Refurb Win 7 Laptop or New Win 8 Laptop w/Classic Shell?

[Mendoza]

I have been meaning to get a laptop to have some mobile computing capacity for a while now and am ready to bite, but I have one problem.

Windows 8. Most stores are only selling new laptops with this preinstalled. From what little i have seen of it and used on the display models, I don't think i want any part of this.

I'm pretty much stuck buying from Best Buy on this one so i can finance the machine, I am an educator after all.

I discovered that best buy only carries Win 7 machines as online only, and all are refurbs for the most part. The couple that are new are not available in my area.

The prices between the decent new machines and decent refurbs are about the same.

I've never bought a refurb computer before so im a bit apprehensive.

A lot of people seem to have success with Classic shell, but part of me just wants 7 cause its what i use at work and at home. I like it, and i see no reason to go to a new OS just cause microsoft made some arbitrary decision to pander to the tablet market.

What would you do?

[irixith]

Buy laptop, burn recovery discs, format, install Windows 7.

[Mendoza]

Buy laptop, burn recovery discs, format, install Windows 7.

Buying windows 7 would add too much to the price at this point.

[Ziggy]

Just a suggestion, but NewEgg has a nice 6 or 12 month finance option (if you get approved). They also have refurbished items. Though I don't know if they have refurbished laptops specifically, I do see lots of refurbished items when browsing. They're also more likely to have old stock over a Best Buy store, so you might even be able to get a new Win 7 laptop.

As far as buying refurbished PCs, I have in the past, but maybe it's easier for me since I went to a trade school for computer repair. It kinda takes the "what if something goes wrong" worry away.

That being said, if buying something refurbished, always pay attention to where it's coming from and what warranties come with it. You can get refurbished PCs from manufactures (like Dell or HP) or from established third party companies. On the other hand, a guy like me can run a small business refurbishing PCs out of my garage.

The one thing I would worry most about buying a refurbished laptop would be the hard drive. Take for example, my sister, whose laptop currently needs a new hard drive. Apparently she didn't know it was bad to be slamming the thing around while it's powered on, and didn't take enough care not to have it drop off a table onto the floor. I'm guessing that's why she needs a new hard drive in the ~2 years she's owned the laptop.

So yeah, just make sure you check out the seller if buying a refurbished laptop. Some one competent would take it apart and clean it, run multiple diagnostic tests and give you at least a 90 day warranty, possibly even the option to purchase an extended warranty. Some one else could just do a fresh OS install and slap a price tag on it.

As for 7 versus 8, I can't help ya there. I haven't used 8 yet, nor have I seen it in person. However, from what I've heard, it's not bad at all. If you do get a Win 8 laptop, and after a month or so decide you would really much rather have 7, you could always downgrade. You can get a legit OEM copy of 7 Home Premium for $100. So, that's an option to consider.

[Mendoza]

Just a suggestion, but NewEgg has a nice 6 or 12 month finance option (if you get approved). They also have refurbished items. Though I don't know if they have refurbished laptops specifically, I do see lots of refurbished items when browsing. They're also more likely to have old stock over a Best Buy store, so you might even be able to get a new Win 7 laptop.

As far as buying refurbished PCs, I have in the past, but maybe it's easier for me since I went to a trade school for computer repair. It kinda takes the "what if something goes wrong" worry away.

That being said, if buying something refurbished, always pay attention to where it's coming from and what warranties come with it. You can get refurbished PCs from manufactures (like Dell or HP) or from established third party companies. On the other hand, a guy like me can run a small business refurbishing PCs out of my garage.

The one thing I would worry most about buying a refurbished laptop would be the hard drive. Take for example, my sister, whose laptop currently needs a new hard drive. Apparently she didn't know it was bad to be slamming the thing around while it's powered on, and didn't take enough care not to have it drop off a table onto the floor. I'm guessing that's why she needs a new hard drive in the ~2 years she's owned the laptop.

So yeah, just make sure you check out the seller if buying a refurbished laptop. Some one competent would take it apart and clean it, run multiple diagnostic tests and give you at least a 90 day warranty, possibly even the option to purchase an extended warranty. Some one else could just do a fresh OS install and slap a price tag on it.

As for 7 versus 8, I can't help ya there. I haven't used 8 yet, nor have I seen it in person. However, from what I've heard, it's not bad at all. If you do get a Win 8 laptop, and after a month or so decide you would really much rather have 7, you could always downgrade. You can get a legit OEM copy of 7 Home Premium for $100. So, that's an option to consider.

It says qeeksqud refurbished on the best buy site, so you can imagine why i might take pause. I'm not sure if my 60 day return policy as a rewards silver member still counts on refurbs.

Ill check out newegg.

[irixith]

Buy laptop, burn recovery discs, format, install Windows 7.

Buying windows 7 would add too much to the price at this point.

Surely as an educator you have access to MSDNAA through your institution? That would take care of your Windows 7 needs at no cost to you. If you're looking at refurbs, there should still be quite a few refurbs/clearance units hanging around with Windows 7 on them still.

Why don't you head into your local best buy and spend a while familiarizing yourself with 8? It's much easier if you get a device with a touchscreen to jump in with both feet, but it's not as difficult as people might make it sound either.

[Stark]

Buy laptop, burn recovery discs, format, install Windows 7.

Buying windows 7 would add too much to the price at this point.

IIRC (which I really think I do), you can install Windows 7 if you have a license for Windows 8.

My recommendation would be to buy the new lappy and try out Windows 8. Maybe it grows on you and if it doesn't you have the above option that Irixith mentions.
EDIT: Apparently not.

[deathsled]

I really don't get all the Win8 hate. Sure it looks a little different but it's still Windows and does the same stuff. Some things it actually does way better.

[isiolia]

Buying windows 7 would add too much to the price at this point.

IIRC (which I really think I do), you can install Windows 7 if you have a license for Windows 8.
[/quote]

Some licenses will allow you to do this, yes. Just make sure it's one of those.

I don't think we're yet at the point where any hardware doesn't still have Windows 7 drivers.

Though, I'd echo the sentiment to just try 8. I started running it on my main PC at home when I upgraded, to become more familiar with it. If you ignore the Windows 8 Style/Metro/whatever apps, and minimize your interaction with the Start screen, most of it is pretty much the same as 7. Some things a little better, some things more limited or subjectively worse.

If you limit yourself to devices with 7 preinstalled, you'll probably end up with something slightly older.

[Hobie-wan]

I really don't get all the Win8 hate. Sure it looks a little different but it's still Windows and does the same stuff. Some things it actually does way better.

It's ugly, hides configuration tools, randomly hides stuff just because you haven't used it in a week, has hidden hot spots that you have to know about, then wait for something to pop up to get things done, and is terrible for getting actual work done on. I dread the day I have to walk some person on the phone who can barely use a computer through hovering over invisible shit on the screen just so they can tell me they can't see the thing I need them to do because the OS has decided to hide it.