Laptops are now the most popular type of personal computer and are essential for many people from school students to business executives. For many people, a laptop computer may be one of the most expensive purchases they make, especially as technology changes rapidly and laptops are often replaced more frequently than other consumer electronics. If on a tight budget or simply looking for a bargain, buying a refurbished laptop can be a great option.http://gizmodo.com/5075525/why-you-should-buy-a-refurbished-laptop

As with any type of computer purchase, it is important to consider how you will use the device and what your needs will be. This will help you decide what your technical requirements are, including for example whether you want a Windows PC or Mac, what screen size you will need, how much memory you’ll need, and what methods you will use for internet access. It is important to neither underestimate your needs, which could leave you frustrated with a computer that can’t cope with the demands you place on it, nor to overestimate them, which leads to needless expense and may also lead you to lugging around a device that is bigger and heavier than you need.http://www.pcworld.com/article/187748/laptop_buying_guide_selecting_the_right_laptop_for_you.htmlhttp://reviews.cnet.com/laptop-buying-guide/

Watch the Laptop Buying Guide video below or read the Mahalo guide on How to Buy a Laptop for explanations of what models are available to help you narrow down your choice. Once you have an idea of your requirements and maybe a shortlist of models, read on and learn how to buy a refurbished laptop to make significant savings on normal retail prices.

Many people are wary of refurbished technology because they don’t fully understand what “refurbished” means in practice. A "refurbished product" can mean an overstocked item or older model still in its original packing. It can also refer to an item that has been sold to a customer who opened the box and returned it, an item with mild cosmetic damage like surface scrapes or dings , or an item that has been rebuilt to repair some problem.

In fact around one in five consumer electronics items sold in the US are returned, and only about 5 percent of those are actually seriously defective. Over two-thirds of electronics returned to retailers work perfectly, and are simply not what the customer expected.http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2008/08/refurbished-e-1.html

Items that were returned to the manufacturer either with minor cosmetic problems or with more serious technical ones are fully restored to as-new working condition, re-inspected and repackaged before being offered for resale at a much lower price. Usually these refurbished products will be fully backed by the manufacturer’s warranty and will be indistinguishable from brand new products. Therefore they often represent an opportunity to buy an as-new product for a bargain price.

There are three main places where you can refurbished products. The first option is from the manufacturer. The second is to buy online from a variety of online outlets. The final option is to buy from specialist “buyout retailers”. We will now look at each of these options in turn.

As with most refurbished electronics, you can buy refurbished laptops directly from their manufacturers. This is always a good place to look, even if you later decide to purchase from another source, since the manufacturer can ensure the product is in excellent condition and will usually offer the best warranties.

Taking one example of a popular laptop manufacturer, let's look at Sony. In the US, visit Sony’s site at www.sonystyle.com, and look for the Outlet link in the Special Offers section, or the Computer Special Offers and Vaio Outlet sections within the Computer shopping area. You will see a range of products on offer, often at very good prices. If you had a particular model in mind don’t be surprised if you don’t find what you want first time, but be prepared to revisit the site a few times to see if any new deals have become available.

In other countries, you should be able to easily find the local Sony site using a search engine, and you should explore the site until you discover the relevant sections.

Once you’ve found the product you are interested in, carefully review the product specifications to make sure that it is the model you want with the specifications you were expecting. Remember, to get the very best deals you may sometimes have to go for a different or slightly older model.

Before making a commitment to buy, also review all warranty and return policy information. You want to make sure that you are getting a good deal, and that in case something is wrong when your refurbished laptop arrives, you can return it for a refund or replacement. Typically Sony should offer at least a 90 day warranty for a refurbished product, which will provide you with peace of mind against unexpected problems.

Though we've talked here about Sony, if you explore the sites of other companies such as Dell, HP or Apple, you will find similar deals on refurbished laptops.http://www.dell.com/us/en/dfh/notebooks/ct.aspx?refid=notebooks&cs=22&s=dfh

The convenience of shopping online means that you can find fantastic deals without even leaving your home. Larger online retailers like eBay and Amazon may sell refurbished items including laptops from leading manufacturers.. There are also a number of smaller companies who deal in refurbished electronics, including Overstock.com.http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/Laptops/133/subcat.html

Be aware that these usually ship to US addresses only, and typically do not ship to PO boxes or overseas military addresses such as APO/FPO addresses.

As with purchasing direct from the manufacturer's own outlet, be careful to check which model you're getting, and if you are getting everything you need. For example, a pre-owned model from some suppliers may sometimes come without an instruction manual. Likewise, check what warranty is offered and the returns policy. These sites may offer a less generous policy than manufacturers like Sony, but you should still have perhaps a 30-day period in which you can get replacements or refunds if you have problems with the product.

In general, before committing to an online purchase, do your homework, read all agreement material, and make sure you're getting the best deal.

You may be able to find refurbished laptops at large, buyout retailers. Buyout retailers often buy the overstock from large corporations for much less than the merchandise is worth, and in turn sell it to the consumer at low cost. Many of these retailers will stock refurbished electronics, like televisions, stereos, and laptops.

Retailers that may be worth checking out include refurbdepot.com, warehousedeals.com and the outlet stores of Crutchfield and Target.

As always before making any purchase be sure to check model details, specifications, warranties and return policies.