Purchasing Compaq used and refurbished equipment is a great way to stretch your business dollars. Always keep in mind that you need to figure the price of a good warranty into the total purchasing cost. Make sure that you are ordering your Compaq used parts, accessories or computers from a reputable source that offers an excellent warranty plan with a reputable third-party warranty provider or the the original manufacturer.

The following approaches will help you determine what to expect for Compaq used and refurbished pricing and costs:

1. Shrink your bottom line by purchasing a refurbished Compaq laptop.
2. Order Compaq refurbished computers for your office.
3. Fix up your Compaq computers for less with used Compaq parts.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find refurbished Compaq laptops for under $500

You can find some great deals on refurbished Compaq laptops online. Make sure that you compare the cost of your refurbished laptop with the cost of that same laptop purchased new. Some websites claim to offer excellent deals but in reality offer equipment priced much the same as new.

I recommend: Geeks.com has a rotating supply of refurbished Compaq laptops, usually priced between $400 and $500. TigerDirect has a healthy selection of laptops for between $300 and $500.

Purchase a Compaq refurbished computer for under $1000

Prices vary wildly for refurbished Compaq computers, depending primarily upon the desktop specs. There are many different HP Compaq desktops available to meet your needs--everything from sleek slimline desktops to impressive Quad-core powerhouses. If all you need is an office PC to run Quickbooks and Outlook, you can probably spend less than $300. Heavy graphics applications and architectural CAD programs will require a more powerful computer, and will therefore cost more.

I recommend: CompUSA carries refurbished Compaq computers for anywhere between $200 and $1000, including some Compaq models. The official HP Outlet Center sells certified refurbished desktops for between $300 and $1000.

Repair broken Compaq computers cheaply with used Compaq parts

When your Compaq desktops or laptops need physical repairs, keep in mind that you can save money by purchasing used Compaq parts. Certain problems lend themselves to this type of solution better than others. Refurbished laptop batteries--great. Refurbished motherboards--not so great. As long as the parts are refurbished, certified and come with a robust warranty, you can feel relatively safe in purchasing them.

I recommend: You can find almost any used Compaq parts you require at Overstock.com. Naturally, price varies depending upon the part. Laptop batteries, for example, go for under $50. The same batteries new can cost you over $100. Refurbished power adapters go for about 2/3 of new. You can find used and refurbished memory, hard drives, tape drives and optical drives at DigitalSurplus.com. They post no prices on their website, and request that you contact them at (617) 314-7616 for a quote.

Consumers believe Compaq computers are well-built and long-lived, which means you can easily find them for sale as Compaq refurbished computers. Compaq merged with Hewlett-Packard in 2001, so more recent models use the name HP Compaq computers. Some refurbished Compaq computers come with Windows XP and some come with Windows Vista. Be sure your computer has the system requirements for Windows Vista before upgrading, or plan to keep it a Windows XP machine.

Reasons to buy a Compaq refurbished computer instead of a new one include:

1. You will save money buying a refurbished Compaq computer instead of a new one;

2. You help the environment by keeping older computers from ending up in a landfill;

3. And you receive a computer restored to like-new condition.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Cut costs when you buy refurbished Compaq laptops

Compaq laptop computers are rugged and dependable. They have a lot of features packed into a small package. Many old laptops come with Windows XP, which some users prefer to Windows Vista.

I recommend: Choose from a selection of refurbished Compaq laptops or buy products as is at USA Notebook.com, Inc., where they offer the option of upgrades. Browse through a large number of used Compaq and HP laptops, mostly former corporate-lease machines, at Laptop-Advantage.

Purchase a desktop Compaq refurbished computer

Compaq desktop computers are reliable budget-end computers. Save even more money off the list price when you buy a refurbished model.

I recommend: Find refurbished Compaq desktop computers at RefurbDepot.com, where they have a 30-day return policy. Buy refurbished desktop computers at Tech for Less LLC, one of the world's largest vendors of refurbished computer equipment, peripherals and electronics. Purchase refurbished Compaq desktops without operating systems from ElectroComputerWarehouse.

Find Compaq used parts or refurbished ones for your computer

Replace a failing laptop battery or AC adapter with a new battery or a Compaq used power supply. Install a Blu-ray disk burner in your computer. Buy a docking station to increase the efficiency of your laptop.

I recommend: Search through a large selection of used and refurbished Compaq parts, including Compaq used switches, at Netstream International Inc. Search a number of categories for Compaq parts at GetPartsOnline, where they offer quality parts at low prices.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The easiest upgrade to perform on Compaq refurbished computers is upgrading the memory. Vendors that sell computer memory have instructions on installing it in your computer.
• •  If you find a laptop's touch pad hard to use, purchase a USB mouse to use with your laptop. USB mice come in wireless and corded varieties, and you can buy them wherever you buy computers and computer accessories.