If you're in the market for a cheap used laptop, be certain to do your research before you go out and buy a portable machine that looks like a real bargain. Sometimes the deal is too-good-to-be-true and you end up sinking money into something that you end realizing what worth the price.

When you're shopping for used computer equipment, whether it's a laptop or a desktop computer, there are a couple of things you should be checking for before you decide to purchase.

Obviously, you want to know that the source you buy from is reliable, so if you're buying online, from eBay, you look at the reputation of the seller, of course. If you're buying off of Craig's List, or you're purchasing from an online dealer, do your homework, and see if there are any reviews available.

You don't want to be buying something that is obsolete. If you are purchasing a cheap laptop, you want to be certain that it will perform. If you need the machine for high-end gaming or for powerful applications, then you shouldn't be purchasing an old machine that is only capable of running Windows 95.

And there are some other questions you need to ask. Is the operating system licensed? How is the battery life? Is the hard drive filled with bad sectors? Does the machine do wireless Internet? Is it stolen!!!?

Just remember that when you're shopping for used laptops, or any hardware for that matter, ask the right questions, and do all your research beforehand, so that when you ready to make that purchase, you know what you are getting before you end up stuck with an expensive piece of useless machinery.