If you're looking for a laptop at a low price, there are two routes you can go. First, you can look for a new laptop in a very basic model, some of which retail for as little as five or six hundred dollars US. Depending on your needs, there are some drawbacks to this approach. Normally, we expect to be able to upgrade a laptop as needed, but some basic systems are quite poor in terms of upgradeability. Over time, this can be a serious problem. The second approach is to purchase a quality system used - like a used Dell laptop, for example. The fact that the laptop is used may or may not be a liability - it's up to you, and whatever experts you hire, to identify a quality system. Generally speaking, a used Dell laptop may well remain viable for years to come.

Of course, that approach can be a little riskier. For one thing, if there are problems with your used laptop, getting them taken care of can be a lengthy and frustrating process. Furthermore, with no one to vouch for the honesty of the person or persons selling the laptop, you may get burned. On the other hand, you may also get lucky, and be able to acquire a quality product - such as a used Dell laptop - for a very low price.