If you’ll take a moment to think back to the late nineties, do you remember how prohibitively expensive laptops were back then? A cheap laptop was unheard of. A new one would run you in the two thousand dollar range while even a used one would cost about a grand.

These days you can find a good rig in every price range, from a hundred bucks to a few grand. It’s all a matter of what you need, and knowing where to look for it.

With that in mind, here’s where to look for it…

Computer Sales

This one is quite obvious. The people who sell computers are always slashing prices simply because everyone’s making laptops these days, but only a few really hog up all the sales. So the end result is a ton of great computers rotting on store shelves because they didn’t have as strong a marketing campaign as their competition.

Geek Buddies

We’ve all got at least one buddy who absolutely must have the latest stuff. They trade their car in on a bi-annual basis, they keep moving to a slightly bigger apartment whenever their lease is up, and they’re always sporting a new laptop. Next time they’re ready to upgrade, let them know that you’ll buy their computer for less than you’d usually pay for it used, but more than they could ever hope to get on a trade in. You both win.

Used Laptops

Just be careful going this route. Used laptops typically need a little refurbishing if you don’t know that the person who sold it to you took good care of it. You might have to spend a couple extra bucks fixing it up, so make sure you get a great deal. Just buy through reliable resources. The want ads MIGHT get you a great deal, but they’re not exactly the best around when it comes to the matter of accountability.

Get’em Online

You want to give each laptop a test run in person to see how it runs, to see how the touchpad and keypad feel, but you should do your actual buying online, as you can always shop around and get better deals with the whole industry at your fingertips than you can when you’re restricted to just the computer stores in driving distance.

“Gently Outdated”

They’re always putting out something newer and fancier. This doesn’t mean the old ones are no good, just that the old ones are cheaper. Keep an eye out for great laptops that are getting an overhaul from the manufacturer in the near future. When the new model comes out, snatch up the old one.

Andrew Johnson is an expert in computer consumables. If you would like more information about types of cheap laptop or are searching for a trusted computer retailer please visit http://www.ebuyer.com