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Author Topic: Picked up a new to me netbook for the wife.  (Read 2790 times)

BlueMR2

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Picked up a new to me netbook for the wife.
« on: August 25, 2013, 12:20:16 PM »
Got a screaming deal on a Lenovo Ideapad.  Apparently the original owner expected too much from it (thinking desktop replacement) when it's more of a web surfing terminal.  Wifi on it wasn't working either anymore.

The lower electric consumption (vs. running the big desktop machine all day long just for periodic web surfing) alone should pay for it in a 1-2 years.

I planned on further expenses in putting a USB wifi adapter on it, but after some googling around found the problem.  Some Ideapads have  BIOS bug where if the wifi on/off hardware switch is used it gets forced to "off" in the BIOS permanently.  Since it's a computer, "permanent" is relative...  ;-)  Pulled the machine apart, removed the BIOS battery for a couple minutes, reconnected it, RTV'd the switch into the "on" position so it will never move again, and we're back in business!
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arebelspy

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Re: Picked up a new to me netbook for the wife.
« Reply #1 on: August 25, 2013, 12:24:03 PM »
Nice!  Amazing what a few minutes of Googling will net you in terms of fixes that seem tough and end up being simple.
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yogagirl95

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Re: Picked up a new to me netbook for the wife.
« Reply #2 on: August 25, 2013, 03:22:32 PM »
I had purchased an ideapad earlier in the year. After having problems with the wifi, I decided to return it within my return period. I googled the  wifi issues also, but for a new laptop I didn't want to deal with it. Research is part of being frugal and making good decisions!
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Financial Threedom

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Re: Picked up a new to me netbook for the wife.
« Reply #3 on: August 25, 2013, 07:40:48 PM »

I bought a new lenovo laptop in Feb 2010 (pre mustachian days).  On it right now, and it has been pretty much flawless since the purchase.  Couldn't be happier with it. 
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Eric

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Re: Picked up a new to me netbook for the wife.
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2013, 12:11:17 AM »
That's awesome!
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VasyaPupkin

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Re: Picked up a new to me netbook for the wife.
« Reply #5 on: September 02, 2013, 06:26:31 PM »
Nice work!
We practice similar methods in our family "IT" pool. I  typically buy a year old Thinkpad off Ebay to replace what by then is a an 8-9 year old one, and usually save at least 50% off the price of new. Warranty is still there and the things are very easy to repair anyways. It does take attention to details and patience to get a good one though. Only problem is what to do with the old ones- being Thinkpads they just keep working and I don't have the heart to e-cycle them :)
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BlueMR2

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Re: Picked up a new to me netbook for the wife.
« Reply #6 on: September 03, 2013, 10:55:57 AM »
Quote from: VasyaPupkin on September 02, 2013, 06:26:31 PM
Only problem is what to do with the old ones- being Thinkpads they just keep working and I don't have the heart to e-cycle them :)

I know how that is.  We have some truly ancient Thinkpads still rattling around at work.  They just never die.  The new ones are built even better!  They're the only thing we'll buy (well, except for Macs for people that absolutely have to have OS X instead of Windows or Linux) anymore!
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