Buying Used Computers - Addendum
It ain't over til it's over. This post script to the purported conclusion was necessary because, well, because the story had a happy ending. After all the kvetching (I don't know how to spell in Yiddish), this schmuck managed to turn a used lappy into a killer computing machine. With help, of course. Special thanks go to my bud, Marty, and some truly devoted geeks on too many newsgroups to mention.

The best thing is just to reprint the email I sent to my EverybodyList when the great moment happened. Just one note: It is NEVER as hard to setup a used desktop computer as a laptop. Don't be afraid. Don't be (very) afraid.

I found some Funny Videos website. Click on funny videos if you wanna watch some, they update daily. Good stuff.

Before my celebratory email:
A quick plug for my friend's web design firm which specializes in Web Design in Akron Ohio

Would also like to mention a great computer repair company. They do just as good of work as the bigger corporate companies and charge half the price: Computer repair in akron ohio

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I got April's laptop that I bought from Retrobox working!!! Hurrah! Hurray! [Ed. note: April is my oldest and dearest wife]
Total cost $671, including DVD player with TV outs and 10/100 Ethernet. Took
me awhile (21 total hours setup time to get all drivers running).

The network card is working. The modem is working. The DVD player is
working. All the Lanthropy software is working! Huzzah! Huzzay! Saved maybe
$450. A few gray hairs, but, darn it, dollars are scarcer. So I didn't get
to watch TV a few nights, big wup.

Now...
My friend Jim had a stroke and needs a new computer because his old Pentium
I 90MHz is incompatible with cable modem, which he needs so he can work from
home. So I went to RetroBox and found him a respectable Dell P266, 128MRam,
3.2GHD, with cdrom and 3.5 floppy for $158 plus shipping. If I knew how to
underline in Outlook Express, I would have underlined that price. Killer,
eh? Add a Windows OS and you're up to $257. Add a monitor (15" svga
OptiQuest), and you're up to $292, plus ship, total. A whisker over 3
franklins.

BTW, the 400MHz boxes are only a hair higher. And the Mac prices are to DIE
for.

Retro's all around! One for each offspring! And a spare! At these prices you
can use em for rear wheel weights on the pickup truck!

I think you should go to www.retrobox.com and pig out, my friend.

Yes. This is my manic phase.

(sings:)
''I saved a BUNdle! I saved a BUNdle! Doot dee doot dee DOOT doo!"

-Psyched Mike

btw I just got a sweeeeeeeeeeet limo you can see the links here (plus other friends of mine links)

limos limousines
prepaid legal services
limousine services
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I might hope that this truly concludes this test of the used computer buying experience. But I know it won't. I'm hooked now. I expect to be doing this again, and probably at RetroBox.com. Fair prices, well organized, and they certainly will help you make your purchase (if they are a bit shy on after-the-sale support).