A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry


Computer guru? - sm


Posted: Jul 15, 2012

I hope this is the right board.. I figured either this or main. 

I have been looking into buying a new computer, and I think I am just going to get a refurbished one for cheap, a laptop, on Ebay or Buy.com.  My budget is less than 300.00, probably more around $250.00.  I have a good amount of understanding with computers, but I'm at a point where I need help, lol. 

It seems for that price range I can get a dual core processor definitely in the 2 Ghz range, but maybe up to 2.4ish.  I haven't had much luck finding any 2nd generation I3 or I5 in that price range of course.  OS would be W7 Pro.  So, a dual core processor in the 2 Ghz range with around 4 GB memory (some are expandable to 8, but not all and can be hard to find).. Is that going to be a fast enough computer to run multiple platforms including XP mode?

And does anyone have any laptops they recommend that is a tad older (so that it would be in that price range now/refurbished) but maybe the business line of laptops, fast processors?  Any other advice?

Thank you all in advance!!

I would do this - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Go to any and all electronic stores in your area and look for store returns. I was just at Sams Club and they had 2 Dell laptops for $240 each because they were bought and returned. There are several places running amazing deals on laptops right now. Good Luck.

The only problem... - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
is most of the new computers, including returns, just have Windows 7 Home Premium and I still have to pay another $89 to upgrade to Professional. XP mode only runs with Professional. After all that, I'm upward $300-400. I am going to look though just in case I get lucky. (Where I am currently I occasionally need IE6/XP.) Thanks for your reply though. I do have a Costco membership!


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