Is a cheap Laptop a bad Laptop?

Is a cheap Laptop a bad Laptop?

We’ll we’re going to say no aren’t we, after all we want you to buy a cheap laptop from ITZOO.

Let’s try and be objective. When buying on a budget you have a few options.

Buy a low specification or budget range laptop new.

Buy a second hand laptop.

Buy a cheap refurbished laptop from ITZOO.

Let’s look at each option in more detail.

Buy a low specification or budget range laptop new.

When buying a new laptop at the budget end of the market you are either saving money by getting the lower specification in the new laptop range or you're compromising on build quality, if its new and cheap there has to be a compromise somewhere, you can’t get a cheap new laptop without compromising on either the specification or the quality. So when evaluating the purchase of a new laptop make sure you take a very close look at the specification and the quality.

Buy a second hand laptop.

Lots of people will sell their old laptops, ones they have used at work or those they have owned personally. You’ll save plenty of money over the new price, it likely will be the definition of a cheap laptop. What are you actually getting? Can you be certain of the provenance of the laptop, who owned it, where did it come from? Will the software be legal, have a valid licence so you can get updates and support? If things go wrong, the device becomes faulty is there any guarantee or warranty available? Buy a cheap second hand laptop and you’ll probably have many more of these types of questions to ponder.

Buy a cheap refurbished laptop from ITZOO.

If you want a cheap laptop, a good specification, good build quality with support and warranty this is the option to choose.  

At ITZOO we only supply ex corporate laptops, when new these were the top of the range, built with high specification components and a build quality designed to withstand continuous use.

As one of only a very small number of Microsoft Authorised Refurbishers we supply fully legal MS Windows software on all our Windows laptops. You get full support from Microsoft, exactly the same as with a new laptop.

Every single one of our cheap laptops are fully tested by our skilled technicians, ensuring the specification we advertise is the specification you’ll receive. All components will be tested and guaranteed to work.

Your cheap laptop will also come with a 12 month warranty, just like a new one, so should anything go wrong you’ll have the same level of cover as buying a new laptop.

With over 30 years’ experience of refurbishing computers and laptops you can be assured that buying from ITZOO means your cheap laptop will be a good laptop.

CSI LIFECYCLE SERVICES UK ENTERPRISE DATA ERASURE

CSI now have the capability to wipe your server and storage hardware too. In addition to our long established desktop and laptop wiping services we have now added the ability to wipe enterprise hardware too. Using our state of the art hardware coupled with industry leading software we can ensure the safe removal of data from all your IT hardware.

Utilizing Extreme Protocol Solutions flagship Enterprise Data Erasure Software (XErase) and Portable Appliance, CSI provides high bandwidth, multi-protocol data sanitization compliant with over a dozen globally recognized erasure standards.

This appliance can connect to as many drives as your physical configuration can support. Erase EMC, NetApp, Hitachi, HP and a host of other storage arrays on-site quickly and easily then generate secure completely customizable Certificates of Erasure that we can present to our customer upon job completion.

·        Direct Storage Array Attachment

·        Technology Refresh

·        End of lease equipment

·        Data Center decommissioning

·        Data Center migration

·        Data Center relocation

Overwriting Standards

·        U.S. Navy Staff Office Publication NAVSO P-5239-26

·        U.S. Air Force System Security Instruction 5020

·        U.S. DoD 5220.22-M

·        Clear, Sanitize, Purge

·        U.S. NIST SP-800-88

·        Clear, Purge

·        British HMG Infosec Standard 5, Enhanced Standard

·        New Zealand NZSIT 402

·        Russian GOST R 50739-95

·        Australian ISM 6.2.92

·        Germany VSITR

·        Canada RCMP TSSIT OPS-II

·        Secure Erase / SSD Sanitize

Contact CSI today to discuss your data erasure needs.

DDRV@CSILCS.CO.UK TEL: 0114 2329208 WWW.CSILCS.CO.UK

Is buying a refurbished computer a good idea?

Many people wonder if buying a refurbished computer instead of a brand new one is a smart move or a risk. Here are several reason refurbished computers might be right for you:

1 – It saves you money. Choosing a refurb instead of springing for a new PC can save you anywhere from 20% to 80% off the RRP of a new computer.

2 – The quality and reliability of PCs from an official Microsoft Approved Refurbisher (MAR) means that you are purchasing a tier one branded product for a fraction of its original cost.

3 - Most computers aren’t passed on to be refurbished because they are defective, but simply because they have been replaced by a slightly newer model.

4 – All refurbished systems, including those that are indeed returned due to a real problem, are cleaned, thoroughly tested and given any necessary repairs or upgrades before being offered for re-sale. In fact, the risk of receiving a defective refurbished unit is actually lower than the risk of receiving a defective new one due to the extra testing and checks refurbished equipment is subjected to.

5 – Refurbished computers frequently come with a warranty period just as with a brand new one. So should a problem you'll have the same secure cover as you would with a brand new PC.

Tips for buying a refurbished PC

1 – It's always best to buy refurbished IT from a Microsoft Approved Refurbisher (MAR) as ITZOO, in order to guarantee the quality of the refurbishment and that you're getting the real deal on any software included in your purchase.

2 – Remember that although refurbs are great value and will work just as well as new units, the low price means they might come with small cosmetic blemishes such as minor dents or superficial scratches to casings.

Conclusion

By buying refurbished, you can save money on your next computer purchase with virtually no risk. A good reputation is vital to refurbished PC sellers such as ITZOO, and it's as import to them as it is to you that you receive high quality and reliable service.

Author Emily Rushworth July 2016 

Computer Refurbishment Process: IT ZOO

Computer Refurbishment Process:

When purchasing a refurbished laptop or a refurbished pc system which has been refurbished here at CSI, you can feel assured that you are acquiring a reliable, quality product. All systems are thoroughly tested to ensure that they are in full working order and ready for their second lease of life!

 For a system to qualify as refurbished, it is subjected to the following processes:

• Initial check-in, external and internal cleaning of the system
• Physical examination of the system for faults or defects
• If a new hard drive is not installed, wipe the previous owner's hard drive using Blancco the leading approved method for purging all data from the drive.
• Test all hardware components on the system to ensure that they are in functioning order.  Replace those components which are not. Included components in our testing:

CD Drives, DVD Drives, CD/DVD combination drives, Diskette drives, Hard drives, Network Interface Cards (NICs), Wi-fi controllers, USB controllers, System Memory, Integrated & PCI video cards, Integrated & PCI audio devices, System board

Installation/Upgrade of non-functional or inadequate hardware components

Clean installation of the Microsoft Windows operating system Installation of the latest Microsoft security pack and updates, Installation of antivirus software, Installation of productivity software (e.g. Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Office, etc.), Final testing of all installed components & software Sysprep of the computer to oobe (out of the box) experience for the end-user, Affix Microsoft refurbished computer COA (certificate of authenticity) to the computer case, Prep the computer for shipping.

The difference between Used and Refurbished:

Used computer system - previously owned and utilised but being sold as seen. With used computer systems, there is no guarantee that the system will have been wiped of the previous owner’s data. As well as this, the hardware will most likely not have been checked to ensure it is in good working order. Finally, the system is not required to include the operating discs and manuals which originally came with it.

Refurbished computer system - previously owned and utilised but has been wiped of all previous owners’ data and checked to ensure all hardware is in full working order. Processes which he system will usually go through would include: wiping of all data from previous owner, internal cleaning,  testing of all hardware components, potential upgrade of some or all hardware components (for example the hard drive or RAM), installation of the latest Microsoft operating system and most current security updates. Refurbished systems may also come with additional software, for example antivirus programs. As per Microsoft, a refurbished computer is one which is installed with genuine Microsoft software and has a Refurbished Certificate of Authenticity.  In essence, it is a new system, only the parts are older.

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Dell Optiplex 780 Ultra Small Form Factor - Refurbished 780 computer now available at www.itzoo.co.uk

Dell Optiplex 780 Ultra Small Form Factor - Refurbished 780 computer now available at ITZOO

 EDITOR RATING: EXCELLENT

http://uk.pcmag.com/dell-optiplex-780-ultra-small-form-factor/22414/review/dell-optiplex-780-ultra-small-form-factor

• PROS

  Compact form factor. Quiet. All-in-one-like monitor stand. Relatively simple to service. VPro. DisplayPort and eSATA port. Lockable. No Bloatware.

• CONS

  Monitor stand requires too many cables and connections. Locked down desktop has no access to eSATA. Wireless requires external antenna.

• BOTTOM LINE

  The Dell Optiplex 780 USFF is an ultra-small form factor PC for the enterprise and SMB markets. Add a 22-inch monitor, and it takes up as much desk space as a mid-sized all-in-one PC. It's perfect for the space-constrained business user.

BY JOEL SANTO DOMINGO

The Dell Optiplex 780 USFF ($1,484 direct) is an ultra-small form factor (USFF) desktop PC that can fit virtually anywhere your business requires. Since it takes up so little room on the desk, it's perfect for the space-constrained business user. If you don't have any expandability needs, this Intel Core 2 Duo-equipped system has enough power to run all your business apps, and even light multimedia tasks. It's able to do all that, while still keeping a stable disk image with other Optiplex 780s in your organization. We consider the Optiplex 780 USFF one of the best USFF desktop and monitor combinations out there, thus earning it our Editors' Choice for business desktops.

Design
At about 9.5 by 2.75 by 9.5-inches (HWD), the Optiplex 780 USFF is quite small, so it will fit on virtually any desk. Dell bundled in a 22-inch widescreen monitor, and sent us an optional all-in-one mounting kit ($338), so the Optiplex 780 and monitor can be transported or installed easily. The mounting kit's stand has a handle on it so the whole system can be carried easily with one hand, sans keyboard and mouse. The desktop slides right onto a notched tray on the back of the monitor stand, and the stand has some of the cabling built in.

In order to power up the monitor and the PC and connect both to the Internet, you only need to plug in one power cable and one Ethernet cable. This convenience makes for less clutter and more space around the work area. The stand itself does have a short Ethernet and power cable for the desktop as well as another power cable for the monitor on the front of the stand. It's not a perfect system, because the monitor is interchangeable, you'll still have to route the system's VGA or DisplayPort cable through the stand and into the monitor. It would be a better design choice if the monitor had a more hidden connector to make it seem more like an all-in-one PC.

The system also comes with a lockable cover to secure the back connectors, including an eSATA port, DisplayPort, five USB ports, Serial port, and a VGA port. You don't have to use the cover, but it does make the back of the system look neater. On the other hand, you may want the eSATA port free in order to connect external hard drives. I suppose if your IT policy deems that the port be closed, but accessible, your local tech could plug-in a cable and leave it hanging before he locks the system up. Last, but not least, the back of the system has a jack for the system's 802.11n Wi-Fi external antenna. There are two USB ports on the front of the system, next to the optical drive and the audio ports, so you can still hook up USB keys and hard drives, provided your corporate policies allow them.

Features
Our review unit came with a notebook-style DVD burner, but that can of course be omitted if your business needs locked down desktops. There's also a 160GB hard drive, which will provide plenty of space for a general business user. The system is reasonably simple to service. One screw gets you into the system (after you've unlocked any security features of course), and once inside there's ready access to the two DIMM slots, both of which are filled. The drives are under an simple to pop-out panel, so they can be replaced in case of failure. Still, as is expected from a USFF desktop, there isn't any expansion room inside. You're stuck with the included Intel GMA 4500 integrated graphics.

The system didn't come with any bloatware or any software at all aside from the Windows 7 OS and drivers for all the components. This kind of quality is what you should expect from a fresh out of the box business system. Extraneous programs may interfere with programs you need to do your business. If you're installing multiple PCs, you can work with your Dell sales associate to customize software and hardware builds to meet your company's needs. The system seen here acts as a good base system for general business use.

Performance
The system comes with an Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 processor and 4GB of DDR3 memory. This kind of power is sufficient for all clerical duties, as well as some light multimedia work. The system completes the Windows Media Encoder test in a relatively quick 45 seconds and the PhotoShop CS4 test in 1 minute 41 seconds. These are decent numbers for a mid-priced business system. You can also configure the system with the more cost-efficient Pentium Dual Core, Celeron Dual Core, and single core Celeron CPUs. The Core 2 Quad is limited to the larger Optiplex 780 chassis types (SFF, Desktop, Minitower). This system completed the PCMark Vantage test with a score of 4,910, which is average for a dual-core system with integrated graphics. The OptiPlex 780's GMA 4500 graphics aren't for complex 3D tasks. This aspect shouldn't be a problem, since system isn't targeted to users who need high-end 3D graphics.

The Optiplex 780 is an excellent choice for the main-line business worker. It has the usual SFF, desktop and minitower configurations, plus an innovative USFF chassis and monitor stand combo. While not perfect, it's a neater and more secure solution than the ones we've seen in the past. It is less expensive, yet faster and more compact than last year's Editors' Choice, the Lenovo ThinkCentre m58p Eco Ultra Small. It has a larger display and is much more flexible than theLenovo ThinkCentre A70z that I looked at earlier this year. Therefore I can award the Dell Optiplex 780 USFF with our Editors' Choice for Business Desktops. It's not perfect, but it's one of the best business PC implementations out there.