have dinner on the stove, but I'll come back to check on you later. Doug

[tallin]

I've gotta run... I have dinner on the stove, but I'll come back to check on you later.
Doug

What's for dinner? On second thoughts a bit early for me, it is only afternoon tea time here.

[Abydos]

My comp is a Dell Optiplex GX1 400L... What I want to know is this ANY better (videos etc) that the one I have now...There are a LOT of other comps there , some at ONLY $ 0.99 ..Yes that's 99 cents...Holy Bargain , Batman !!
You guys have a LOT more experience with comps than I could ever hope for...That's why I'm turning to you for advice...
The only problem here is that the bidding closes tommorrow (Mar , 2nd) at about 1:00 PM....
If when you go to Ebay & see a bid for $12.50 , thats my bid...If it's higher , someone else has bid past me & I may bid again depending on your advice...

Hi Ron

Compared to your Optiplex, it is better. As for video, I would think so to. But the info listed about it, doesn't
say anything about graphic card installed. So it probably means that it is a onboard graphic unit. Which
still should be better. Its a Pentium 4 processor, so it is really fast compared to your old Optiplex, and I liked
the Pentium 4's, still got my old one. This one, however comes with Hyperthreading on the CPU!

As for "shopping" for PC's via Ebay, you'll have to remember that you won't get any warranty that I know of. I
might be wrong on that one, as I am not familiar with Ebay. I like to have a chance to view the product I buy,
and be able to ask for info from the dealer, something you can't on Ebay. Buying a computer from a store,
usually means some form of warranty is available.

Regards Abydos

[Ron.M]

tallin , Doug & Abydos:
Bad news...The computer went for $295.00.....Waaaaay out of my budget....
Doug:...On this particular unit there was a warranty...& it seemed like a nice package with a flat panel moniter etc...

Abydos:....THANK you for a VERY informative reply...

& THANKS to tallin & Doug as well.... ....

I'll keep you posted on any future events...

Later , guys ( or gal)......

[Doug]

I agree Ron.M It was a nice unit and could have been a great upgrade for you. Occasionally you will still get "a steal". But the way Ebay has "Buy it Now" and "minimums" set up now, pretty much assures that the seller will get the minimum price that they want, even though the bidding starts at enticing levels well below the end price limit that will be allowed. There was a time.... I bought a few brand-new all-in-one printers for $0.99 each because no one else bid on the items. And the great part was that I was working in an office where we actually needed and used them extensively. Of course, there was a "down-side" even to that incredible bargain. That was back in the day when a couple of ink refills cost as much or more than the original printer price. Most printers could be "given away" and the manufacturer would still make tons of money, just selling ink. In my home town there is a non-profit company that started out many years ago salvaging computer parts to re-assemble into workable computers for disadvantaged school kids. It has grown into a monster company, but still holds to their charitable principles. It is now possible with a referral from social services and a qualifying low income to purchase from them at great prices. Another bonus of the program is that beginning techs can get "hands-on" experience with hundreds of types of machines by volunteering their time as interns to support the dismantling, cataloging, and reassembling of machines. I wish I could point you to a similar program in your local area. But very likely, there is one. Another great resource is the annual city or county surplus auctions. Sometimes there are a few elite models that were "evidence" from home or office invasion robbery" that were never reclaimed. But often there will be a whole "agency" that gets upgraded machines for their offices and has to somehow get rid of perfectly good running machines. Ask around. Good luck.

[Ron.M]

Doug: Thanks for your informative reply...
FYI:..I'm very familiar with Ebay...I've bought a few things from sellers there...You have to be careful who you buy from...Ebay as with other sites does have some scammers , tho Ebay is on top of it & bans them...So I ALWAYS check out the seller...I've really never been afraid to buy there as both Ebay & PayPal protect your purchases..I've NOT lost ANY money there...

even though the bidding starts at enticing levels well below the end price limit that will be allowed.

I'm not aware of any "end price limit"...No matter whatever price the item starts at , the highest bidder gets it...

I bought a few brand-new all-in-one printers for $0.99 each because no one else bid on the items.

I look for these type of situations regularily, albeit not printers...

Most printers could be "given away" and the manufacturer would still make tons of money, just selling ink.

They STILL do this..

Another great resource is the annual city or county surplus auctions.
Sometimes there are a few elite models that were "evidence" from home or office invasion robbery" that were never reclaimed.
But often there will be a whole "agency" that gets upgraded machines for their offices and has to somehow get rid of perfectly good running machines. Ask around.

I'm looking into this...


THANK you VERY much, Doug , I APPRECIATE the info...

[Doug]

even though the bidding starts at enticing levels well below the end price limit that will be allowed.

I'm not aware of any "end price limit"...No matter whatever price the item starts at , the highest bidder gets it...

Sorry Ron.M perhaps I used poor wording.
With the use of "Buy it Now", the seller has effectively set a "minimum price" which must be met in the bidding before the item will actually be sold. Of course the bid price can and often does exceed the "minimum" or "buy it now" price.

But if the bid price stays in the ridiculously low range where it starts, the item will not be sold.

From what you wrote, you already have a good handle on the situation.

I'm probably more like a "window shopper" spouting off and trying to give advice to a regular buyer.

Good Luck to you!

Doug

[Ztruker]

Hi Ron. Two other places to look for reasonably priced, even cheap, computers:

Pawn shops
Thrift Stores

Edit: Just found this one, looks very interesting: http://www.intechraoutlet.com/home/

Examples:
IBM - THINKCENTRE 8113 - Pentium 4 3.0GHz, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB HD - $133
HP/COMPAQ - HP COMPAQ D530 SFF - Pentium 4 2.8GHz, 2 GB RAM, 40.0 GB HD - $128.56
HP/COMPAQ - HP COMPAQ DC5000 MT - Pentium 4 3.0GHz, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB HD - $126

Caveat Emptor!

They're out there, you just need to keep searching.

Edited by Ztruker, 03 March 2009 - 08:04 PM.

[Ron.M]

1st: Doug: In reply:

With the use of "Buy it Now", the seller has effectively set a "minimum price" which must be met in the bidding before the item will actually be sold. Of course the bid price can and often does exceed the "minimum" or "buy it now" price.
But if the bid price stays in the ridiculously low range where it starts, the item will not be sold.

All of that is 100% keywreckt...Ya dun good...Thanks for the comments...

2nd: Ztruker: I went to your link...It appears that they don't ship computers...I may be wrong about that , tho....Anyway, I bidding on a tower at Ebay...It's a Dell GX280.....As for thrift stores & pawn shops , there's usually no warranty with those units...I want a guarantee on it...

Doug , Abydos , Ztruker & tallin (if you're interested):.....EDIT: Yesterday I posted a link here for Ebay for another computer on auction.....I removed it...Reason is:...It's unfair of me to be asking you guys to appraise a unit & get back to me in a VERY short period of time...I apologise for trying to make shoppers out of you guys for my benifet... ...I WILL wait until I get a new unit & then post it for your opinion....I AM truly SORRY for abusing your expertise & kindness...


MANY THANKS to you ALL....

Edited by Ron.M, 04 March 2009 - 01:27 PM.

[Ztruker]

Ron, you are welcome here and I don't feel you abused anything. It was an honest question which we could chose to answer or not. As for Intechra Outlet, I've never used them, just found them via a Google seearch but I intend to check them out as their prices are very good. I did a quick check and you can add items to your shopping cart then check out, so I've got to assume they ship what they sell. Did you find it different?

[Ron.M]

Ztruker:

As for Intechra Outlet , I did look over their site...Casually...I went back for a closer look today...& You're right , their prices seem VERY reasonable...

They DO ship...My bad... .....They also warranty their products....However , most of what I saw was HP & IBM comps...( <=Towers)...I have a VERY big soft spot for Dell...& I'm not in the least bit familiar with HP or IBM...I'm NOT saying they're bad , I just don't know them well enough....

Did you find it different?

1st time I was there I just skimmed the site...My fault as I was in a hurry..The 2nd time I was there , no different than what you found....

When I find another computer , I'll post it here FYI....

EDIT:..PS: I'm looking for a flat panel monitor...Does the term "15 pin VGA" refer to the cable hook-up I'll need to connect it to my computer ??

Ztruker, THANKS for replying.... .....Later....

Edited by Ron.M, 05 March 2009 - 07:19 PM.

[Ztruker]

Yes, 15 pin VGA is the standard D-sub (Analog) VGA connector we all know and love. Many of the newer LCD displays have both a VGA and DVI (Digital) connector. Digital gives a better picture but you need a video card that supports it.