Articles and Emails posted by our clients.

• Savings From a Used Connection - The Age, Green Guide (Bleeding Edge) 17/08/2000:
  Article by Charles Wright
  
  It was the sort of laptop collection that would make the average road warrior swoon with desire. They were neatly arrayed in an upstairs room in a small office in Dover Street, Richmond. There were IBM ThinkPad 770s, Toshiba Tecra 8000s, Tecra Porteges - marvelous things with features like 14.1-inch colour TFT screens and DVD drives, manuals and installation CDs.
  
  Bleeding Edge can't remember feeling quite so depressed. We had paid thousands of dollars for one of these machines less then two years ago, and now here was an even better-featured model (is this sounding familiar?), a Tecra 8000 with 14.1-inch screen, 366 megahertz Pentium II, 128 megabytes of RAM, 10-gigabyte hard disk, DVD drive, etc.
  
  New laptops depreciate even more quickly than second-hand cars, observes Daniel Ho, with the insouciant ease of someone who makes money out of these things. You tend to be less philosophical if you've paid $6,500 or even more, or even indeed if you've bought an entry-level laptop. Somehow it feels a lot like sinking a daunting portion of your disposable income into the financial equivalent of a sewage pipe.
  
  Ho is a former salesman who a few years ago took a job in a warehouse, cleaning computers that were being shipped in by the pallet-load from big corporations at the end of commercial leases. He started wondering whether it might be more profitable to sell these machines, rather than clean them. He started advertising in the Trading Post, driving all over Melbourne to make a sale. He then booked a permanent stand at Sunday computer swap meets and started hiring a growing number of technical staff for the increasingly successful venture called Laptop.com.au.
  
  Although its office is so far off the beaten track to be virtually hidden, and the computer advertises only in the Trading Post, people track it down. Every month, Laptop.com.au sells around 200 second-hand laptops and who knows how many desktops, laser printer, flat screens, label printers and all the sundry devices that are delivered in a continuous stream of boxes marked IBM Remarketing, which we think means the same as recycling.
  
  For the past couple of weeks, Bleeding Edge has been surveying the second-hand market for laptop computers, trying to establish if there is a realistic alternative to retail prices, which, although they're not quite so Himalayan as they were a few years ago, are still out of reach for most people.
  
  Although we are still happy to buy a no-brand desktop computer - provided it's built by a dependable suppliers - we regard laptop clones as potential nightmares. Indeed, we are only prepared to recommend a handful of laptop brands: Toshiba, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Sharp, NEC, and of course, the Apple PowerBook (but not the iBook). We've found these to be reliable and technologically advanced, and also these companies have an international presence and a reliable supply of spare parts. These factors tend to be critical if you're on the road.
  
  Regrettably, you pay a substantial premium for all those brands, particularly at the high end. We're delighted to report that, if you can find a reputable dealer who offers a substantial warranty, technical support and the comfort of knowing you're not buying stolen goods - used laptops are definitely worth exploring.
  
  Second-hand specialists also provide a more affordable source of hardware upgrades, like additional RAM and bigger hard disks. Bleeding Edge was able to buy 64 megabytes of RAM for our hungry Tecra 8000 for almost half the price of a new chip. Replacement screens that could cost as much as $2,000 new are available for something like $500.
  
  Laptop.com.au was a particularly interesting example. It provides a 12 month warranty on its products, which you can extend for as long you like for an additional $154 per year - a prudent move, in our view - and maintains its own technical staff.
  
  

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• Going Cheap - The Age 29/03/2003:
  Article by Darren Yates
  
  Please refer to the link below
  http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/28/1048653849036.html
  
  

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• Email
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Laureen Baker
  To: nelsonm@laptop.com.au
  Sent: 15 December, 2003 9:29 PM
  Subject: Thrilled
  

  Hi Nelson

  Just wanted to let you know how thrilled we are with our new laptop.

  The service we received from Laptop.com.au was also great.

  We will be sure to tell our friends where to buy their next computer from.

  Thanks again,

  Laureen and Jeremy Baker
  Haddon Victoria
  
  

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  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Michael DeCampo - Winning Odds
  To: danh@laptop.com.au
  Sent: Monday, November 17, 2003 12:43 PM
  Subject: Thank you
  

  Our \‘Winning Odds\’ service to bookmakers will continue to purchase and install inexpensive second hand Toshiba laptops which are used by bookmakers to provide the punter with an electronic ticket recording their bet.

  Over the past 3 years, we have bought over 50 laptops from you for this sole purpose.

  The laptops continue to work since the day they were installed (they have not missed a beat)!

  As you can imagine, we are extremely pleased with the selection of laptops which has produced a trouble free system.

  Thanks to all the staff at Laptop.com.au!

  Michael DeCampo
  CEO Winning Odds
  95635189
  
  

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  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Paul Yole (Lexicon)
  To: kellym@laptop.com.au
  Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2003 4:48 PM
  Subject: Laptop Satisfaction
  

  Kelly,

  Just a quick email to let you know that I am 110% satisfied with the laptop I purchased from Laptop.com.au

  It has almost been a month now, and I have not had a single problem with the laptop that I purchased from you. The service I received was fantastic and I could not fault anything.

  A few of my friends have asked me about purchasing a computer, in which I am recommending them to Laptop.com.au, not only for the price, but the service and satisfaction that they will receive, just the same as I did.

  Once again, thank you for everything. Laptop.com.au has definitely earned me as a customer, and I will be adding a link to their site on my webpage as soon as I have finished upgrading it and get it back online.

  Regards,

  Paul Yole.
  
  

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  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Marc Aragnou - MULTIWEB
  To: danh@laptop.com.au
  Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2003 10:34 AM
  Subject: Excellent Service
  

  Hi Dan,

  My name is Marc Aragnou. I'm the MD of Multiweb Pty Ltd and a customer of Laptop.com.au. I bought a Toshiba Satellite back in November 2002 and had some problems with it. I now have a Toshiba Tecra in full working condition.

  I'm just writing to let you know how unbelievably helpful your staff has been in my ordeal, especially Barry Lee, for his support and patience in responding to all my questions (even the stupid ones) and helping and assisting me every step of the way.

  Your company provided me with one of the best after sales service I have ever seen, besides the fact that you also have very good prices.

  Thank all your team for all their help and patience.

  Marc Aragnou.
  www.multiweb.com.au