Refurbished Laptops with Linux Lite preinstalled

[Valtam]

The idea here is to get laptops out to people at a reasonable price with Linux Lite preinstalled and configured.

What people will get:

A low to high end range refurbished laptop
Linux Lite preinstalled and set up with your user details (submitted via an order form)
All updates and drivers installed - nothing to set up, unbox it, start using it straight away
90 day warranty
There will be 3 models available: low end, mid range, high end

Typical specifications start at:

Model A: (low end)
Processor    Intel Core2 Duo @ 2.0GHz
Memory    2GB Ram
Hard Drive    80GB 5400rpm SATA
Optical Drive    Slimline DVD-RW
Wireless    802.11 A/B/G
Screen Size    14.1" LCD
Screen Resolution    1440 x 900

and go to:

Model C: (high end)
Processor    Intel Quad Core 2.5GHz
Memory    8GB Ram
Hard Drive    500GB SATA
Optical Drive    Slimline DVD-RW
Wireless    802.11 A/B/G
Screen Size    15.6" LCD
Screen Resolution    1600 x 900

This is both a way to support the project whilst helping the environment.

Assuming you wanted one of these, what would you expect to pay for either Model A & Model C?

[newtusmaximus]

Prices will be so variable from country to country.  Also shipping costs if buyer can not collect.
In the UK 13 inch or so screen, 2GB RAM, 80 GB HDD, Intel duo, wifi, DVDRW - running of charger  Maybe £60 to £80 if you are lucky

Not sure whether the extra RAM quoted a) would be necessary + b) Would give sufficient margins.  Not sure what gaming can be run on Linux - and then would it not be down to the video card with dedicated memory??

Trawling through Ebay or equivalent  for your region might be worth a look see.

[Wirezfree]

Hi Jerry,

Similar comments to newtusmaximus.
In the UK one of the cheapest options that come with any sort of warranty:
http://www.cheaplaptopcompany.co.uk/
They start at £100 @ $156 for low spec

Dave

[sysdrum]

Currently this is the spec and price point sweet spot I have found here in the USA:

Lenovo Thinkpad X201 - Refurb
CPU: Intel Core i5 560M 2.6Ghz
Memory:  4GB
Hard Drive: SAMSUNG 840 EVO 120GB
Graphics:  Intel GMA HD
Connectivity:  Gigabit Ethernet and Wireless N
Price: $345.00 USD (That includes the SSD cost)
Running: Linux Lite 2.0
I currently have placed 18 of these in homes here in the USA - I currently take no profit as I have been doing it for low income families and a non-profit here pays for them.
I use FLDT which was a project setup by a school here to deploy systems. I just did some edits to work with LL.
https://github.com/pennmanor/FLDT
I personal would have no issue setting up a USA distribution that is able to fund the Linux Lite project as I already deploy system here with the software. It would be nice to help the project as it is a global community.

Pricing:
Option A) $180.00 USD - $250.00 USD @ Cost
Option B) $345.00 USD - $400.00 USD @ Cost
Option C) $500.00 USD - $700.00 USD @ Cost

[TMG1961]

Here in The Netherlands you can get similar refurbished laptops starting at around 125 euro. But what are the costs for shipping and insurance during shipping? And have you thought about warranty? Could be a problem too if the laptop breaks down within a short period after buying.

[Monkeyman]

Currently this is the spec and price point sweet spot I have found here in the USA:

Lenovo Thinkpad X201 - Refurb
CPU: Intel Core i5 560M 2.6Ghz
Memory:  4GB
Hard Drive: SAMSUNG 840 EVO 120GB
Graphics:  Intel GMA HD
Connectivity:  Gigabit Ethernet and Wireless N

Change the brand to HP and the SSD to a 7200rpm HDD and I have the same thing (currently running Win7...sue me).  I paid $80.  It's only a 12.5" screen but it works well.  Mine was refurbished, too.  I got a great deal on it and couldn't get any more but I think $700 for a refurb is a bit much.  I could see closer to $200 for those specs with an HDD, maybe $300 with an SSD.  I'd say closer to $125-150 for the low end but I'm cheap.

[sysdrum]

[quote author=sysdrum link=topic=1204.msg7483#msg7483 date=1416914711]
Currently this is the spec and price point sweet spot I have found here in the USA:

Lenovo Thinkpad X201 - Refurb
CPU: Intel Core i5 560M 2.6Ghz
Memory:  4GB
Hard Drive: SAMSUNG 840 EVO 120GB
Graphics:  Intel GMA HD
Connectivity:  Gigabit Ethernet and Wireless N

Change the brand to HP and the SSD to a 7200rpm HDD and I have the same thing (currently running Win7...sue me).  I paid $80.  It's only a 12.5" screen but it works well.  Mine was refurbished, too.  I got a great deal on it and couldn't get any more but I think $700 for a refurb is a bit much.  I could see closer to $200 for those specs with an HDD, maybe $300 with an SSD.  I'd say closer to $125-150 for the low end but I'm cheap.
[/quote]

The prices are low end, mid range and high end prices

Pricing:
Option A) $180.00 USD - $250.00 USD @ Cost Low End - Core 2 Duo 1.8Ghz - 2.2Ghz - 4GB Ram - 80 HDD or SAMSUNG 840 EVO 120GB

Option B) $275.00 USD - $400.00 USD @ Cost Mid Range - Intel Core i5 520M 2.4Ghz -  Intel Core i5-2520M - 4GB - SAMSUNG 840 EVO 120GB

Option C) $500.00 USD - $700.00 USD @ Cost High End - Intel Core 4th Generation i7-4510 - NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M with 1GB GDDR5 VRAM - 8GB - SAMSUNG 840 EVO 250GB

[gold_finger]

Following are just guesstimates of what I would pay for used laptops.  Generally speaking I'd be less likely to buy a higher end "used" laptop unless it were a really good deal because amount of depreciation wouldn't be significant enough to justify not spending a bit more for brand new.

Model A: (low end)
Processor    Intel Core2 Duo @ 2.0GHz
Memory    2GB Ram
Hard Drive    80GB 5400rpm SATA
Optical Drive    Slimline DVD-RW
Wireless    802.11 A/B/G
Screen Size    14.1" LCD
Screen Resolution    1440 x 900

$100 - $150 max USD.

Model C: (high end)
Processor    Intel Quad Core 2.5GHz
Memory    8GB Ram
Hard Drive    500GB SATA
Optical Drive    Slimline DVD-RW
Wireless    802.11 A/B/G
Screen Size    15.6" LCD
Screen Resolution    1600 x 900

$350 - $450 max USD depending on which processor was in it.

[sysdrum]

Following are just guesstimates of what I would pay for used laptops.  Generally speaking I'd be less likely to buy a higher end "used" laptop unless it were a really good deal because amount of depreciation wouldn't be significant enough to justify not spending a bit more for brand new.

[quote author=Jerry link=topic=1204.msg7475#msg7475 date=1416911138]
Model A: (low end)
Processor    Intel Core2 Duo @ 2.0GHz
Memory    2GB Ram
Hard Drive    80GB 5400rpm SATA
Optical Drive    Slimline DVD-RW
Wireless    802.11 A/B/G
Screen Size    14.1" LCD
Screen Resolution    1440 x 900

$100 - $150 max USD.

Model C: (high end)
Processor    Intel Quad Core 2.5GHz
Memory    8GB Ram
Hard Drive    500GB SATA
Optical Drive    Slimline DVD-RW
Wireless    802.11 A/B/G
Screen Size    15.6" LCD
Screen Resolution    1600 x 900

$350 - $450 max USD depending on which processor was in it.
[/quote]


Well when it comes to getting what you pay for at that price point holding to a 90 day warranty might be impossible. I would think that the quality of the hardware should also be held up to the standards of the software. As Linux Lite is a stable and robust solution. I know personally that if the hardware fails to meet the needs of the user that they also see the software in a negative light. I was not pricing on what I would buy as for most of you. I was looking at what would be best for the end users who would acquire "the product as a whole". I will tell you that unless you buying the hardware off the back of truck in a back alley somewhere $450 won't get you a high end laptop refurbished period. (Ebay is the back alley truck so posting things from there is pointless as a rebuttal) When acquiring systems for resale quality and quantity are important if you have to replace a system in the 90 window you will want to be able to get or have the replacement on hand quickly. If you do not build margin into the price point then where is replacement cost factored in.

[newtusmaximus]

Jerry,
are you looking to do this as a business or as a "charitable" service to  the community.  Over here "new" laptop prices are plummeting- They have OS (Windows) and add ons already installed.  So the "New" market price will determine what you can expect from reconditioned/recycled. May be luck and catch the XP fallout / hardware upgrade.

If, however, you can court IT departments of major business/corporations into the philosophy of recycling perfectly usable "old" laptops instead of putting them in landfill, and to the benefit of the wider community - PR / green credentials etc, then you might be able to acquire material very cheaply , if not free. Different ball game altogether. 

http://www.blackbarncomputers.com/  in the UK - Been around for many a year.