Old hardware: Is it great bargain or minefield?
Vishnu K. Mahmud, Contributor, Jakarta
In the market for a notebook computer, I've been browsing the Internet and local computer fairs for the latest prices. While recent laptops boast over a gigahertz in speed, massive hard drive space and built-in CD writing capacities, the prices are still at a premium. And I don't need the world's most powerful machine to write articles or program small applets.
Computer hardware has come a long way in consistency and reliability. Before, if you left a computer near the window the heat from the sun would corrupt the processor chips. Nowadays, you can drag a laptop around the planet, toss it into the baggage compartment, soak it on the beach and it'll still keep on ticking.
So if the life expectancy of computer hardware is longer, why not buy an older one?
As a computer geek, I've always searched for the best bargains on spare parts in my constant quest to upgrade my PC. As new products arrive on Indonesian shores, the prices of the older stocks decrease. Processors, hard drives and DVD's all cost less when their newer cousins are released.
Need a CD writer? Speed is not important to me so I'd shop around for an older CD-R drive (just make sure you don't turn on any other programs when you're burning your CD).
Want to play that new game? Upgrade your graphic card two or three generations' lower then the current one. The newest games usually require a GeForce 2 card at the minimum so getting a GeForce 4 TI (which is the best of the best video card) is probably overkill. It also costs three times as much!
If you're budget is really tight, you may want to consider second-hand hardware.
Indonesia surprisingly has an abundance of used computer parts for sale. Some are from people who constantly upgrade their machines and have the old peripherals lying around while others are from those who are in need of cash.
Indonesian Internet space is filled with classified ads ("iklan baris" in Indonesian) offering second-hand laptops, graphic cards, PCs and other electronics. You can check out websites like Iklan Baris (www.iklanbaris.co.id) or auction sites like Amboi! (www.amboi.com) and Gado Gado (www.gadogado.net) and see what the local Net has to offer.
You can also check out the Indonesian mailing lists (such as ID-Palm, which advocates Palm handhelds, or ID-PocketPC for Microsoft's handheld computers; both are based in Yahoo Groups) as its members occasionally sell their old equipment after buying something new. Gadtorade is another Yahoo mailing list where people with gadgets of any kind can swap and trade.
Despite this huge supply of second-hand hardware, potential buyers should beware. Prices are sometimes inflated as owners try to recoup their initial investment (in some cases, 100 percent!) despite the fact the costs of the newer models are a lot less.
I've seen an old iBook 300 Mhz notebook for US$1,550 when the latest iBook 700 Mhz is $1,535!
Research the products you want to buy and make comparisons effectively. The Internet is full of hardware reviews from editors and actual users. Amazon.com and CNet.com are two well- known sites that give potential buyers ideas what to expect.
Don't be afraid to test and try out the hardware prior to purchasing. If you don't understand the intricacies or limitations of a product, ask a friend who does and bring them along.
Ask about warranties and documentation as well as the nearest service center should you have problems in the future.
But also, be very wary of deals that are too good to be true. There have been cases where people purchase computer hardware (such as laptops or Personal Digital Assistants) at extremely low prices only to find out that they were stolen products.
There have even been reports of Internet users selling products which are the result of "carding", the illegal act of purchasing items with someone else's credit card. A laptop worth $5,000 being sold for $1,500 should ring alarm bells.
Despite this, there are many good deals out there. With proper research and diligent browsing you can find an ideal computer/notebook/peripheral to your liking and budget. Just remember, anything worth buying is worth buying well.