You probably know someone who always has to have the latest gadget.  They have the newest mobile phone (you know, the one that can check email, access the internet, and can probably even make a good cup of coffee), the fastest, newest computer, and a television as big as your car.  But is it always wise to run out and spend all that money on a brand new laptop?  Maybe not.

The main reason to spend money on a fancy new laptop is when you need a top of the range computer that can run just about any program.  If you’re not running something like AutoCAD 3D, a drafting program that uses huge amounts of memory, then you may not need the fastest, most powerful computer around.  If you’re planning to do a lot of high-graphic gaming, video editing, photo editing, or run any program that takes up a lot of processing time and memory, then a top of the range laptop is certainly something to consider.

However, if you just need a computer that can access the internet, send and receive email, and do basic word processing, then an expensive computer is not really worth it.  Sure, your computer will be fast, but you will be paying for things you don’t really need.  Top of the range laptops generally include things like DVD burners, multimedia programs, and a ton of other extras that the basic user simply won’t use.

If you’re looking for a laptop that does the basics, go with a slightly older model.  It will get the job done, and it won’t cost you nearly as much.  In fact, many of these “older” models were once top of the range, and they’ll handle just about everything the average user ever needs them to.  Many will even run graphics-intensive games and have enough memory to let you do photo and video editing as long as you don’t get overzealous and try to edit an hour-long film.  Before you buy the newest laptop, take a look at what you really need the computer to do.  You may find that you can save a lot and still get a great laptop.

Laptops are expensive, there’s no doubt about that.  In fact, some of the cheapest laptops are still more expensive than cheap desktops.  While laptops are certainly cheaper now than they were a few years ago, many people still don’t want to spend the money to purchase a new one.  Instead, they often purchase refurbished or used laptops.  There are some pluses to this, but there are also some negatives.

The main reason to buy a used laptop is, obviously, the price.  If you find the right deal, you might get your used laptop for half the price it originally cost, maybe even more if it’s an older model.  You might also have the option of buying a printer, external mouse, and carrying bag also, especially if you’re purchasing your used laptop from an individual and not from a company or store.  Getting all of those accessories for next to nothing is a great price-saver.

However, that’s about the only good thing about buying a used laptop.  Let’s face it: buying anything used is a risk.  You have no idea how hard the item was used or what kind of abuse it took.  While this doesn’t matter as much with some items, when you’re talking about a laptop, it certainly is something to take into consideration.  What if the laptop has been dropped or had something spilt on it?  Maybe it has been running slowly or has had many different viruses on it.  If the person selling you the laptop isn’t totally upfront about things like this, you may never know until the laptop stops working.

Another thing to consider is that you may not get everything that originally came with the laptop.  CDs, books, and other items get lost over time, and you often simply have to take the laptop as is, even if that means you don’t get everything.  On the flip side, the seller may leave programs installed on the laptop that you wouldn’t get otherwise.  Of course, this means you may find programs you don’t want, or you might find that the person has left personal files or other things (like their website browsing history) that you have no use for.

In the long run, it’s probably better to buy a new laptop if you can.  There’s just so much that can go wrong with buying a used laptop, especially if it’s from someone you don’t know.  Why pay good money, even if it’s just a little money, for something that could only last a few years when you can invest in a laptop you know will work?

When you find your cheap laptop buy, you might think you know exactly how much money you’ll be spending.  However, you may discover that there are other things you need to purchase for your new laptop that will impact your bank account more than you expected.

The first item you may want to purchase is a laptop mouse, especially if you don’t like using touch pads.  Laptop mice come in two types: corded and cordless.  Both generally take up one USB slot on your laptop.  Laptop mice aren’t usually that much, and while you could purchase a regular mouse to use with your cheap laptop, mice designed specifically for laptops are usually smaller and easier to fit in a bag.

Speaking of bags, you’ll want a nice bag or hard case to carry your laptop around in.  You can find some very cheap bags for laptops, but the old saying that “you get what you pay for” definitely applies here.  Cheaper bags often don’t have as many extra pockets for your laptop accessories, and some aren’t as well padded.  If you know you’ll be taking your laptop everywhere with you, you may want to invest in a laptop bag that’s going to protect your computer and take a lot of daily wear and tear.

Chances are you’ll be offered a long-term service plan or warranty along with your laptop.  On one hand, purchasing one of these can be helpful since it will save you money if your laptop breaks down later, but it can add more to your bill than you might like and it may seem like wasted money if you never need to use it.

There are a number of other items you might need to purchase with your laptop.  They include headphones, blank CDs or DVDs, or a USB hub if you will be using a lot of USB devices at once and will need more ports.  While each of these is fairly cheap individually, if you need to purchase them all at once, expect your overall bill to be a lot more than you were expecting.