From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Fri Jul 10 16:54:39 2009 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 2F097106564A for ; Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:54:39 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from corky1951@comcast.net) Received: from QMTA04.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net (qmta04.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net [76.96.30.40]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 0FA708FC13 for ; Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:54:38 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from corky1951@comcast.net) Received: from OMTA09.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net ([76.96.30.20]) by QMTA04.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net with comcast id EG4n1c02i0S2fkCA4Gufee; Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:54:39 +0000 Received: from comcast.net ([98.203.142.76]) by OMTA09.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net with comcast id EGuc1c00H1f6R9u8VGud5y; Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:54:38 +0000 Received: by comcast.net (sSMTP sendmail emulation); Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:54:35 -0700 Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:54:35 -0700 From: Charlie Kester To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Message-ID: <20090710165435.GB75160@comcast.net> Mail-Followup-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org References: <200907100703.n6A73MFx058873@banyan.cs.ait.ac.th> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: X-Mailer: Mutt 1.5.20 X-Composer: VIM 7.2 User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.20 (2009-06-14) Subject: Re: Advise for buying a Refurbished machine X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:54:39 -0000 On Fri 10 Jul 2009 at 07:10:20 PDT Wojciech Puchar wrote: >>You have to ponder the fact that notebook are always fragile machines: >> >>- they are moved around often, so more subject to miss handeling (a >> notebook is more likely to fall from your lap than a desktop is >> likely to fall from your desk) >> >>- they are compact, less ventilation, more subject to over heating => >> component aging faster >> >>- they use smaller components, so less robusts > >And the newer notebook is - the more cheaply it's made.. If you have >old and new laptop, most probably new one will break first ;) In my experience, electronic parts fail within a year of manufacture if they're going to fail at all. Heat-related problems are mainly of two kinds: bad solder joints and parts that are drawing more current than they're spec'd to do. Both kinds of problems usually shake out in the first year. Mechanical problems, otoh, are the bane of portable devices. If I were buying a used notebook, I'd take a close look at the hinges, switches, keyboard and any other moving parts. I'd factor in the cost of a new harddrive as it's very likely to need one -- if not now, soon. I've also had numerous problems with the sockets for the AC adaptor plug. I think that design was intended for stationary devices, not devices that you're holding on your lap and moving around a lot while they're plugged in. (Not to mention tripping over the cord!) After a while they seem to come loose and the plug no longer makes good contact. In one case, I had to open up the machine and resolder the socket to the board.