Buy a cheap computer!

Buying a computer is a big decision. Anna Powell rounds up what you need to know, from the best online retailers, to how to pick up a bargain on the high street.

The hardest bit of buying a computer is choosing what you want. Or, to put it another way, the hardest part of saving money on a computer is not paying for things you don't need in the first place.

(Anyone who's ever bought a computer from Dell will know the temptation to add a bit extra here, and a bit extra there, so that before you know it you've kitted out a machine that could run Star Wars.)

Only you know what you really need. But if you're buying a laptop and baffled by all the options, a good place to start are the forums on Tom's Hardware. Read through these questions, then fill them out and post to the forum. Other readers will recommend laptops to suit you and your budget.

Once you've decided on a machine to suit you, the next thing to do is read reviews online (just Google for these) and compare prices. Always, always use a comparison engine like Google Product Search to check out prices and retailers online.

Fabulous Dabs

Dabs.com is my own favourite place to buy laptops, desktops, and computer hardware of all kinds. I don't work for Dabs - I just find them reliable, remarkably quick to deliver, and excellent value.

The secret of Dabs is that it's large enough to get bulk discounts on its stock, but (unlike more familiar names like Dixons or Currys) spends almost no money on marketing and advertising. All the savings are passed on to the customer.

Even better, Dabs has a range of reliable, own-brand computer peripherals that is essentially the Tesco Value baked beans of the computer world. Dabs's BestValue shop offers basic stock like cables, memory and keyboards at rock-bottom prices.

The stock comes from different manufacturers at different times, depending on where Dabs can source it cheapest, but it's always evaluated for quality. So if you have better things to do than research which Chinese manufacturer is shipping USB flash drives cheapest this week, let Dabs's BestValue range do the work for you.

Another way to buy computers is to check out refurbished models from retailers you trust.

Apple

'Apple' and 'bargain' aren't generally words heard in the same sentence. But if you're a Mac groupie, you can save significant amounts of money on their super-sleek laptops and desktops at Apple's refurbished product store.

The computers sold here have typically been returned by other customers or used in stores as demonstration computers. Apple check them, refurbish them, and sell them with a one-year guaranteed warranty - so you're not taking on any extra risk by buying them.

At the time of writing, deals online include £409 off a refurbished MacBook Pro 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with a 17-inch screen, down to £1,499 (a discount of 21%) and £170 off a refurbished MacBook Air 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 13.3-inch laptop, down to £879.

Incidentally, the same Apple online store has refurbished iPods (online now, an 8GB iPod Touch for £119.00, saving £46, a discount of 27%). The store also offers deals on refurbished Mac computer accessories, like keyboards and screens. There's also a Clearance department selling brand new products.

If you're a student or a university lecturer, Apple also offers you a discount of around 10% on new Macs. Check out the Apple Store for Education for details. Your university may have an in-house discount laptop scheme too - check with your computing department for details.

Dell Outlet

If you like Dell, then the Dell Outlet is the place to go to find discount Dell laptops and desktops, all with the same warranty and support as standard Dell products.

On this site, you can actually choose which kind of refurbished option you want: 'previously ordered new' for computers that have been returned unopened, 'certified refurbished' for computers done up as new, or 'scratch and dent', for machines with large physical imperfections.

The last option can be an excellent way to save money if you aren't worried about how your computer looks (And let's face it, computers aren't exactly the best-looking things in your house anyway).

High street, low prices: PC World, Currys, Comet, Argos

The high-street computer stores are struggling at the moment, and most of them have launched a 'refurbished' range, like Apple. Refurbished laptops and desktops are available online from PC World and Currys. Comet Clearance  is an Ebay-like site where you can bid on auctions for Comet stock. Argos, meanwhile, has an eBay store which sells a range of cheap laptops and accessories.

You might pick up a bargain or two here, but do compare prices on Google Product Search before buying. The high-street stores find it hard to compete with online retailers, even on refurbished prices, simply because they have so many more overheads.

If you do want to buy off the high street, it could be better to head to a local store, and bargain hard. Squeezed by the downturn and internet competitors, the computer stores will do almost anything to hunt down an elusive customer.

Top tips for haggling - once you've got the big-ticket price down as low as it'll go, ask the store if they can throw in free peripherals. And let the store sell you a warranty if it helps get the main price down; you can always cancel it afterwards.

Watch out for warranties

Naturally, once you've settled on the new computer of your dreams, don't throw money down the drain on pricey 'extended warranty' deals. Also, make sure you get the best value for money on any computer insurance. And be sure to read our tips on The True Cost of Insuring Your Computer.

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