Best way to do it?

[SacredFaerie]

I need a new computer. (I go to school online and my screen has a giant crack in it. This is not the first repair needed on this laptop and I have sunk a total of about $400 into this thing. I almost could have bought another pc by now.)

There's a place around here that would finance it. (Patriot Computers Computer Financing) I'm a civilian but my boyfriend is military so we'd be taking advantage of the military financing (outlined on the site).

I really can't afford another bill but I'm hoping with the decrease in gas and the increase in pay that will happen in January that I can swing it. I'm also networking to increase my income by selling some of the things that I make (I knit and crochet) plus babysitting and doing odds and ends around my apartment complex.

Would it actually help my credit all that much? (Since it's for me, I'd cosign) Is it kind of scammy?

Thoughts? Comments?

[nitemarecooper]

Very high interest rates

I don't know specifically about Patriot computers, however I have looked into a few other computer companies in the past including one financing deal my sister entered into a couple of years back. Ones I've checked into generally result in extremely high interest rates (30% or above) for an already overpriced and poor performing computer. Be sure to get a firm interest rate on any deal that you consider before actually paying for the computer.

Overall, in my past experience, those types of deals generally result in paying far more for a computer than you need to. If you are looking for a good deal on a desktop, then most of the time your friendly neighborhood small computer store will normally have the best prices if you can manage a few hundred dollars will get you a low end computer which will serve the needs of normal online computing for school purposes. However if you are looking for a laptop, trying to save up and pay cash will normally result in much lower cost for your computer in the end. Low end laptops will normally be had for as little as $300 now.

Another idea to save money is to check into used computer stores around where you live. I know of a couple where I live that you can buy a low end laptop good for online use for as little as $100. Hope that helps.

Nitemarecooper

[Gjowers]

yuo might try looking for a slightly used one on craigslist. Desk tops are generally more plentiful and less expensive in my experience.

[disneysteve]

Do you use the laptop in one place or do you need to travel with it?

If you just use it at home, why not pick up a cheap monitor. You can probably even find one used at a thrift shop like Goodwill. You can plug it in to the laptop and use it as the monitor. That shouldn't cost you more than $50. If you ask around, you might even find a friend or relative who has a spare they would give you.

ETA: I looked at the site. It says the interest rate is between 4% and 18%. That's an awfully big range. If you qualify for the 4%, that wouldn't be terrible but I certainly wouldn't do it if you'd be at the upper end of that range.

In either case, I wouldn't replace the computer if the only thing wrong with it is the monitor unless you need it to be mobile. Then, I'd look into other options like buying used or getting a low-end new one from Dell or somewhere that will give 0% financing (if you qualify).

[SacredFaerie]

This is my screen:


It makes using it a bit of a pain in the rear. I guess my worry about just getting a monitor for it or replacing the screen is that I've sunk so much money into it. If I get a used monitor for say $50 that'll make roughly $450 I've spent on this laptop since I bought it. Given that laptop prices are dropping I really could have bought another one by now. And that bothers me.

If the monitor was the only thing wrong with it and the only thing to EVER be wrong with it I'd just replace the monitor. It's the other $400 I've already spent that worries me.

[SacredFaerie]

It's gotten worse on the right side but I can't find my camera.

[SacredFaerie]

I haven't made up my mind to replace completely I'm just worried about sinking more money into it and then having to replace it anyway. Because then that's money I could have put on the computer ya know.

I just don't want to screw myself over. I'm nervous.

And Steve to answer your question I do tend to be quite a bit mobile.

[SacredFaerie]

ND, I'm a military dependent. Could I purchase it or would my boyfriend have to?

[zetta]

I would suggest spending about $50 for a used monitor. That will keep your computer useful to you while you save up to replace the laptop. That way you can pay cash and save on the finance charges. The monitor won't go to waste -- most new laptops allow you to set up two-screen mode, so you can use both the monitor and the laptop's screen at the same time.

[disneysteve]

I love my Satellite. I'm typing on it right now.

If you need to be mobile, the external monitor won't help. In that case, I'd look for the best deal around, preferably with 0% financing. Best Buy and other such places may offer that.

[KatieNK]

QVC has one of those mini laptops as their daily special today for $600. It looks pretty nice and neat for a college student.

[SacredFaerie]

That might be an option Katie.


I just...I have already sunk $400 worth of repairs into this thing. Where do I draw the line?

[minnie1928]

Have you tried looking/listing on Freecycle for a monitor? If it's free, it wouldn't be sinking any more money into the laptop hole and could buy you some time to find a great deal on a new laptop.

[SacredFaerie]

That's a great idea Minnie.....hm....

[MiikeB]

Nice to see someone else from Hampton Roads here!

As far as your issue, I would also suggest going with an external monitor.

Stop worrying about having "sunk" so much money in it you could have bought another one by now. If you had bought a new computer after $300 in repairs, your screen probably would have still cracked. It didn't crack because there is some defects with screens, it cracked because of something like a change in temperature if not you dropping it or bumping it.

Its pretty easy to find CRT monitors on craigslist for $20 or so. I would go with that.