- This topic has 26 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated Aug 29-4:25 am by fatmac.
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Noman01
This is general question for antiX users in the U.S., Have some computers at are getting near their end of life (either cost to much to repair or can’t find parts any more). Just looking for some direction on where some of the antiX community in the U.S. get good quality used or refurbished computers from?
- This topic was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by Noman01.
- This topic was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by Noman01.
olsztyn
I have been getting my laptops from eBay. Mostly buying incomplete (marked for parts) to save on price.
Live antiX Boot Options (Previously posted by Xecure):
https://antixlinuxfan.miraheze.org/wiki/Table_of_antiX_Boot_Parameters
christophe
I’ve done the same as olsztyn. It all depends on what you consider good quality — I’ve gotten good results with core2duo-based laptops.
Some months ago I wanted to see what I could get for $40. I ended up with a decent core2duo (since these are 64-bit – I’d stay away from 32-bit when buying something), 3 GB RAM, no battery, no hdd, or power cord. But check what the missing pieces cost first. I ended up getting the power cord & battery for about $20 additional (so $60 total). I started running it with live-USB without hdd — which ran well that way — but eventually I pulled a small SATA hdd from a “retired” 32-bit netbook that couldn’t handle the modern internet anymore (which I spent about $20 to buy about a year prior). It runs antiX (and MX) very well.- This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by christophe.
- This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by christophe.
- This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by christophe.
confirmed antiX frugaler, since 2019
To add, if you want some standard+quality then I was buying only Thinkpads. They are populating eBay from companies retiring them and replacing with new models in large quantities. I bought a few T410 (i5) and X220 (i7) not speaking of lot of three X61 core2duo 2Ghz tiny ones. This lot of three I bought for about $70 at that time but I see they tend to cost a bit more now for some reason, so no price guarantee from me…
I completely agree with christophe that you may not need the latest and most powerful. Just put SSD in it for Windows but I run mostly antiX Live and Frugals. Runs perfectly…Live antiX Boot Options (Previously posted by Xecure):
https://antixlinuxfan.miraheze.org/wiki/Table_of_antiX_Boot_Parameters
Brian Masinick
In my case, when I buy “new” equipment, I usually get it near the end of the sales cycle (that is, the next model has either been already introduced and the current model is in “on sale” mode, or it’s technically “off the shelf” but still available.
The other way I get stuff is when someone has used it, wants to get something new, or is simply discarding their old stuff.
I got rid of some old working stuff myself 2+ years ago when I moved from Michigan to South Carolina.
My wife’s brother moved from a really BIG home to a beautiful home that is still a LOT bigger than mine, but he found a LOT of stuff that he was no longer using, including THREE working computers, two laptops and a desktop.All three don’t run the “current” version of Windows 10 (as far as I know) but they are absolutely PERFECT for running either antiX or MX Linux!
I put antiX on the two HP models – the desktop and an old 5000 series HP laptop. I put MX Linux on a beautiful old, heavy, solid IBM/Lenovo X201 laptop. That unit has the BEST keyboard of ANY computer in my household, though the two Lenovo N22 Chromebooks (my wife and me) also own are close. The only “weakness” is that these models don’t appear to have back-lit keyboards – my Dell Inspiron 5558 DOES.So look anywhere; used computer shops (probably most reliable, also the most expensive), neighborhood “curbs” on “trash days”; you may find people throwing out perfectly usable gear or at least a parts supply that can be scrapped and reused to fix other equipment; then you have the opportunity to take what other people choose to “discard”! LOTS of options!
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Brian MasinickModdIt
I also look for T series from Lenovo because they are tough and in general
easy to repair.A heads up on T410m T420, great laptops but with time keyboard fails.
Lenovo tech reccomended to put Kapton Tape on the metal frame below the
keyboard to protect the flat band cable. The cable is non replaceable and
decent keyboards rare now. Fakes from china are terrible, so a highly recommended
lifetime extension for these excellent devices.I have one t410 on the shelf needing a keyboard for a fair price if anyone comes
across one. Layout is not important as changing key caps is pretty easy and I have
the full set from failed board.A heads up on T410m T420, great laptops but with time keyboard fails.
Common knowledge is Thinkpads have some of the best keyboards around for parameters keyboards are rated for but it does happen some may have issues in the course of time. However with my 12+ Thinkpads it never happened to me. The only times I replaced keyboards was when keys lettering became rubbed off because of heavy use. However if it happened in your case then no need to replace the ribbon cable. I suggest replace the keyboard. In the past I have bought a few new and used for some $20 each on eBay as spares, just in case. Keyboard for T410 is exactly the same keyboard as for many other Thinkpads such as X220, T520, etc… So there must be plenty out there. Interface cable exactly the same. I have been the same keyboards in quite a few models of Thinkpads.
Live antiX Boot Options (Previously posted by Xecure):
https://antixlinuxfan.miraheze.org/wiki/Table_of_antiX_Boot_Parameters
anticapitalista
The last new computer I bought was probably over 10 years ago (desktop built from scratch).
I have never bought a new laptop (though I was given one for free). All of the ones I own are second/third hand.I also prefer Thinkpads. IMO they are wonderful and very linux friendly (if not libre-friendly).
Be careful though since it seems that some sellers (of used versions) of Thinkpads have grasped that linux users will buy them, resulting in inflated prices.- This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by anticapitalista.
Philosophers have interpreted the world in many ways; the point is to change it.
antiX with runit - leaner and meaner.
Brian Masinick
I also look for T series from Lenovo because they are tough and in general
easy to repair.A heads up on T410m T420, great laptops but with time keyboard fails.
Lenovo tech reccomended to put Kapton Tape on the metal frame below the
keyboard to protect the flat band cable. The cable is non replaceable and
decent keyboards rare now. Fakes from china are terrible, so a highly recommended
lifetime extension for these excellent devices.I have one t410 on the shelf needing a keyboard for a fair price if anyone comes
across one. Layout is not important as changing key caps is pretty easy and I have
the full set from failed board.I liked the T series, whether IBM or Lenovo, but I have to tell you that when IBM was still in the desktop and laptop business, THAT is when they had some of the best keyboards you’ve ever used – very accurate, never that “gummy”, uncertain feeling. I remember WAY back in the early eighties. I was working at General Motors at the time in the corporate software division (it was called GMISCA at the time. My first year, we had THREE locations, the GM Building on the 5th floor, West Grand Boulevard, Detroit, then our team moved temporarily to the 500 Building in Troy, MI on Stephenson Highway as we awaited completion of the GMISCA building at 7000 Chicago Road, on the northeast corner of the GM Tech Center in Warren, Michigan. I worked there for five years before moving to New Hampshire to work at Digital Equipment Corporation.
It was in 1982 when we became very interested in bringing personal computer systems in large numbers to GM to supplement our mainframe systems. We did payroll and personnel systems primarily at the Chicago Road location, but we also had Warranty Systems, and a few of us “renegades” worked in telephony, looking at (what was then “new” technology, like ISDN, SS7, microwave, Ethernet, Fiber Optics, and Satellite technologies. We wanted to integrate voice and data communications technologies with a combination of hardware and software from AT&T, and an emerging list of Telco companies, plus an interest and infusion in this space from computer vendors.
I took this interest with me to the East Coast, but first I looked at the BEST PC systems and also some micro and minicomputer “intermediate” systems, early “client-server” stuff between the overworked mainframes and the under-capable (at that time) PC systems. That gave me my intro to UNIX systems, and I changed from PL/1 applications programming to C and Shell application interface and interoperability programming. I didn’t write or maintain a lot of your typical applications (except for a short stint maintaining hourly personnel systems in COBOL), but I did write a LOT of “glue” programs that helped to integrate different programs together. At times I think I may have had an even better start to my career if I specifically studied user interfaces and “human engineering”; either way, I brought a lot of that to the work that I actually performed.
It was in these excursions that I found early IBM keyboards to be right up there with the best keyboards that were made by companies specializing in them. The T42 was one model I really liked, the T60 series was also good, and I discovered this “tank-like X200 series like the one I have now…
I don’t know if anyone makes stuff as good as the stuff made in those days.
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Brian Masinickseaken64
This is general question for antiX users in the U.S., Have some computers at are getting near their end of life (either cost to much to repair or can’t find parts any more). Just looking for some direction on where some of the antiX community in the U.S. get good quality used or refurbished computers from?
It is not as easy at it used to be to pick up used computers locally. There are fewer computer “repair” and “refurbish” shops around. There are still a few though in most areas with higher populations and many small businesses. I occasionally stop in to the shops in my area just to see what they have. I live in the NY Hudson Valley. Every once in a while I find a computer I want to buy.
If it is for your business I recommend E-bay or some other used computer outlet or clearance center online. I usually look for computers that are off lease but still have at least 5 years of life. This has saved me a ton of money over the years. I usually buy between five and ten PC’s/Workstations at a time for replacing the workstations in my business. The last time I did this I bought six dual-core machines with 3 or 4 GB of RAM, for about $100 each, and upgraded them for free to Windows 10. That was about five years ago. These are now getting to the point where I will have to do it again. I just replaced two workstations with Core i5 and 8GB of RAM. I found these at a local surplus center for $45 and $50 each. And Windows 10 was still available for free. These were business computers and had the business license which allowed the upgrade to the latest Windows Pro. I also put MX on these two machines.
For my laptop I kept looking at the local Best Buy to see what they had as open box. I picked up a Lenovo i3 with 4GB of RAM and SSD for about $280. I’m using that machine now to type this, on MX. But I agree that E-bay is a good place to look for used laptops, as others have stated.
Seaken64
It was in these excursions that I found early IBM keyboards to be right up there with the best keyboards that were made by companies specializing in them. The T42 was one model I really liked, the T60 series was also good, and I discovered this “tank-like X200 series like the one I have now…
I don’t know if anyone makes stuff as good as the stuff made in those days.
IBM was serious about keyboards. I always imagined the VP of the PC division testing every keyboard the development team brought him for approval and insisting on “only the best will do”. “That’s no keyboard I want to use! Find me a keyboard I can be proud of! Take this back until you get it right!”
My first typing experience was on an IBM typewriter in typing class. I remained a fan of the Thinkpad 600 series and then the T series for years. Those were real keyboards.
And no, no one makes stuff like that any more. But Thinkpads are still pretty decent, even if not on the same level as the the older 600 or T series.
Seaken64
Brian Masinick
One of my old forum pals used to find people leaving their discarded computer systems at the curb for trash pickup if you can believe it!
He actually brought me a back seat and trunk full of equipment when I lived in Concord NH. I think that his wife wanted him to get rid of the junk! He and his daughter took a day trip from northern suburbs of NYC, I think that he was North of the beltway around the city, so it was probably a 4 hour trip each way, so it was a great way to enjoy the country side and spend time with his daughter. I got some good parts free.
- This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by Brian Masinick.
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Brian Masinick
anti-ewaste
It pays to scan the classifieds. Recently I saw either on Craigslist or Letgo a Haswell motherboard with CPU, maybe ram for $20.00. You get both ends of the extreme though, some are still trying to get cash for really old tech but others just want to upgrade. Recently I picked up a couple of P4’s for free and one had a 500gb hard drive in it, and it sat there for a day from the posting time before I got them. For both low and no cost stuff I find it largely depends on geographic area I think, Silicon valley and areas close obviously will have better picks.
BTW in searching Craigslist, also look in the Electronics category and use the pertinent keywords.
- This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by anti-ewaste.
- This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by anti-ewaste.
AA BB
FWIW :
the first thing I do is to decide what specifically I want and at what price limit
e.g. I recently decided I wanted a Dell Lattitude E7250 intel i7 CPU with at least 8GB RAM and 128 GB SSD at $250 or less
Next, on the ebay website, I set up a search screen for my specific item and max price limit, then use my browser to quick-check 3-4x per week to see if any items are available. If I see an acceptable item, I place my max bid for the item. If someone outbids me, I never re-bid, just continue my search.
Depending on your item and price limit, it may a while before you win a bid (but be careful not to have more than 1 open bid, unless you want to risk buying more than one item. As soon as ebay confirms I lost a bid, I open a new bid on another search item)After 8 or 9 days of checking, I won a bid for E7250 I7, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD with Windows 10 Pro at $242.50
I used the same strategy on DELL Auction for many years in the past, but min bid prices at DELL Auction have gotten absurdly high since the pandemic, so I switched over to ebay. My experience using social media to buy computers has consumed too much time per unit of gain, and most item are very overpriced relative to comparable items on ebay
Brian Masinick
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