Buying new has many benefits: you know what you’re getting, and your purchase is protected both by a manufacturer warranty and the UK Sale of Goods Act. The latter means you can make a legal claim for faulty products for up to six years after the purchase date, which also renders a costly extended warranty worthless. If you're in the market for a cheap new laptop, a Chromebook could be for you. These are stripped-down laptops with very few bells and whistles. They run Google's Chrome OS operating system, which is web-based (hence most of its files are stored in the cloud instead of locally on the machine). The upside is these are very light and portable. You'll need a web connection to carry out most tasks. Many retailers sell old laptops at steep discounts. Don’t worry that you’re not getting the latest model - laptop specifications don’t change that quickly and a lower price is more appealing than a marginally faster processor. Especially if you'll only be using it for basic tasks.
Since they’re not allowed to re-sell them as ‘new’, some retailers also offer laptops that have been returned by customers at a reduced price. Amazon's Warehouse Deals is a good place to start. Devices sold here may have cosmetic damage or damaged packaging, but they still come with a warranty and the usual consumer protection. You may not necessarily get an ultra-cheap laptop with such deals, but you can get one with a great specification for much less than its original price. The only catch is that availability varies considerably, so finding the laptop you want may take time. The Currys’ ‘Clearance’ store is also a good bet. It offers both old stock and newer refurbished laptops. Argos runs a clearance store on eBay. Amazon's laptop store has some good deals from time to time. You should also check out the BT Shop. The biggest bargains are found by buying second-hand. Buying a laptop from someone you know is usually a safe bet, since you’ll also probably know something about its history - whether or not it’s been looked after, in other words.
While you may not be inclined to haggle over the price, you should still check that you can’t find a better deal elsewhere and that everything is working properly. CeX (Computer Exchange) is also worth a look. Being able to see and try what you’re buying beforehand is a major plus, as is being able to return a purchase if there’s a problem. Bay is another source of cheap laptops and there are two main options. The first is to buy from a business seller who specialises in refurbished models with a warranty. Just don’t let a low price blind you to a low specification. For example, a £150 model might look tempting, but not if its spec is years out of date compared with a much newer £200 model. Better deals can be had from private auctions, but check the seller’s listing very closely, since you’ll only have some redress if a laptop differs from its description.
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