my laptop is an ole IBM thinkpad with really low ram but it has a decent prossesor but not he best and the hard drive is compleatly broken and crashed.
I heard you can get a 40 gig hardrive for 80$ and i know a computer tech guy and he said he could put it in and install it. but other than that how much would the parts cost?
2007-03-29 06:12:13 · 19 answers · asked by ima_applemango 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Laptops & Notebooks
buy another one. laptops from even a year ago are completely outdated.
2007-04-05 18:00:20 · answer #1 · answered by amberrr64 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. What do you need the laptop to do that it cannot right now? What do you WANT it do that it cannot right now?
2. What will it take to accomplish the goals?
3. How much will all of this cost- including installation, new software, etc.?
4. How much will a new battery cost?
5. How much will a new laptop that does what you want cost?
As a rule of thumb, if the cost for upgrading runs anywhere near about 50% of the cost of a new unit, it is better to get a new unit. Always consider adding a new battery as well if the old one is two or more years old.
For example- you need a new hard drive and RAM and the battery is OK, and it will cost you $200 installed.
You find an ad for a new laptop that does everything you want for $500. It would probably be better to upgrade.
However, if you also need a new graphics card, battery, and CD writer, then it would be better to buy new.
In some cases, it is better to buy new even if the upgrade costs are cheaper, for example:
- You want good, easy, built-in wireless access
- You need a better monitor/screen
- Parts for your computer are getting harder to find
- You want or need a new configuration (smaller, wide screen, lighter, etc.)
Parts estimator: Figure things run about $100 an item- battery, 1G RAM, video card, etc.
2007-03-29 06:24:28 · answer #2 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a Thinkpad that I got free from my work when they were getting rid of the equipment to replace it. I figured I'd just go buy a bigger hard drive and more memory and upgrade from Windows 98 to XP.
I found that I could only upgrade the memory chips a bit (256MB could go to 512MB I think it was) and the hard disks I could not even find on eBay.
I still use the unit as I bought a USB wireless network card so I could link it to my home network, but it is mainly used to look up info on the Internet and for playing card games, or in a hotel room for taking notes from meetings using an old version of Word. I can't load up anything CPU or memory intensive on it though.
In my opinion, I would try to sell the old laptop on eBay or donate it to a school or a family friend, and get yourself a new one. If the budget is an issue and your tech friend can change the memory and/or hard disk for you, then you may be able to get the older laptop to work a year or two more for you. Just odn't try to run Vista on it !
:-)
2007-03-29 06:22:25 · answer #3 · answered by SteveN 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hard to say: I'm in the same boat! I have a relatively old (but not in need of repair...yet) Thinkpad. And they're true workhorses! It's taken being dropped a few times, survived beautifully. I also have an HP, that performs quite well, but went south twice this year, once with a failed memory chip, once with overheating. I hear the new Thinkpads are wowee kazowee and about a hundred times as reliable (survivability) as others, and still workhorses, so if the time comes I *need* to upgrade, I'll go IBM. You probably need a newbie just for upgrading your USBs, like me, and for faster modem, and for more memory, and for larger hard drive, and for faster processor, and for upgraded OS, so for *all* those reasons you might do as well to upgrade now...
2007-03-29 06:21:44 · answer #4 · answered by fjpoblam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buy a new one and you will be much happier. They are not that high and when you upgrade an older one, they are just not as satisfying as a new one. The new will wear off fast on the old one.
Hey go ahead and fix it if it is still a decent machine, then take the funds from it and drop on a new one. Someone is always looking for a used laptop and will buy it if you price is well. Hope this helps you out.
2007-04-04 18:17:51 · answer #5 · answered by Rider 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you think you will eventually want to get a new processor as well I would suggest you get a new laptop. Most of the laptops are coming with either 80 or 120 gb hard drives and dual core processors. The minimum RAM installed nowadays are 512 mb going up to 2 gb.
2007-03-29 06:25:07 · answer #6 · answered by 43SamoanSteelYank43 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends on if the computer tech guy is going to load windows for you or not , that's about 100 bucks if not, then upgrade your ram , probably 50-100 bucks. Not sure what processor you have but its probably behind the times. Depends on how much and what for your gonna use it. Heavy use , get a new one , surf web and e-mail ocasionaly , probably cheaper to fix the old one.
2007-03-29 06:20:12 · answer #7 · answered by EGOman 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i recomend that you buy a new one if the laptop is more than 3 years old or doesn't have some of the capabilitiesyou want. if you just want to upgrade the hard drive or the running system, just buy the running system you want.
2007-03-29 06:16:58 · answer #8 · answered by yukarichels24 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. If your IBM meets your needs then you can get the new hard drive and be happy. Adding RAM might make you even happier!
2007-03-29 06:16:38 · answer #9 · answered by Cirric 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have a lot to get repaired, buy another one. But if it's only 2 or 3 little things, go to that computer guy.
2007-04-06 01:59:00 · answer #10 · answered by punkpuffball 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when we thought about buying a new computer, we decided on upgrading the hard drive, so that's what we did. we went to curcuit city and bought one for $80.00 and it works great. i would recomend buying a new hard drive first, and see if that works for you. the parts shouldn't be a whole lot, probably under $100.00. hope this helps.
2007-03-29 06:23:48 · answer #11 · answered by mrs. h 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋