Are Refurb Computers Any Good?

 If you are like me, you've been intrigued by advertisements for refurbished computers.  If you are looking for a truly affordable PC, it is almost impossible to find a brand new machine for less than $150.  Most entry level machines start at $279.  There seems to be a conspiracy afoot when it comes to PC prices.  The one low price alternative that is still available to common people is the refurbished PC.  Prices for refurbished computers start as low as $99 at common outlets like Sears.com and Microcenter.

Of course refurb machines aren't like brand-name computers.  They often come in plain brown boxes and they have limited warrantees.

I recently took the plunge and bought a refurbished HP desktop machine from Microcenter.com.  

It had a dual core Intel processor, 2GB of RAM, and Windows 7 for only $139.  It was still a lot of money, but we felt we need to get a Windows machine back in our home.

For more information, you can read a complete review of our buying experience and our new refurb PC:

Personal Computer Review:  HP DC7900 Refurbished Desktop Computer from Microcenter.

I would recommend looking for a Windows 7 machine as Windows XP will soon be out of Microsoft support.  Here are some affordable refurb computers offers, check them out: