THE CUTTING EDGE : Secondhand PC Bargains Abound
Despite big advances in technology, millions of us have specific, limited tasks we want our PCs to perform. We don’t need state-of-the-art. Fact is, most of us can get by with a 286-based PC and a 40MB hard drive.
Outfit it with an integrated package, such as Microsoft Works or Lotus Works, a personal finance program such as Quicken or Managing Your Money, a file manager and a set of disk utilities for emergencies. The whole tamale costs less than $600. A sad secret of the computer industry is that even power users typically work with less than 20% of the software features or system power in their $3,000 computers.
Not surprisingly, a booming industry of used PCs has emerged in the last six years--witness Processor ((800) 334-7443), a paper filled largely with used computer ads. Catering to small businesses, nonprofit organizations, educators, moonlighters, hobbyists and, increasingly, big corporations, the used computer market offers superb dollar value.
There are essentially three ways to tap into it: through a computer exchange, a local dealer or from classified ads. You’ll pay more buying from a computer exchange or a dealer, but you usually get some kind of warranty.
Any way you buy, the prices are amazing. A 2-year-old IBM PS/2 Model 70 with a 120MB hard drive costs about $800 on the Boston Computer Exchange ((800) 262-6399). The United Computer Exchange ((800) 755-3033) recently offered a Macintosh LCIII for $600 and a Mac Plus for $400. A LaserJet III printer cost $450 on the American Computer Exchange ((800) 786-0717).
This is hardly derelict technology. But how do you know you’re not buying a lemon? Because computers contain so few moving parts, problems typically emerge in the first few weeks of life . . . or not for years. Exceptions: monitors, power supplies and hard drives.
Power supplies expire from simple old age. Replacements cost $60 to $120, and are easy. Monitors suffer all the ailments of old televisions. When tire-kicking a used monitor, stare closely at the screen when it’s turned off. A permanent ingrained image indicates old age. You’ll probably have to replace it in the near future.
Disk drives contain moving parts, which makes them vulnerable. They tend to crash without notice. Everyone who uses a computer should have a set of disk utilities, such as the Norton Utilities or PC Tools, for help in data disasters. When inspecting a used PC, take these along. They include diagnostics that will report bad hard-disk sectors and other irregularities that augur catastrophe.
Still, they’re mostly just a whistle in the dark. The main thing is to adopt a painless backup strategy, and stick to it.
