Does anyone know about how reliable the above are from shops?? I guess that it depends what the reason for the refurbishment is. Specifically, I'm looking at Packard Bell and Acer.
We bought one many years ago (don't know if the company have a shop as such, it was on-line) 6 months guarantee with it. Can't remember what happened to the brute tho. It was an Acer and the susequent one is an Acer.
I've used a refurb computer in the past - the shop used to take in computers people didn't want when they upgraded, and rent them out. It was a useful service.
If you buy from a manufacturer's website, the machines will have been refurbed to factory standards, although even then they can use secondhand components.
If you buy from eBay, or a corner shop, you may get something that's been cobbled together from secondhand spares.
In between, you get PC World and the like, who are fairly reliable, but who are capable of awfulness, such as you read in the magazines.
There are a lot of good refurb computers at IBM.com/shop/used. They're all covered under warranty and have money back guarantees if your not satisfied. I can help you get a good discount if your interested. Feel free to contact me at [email protected] (easiest way to contact me)