Buying a new computer with $50 budget
 

Recently my laptop was broken and now I need to buy a new one. I only have a $50 budget and I'm not sure what I can buy. I have been on ebay but I'm wondering if there is anything else I can do. I need about four GB ram because I run virtual machines. I have a external device with fedora installed on it so I don't need a hard drive. What would you say is best?

A used machine in good condition? For decades, people have been instructed to throw away their perfectly functional computers, as soon as they don't support the latest release of <bloated-proprietary-operating-system> anymore.

go to ebay search tell it 50 max -- if you're where they charge tax then make it 40$ max, and look to see what they got. check to see if that laptop uses the same type of RAM ... that will do what for you?

see if it got a hdd or not, charger if no then can you use something you have.
because 40 - 50 will get you something, but I'd look to see if I can salvage some stuff off the old laptop and use on the other one I'd be getting to replace it.

as far as "what is the best?", that is a relative term when dealing with a $50 budget. and personal preference for anything else.

check it out
45 max and free shipping USA search here

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...&rt=nc&LH_FS=1

$50 isn't much, though the top item here is currently listed at $40 (plus delivery - which is inaccurate for me because I'm not in US, so can't say total price):
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...175672&_sop=15

Another option to consider is if you know anyone who works in an office (or school) that has recently upgraded - they may have perfectly good machines that will otherwise go to landfill, and will be happy for you to take them for free, instead of paying for a disposal company.

This is what I'm thinking, talk to friends and relatives to see if they have an old system you can grab.

Would also recommend that you use your judgement and really make it relatives and friends you talk to and respect. While you may get something from a friend of a friend of a friend, beware that it could be a non-working piece of junk. Gee, thanks! I wasn't asking to dispose of your trash! Just my humble opinion there.

$50 is extremely low budget. Low enough that I think if you do something like go on ebay for stuff, what you'll find are some large percentage of sales which are "for parts only". In other words, someone wants to make a final buck from their junk, or someone conscientiously cannot bring their self to throw away something that still works. But that latter variation is something I feel would be rare. Further, I think this may be at a low enough price point that there are (my pessimism) bulk buyers who are interested in obtaining old stuff in quantities and then refurbishing using cannibalism, etc, to get working full systems, where they'll try to re-sell them at prices which benefit them.

Freecycle, or equivalent, you just need to collect the items.

(I often put up spare stuff on ours, I'm in the UK though.)

I've gotten a for parts only good stuff but that was 100$ I just make sure it got actual photos of it for screen and keyboard, and look for the boots to BIOS.

one I got parts only and all it needed was a new keyboard. but you only got 50 bucks maybe save up a little more and keep checking around in the mean time.

Used Chromebooks on ebay with 4 gig of ram all day in the USA,


Have not spent over 50 bucks for one yet. Acer C720 with 4 gig pretty cheap and easy as pie to convert to a gnu/linux laptop of your choice. So simple. Even a caveman like me can do it.

This one was harder. Bios needs a jumper instead of screw removal.

Above is readout from a Acer C710 model.

After reading fatmacs 4 gig rasberry pi post.

What he bought and adding 4 gig himself < they seem to come in 2 gig > comes out way over 50 bucks < new >
Link to amazon

Edit: there is a 4 gig with external case and power supply link in my link for about 90 bucks .

That was for a different subject line...in another thread. ;)

A chromebook might well be an option, if you can find one, (they aren't very cheap over here in the UK).

Also, Some companies have a surplus process whereby they sell those to their employees for around $50...I have 4 or 5 HP desktops we bought from the bank where my wife worked back in the day. My last employer did the same with HP laptops.

Last cheapy I could find.

Link to eaby surface tablet < probably 2 gig ram model also >

I am not hip on surface tablets like I am on chromebooks.

Edit> I know a member here would like this spec

Couple of bucks more but nothing is missing, only 2 gg of ram though.

link

Last edit. Rollup cheap silicone keyboards or bluetooth keyboards are cheap and good to learn on.

toy piano's are good to learn on too. :D

Yeah, I saw the chromebooks but they were US and I live in UK.

you should go yell at your mom and dad for living in UK.... save up some more pounds sell that family cat. ... keep looking around...

UK stores don't accept dollars - what is your actual budget in GBP?

You mean they'd get shipped from US?
Taxes, shipping and other fees might well double the buying price.
But it's perfectly possible to tell ebay or amazon to restrict search results to a region.
I don't believe that you cannot find a used chromebook closer to home. Or at least some sort of used computer.

Do you expect us to search ebay/amazon et. al. for you and provide you with results?

And by the way, often the local (online) rag has good offers too. Maybe within walking distance, and usually much more willing to tinker.

So could you actually get a pi and use it as a laptop. I have an external stick that boots fedora and I thought that the PI worked on SD.

PI is a little board, needs a monitor connected to it, needs a keyboard connected to it, needs a mouse connected to it, needs a box to put it in and wires to connect everything. put it in your pocket and .. hum could be a "pocket top"

Mackyboy123,

I think you need to raise your limit to about £100 because you may as well set fire to the notes, judging by the junk/parts only items, that are available on ebay for £50.

Here are a couple of slightly better than average laptops:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HP-G56-HA...Condition=3000

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lenovo-Th...Condition=3000

Wonder if you have access to places like Goodwill. They have online auctions on donated stuff that may be better than an ebay purchase (IMHO)