Buying a Referb Laptop dv2840se

[lightshow]

I've been thinking about buying a referb laptop



HP Pavilion dv2840se 14.1" Special Edition Notebook PC - REFURBISHED

http://content.officemax.com/catalog/images/397x353/21635090i_01.jpg

AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-60 Processor
4096MB (4GB) DDR2 Memory
250GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
Lightscribe SuperMulti DVD Burner
802.11 a/b/g/n WLAN & Integrated Bluetooth adapter
5-in-1 Media Card Reader
Integrated Webcam & Microphone
Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit OS
1-Year Refurb Limited Warranty


http://www.officemax.com/omax/catalog/sku.jsp?skuId=21725037&category_Id=cat970008 (http://www.officemax.com/omax/catalog/sku.jsp?skuId=21725037&category_Id=cat970008@400)


@$400
vs

http://www.amazon.com/Pavilion-DV2840SE-14-1-inch-Special-Processor/dp/B0015HSNWE

@$1099



Now I'm trying to think why the laptop would have been sent in originally:

1) Bad memory
2) Bad OEM install
3) Bad HD
4) Bad processor? Never heard of that happening...maybe they forgotthermal paste?
5) Dead CPU fan


It seems like if the laptop was sent in for any of those reasons, they would just replace the broken part with a new one


So, any reason why I should consider not buying a referbished laptop?

[tesco]

I'd search google to try and find if there are any common problems with the laptop.
If not, and since it has a 1year warranty, I say go for it.
If nothing happens within 1 year then it's unlikely that anything related to the refurbish will cause it to stop working after the warranty is over, it will be like any other laptop.

[Detale]

Right refurbished could really mean anything. It doesn't mean that something actually went wrong though. Someone could have returned it and then it has to be checked out by them so they must legally label it as refurbished. Still tesco's suggestion is awesome. Google it for problems ;)

[lightshow]

Yeah, those are good points tesco and Detale.

That's what I was thinking in terms of if it did go in for some poor hardware issue that if it was still there it would present itself within that warranty year.

Also, the fact that Office Max has a slew of laptops all with the referb status, it seems like it is just trying to sell off its stock rather than holding it in inventory as fast as they can (given the economic conditions) so that they can give that space to new merchendise.

So that makes me feel better and think they must have had something happen like a supplier agreement become null after a supplier went under and now they have to re-sell their would be return to manufacture products.

[clocker]

I would avoid it.

Not that I have any problem with "refurbished" units per se, only with refurbished consumer units.
All manufacturers make "business" and "consumer" models.
The business units are generally sturdier/better hardware while the consumer models tend to focus on glitz (see "webcams") and glitter (what's up with the tattoo on the upper cover anyway?).

Business grade hardware enjoy longer parts availability since they were often leased (typically for three years) while consumer models come and go at a dizzying pace.

Assuming your refurbished laptop makes it through the one year warranty period- and it probably will- getting any of the super proprietary replacement parts later could be a real problem- they change shit for no apparent reason from model to model (but not so much for the business grade stuff).

Oh, and by the way...I hate laptops.
Somehow, I always feel compelled to mention this.

[Detale]

LOL, so do I. I always try and talk people out of them.

[Artemis]

Although I agree with Clocker's comments about HP business as opposed to consumer products there are many reasons for a factory refurbishment.
I actually worked for an HP authorised repair center here in my country and we received D.O.A. products back from the retailers all the time, with relatively minor faults.
a D.O.A. product is diagnosed for hardware and/or software faults first then the faulty part is replaced or in the case of software the original software image is reloaded then the machine undergoes a 24hr core test burn-in, so in fact refurbished machines are actually tested better than those that are packaged after manufacture.
There are actually advantages to a refurbished laptop, they are more thoroughly tested before being approved than a product straight from the factory, they are cheaper, and yet still offer the same warranty.
In fact many D.O.A. products we received were simply scrambled software installs from large retailers who did not have the technical staff to resolve even simple customer faults.But once a product has been sent back to a repair center it is no longer a new retail product and must be resold as a refurbished model.

[peat moss]

Id say go or it , look at the money you save . It might be someone returned it as they want a different model . Its like buying a used car you take your chances .


Artemis has made all the valid points and speaks from experience .