Hot Deal: XP Computers for a Song

Rickideemus · Jul 22, 2013

Conventional wisdom has it that computers sporting a Windows OS two generations old should drop in price like a rock. But for several years we had a situation where new XP computers continued to fly off the shelves, and bare minimum for a used XP laptop was $150 (all right, $149.95). Everyone kept waiting for prices to cave after Windows 7 debuted -- never happened. Then surely, when Windows 8 reared it's ugly head, XP would assume doorstop status like the late lamented Windows 98. But no! New computers adorned with XP became very scarce, yet people continued to pay a pretty penny for used XP machines. Maybe the recession was interfering with primal market forces.

Well sadly, Windows XP has suddenly lost its je ne sais quoi. The latest revision of Windows 8 rang the death knell. XP is still the second most popular operating system, according to its installed user base of 15% (7 is number one at 57%). But today we see fully functional used or rebuilt XP laptops going on eBay at half price compared to a few months ago, which means for the first time in history you can get a box to zap around the internet like nobody's business for well under $100.

Consider these transactions, recently completed on eBay:

Rebuilt Inspiron 8600
XP Professional SP2 installed
Valid COA license
1.6 GHz Centrino processor
1.5 GB RAM
591 MHZ bus
15.4" 1920 x 1200 res WUXGA+ display
Dedicated 64MB ATI Radeon 9600
60 GB 7200 RPM HDD
CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
Built in WiFi and Firewire
Fast 10/100 ethernet port
Two USB 2.0 ports
SD card slot
Dedicated volume control, mute and CD buttons
Battery holds a brief charge
AC adapter
100% rated seller: $49.99 + ~$19 shipping ~= $68.99

The Inspiron 8600 was arguably the top desktop replacement laptop when it debuted in 2003. Just an upgrade from the usual 30 GB 4200 RPM drive to the latest 60 GB 7200 RPM drive cost $160 at the time.

Or this ...

Used Lenovo Thinkpad T60
Windows XP
1.66 GHZ Intel Core Duo processor
2 GB RAM
60 GB HDD
14" 1400x1050 res integrated graphics display
Integrated Wireless
DVD Rom drive
Battery "holds a good charge"
AC adapter
"Works Great"
100% rated seller: $60 + free shipping = $60

And these are not unique.

So if you have a brother, like someone I know, still stuck in the dark ages, who dreams of tip toeing into the dawn of the computer age, this might be the time. Just stay away from the words "parts" or "repair," and if there are any blank lines in the display, don't even think about it. If you value your time at all, an 8 year old computer that needs some work can't even compete as a doorstop.

Rickideemus

Rickideemus · Jul 28, 2013

Well, I got me an XP computer off of eBay, and holy #%$! what a hassle. Took me ALL DAY, and I still haven't got any virus protection on it, or any SP3. It was sort of "half installed" up to SP2, with a massive memory leak in IE 6. So I had to couch IE between two big notepad files, so it could grow in either direction, then update to IE 8, then download something called "Windows Update Client" (normally not required), then it was stable, and I was able to d/l 78 updates. So next step is MSE, then SP3, with a lot of praying and/or cursing along the way.

Had to try half a dozen restore points along the way, plus DISable the buggy old Intel wireless support (using Windows in its place to run wireless) and UNinstall something called Broadcom he had onboard. Just doing all this wasn't a huge deal, it was figuring out what had to be done!

I wonder if he's going to claim he didn't know what a mess this thing was. I have the WindowsUpdate.log proving he tried to upgrade to SP3 three times and FAILED.

Highly recommend you go for SP3 installed if you're looking at XP computers. It might add $5-$10 to the price, but it will save you thousands in Prilosec.

Rick

KrissB · Oct 23, 2013

Broadcom is a common networking chipset, wireless and wired. However many spoofs exist these days, so I could understand Shift-Deleting it! Also, once you get it where you prefer, with your antivirus in place. This makes it a real pain in the butt to install stuff, hince why it's used in MANY cases! Copy your user profile, leaving the original as Administrator, and making the copy Limited. After you are happy with how things are going, only use the Limited account, and if you or that "Someone" happens to go to a questionable site, instead of getting that phone call at 3am, they will have many less issues down the road! As malware and spyware cannot install itself if the user is only logged in as a Limited user! Hopefully this is all common knowledge for most people, but for people like me, I only typically do it for the Family PC, or Clients that ask me to fix their PC's, even then, I ask if they want this somewhat annoying detour-ant put into place! As for some people it's very undesirable, however extremely effective!

Also there is a lot of talk about using a Browser that is in a sort of virtual "Safe-Box". This option is not typically free from my last look.

Probably many many more suggestions too. I typically try to use Cnet's download links as they are "usually" legit, however if you don't read reviews you could get burned, and most site's have way too many ad's now, and they make you think the "click here to download" is the right spot to click... Then suddenly, you are installing something that really doesn't look right at all!

I use Mozilla only because AdBlock Plus 2.4 (currently using) is a very effective Ad blocker. Don't be spoofed by imitations and I also cannot be held liable for any miss-clicks or sudden company changes that may not be desirable! I grew up in the computer age back before everything was a possible corruption... Buy a game, put it in the CD-Rom... It pops up, install? Yes, Next yes, agree, yes, next, etc. Now days if you do that, your computer is no longer a viable paper-weight, instead it's now an endless headache! So installers be VERY aware before continuing to the next step, if you see a check box that is already checked, assure yourself you paid for crapware! :\

Oh, and Windows... Wow, the story behind that business is good too, in a nutshell, we the "End user" with every purchase, never will we see the "Finished Product" as everything is usually barely functional as test mode (which is understandable with so many different pieces of hardware out there). But just imagine buying a car and only getting some of it... Sure you can drive it to and from work... The heat may not work, the windshield may be partially done, passenger seats may need to be installed later... lol Etc Etc! "We" have paid hand over fist since the beginning of Windows 1.0 (most started around Windows 3.0, 3.11, or even Windows 95, or 98. If you ever want to be thankful about Windows 98, try installing Windows ME! Some great Windows OS's however have been Windows 2000 (NTFS), XP Pro, XP Media Center, and however I'm not a big fan of Windows 8, I am starting to like it more. Vista wasn't so bad for me. I think all the changes makes it difficult to accept each newer version. Setting up each new Windows upgrade to Classic seems to help resolve many of the people that prefer such an OS. Oh, and if you want to use Windows 8 be prepared to buy a monster of a computer! lol No XP box is going to run that without dragging itself through some undesirable waste before you get to click the start button!

Rick, in support of your findings, Computers are much like Antenna's, XP is a very good OS! And I believe it is currently the Baseline of every piece of software now days! Once that changes, I'm afraid it will be forced out of phase just like the Windows 2000 (even with the government forcing Microsoft to support it even after it was phased out) I imagine that too will be another government suggestion to Microsoft as well. It's sad, our own government delays most inevitable changes when it comes to Windows versions being phased out!!!
Oh and the prices are VERY well liked, I would just download the OEM CD and start fresh, then again that's about the same headache finding the right OEM CD! Now days, that too is a jungle fest waiting to infect your good PC!

That's my small thought,
KrissB

Fringe Reception · Oct 23, 2013

KrissB said:

Windows NT was the platform for XP.

Opinion: 3.11 was supposed to be better than 3.0 and 95 was "the breakthrough" and it sucked compared to 98: 98-Plus was terrific and okay on a 166 mHz box and warp-speed on a 450 mhz machine.

Standard XP was adequate but XP-Pro plus years of improvements is my system and I do not want to give it up because it works.

I have heard a few good reports about Win-7 and disaster reports about Win-8.

Jim

Rickideemus · Oct 24, 2013

KrissB said:

There is no damned reason Microsoft and apple couldn't have produced internet-hack-proof browsers almost from the beginning. I'd give them ONE YEAR after the initial switch from DOS. Other browser writers don't have access to the internal routines that make up the API. This appeal to "stack overflow" is flat out double talk. Every programmer knows what stack overflow is, and how to prevent it.

Fact is, they wanted back doors in the browsers to simplify compliance with FISA court orders to spy on their customers. They don't deny this, and have as much as admitted it if you read between the lines. "We only spy on customers under a court order." (paraphrasing). Hence, the NSA doesn't even need you to download and run an infected program to gain access to your system. Windows itself literally is the virus -- and every "upgrade" tends to make it less secure.

I used to recommend CNET but I hate it now. Take a look at majorgeeks.com. Softpedia is pretty good too.

As an updare to my OP, I found an area on the HD of my $67 XP laptop purchase that had been changed from NTFS to some exotic file system. In that small area lurked a virus. Got rid of that, got all my updates in place, and now I have a virtual clone of my other laptop, but with more memory, faster processor, more graphics RAM, and bigger HD. So all's well, though it took a couple days of hair pulling.

Also, I've not seen as many great XP deals in these intervening months. Maybe one or two a week. For about three weeks there, I thought the basement caved on the price structure.

Had a Windows 7 computer for a few days. Had to return it, cause the ethernet didn't work. But it looks almost exactly like XP. Just a cosmetic face lift, plus streamlining and bug fixes -- in other words exactly what you'd assume you're getting from the upgrades.

Rick

KrissB · Oct 24, 2013

Basically yea, Windows is/was just more (bigger) upgrades, and when they couldn't invoke them with a patch, they just simply clog up the newest media disc to then make more requirements! Bigger OS = higher demand for computer power! Memory, HDD, Video... Etc etc...

I started building computers when I was 13, with my dad's help. His "best friend" sold him a computer ($2500+) for a 286. Turns out my dad had an 8088... With a math-co... (Jibberish to most lol). Basically, it was a step down from the 286 or (80286). I remember we found 128k of ram upgrade chips in the "Trader" a paper version of Craigslist basically! Even though my dad got ripped off, it just made us learn how to build our own rigs. He bought the parts to make a 286, we built it (mostly I watched at that time). I inherited the 8088, 768k ram, and 20mb HDD! Trident video card (bare minimum but nearly top of the line back then). lol That thing weighed more than me I think. Any who, I think I've spent over $30,000 in just computers I've had, between building the newer computers and upgrades. Probably more, it wouldn't surprise me! I remember buying the very 1st 1GB WD HDD IDE ATA-133! lmao was well over $350 when I bought it at Egghead. This topic brought back some good memories, sorry for the babble. Somewhere in all that, we had found Windows 1.0 on 5.25" floppies! I held on to that for a long time just as a memento of the computer age! Doom I, II, and III was probably the most fun I ever had, hooking up all of our computers (family members) during Xmas, or any holiday we could get together and make a 3 day weekend or longer just blasting away either at each other or monsters. Typically the monster PC's reigned supreme!

XP Pro really has been a very stable system!

@ Rick, I wonder why no one has built a bullet-proof browser and sold it? Much like DVD-Fab, and other legal copyright copying program, I don't see much of a reason to not program such a browser. I can tell you the backdoor issue is a big reason IE is not considered Shareware/Freeware/whatever-ware that could be re-written without some form of violation!

Have you tried Linux? I've never had much luck other than test booting, and thinking I can't do much with it (5+ years ago), things have changed since I think!

Craigslist has a few good deals on Laptops and Boxes. Even better in that case, you can tell em you have to drive 3 hours to get there and get a better deal maybe! lol However most people try to get an extra $200 for their $50 computer!

KrissB · Oct 24, 2013

MajorGeeks is a great site as well (probably arguably better than Cnet).

Softpedia, not a big fan of it, however I haven't used it in a while. Last time I used it, it seemed sketchy to me, maybe it was just the design/layout that bothered me!

Cnet is pretty good, I prefer it, simply because you can usually find a lot of reviews, and a very good description of what you may be looking for. Also, video's about some more complex downloadable software (you tube probably offers *or even hosts lol* the exact same thing so...) I have caught a virus off Cnet's ad banners before, but that goes without saying for any site these days I think.

I would have edited my last post, but it was in a book form! :\ Geez why do I have so much to say? lol

Rickideemus · Oct 27, 2013

KrissB said:

Not at all. I'm much more into the programming side of it than the hardware. At some point, they intersect.

Did you know you could COMPILE GWBASIC programs with something called BASCOM? Those programs ran slower on a 286 than a regular 8086. Or maybe it was the 386 ... can't remember my ancient history... Whenever they started fooling seriously with 32 bit. The 32 bit processor could rev down to run 16 bit code, but it wasn't happy about it.

Now I see all these 64 bit processors running 32 bit Vista or Win 7. I honestly don't know if the Mhz/Ghz ratings have any meaning at all in that environment. Doesn't matter. People sell 'em that way, and other people buy 'em based on the idyllic clock speeds.

Sorry, I can't call it "stable." Not when I know for a fact it's been booby trapped by MicroSwift.

Like I said, NO REASON they can't do that -- except they'd have to get all the manufactures in line on every model of PC sold in the world! Big parts of the kernel are written by the manufacturers and/or communicate with the BIOS in idiosyncratic ways. There's only a few thousand different models on the market. No biggie. Hahahahahaha... So? They could do it moving forward, right? Just withhold your OS from companies that don't toe the line with port assignments, IRQs, stack behavior, on and on and on... Cept that's no way to get rich, withholding product from customers, and for what? The end user is going to want to d/l and run programs off the internet anyhow, and they're more than happy to blame MS when THAT goes blewy. (That's NOT what I mean by hack-proof browser. I just mean it should be impossible to gain control of end user's computer when he clicks on hypertext links. If end user ignores the (now customary -- not always so!) warnings about running a new program, then there's no protection.)

For this to happen on a regular PC, there'd have to be near universal understanding among users that it can be done, and a huge clamor -- riots in the streets, almost. It might cut MS profits in half for a short period ... probly a year or so. People prefer being lied to.

Now Apple actually HAS that level of control over programs and manufacturers! I can only speculate they also got their visits from various gov agencies. Linux has no profit motive. They're just struggling to keep up with a lion's share of the PC models.

Now a Chrome browser -- in a Chrome OS -- specifically on a Chromebook -- is veeeeeeery close to hack proof. They won a recent contest where Windows, Mac and Linux were all compromised within minutes, but Chrome OS was untouched. But then two days later some hacker came up with an "exploit." They paid him $60K for his trouble. He could have gotten much, much more by selling to the highest government bidder.

Google Offers $3.14159 Million In Total Rewards For Chrome OS Hacking Contest - Forbes

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/chromebook-central/OIz1itbxNbY

Note he was NOT able to gain "control" of a chromebook, but they judged the threat to be "serious." Also, he was exploiting Java code in an add-on to the browser. Java is "cross platform" by definition ... so there ya go.

Huh? I suspect it's exactly whatever kind of ware MS chooses to specify in the TOS, counselor.

Yeah. I have a Linux lapie in the bedroom connected to my ad hoc network, so I can occassionally surf the net in bed. Use it mostly as a fancy DVD player (17" screen!) / note taker / Solitaire / whatever. Even wrote a script to fix a deficiency in the DVD software UI, and also to remap the keyboard when heat snuffed out some of the keys.

Thing is, Linux users really think they're programming when they write those scripts, which is pretty funny.

I just paid $45 for a parts only Inspiron E1505 on eBay. Really pretty little thing, with nice specs. I'd like to set it up with 2 gigs of RAM and a boot from a 32GB thumb drive. Should be blazing fast -- if it works. From seller's description I think thee's a 50/50 chance it's just the power supply gone bad. I looked at his selling history, and the man sells comic books ... XBox games ... never any computers. It had "charging issues" then all of a sudden wouldn't boot! :duh:

Rick

Fringe Reception · Oct 27, 2013

I am concerned about the pending end of support for XP for those who cannot afford to upgrade at this time especially with the dramatic leap in health insurance costs slamming individuals and businesses.

I also know for certain many financially stressed Public School Districts including Seattle use XP-Pro and they cannot afford to update their software let alone any of their hardware (if necessary). As an example, the computer Julie uses at her school has a 2.4 gig processer and minimal RAM. Will it run Win-8X and if not, who will pay for the software and hardware updates? In this case, my concern is a security break that will expose personal information of every family who has kids in School across the Country. Every child who has a reduced pay account or a free lunch account, has the parent's financial data in their data systems.

My second computer was a 286 running Windows 3.11 and I didn't have a clue about computers back then but I was told it should not have been able to run that OS, so someone must have sprinkled pixie-dust on it. Worked for meee -- and I retired my typewriter. I still have it -- wanna buy it?

Jim :becky:

Rickideemus · Oct 28, 2013

Fringe Reception said:

Jim, please read up on the complete reorganization of Microsoft, although I'm sure much of that will depend on who they choose as Ballmer's successor. Honest to gawd it really looks like they're giving up on protecting their OS software. Read this from eBay (they should know):
How to Buy Windows 7 on eBay | eBay

In particular: "The "Windows Genuine Advantage" program, started with Windows XP, is still used to verify Windows software in Windows 7. In Windows 7, it has been renamed to "Windows Activation Technology." ... Microsoft has said that users are not legally required to run the validator program. However, several of Microsoft's products do not work on systems that have not been validated. This includes upgrades and bug fixes that are not deemed critical. Essentially, Microsoft does not provide much support on systems that do not run the validator. Security patches and critical bug fixes are available to all systems, even those that fail the validator. [Emphasis added by Rickledickle]

Jim, there are THOUSANDS of used computers under $200 available right now on eBay advertising "Windows 7 SP1 installed with all necessary drivers." There is no way these sales are profitable with valid Win 7 product keys (~$90 a shot for the upgrade from Vista). In fact, I've contacted some of these sellers -- top rated sellers with thousands of 5 star ratings -- and the attitude seems to be: 1) nobody knows if Microsoft will ever update Win 7, 2) they've already stated there will never be an SP2 for 7, 3) It's already more secure (not to mention faster even on primitive hardware) than XP or Vista, 4) Nobody knows if these key-less Win 7s are legal, and 5) you can upgrade one (1) copy of XP Pro to an infinite number of Win 7 (Ultimate, I think, not sure) that can be sold over and over, and still get critical updates from Microsoft.

I told you that the whole legal edifice underlying copyright is crumbling. We're witnessing it right before our eyes. I think Ballmer has given up the ghost. He's complained many times in the past that GPL licensing ala Linux is a "cancer" on intellectual property rights. He's leaving a little "gift" as he retires. Nobody knows what his successor might do about it.

I'm saying that Julie's district can hire someone to update all their computers from XP Pro to Vista Business to Windows 7 -- in that order. There are videos on YouTube showing how to do this with nothing but an internet connection -- no disk, no product key. You don't want Windows 8 unless you have Windows tablet computers. Windows 8 sucks dead dogs.

Now, there may be a push back against this from school administrators, cause technically I think it's illegal, though IANAL. I do know one thing for sure: they can't throw EVERYONE in jail!!

Hell, it's nice to be concerned. I'm concerned too. Anyone willing to pay something like 5 cents per child (might be down to 2 or 3 cents now) can get every bit of information in any database on any computer that ever was connected to the internet -- and nowadays, that's all of them. Moreover, when you sign up for ObamaCaries, you are required to divulge extremely personal health and financial information on a system described by web designers as a security nightmare. The information passes directly through the hands of people given no security checks, and in fact, HHS officials have confirmed that convicted felons and identity thieves could serve as ObamaCanker 'Navigators' or 'Assisters.'

"Unreasonable search and seizure" -- an antique phrase, devoid of all meaning in the 21st century.

Rick

Rickideemus · Oct 30, 2013

Fringe Reception said:

One more thought about that. What you do, once you get working copies of Windows 7 running (or whichever OS is preferred), is make several disk images of the setup -- at least one for each model of PC in the network -- and make sure everyone is on a strict backup plan. Then you can reassemble the network even in the event of a massive hardware failure (e.g. a lightning strike). Like I said, you really need a professional to oversee the whole operation. "Internal" memos within Microsoft leave the question of any support, for any Microsoft software product, wide open to debate.

I know this is a lot to digest, but it had to happen sooner or later. Windows is just an operating system, and they've been milking it for a long time on nothing but smoke and mirrors.

Rick

Rickideemus · Nov 2, 2013

Thought I'd post a link to another laptop I just purchased. IBM ThinkPad R400 Core2Duo P8600 2 4 GHz 2 GB RAM 160 GB HDD Vista Laptop | eBay

So I officially have WAY too many computers, now. Eight (possibly nine) altogether that still boot. Two are antiques that make strange noises. Two others share an old monitor, cause inverter broke on the R51 Thinkpad. One I'm giving to my brother (just have to update the OS for him)... So three (and possibly 4, if I can fix the E1505) "serious" computers remaining altogether.

I think a got a pretty good deal. Shipping was $19.88 so five year old technology for under $100. Ancient by today's standards, but still ...

R.

Fringe Reception · Nov 2, 2013

Rickideemus said:

Ricki,

For a laugh, add this to your gift to him:

PC USB Thumb Drive Prank | VIPs Save 10% & Free Shipping - PrankPlace.com

Jim

Rickideemus · Nov 2, 2013

Fringe Reception said:

You gotta be kidding. For $36 the joke would be on me. If I wanted to do something like that I'd just stick a little program in one of the 50 registry entries that run a program on startup. Cost to me = $0.00, and you don't get rid of it just by removing a thumb drive. AutoHotKey or AutoIt are good languages for silliness like that. I could password protect it ... change all the keys ... anything you can imagine.

Knowing my brother, he'd say "Oops, guess it's busted," and give it one of his homeless buddies.

R.

Fringe Reception · Nov 3, 2013

Ricki,

I had a hunch you would have a 'work-around'. :thumb:

Jim

Rickideemus · Nov 4, 2013

Another Hot Thinkpad Deal?

I can't justify buying another R400, so for my friends on DTVUF ...
Lenovo ThinkPad R400 | eBay

One thing to note is this almost surely does not have a valid Windows sticker on it ("...most if not all updates...") as mine does. However, in light of the discussion above, this is no longer worth $20 to $30 on a used computer. Worth maybe $6 or $7, IMO. This R400 also has twice as much memory as the one I bought, which is good because 4 GB is about the minimum you need to take advantage of the 64 bit OS installed. A 64 bit OS can choke on 2 GB. 32 bits is good for skin flints like me. :embarrassed:

Another attraction is the nice assortment of software included, most of which is free stuff, but WinDVD can set you back a few pennies. Here again, I wouldn't expect a valid license, but I don't think the FBI will come knocking on your door with a warrant.

The integrated GPU is not as good as the top dedicated models, but with the blazing DDR3 RAM it's one of the better ones, e.g. it's able to play blu rays. The screen resolution is another thing to consider -- it's not mentioned in the ad -- but all in all, this could easily turn out to be better than the nice deal I got. Hard to believe, but the last one this guy sold went for the minimum bid price -- and he recently cut shipping from $19+ to $5+. Meanwhile, I see R400s for parts only and no hard drive going for $129 every other day. That price makes more sense to me, but I guess the market has been flooded with R400s recently.

So this is just a heads up. If you happen to be in the market for an older laptop, I'd watch it tonight unless the bidding goes over $100 or so. Obviously, it's your money and I take no responsibility yadayadayada. Don't know this guy from Adam. Conventional wisdom says you shouldn't look at anything less than an i3 nowadays, but unless you're into some very graphics intensive games, I don't see the point.

Rick

Edit: One hour to go on this. There's one bidder now, so will be gone at 6:47 PST = 8:47 CST. Don't bid more than what you want to pay.

Edit #2: It's all over. Laptop went for $117.51 + $5.60 Shipping, so you don't have to feel too badly if you passed it over. Still, I think if he'd started the bidding at $119, he would have gotten $129 for it. Possibly more. As I mentioned, I've seen several go for $129 as "parts and repair only -- as is." Should really be $169 for a working system with these specs, IMO. A year from now, they will still be going for well over $100, unless the apocalypse comes.

I was not a bidder. Didn't know the seller. There are thousands of incredible deals on eBay every day. Right now that's especially true in the PC market because of all the uncertainty at Microsoft. I won't try to guide you through the whole mess.

Rickideemus · Nov 5, 2013

OK, this is really crazy. Four hours later, basically the same computer, a little less memory, a little bigger hard drive:
Great Bargain Custom Lenovo R400 Windows 7 Professional and Office 2010 | eBay

So at 6:47 PM PST we have a laptop going for $123.11 incl. S&H,
and at 10:37 PM PST on the very same night we have the same laptop going for $260.00 incl. S&H.

I rest my case.

Rickideemus · Dec 23, 2013

A belated update:

The used R400 I bought in post #12 had a black screen when I turned it on. Bad inverter, or connections thereto. Instead of taking a full refund, I offered to settle for a partial $55 refund from the seller -- and kept the computer. I then pulled open the display and managed to ruin the inverter connector (it's a strange connector). Rather than get a soldering iron, and mess it up even worse, I waited for a good deal on a compatible R/S/T 400 or 500 with everything working except the HD and power supply. Got a deal on that for just under $59. Slipped out the HD on the first one (just one screw) and stuck it the new one. Works like a champ -- very, very speedy. So total cost to me was still under $100 plus I have the first R400, hanging together by a thread, which I could sell for parts on eBay for at least $25 + S&H.

Oh yeah, on that "$45 for a parts only Inspiron E1505" I mentioned at end of post #8, when it got to me there was no problem with the power supply. It just had ZERO memory installed. Maybe somebody in the family decided they wanted the memory for their own computer, or maybe they just wanted dad to buy a NEW computer faster than the E1505. I got 2 gigs of compatible memory (under $10, used), slapped it in there, and it booted up on the second try (whew!). So total price on the E1505 was $55.

Total price on three very nice laptops, including the R400, which is only 4 year old technology, and very fast, hi res, good battery, with 3 gigs of RAM: $199 including shipping and handling.

One is XP Pro, the other two are Vista Business. I intend to upgrade one of the Vista machines to Windows 7 for free on the internet. Whadda country. :becky:

Anyone looking for a deal on a used laptop now would be well advised to wait til the second week in January -- after the Consumer Electronics Show. I would start sniffing around eBay then, but it sometimes takes another week for prices to collapse. You won't have to worry about competing with me in the bidding. Got enough computers

Rick

Hot Deal: XP Computers for a Song

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KrissB

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