Laptop: Buy or Borrow?

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ThePresence

ThePresence

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
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I'm going overseas in a little more than a week. I'll be gone for more than three weeks.
I will be working while I'm there and my old trusty laptop cannot be relied on anymore.
I can borrow a laptop or buy one.
Pros & cons both ways.

I will have to buy one eventually, but if I hold off for now I can budget more spending money for this trip.

 
ThePresence

ThePresence

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
27,727
16
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Originally posted by: KLin
The best of both worlds, RENT one. :p
Click to expand...

Why is that the best of both worlds?
It costs more than borrowing, and I'd still be responsible if anything happens to it.
 
KLin

KLin

Lifer
Feb 29, 2000
30,491
780
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Originally posted by: ThePresence
Originally posted by: KLin
The best of both worlds, RENT one. :p
Click to expand...

Why is that the best of both worlds?
It costs more than borrowing, and I'd still be responsible if anything happens to it.
Click to expand...

Aren't you still responsible for it if you borrow it and something happens to it? ;). This way you can choose a more powerful laptop than the one you plan to borrow.
 
ThePresence

ThePresence

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
27,727
16
81
Originally posted by: KLin
Originally posted by: ThePresence
Originally posted by: KLin
The best of both worlds, RENT one. :p
Click to expand...

Why is that the best of both worlds?
It costs more than borrowing, and I'd still be responsible if anything happens to it.
Click to expand...

Aren't you still responsible for it if you borrow it and something happens to it? ;). This way you can choose a more powerful laptop than the one you plan to borrow.
Click to expand...

Sure, but I don't have to pay rental fees if nothing happens to it.
The laptop I would borrow would be plently powerful.
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
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There are plenty of good laptops for around $499.

I would buy then sell on eBay for close to what you paid for it.
 
ThePresence

ThePresence

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
27,727
16
81
Originally posted by: RossMAN
There are plenty of good laptops for around $499.

I would buy then sell on eBay for close to what you paid for it.
Click to expand...

If I buy one, I'll buy it to keep.
The only reason I wouldn't buy one now is so that I can budget the extra money for the trip. Selling it later won't help me now. :)
 
S

syee

Senior member
Oct 6, 2001
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0
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I think you've already made up your mind on what you want to do - borrow, but here's my 2 cents:

Buy:
Pros:
*It's yours to do what you want.
*It's new so it should be decent speed, no matter what you get. Probably get a lot better battery life than something that's a few years old
*You don't have to worry about your buddy killing you for damaging/losing the laptop if it does happen.

Cons:
*$$$$$

Borrow:
Pros:
*Don't have to cough up a bunch of money right when you have trip expenses.
*Can wait for something better rather than buying something on impulse.

Cons:
*Buddy will kill you for damaging/losing his/her laptop. It's more than likely going to get roughed up a bit going through airport security, and in your bag. I for one would get kinda pissed if my brand spanking new laptop got scratched up by a buddy who borrowed it.
*If it's a beater laptop, might not last past an hour or two on the plane if you plan to work on the plane.
 
ThePresence

ThePresence

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
27,727
16
81
Originally posted by: syee
I think you've already made up your mind on what you want to do - borrow, but here's my 2 cents:

Buy:
Pros:
*It's yours to do what you want.
*It's new so it should be decent speed, no matter what you get. Probably get a lot better battery life than something that's a few years old
*You don't have to worry about your buddy killing you for damaging/losing the laptop if it does happen.

Cons:
*$$$$$

Borrow:
Pros:
*Don't have to cough up a bunch of money right when you have trip expenses.
*Can wait for something better rather than buying something on impulse.

Cons:
*Buddy will kill you for damaging/losing his/her laptop. It's more than likely going to get roughed up a bit going through airport security, and in your bag. I for one would get kinda pissed if my brand spanking new laptop got scratched up by a buddy who borrowed it.
*If it's a beater laptop, might not last past an hour or two on the plane if you plan to work on the plane.
Click to expand...
I pretty much made up my mind to buy, not borrow, but I haven't finalized my decision yet.

EDIT: Your post was a day after my last post in this thread to the minute. :Q
 
lokiju

lokiju

Lifer
May 29, 2003
18,526
5
0
Do a same as cash deal?

I'm sure one of the big stores has something like that going right now...
 
RossMAN

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,044
445
136
Did you buy a laptop yet?

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319MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
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Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection and Bluetooth
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LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
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Click here, then click Customize
Select the following options
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If you need a tablet/touch-screen capability, then also select:
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Checkout, apply coupon NB3009 for 30% off
Your total is $770 with free shipping (or $805 if you selected touchscreen above)

Specs:
AMD Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology TL-56 (1.8 GHz, 512KB+512KB L2 Cache )
12.1" WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800) (w/Integrated Touch-screen if selected)
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
1GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150
HP Imprint Finish + Fingerprint Reader + Webcam + Microphone
802.11b/g WLAN
120GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
4 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Click to expand...
 
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