Laptops

Why a used business machine beats a cheap new one

This is the core argument of the category, and it is worth explaining because it is not obvious.

The Dell, Lenovo and HP machines here are not consumer models. They are business ranges bought by companies, used in offices for three or four years and returned at the end of a lease.

That means three things. They were built to last — metal chassis, better keyboards, designed for daily transport. They lived in an office, not on a beach or in a child’s room. And they are repairable: memory and drives can be changed, spare parts are plentiful.

In practice, a four-year-old business laptop works better and lasts longer than a cheap new machine at the same price — one with a plastic chassis, a slow drive and memory soldered to the board.

Who it is for — and who it is not for

Ideal for: an office, accounts, a student, remote work, a second machine, equipping a business across several desks. That is, for Office, a browser, email, accounting and study — which is 90% of what a laptop is used for.

Not for: serious gaming, video editing, 3D design. Business office machines do not have a powerful graphics card — they were not designed for it. If you need that, ask us first.

And for businesses there is one more advantage: for the same money you equip two or three workstations instead of one, with identical models — which means identical maintenance and interchangeable parts.

What to check and what to ask

The battery is a consumable. The most important and most misunderstood point. In a used laptop the battery has already degraded — it may hold an hour rather than six. Ask us about the condition of the specific battery before buying, and if runtime is critical to you, budget for a battery replacement.

Operating system. Ask us what is included and in what state the machine is delivered.

Cosmetic condition. A machine that worked for years has marks of use — scratches on the lid, polished keys. On some products you will see a condition grade, such as Grade A, as supplied to us; on others there is none, and that does not mean worse condition — simply that no grading was given. If appearance matters to you, ask us about the specific unit.

Upgrading. Most accept more memory and a larger drive. It is the cheapest speed increase there is.

Warranty and rights

On 210 of the 221 laptops we provide a 6-month functional warranty from us, in addition to your statutory consumer rights regarding defects.

And because you are buying at a distance, the 14-day right of withdrawal applies — you may return the product without giving a reason, under the terms applicable to distance sales.

If you are in any doubt about whether a particular machine covers what you want to do, ask us before ordering. It is faster than a return.

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