Author Topic: LOL - Get a load of this! (Read 617 times)

Matthew · « **on:** April 26, 2007, 09:00:43 AM »

I have to vent...this is just too much!

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/sys/318916247.html

Here is the ad, in case the listing disappears:

Laptop - $250
TOSHIBA/TECRA 730XCDT//COLOR GRAY // older model in mint condition// no trash or virus//clean out

Matthew · « **Reply #1 on:** April 26, 2007, 09:04:42 AM »

Now, for my rant:

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE? Don't they understand that computers become quickly obsolete, and that "mint condition" means nothing if the computer is 15 years old?

First of all, unless you give a laptop to your 10 year old, the laptop WILL stay in mint condition. Most adults know how to wash their hands after eating french fries, etc.

Most laptops/desktops don't have to worry about physical scratches and imperfections -- they have to worry about OBSOLESCENCE!

Anyhow, this laptop is so old that it's garbage. MAYBE it's worth $15 or $20, because you could use it for a text file editor. But it barely runs Windows 95, which isn't even supported by Microsoft anymore...

I've seen LOTS of ads like this one, and this kind of ignorance is one of my pet peeves.

By the way, here are the specs for this laptop:

Intel Pentium MMX 150
256 Kb. level 2 cache
2.02 Gb. HDD
48 Mb. RAM
10 x CD-ROM
1024 x 768 TFT screen, 65536 colours
LI-ion battery
Stereo SoundBlaster compatible sound system
Internal V34 modem
IrDA wireless communication

Taken from http://www.euronet.nl/users/ernstoud/730xcdt.html

Matthew

Matthew · « **Reply #2 on:** April 26, 2007, 09:11:52 AM »

I just bought a used laptop, for $125. Here is what I got:

1.0 GHz Pentium III
256 MB RAM
20 GB hard drive
15" Active-matrix screen
ATI M4 video card with 8 MB RAM
DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive
Built-in sound card
Built-in 56K modem
Built-in NIC (Ethernet port)
2 USB (1.1) ports

I got a slightly good deal, mostly because it didn't come with a version of Windows. I installed Fedora Core 6 (Linux) so I was actually happy to give up that ONE feature ("includes Windows") to save a bit of money.

This was a decent deal, but NOT a steal. You can get a VERY good laptop for $200 or $250. If you "can't", then you need to wait until a decent seller comes along. You can get a brand-new laptop for $450, remember...

Matthew

CampeadorShin · « **Reply #3 on:** April 26, 2007, 03:02:02 PM »

Get an ethernet port and you're set!

Matthew · « **Reply #4 on:** April 26, 2007, 03:22:43 PM »

Actually, it does have one already. But we've switched to wireless around here, so I'm waiting for my Wireless B card to show up. (Wireless B is slow, but I got the card for $10, brand new, including shipping)

By the way, the reason I wanted a laptop was so that I could lower our electric bill (even further).

The laptop, screen and all, probably uses 60W, compared with a desktop & LCD monitor at 140W.

Matthew