Laptop leasing - Is it worth it?

[Trish HBB]

I'm looking at leasing rather than purchasing a laptop and software for my new bookkeeping business. I'd want it installed with Vista business, MS Office Small Business and an external powered hard disk.

The laptop would need to run the above as well as MYOB and Quickbooks.

Can anyone recommend a pc rental company that can offer me what I want? What's the approximate cost involved per month? Depending on the monthly expense it would either be for a 2 or 3 year lease.

Thanks,

[Chris Bates]

I believe there are tax benefits to renting - but generally you'll pay more to rent.

Not that you're likely to get Vista anymore anyway, I would get Windows 7 instead.

[Trish HBB]

Hi Chris,

Yes, I understand there's a higher cost but I also don't have to upgrade when the lease runs out after 2 or 3 years. I can also expense the costs as they're incurred instead of depreciating.

Thanks for all the valuable info :-)

[Ali Dark]

My advice would be to get a budgetish notebook and invest in a large comfy monitor for your eyes. I try to do minimal work on a laptop up close - long hours mean an extra dose of eye strain and radiation.

If you need to rent to get the things you need - just do it nike. My philosophy if you're comfortable and happy you'll be much more likely to do well in business and be able to afford your stuff whether you're buying or renting.

[Trish HBB]

Originally Posted by Ali Starbright

My advice would be to get a budgetish notebook and invest in a large comfy monitor for your eyes. I try to do minimal work on a laptop up close - long hours mean an extra dose of eye strain and radiation.

If you need to rent to get the things you need - just do it nike. My philosophy if you're comfortable and happy you'll be much more likely to do well in business and be able to afford your stuff whether you're buying or renting.

Great advice, Ali. I'm lucky enough to own a spare screen so that's a bonus for when I'll be working from the home office. Most of my work will be at my client's businesses so the big screen will be a luxury at the end of the day.

[JohnSheppard]

The cost to migrate your data and reinstall all your software costs you more than the actual hardware. If you know how to do those things yourself, think of the opportunity cost.

IMO That's what you should be most concerned about....

[Trish HBB]

Originally Posted by JohnSheppard

The cost to migrate your data and reinstall all your software costs you more than the actual hardware. If you know how to do those things yourself, think of the opportunity cost.

IMO That's what you should be most concerned about....

Thanks John,

Wouldn't most business owners be upgrading their computers after 3 years anyway? Especially a laptop? I'm asking if that's the norm?

[Emroy]

Trish,

I don't normally purchase a new computer every three years, bu I upgrade the specs (Ram, Rom, Processor etc) every year or so.

Regards,

Jake

[JohnSheppard]

These days, there really is no need to upgrade at all for your basic standard line of business apps, ie those which I'd image you would be running for book keeping. Even your cheapest $600 laptop is sufficiently fast enough and will remain so for a long time.

If you get windows 7 and a $600 laptop you will get about 5-10 years out of it would be my prediction. (If it doesn't break that is )

The only reason you need to spend more than $600 is if you want to do graphic related things such as design, games or what not...

[Chris Bates]

Originally Posted by JohnSheppard

The only reason you need to spend more than $600 is if you want to do graphic related things such as design, games or what not...

Or multitask - lol!

@Trish: It really depends on the person. There's not much room for upgrading hardware in a laptop, unlike a desktop computer. With the leaps and bounds desktop hardware technology is making nowadays, there's not always a lot of room for upgrading there either!

If you're going to rent - get a dual core processor with decent RAM, then you can upgrade when the time comes.

If you're going to buy - get a quad core processor with VERY decent RAM, to last you the coming years.

If you're working onsite a lot, a 2nd battery might be a worthy investment. That and a decent carry case.

http://www.bmstech.com.au/ProductLis...24B0CBFC4&nf=2
This isn't too bad - under $2k, quad core CPU, 4GB of high speed ram, high res (1600x900) display, number pad on the keyboard, fast hard drive too. Would probably be my recommendation for your purpose.