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A new computer is very much like a new car. Each cost quite a bit when first purchased, both automobile and computer manufacturers are constantly creating new models, and both computers and cars lose a significant portion of their value as soon as they are transferred to their new owners. This phenomenon makes selling used computers difficult, especially with the thousands of discounted new computers flooding the market. However, there are several easy pre-sale steps that will increase the value of used computers and help to set a reasonable price.

Obviously, the most important step of setting up a reasonable price is to do research on several things: 1) the original price of the computer/individual components, 2) the hardware features of the computer, and 3) the price for a comparative new or used model today. To determine the original price of the computer, it is often best to scrounge around for the old receipt or invoice, but a fairly accurate estimate will usually suffice. This can be used to show purchasers what a good deal a used computer is when compared to a new computer.

The hardware features of the used computer should be fairly easy to research. To discover processor speed and the amount of RAM on a computer running a Microsoft Windows operating system (Windows 98, XP, Vista, etc.), right-click on the My Computer icon and write down the information displayed. The operating system is often shown here as well, and Windows Vista provides a "Windows Experience Rating" that can prove important to list. Hard drive space can be determined by double-left-clicking on the My Computer icon, right-clicking on each icon underneath "Hard Drive Storage," and adding the total space and free space in terms of gigabytes (GB). Additionally information about video or sound cards is beneficial if available, but is not essential for reasonable pricing.

The easiest step is researching comparative prices. Run a search for the model and manufacturer of the used computer on EBay or Froogle and note the prices online. An additional optional step is to compare the used computer with a new model that has similar features, and factor that into pricing as well.

Another issue to consider when setting a price for a used computer is shipping or transportation. Moving or shipping a computer is often a delicate process, but the steps in the following Helium article can aid the process (http://www.helium.com/tm/8028 23/there-circumstances-where-c omputer). Paying a few extra dollars for

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