PRINTTech savvy and penny-wise
Catherine Szalkowski
March 5, 2009 | 12:00 a.m. CST
The day before classes started in August, my computer passed away. My trusty four-year-old companion would no longer reboot, and my ridiculously tech-savvy brother couldn’t fix it.
Initially I was only worried that I had lost years’ worth of photos, music and term papers, and I hadn’t backed anything up like I’d been told to do so many times. I soon realized that the issue was much larger than that: How was I supposed to navigate my life without a computer?
Thankfully I’m a gadget nerd, so BlackBerry in tow I was able to field e-mails and occasionally update my Facebook status. But completing classwork would prove much more difficult. I immediately began searching for a new computer without a new price tag. As much as I love tech toys, as a grad student about to be thrown into the dismal job market, I’m not in the position to afford the latest and greatest.
After a week of comparison shopping, I ended up with a refurbished computer. I’d never purchased anything refurbished, but it was a new model, and it was hundreds of dollars less than its brand-new counterpart. I bought an extended warranty (I tend to be clumsy), and seven months later my Facebook page is showing no signs of neglect.
This week we’ve provided ways that will allow you to become a techie on a budget. From DIY to alternative buys, we’ve got your tech needs covered. Hint: A PDA will allow you to read Vox on the go.
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