The absolute necessities

Although the following list is geared mainly toward the purchase of new PCs (which you can get for a few hundred bucks), you should read this info even if you’re thinking of buying a used computer:

• Look for a computer with a good-size hard drive. Remember how the classic movie The Time Machine sent a traveler thousands of years into the future? Imagine if each of those years was a computer file. The more time you spend using your computer, the more stuff you want to save on your hard drive. The more stuffed your drive, the bigger the timespan it represents — and the less you’d want to lose it. I recommend buying the biggest hard drive your budget affords you — because no matter how large your hard drive is, you’ll find a way to fill it up. And while you’re at it …
• Consider an external backup drive of at least 1.5TB. Backing up your data on a regular basis can help save you from the many disasters that sometimes befall a computer that’s active on the Internet. You can find new 1.5TB drives for sale on eBay for under $50.
• Make sure you have a top-quality modem. Your modem connects your computer to the Internet, normally using a broadband cable or (mostly in days of yore) a telephone line. Even if you have a high-speed connection (see later in this chapter), you need a modem that transfers lots of data quickly (we’re talking many thousands of megabits per second, or Mbps). The fastest cable modem currently in use is DOCSIS 3.0 (backward-compatible with older standards). DOCSIS 3.0 has more channels than previous versions, and can bond multiple channels for higher speeds. If you rent your modem from your Internet provider, request an upgrade to the latest standards.
• Get a big screen. An LCD or LED monitor that has at least a 23-inch screen with high resolution can make a huge difference after several hours of rabid listing, bidding, or proofreading your item descriptions. (If your monitor is smaller, you may have a hard time actually seeing the listings and images.)
• Make sure the computer’s central processing unit (CPU) is fast. A CPU (also known as a “chip”) is your computer’s brain. It should be the fastest you can afford. You can always opt for the top of the line, but even a slower 2 GHz (gigahertz) processor could suffice. One of my computers is an antique slowpoke, but it’s still fast enough that it won’t choke when I ask it to do some minor multitasking. If you want lightning-fast speed (imagine a Daytona 500 race car with jet assist), you have to move up to an octa-core processor.

• You must have a keyboard. No keyboard, no typing. In the case of a tablet, if you’re comfortable with an on screen keyboard, go for it, the basic keyboard is fine. They do make ingenious ergonomic models, but if the standard keyboard feels comfortable to you, stick with it.

  Different keyboards have different feels. I like a keyboard with “clicky” keys, because their action lets my fingers know that the letters I type actually appear. Test out several keyboards prior to purchase and see which one suits your typing style.

• You need a pointing device, usually a mouse. Some laptops come with touchpads or trackballs designed to do the same thing — give you a quick way to move the pointer around the screen so you can select options by clicking or tapping.

Buying a used computer

If you don’t have much money to spend, you might want to investigate the used market. Thousands of perfectly good used machines are floating around looking for a caring home. You can pick up a model that’s a few years old for a couple of hundred dollars, and it will serve your budding eBay needs just fine. The same holds true for used Macs. Make sure a monitor is included in the purchase price (or buy a new one). The good news: eBay’s sellers sell their old computers when upgrading. You can get some great deals.

Buying a refurbished computer or device

If you don’t feel comfortable buying a used machine, you may want to consider a factory-refurbished model. These are new machines that were returned to the manufacturer for one reason or another. The factory fixes them so they’re just like new and then sweetens the deal with a warranty. Some companies even offer optional, extended, on-site repairs. What you’re getting is a new computer at a deep discount because the machine can’t be resold legally as new.

For the most part, refurbished computers are defined as returns, units with blemishes (scratches, dents, and so on), or evaluation units. The factories rebuild them to the original working condition, using new parts (or sometimes used parts that meet or exceed performance specs for new parts). They come with 60- to 90-day warranties that cover repairs and returns. Warranty information is available on the manufacturers’ websites. Be sure to read it before you purchase a refurbished computer.

Major computer manufacturers such as Dell, Lenovo, Hewlett-Packard, and Apple provide refurbished computers. Check whether their websites have stores on eBay, or go direct to their sites. For example, you can visit, www.apple.com/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/mac, www.hp.com/go/refurbished, http://outlet.lenovo.com/outlet_us/, and www.dell.com/outlet, and check for closeouts and refurbished goods. I do it and have never been burned!

Because the inventory of refurbished computers changes daily (as do the prices), there’s no way of telling exactly how much money you can save by buying refurbished instead of new. I suggest that you find a new computer you like (and can afford) in a store or a catalog, and then compare it with refurbished systems. If you’re thinking about buying from the web or a catalog, don’t forget to include the cost of shipping in the total price. Even with shipping costs, however, a refurbished computer may save you between 30 and 60 percent, depending on the deal you find.

Upgrading your devices with the help of eBay

I’ve seen eBay listings for workable, older PCs and laptops (a few years old), fully outfitted, for $200. For that matter, you can get great deals on used tablets and smartphones to use for your listings.

You can also find on eBay all the bits and pieces you need to upgrade your computing system. The items you may find most useful include

• Digital cameras and scanners
• Flash drives and memory cards
• Wireless routers
• Monitors
• Printers

Home wireless networks are becoming de rigueur; many people have them set up even if they don’t have a business at home (Book 9 Chapter 5 shows you how to set up your own network). I have a wireless printer/scanner combination that allows me to send scans through my network from my scanner to any device located elsewhere in my home.

You may have to keep checking in and monitoring the different listings on eBay or manufacturers’ sites; they change daily. On eBay, put in your best bid, and check back later to see whether you’ve won! (If you want to find out about the fine art of auction sniping — bidding at the last minute — skip to Chapter 6 in this minibook. I won’t be insulted if you leave me in Chapter 1 for a while now. Honest.)