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What is a refurbished Laptop
Feb
to make improvements or repairs to (something, such as a Laptop)
- They are refurbishing the used Computer.
- They sell refurbished computers.
Synonyms & Near Synonyms for refurbishing
“Refurbished” is an umbrella term referring to a used product that is re-certified or repaired for resale. But what that entails can vary greatly across different industries and individual companies. In the computer industry, refurbished products range from desktops and laptops that were sold but never taken out of the box to computers that were in use before they were returned for resale.
Another type of refurbished computer offering you might run into are off-lease computers. These are desktops and laptops purchased using a leasing agreement and then returned when the lease is over. For example, many companies lease rather than buy computers for their employees. Because the lease period is usually three or four years, off-lease computers are typically older than other refurbished computers, which may have been manufactured as little as a year ago. The equipment is typically built for business needs and may not include brands geared towards consumers, for example gaming laptops.
Who Refurbishes these computers?
Every company is different and each has their own standards of refurbishment. If you dig a bit deeper into the websites of online resellers and dealers, you’ll notice that many claim that their technicians are qualified or certified to work on a particular brand of computer. But what does that mean? Here’s what you need to know:
- Many manufacturers train technicians to work on specific machines
- Some refurbishing companies actually provide space for manufacturers to repair their own machines under warranty
- There are different levels of expertise a technician might obtain to work on your laptop
In other words, the type of refurbishment your particular machine might undergo could be very different from one place to another. Certified refurbished laptops perform better when worked on by qualified technicians. Before you buy, ask some questions about who is working on your machine and what experience they have. Often, this information is available online.
As an informed customer, you should know that there is no industry standard to identify what makes a laptop “certified refurbished”. Instead, there are a series of guidelines and processes a company may choose to undergo to make sure the buyer is getting a reliable device. Here are just a few processes that are included in the umbrella term of being certified refurbished:
- Interior space is cleaned and dusted
- Worn out parts are replaced
- Exterior is repaired or replaced
- Programs and software are updated and optimized
All certified refurbished laptops require their own tailored detailing – and it’s an art. While many companies have Standards that make sure you’re getting a high-performance computer, others simply clean and reboot and place the item for sale. Buyers are left to delve through the individual processes of each company.
What Happens to Data?
Even lightly-used machines may contain sensitive personal information and data. In order to maintain the integrity of the former user, many companies have come up with their own methods of ensuring that previous data is eliminated.
- Each machine undergoes a thorough inspection
- Any data on the machine is wiped clean by a technician
- No old data will be available to the buyer of a refurbished product
Certified refurbished laptops often look and function like new. So, what’s the difference? Often it’s just the price tag.
