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General discussion (archive)Best way to get a(n) (almost) free laptop?(26 posts)(26 posts)
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Posted January 26, 2012
So I'm a poor college student who's parents don't have the money to pay for college or anything. I'm a computer science major and at the moment I don't have a computer (kinda sad I know.)

Now I can't really justify spending a bunch of money on one, because the computer lab computers work fine and I can get by with them, but I'm a commuter and it would be nice to have my own laptop.

Now I don't expect any freebies or anything (although if someone really wanted to hand me a laptop I'd be more than happy to take it ;) but do any of you have any ideas for where to get one at a really discounted price. I don't need anything spectacular...really I'd like one with no OS so I can install Linux Mint on it.

So...any suggestions? :)
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Posted January 26, 2012
You could always get one of the $200-$300 Dell refurbished laptops. I think they come factory-guaranteed. That's still quite a bit of money, though :P
Posted January 26, 2012
Make friends with an independent computer shop. My father's friends with the owner of one in our nearby city, and was friend of the owner of another store that this NEW owner worked for.

Failing that.... INDEPENDENT, SELLER.

There's also some programs that give free or discounted laptops to impovershed students, you just have to find them. Failing that, you're in college. Do the FASFA, there should be something left over for a laptop.
Post edited January 26, 2012 by QC
Posted January 26, 2012
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A_Future_Pilot: So I'm a poor college student who's parents don't have the money to pay for college or anything. I'm a computer science major and at the moment I don't have a computer (kinda sad I know.)

Now I can't really justify spending a bunch of money on one, because the computer lab computers work fine and I can get by with them, but I'm a commuter and it would be nice to have my own laptop.

Now I don't expect any freebies or anything (although if someone really wanted to hand me a laptop I'd be more than happy to take it ;) but do any of you have any ideas for where to get one at a really discounted price. I don't need anything spectacular...really I'd like one with no OS so I can install Linux Mint on it.

So...any suggestions? :)
Check your area for an organization like Free Geek. http://www.freegeek.org/

Wouldn't a desktop work or do you program in the quad? I mean computer lab at school plus desktop at home, does that not work (a laptop would have been a major luxury when I went to school, so maybe it doesn't cut it anymore).

As well, what do you do most of your assignments in? What IDE? What language? The power I might steer you towards will have a lot to do with your answer.
Posted January 26, 2012
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orcishgamer: Check your area for an organization like Free Geek. http://www.freegeek.org/

Wouldn't a desktop work or do you program in the quad? I mean computer lab at school plus desktop at home, does that not work (a laptop would have been a major luxury when I went to school, so maybe it doesn't cut it anymore).

As well, what do you do most of your assignments in? What IDE? What language? The power I might steer you towards will have a lot to do with your answer.
We have something like that around here. You volunteer teaching tech skills to the needy and after a certain number of hours they give you a computer. Granted it's usually not a laptop, but they do have them and it could probably be negotiated for in exchange for more hours.

I suspect that most major cities have something like this.
Posted January 26, 2012
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orcishgamer: Check your area for an organization like Free Geek. http://www.freegeek.org/

Wouldn't a desktop work or do you program in the quad? I mean computer lab at school plus desktop at home, does that not work (a laptop would have been a major luxury when I went to school, so maybe it doesn't cut it anymore).

As well, what do you do most of your assignments in? What IDE? What language? The power I might steer you towards will have a lot to do with your answer.
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hedwards: We have something like that around here. You volunteer teaching tech skills to the needy and after a certain number of hours they give you a computer. Granted it's usually not a laptop, but they do have them and it could probably be negotiated for in exchange for more hours.

I suspect that most major cities have something like this.
Future_Pilot probably needs to look for something like that. It may be that or stripping;)
Posted January 26, 2012
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orcishgamer: Future_Pilot probably needs to look for something like that. It may be that or stripping;)
As a bonus he'd get a bit of experience that could be put on the resume when applying for those first jobs out of college.

The thing that colleges don't generally do a good job of is helping students make the transition, particularly right now with the economy still on life support.

EDIT: Or selling plasma, sell a couple units and he would almost certainly have money for a used laptop.
Post edited January 26, 2012 by hedwards
Posted January 26, 2012
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orcishgamer: Future_Pilot probably needs to look for something like that. It may be that or stripping;)
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hedwards: As a bonus he'd get a bit of experience that could be put on the resume when applying for those first jobs out of college.

The thing that colleges don't generally do a good job of is helping students make the transition, particularly right now with the economy still on life support.

EDIT: Or selling plasma, sell a couple units and he would almost certainly have money for a used laptop.
Yeah, stripping is pretty good experience... har har, okay I'm done.

Yeah, if plasma is still going for 25 USD plus a pop, yeah, you can get cash for that. If he qualifies for workstudy working in the tech department (or language, they tend to have a lot of computers) might not be a bad idea.

OP, if you go the plasma route make sure to go to clean clinic and for the love of all that's good in the world don't "cheat" on the time thing, you can fuck yourself up.
Posted January 26, 2012
Have you thought about masturbating for money? I mean, selling sperm...
Posted January 27, 2012
Other than checking pawn shops, The best prices I know of is Hewlet Packard PC's. I have owned several of them and though not high performance they do the trick. You can get deals direct from them, or you can go to a GP dealer like Staples. Maybe find on on clearance. Best I can do for you.
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/store_access.do?template_type=computer_store&landing=notebooks&a1=Offers+and+new+products&v1=Top+deals&jumpid=in_R329_prodexp/hhoslp/psg/notebooks/promo_tile/1/lp_promo_tile1Special_Offer_125-6300
Posted January 27, 2012
The Dell Outlet sell returned stuff thats still new, not sure where it is on the dell site but they have some pretty hefty discounts especially on more basic stuff. Also have a google and see if your uni offers EPP codes (its kind of a dell partner program for businesses), that gives you something like 15% off and you get upgraded to enterprise level support
Posted January 27, 2012
My buddy, "Craig", has this "list" of decent used laptops for sale. Wish I could remember his website name...

; )

As mentioned, Dell refurbs can be a good deal but you gotta be quick - the inventory rolls over in short order. Check also the 'Mom and Pop'-type computer repair shops, if you have any local to you.
Posted January 27, 2012
You could also check flea markets and yard/garage sales. There's also ebay, where you could buy a really old laptop and put puppy linux on it :)
Posted January 27, 2012
Raspberry Pi.

Provided, of course, that you have a screen, a keyboard, and a power supply handy wherever you want to be. I'd recommed haunting thrift shops for a $30 CRT and a $5 keyboard. Vioia--brand new computer for under $75.

Also, an awesome system for a compsci student.
Posted January 27, 2012
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TheEnigmaticT: Raspberry Pi.

Provided, of course, that you have a screen, a keyboard, and a power supply handy wherever you want to be. I'd recommed haunting thrift shops for a $30 CRT and a $5 keyboard. Vioia--brand new computer for under $75.

Also, an awesome system for a compsci student.
Can't believe I forgot the Pi. I remember reading on their forum somewhere that it might be possible to rig an old laptop enclosure with it. You should be able to run dosbox gogs on the Raspberry Pi shouldn't you?
Post edited January 27, 2012 by CowboyBebop
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General discussion (archive)Best way to get a(n) (almost) free laptop?(26 posts)(26 posts)
(26 posts)