The Do's and Don'ts of Buying a Refurbished Laptop - Lifehacker

While it might not seem like a good bet for a device you’ll be relying on every day, buying refurbished from a trusted (certified) store essentially means buying an almost new product, albeit at a discount of hundreds of dollars.

If you’re in the market for a refurbished laptop, here are the things you should know before you start shopping.

Refurbished laptops typically go through a certification process in which the hardware and electronics are checked to make sure everything is alright, and faulty parts are replaced.

Buying refurbished (or rather, certified refurbished, where the check-up and repairs are carried out by the manufacturer themselves) is a much safer alternative.

Just because you’re buying a refurbished product doesn’t mean you can’t get a warranty.

If you’re buying from a third-party refurbishing website (like Amazon or Newegg), make sure you read the reviews.

Even if you’re buying a refurbished laptop, make sure it’s only a year or two old.

If you’re looking to buy a refurbished Windows laptop, you really can’t do better than Dell’s certified refurbished program.

THe big box is a great place if you’re looking for mid-range refurbished laptops.

But on the flip side, the prices are pretty cheap, the trusted Newegg name carries some weight, and there’s a generous 90-day replacement window (just make sure that you read the reviews before buying)