Computer guys....HELP!!!!!!

[Jonnin]

All I will say is that modern consumer electronics are designed to fail at an alarming rate.   Used, new,  brand --- none of it matters much right now.  Its all made the same way by the same people and it has about an 85% chance for something major to fail within 5 years.  The days of running a machine for 10+ years are mostly gone (sometimes you get lucky, but odds are against).   So get the best deal on the machine that can do what you need it to do, invest in a backup,  and mentally mark the purchase as disposable.

 

That makes a refurb a bit of a ????? to me.   It could mean that the machine already suffered a failure and was repaired, but does that make it more? or less? likely to fail again?   I would say its going to be about as safe as a new machine in that regard.  In that case, look to see if they have any sort of warranty on the thing.  Presumably anything bad was replaced with new, so it should have some sort of protection....   if not, get a cheap new machine.   If you know how and have some parts already (forget using 8 year old parts) maybe build something.

Edited January 8, 2014 by Jonnin

[Guest Lester Weevils]

In a recent thread on digital SLRs was surprised how many people had good luck with refurb SLRs. Like maybe nikon and canon actually do refurb their returns.

It probably varies by market, but I've held a suspicion that some sectors just send out returns for a second run, figuring the return was by a user too dumb to use the device. Or maybe some companies just briefly fire up returns and if they seem to work for a few minutes, ship em out again blaming dumb users.

I've had bad luck with refurbs in the past and swore off them, but maybe in some sectors they are reliable. Units with intermittent problems are so time consuming to replicate the problem and properly repair, just spark-testing returns ain't nowhere good enough to find problems lurking in them.

Usually if something will run a few weeks then it will run a few years, so I like taking my chances with new.

After many years avoiding refurbs, was tempted, and "burned" a few months back, so I'm swore off them again. Had got the hankering for a Korg Kronos X keyboard synth, which street prices around $3400. Korg makes as good keyboards as you can get from any brand, though all the brands cut corners and they don't have enough volume to be true mass market items.

Anyway, was tempted and mail-ordered a Kronos factory updated refurb for $1900, near half price, with full factory warranty. The unit was spotless, nary a scratch or scuff. It worked fabulous and sounded great, except for the little problem that it would crash every time, somewhere within 10 to 30 minutes after turn-on.

I opened it up and checked all the cabling, reseated all the boards, just to make sure it wasn't something simple. No dice, still repeated regular crashes like clockwork. The sucker is stuffed full of custom boards and wire harnesses. Sent it back. Aint gonna endeavor to repair a brand new high tech keyboard. Intermittent problems are a bitch, which is why I quit repairing electronics. Can't make any money on intermittent tough dogs.

I'm guessing that Korg did what they could afford to do on the refurb I got, fixed anything obvious and spark tested it for a few minutes, packed it up and sent it back into the product chain.

It was too much trouble, spent several days debugging on the dang thing. If I gotta spend time burning in, may as well do it on a new unit. Maybe a new unit will have infant mortality, but betting the factory techs got intermittent bugs out of a return, just doesn't sound like productive use of one's time. Edited January 8, 2014 by Lester Weevils

[Guest TankerHC]

XP also won't handle 8 gigs of RAM unless you use the 64 bit version (Which has all sorts of driver issues). Definitely 7. Or Linux :D

 

XP (and all newer versions of windows) can be very touchy about swapping the hard-drive between machines too. Been there too many times. It can be a straightforward process but you have to take some steps *before* you remove the hard-drive from the old machine (basically switch to standard drivers for the hard drive)

 

So what you are saying is it will use 8 GB of Ram.

[Guest Keal G Seo]

I suggested a laptop, but she isn't interested. The company supplied the computer she has now, but no longer does that. It isn't a big deal, I was just looking for a bargain. I do appreciate everyone's suggestions. She does work on a "VPN". Also, her moniter is much newer than her computer.

Well then one thing I would suggest is whatever you get keep the receipts and write it off as a business expense come tax time.

[gregintenn]

Well then one thing I would suggest is whatever you get keep the receipts and write it off as a business expense come tax time.

Good suggestion, but I've never been able to itemize.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

I guess your wife is an employee rather than a contract worker, receives a W2 rather than 1099?

If she gets a 1099, she can take off such things, including (possibly) home office expense on a schedule C. Section 179 the whole puter, expense it right off her income, first year, no long drawn out depreciation over several years.

[gregintenn]

I guess your wife is an employee rather than a contract worker, receives a W2 rather than 1099?

If she gets a 1099, she can take off such things, including (possibly) home office expense on a schedule C. Section 179 the whole puter, expense it right off her income, first year, no long drawn out depreciation over several years.

Right.

[tnguy]

So what you are saying is it will use 8 GB of Ram.

 

Yes, But then it may not use your preipherals. 64 bit XP was never well supported. And certainly that is not what they currently have installed.

Edited January 8, 2014 by tnguy

[deadeye111]

Dell business computers can be had with Windows 7 Pro for around $600 without monitor but haven't used but one to date. Looking to buy 4 more for Church.

[gregintenn]

Thanks again for all the suggetions and education.

 

It appears her IT guy has found a real deal on one, and I figure he's going to be working on it if it isn't up to snuff, so I guess we'll go with him.

[Guest Bolt_Overide]

Ive got a few extras I was going to reload windows on and sell off. 

[gregintenn]

Now ya tell me! :wall:

 

Welcome to the forum. :hat: It it doesn't work out with him, I might give you a holler.