Problem Grrrrr laptops !

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I have to admit to being somewhat hacked off with laptops

Here's the background :

Last year I got an old Dell Precision M70 off Ebay for a nice round £100. The seller (business fairly local to me that deals in Dell equipment, parts/refurbs etc) was kind enough to change the graphics card when that proved faulty within a couple of days of me collecting it.

Didn't us it much and then just after my course at CommSupport last year the graphics went again. I was given an early Xmas pressie of a new ASUS X50SL laptop so I didn't bother to do anything with the Dell. I later used the h/d from it to help out a friend whose h/d had gone down.

Started my new teaching job in January and made good use of the ASUS in class (no the college isn't very geared up with IT). Just near the end of term the ASUS packed up (no POST on boot, couldn't get into BIOS but h/d checked out ok).

I decided to get the ASUS repaired rather than return under warranty (it was quite near the end and ASUS warranty is dealt with from Holland and can be a bit of a hassle). I also decided to get the graphics fixed on the Dell at the same time so I would have a backup laptop.

I duly trekked off to London to a firm I'd found. Clearly very focussed on laptop repairs with good stocks of parts and engineers etc. Both laptops sorted and I came home. Next day the ASUS showed the same fault. Contacted the company who said their repairs were warrantied for 90 days so get it back for a look/fix. I got a new h/d for the Dell and got that going which was great.

Now last week was the Easter break and so I did not use the Dell. This week I boot it up and find it's graphics have packed up again

Rang company today to tell them and ask about the ASUS repair. ASUS needs new m/b and they can only get one from Hong Kong. This will cost £250 + vat on top of the £165 + vat already paid (which included 2Gb ram upgrade).

Dell - well they'd try to solder the repair again or if not then that may need new board too. I Googled around and a new m/b for the Dell could also be £200-£300.

So, really not sure what to do. Don't really have the money for extended repair or to buy another laptop. Really do need one for use at work (no they don't have any and won't supply).

Do I :

1) bite the bullet and pay for the repairs

2) keep the old ASUS and Dell and flog for spares/repair, buying a new laptop as reasonably as I can

3) grab another refurb from Ebay

What would you do ?

 

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flog em on ebay and grab a refurb.

 

You reckon ?

My worry is I could just open another can of worms

 

That is a risk but if you can't or don't want to buy new then I reckon its your best option.

 

I wish it wasn't cos then I would !

Yeh we're not a state or private school though; it's a private language college for foreign students and I'm not salaried just paid by the hour for hours worked so I won't get anywhere with them (they're in it as a business not for the staff ! )

Perhaps I could get some dosh if I rent the cat out as a security guard .......

 

i'm with sparky on this one. wait until you have funds (or within limit of plastic!) and get a new one with 3 year warranty.

 

I'll join the save for a new one crowd, refurbs are just asking for trouble imo.

 

in case of mother board problem, get a new laptop instead! u can get a decent laptop around 300-400 pounds.

 

I'd flog em and stick it towards a refurb.

Running a refurbed Dell Latitude E6500 from the outlet here, should have been ~£1200 but got it for £730 (iirc) in Feb '09, had Vista on it then (urk) but needed a lappy that month as we were leaving for travels. Not a bad saving and since it's one of the business models it's got a 3 year next day warranty on it (dell outlet machines come with the same warranty as the new model, at least it did then), wasn't badly specced for the time 15.4" 1440x900, 2.53Ghz Core 2 Duo (the low power version), 4Gb RAM, 200Gb 7200 HDD, the only downside is the rubbish speakers, but hey, can't have everything.

 

Depends on your definition of "decent" !

Having been in the trade for 12+ years, I'm fussy !

 

Well it looks like it's gonna be fleabay to get rid of both and use the money from that towards a refurb.

I don't have the money for new after 20 month sof unemployment and I'm not even earning a third of what I used to now I am back at work.

My whole teaching courses are based around me having a laptop to use and I'd rather work the way I want than have to compromise on that.

Seems like there's a few reasonable IT sellers offering some warranty on refurbs so I'll just have to give it a go and cross fingers !

Thanks for the advice folks !