Laptop Next

Toshiba has launched a nifty little scheme recently. It’s a rather clever scheme that I have to admit I’m jealous of. I’d love to be able to tell someone to bring me their laptop in exchange for one I’ve made for a fraction of the cost I’m charging them, promising them that I’ll pay them up to a little amount of money if I deem it acceptable, then resale the laptop they brought me on top of everything. Talk about losing a nickel and finding a 100 dollar bill! Which reminds me – anyone who is looking to get their hands on a new Windows 7 OS can trade in any make or model laptop for up to 150 dollars cash back. Of course, the company will be the ones who decide the money-value of the machines, based on what they say will be “conditions and specifications”.

Not only will Toshiba gladly give people cash for their clunkers (so to speak), they have made the ultra-green promise to recycle them, and refurbish them to the best of their abilities to resale them.

If there is no way possible to recycle or resale the laptop, they will be trashed in the most green, environmentally friendly way possible. It sounds so great on the surface, and some people really might not have a problem with it, but to me it just sounds like Toshiba trying (and succeeding) to make a quick buck. Personally, I find it a bit despicable for such a large company to try to take advantage of unknowing people in such a way.

Once you’ve purchased your Windows 7 OS on a Toshiba laptop, you can get your old laptop evaluated at Toshiba’s trade-in web page. If you’re even given money, it will be sent either in check-or-Paypal form. The payment should arrive within 10 days, according to Toshiba. The scheme, in progress since yesterday, will continue on until the end of January in 2010. If you’re interested, I’d recommend trying to get an estimate on your laptop before you make a commitment to give it up.