The secondary electronics market is always favorably distinguished by eye-catching price tags. The nuances of the operation of this or that device are stored only by history, the seller is unlikely to share them. When buying a used device, you need to come prepared in advance. Knowing what to look for during the exam can help keep yourself from disappointment.
It is not worth spending a lot of time asking the seller about the reason for the sale. Believe me, if a person is eager to sell a laptop, the reason will be voiced exactly by the one that cannot arouse suspicion in advance. In most cases, the owner of the laptop will claim to have received a new one or bought a more powerful computer.
Most often, the future owner forgets to check the performance of wireless interfaces, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as USB connectors. A flash drive and a smartphone, prepared in advance, will come in handy.
The thing in a laptop is not paramount, but the first acquaintance with a gadget begins with its inspection for defects. The worn area of the touchpad can only tell about the time and frequency of use of the laptop. Attention should be directed not to micro-scratches on the case of the device, their presence, even with careful use, is quite understandable, but to traces of opening. For any major repairs, disassembling the laptop is indispensable, and if the owner claims that there were no breakdowns, the absence of several bolts on the lid, or their licked notches may give reason to think differently.
When examining, pay special attention to the laptop hinges: the lid should close tightly, without emitting any creaks when you change the tilt. Any swaying on the sides is excluded.
The keyboard wave will indicate the opening of the device. The keys themselves must be pressed with the same resistance and be on the same level. After switching on, their performance must be checked in any text editor: you will quickly find out if all the keys work.
After switching on, you need to check the performance of the components hidden under the case - this is a hard drive and a video card.
To check the HDD, use the Hard Disk Sentinel utility, its installation file downloaded from the official site can be brought with you in advance on a USB flash drive.
It is better to check the video card in a practical way by running any modern game for a few minutes. Stripes on the screen and any other artifacts in the image will indicate the need to continue searching for the laptop.
- While you are testing hardware, looking at the operation of the operating system as a whole, pay attention to how hot its case heats up, how quickly the battery loses its charge.
- A dishonest seller will rush during inspection and testing of a laptop, citing a lack of time: such behavior should immediately alert and be a reason for a more detailed study of the device's performance.
- Never agree to a meeting outside the home: in a cafe, on the street. Unclean sellers can make you the owner of a stolen or pre-faulty laptop. There are malfunctions that occur from time to time, called "floating", and it is they that make the seller do not give enough time for testing.
