Advice on used Laptops? (work, camera, sell, buy)

[10,000Lakes]

Is it worth it to buy a used one? Or should be just buy new? We just need a laptop for my hubby's deployment coming up. We'd like it haev a camera on it in the slight chance he's in an interent zone and we can Skype. But mostly I guess he'd use it for work, and watching movies on his spare time. When he's home he really won't use it much since we have a home computer. What would you advise?

[Tek_Freek]

Used is okay if you know the source and trust them. Avoid places like eBay like the plague!

Price has to enter into it. Don't pay $300 for a used laptop when you can get a new one for not much more. Also keep in mind that a new laptop will be more powerful than used.

Perhaps buy a new one with the idea of selling it as used when he returns?

BTW, Tell him thanks, will you? We are all very proud of those who serve.

[scarmig]

Unless your hubby likes to tinker with computers, and is capable of tinkering with a laptop, I would get a new one. I've seen too many used laptops that just have a few things wrong that make them very frustrating to use. In his situation, you don't want the extra stress spending a bit more can alleviate.