New or Refurbished – Which Would You Choose?
When looking to upgrade or increase your IT equipment, the temptation always is to seek out the newest computers available and peripherals in the belief that new means best, most efficient, and most financially viable solution. Afterall, technology keeps striving forward and we often feel we must run to keep up with it. But in this rarified economic situation that may not necessarily always be the right approach, nor the most cost effective option.
In Kipling's timeless poem, “New Lamps for Old” the author drew inspiration from an older Arab folk tale, “Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp”, In this tale, a poor Arab boy finds a magical lamp, which has the power to bring him the wealth and luxurious lifestyle he craves. A thief steals the lamp, by enticing Aladdin’s servant, to exchange “New Lamps for Old”. The trade was not as promising as it might have at first appeared, because the old, battered lamp was, in reality, a priceless treasure beyond value.
Kipling's poem essentially highlights man’s eternal quest for something newer and seemingly better than the old. And, as so clearly demonstrated in Aladdin's case and that of Kipling’s protagonists, all too often the lure of the new over old, fails to bring the promised reward of something better.
When it comes to refurbished computers, the lure of the new always appears to over shine the appeal of the old, which often means that we can run the risk of missing out on, maybe not some priceless treasure beyond value, but at the very least, a first-rate machine at a very competitive price that would satisfy our anticipated computing needs.
The word refurbished often conjures up the idea of a measure of obsolescence or deficiency in operation that might dissuade potential buyers from making such a purchase.
If that is the case, then we may need to reevaluate our idea of exactly what it means to refurbish a computer. We are no longer talking about the quick dust off and reformat of some overheated office workhorse that nobody wants to use anymore and is now just sitting around idly using up valuable desk space.
Refurbishment is now a rapidly expanding, multi-million-pound industry, in its own right. Computers, laptops, workstations, and peripherals are cleaned, repaired, reformatted, upgraded and offered for resale. All reputable resellers will thoroughly test all components and the completed units prior to purchase to ensure they are in perfect working condition. They often come with a warranty ranging from 3 months to three years and with a return to base policy if any repairs become necessary, which is even just about what you would get from the original manufacturer.
This is a clear manifestation of the seller's confidence in their products. And even when the computer itself may be a few years old, the components used in its refurbishment will be new and often of higher specification than in its original configuration.
Machines marketed as “certified” indicates that the refurbishment has been carried out by the original manufacturers and that only their own branded or recommended parts have been used in the process. Certified computers are thus certainly not the poor cousins of new products they were once perceived to be.
Alan Gilmour from EuroPC experts on Certified refurbished laptops and desktop PCs, commented that the refurbished market has made massive strides recently and that concerns about budget and environmental issues are leading many consumers to choose a refurbished model.
In the current economic climate, businesses must find ways to reduce their costs in new and innovative ways, while still maintaining their competitive edge. Sourcing refurbished IT equipment can often reduce one's overheads substantially without compromising on performance. The overwhelmingly lure of the new is finally losing its shine.
