




     Second Hand Hi-Tech

                                                  By Gary Bryant
 

          If you ever needed a reason to buy through  classifieds ads,
     happen so fast today that  some items you may have purchased less
     than a year ago have become obsolete. 
     
          When it comes to electronics, many people don't  feel
     complete unless they sport the latest battery  powered confections
     in their homes.  Consequently, these  consumers replace thousands
     of dollars of perfectly  good electronic merchandise every day. 
     Merchandise you  can pick up for a song through classified ads.

          What's on the selling block these days?   Computers, VCR's,
     video cameras, sound systems and televisions to name a few items. 
     Take computers for  example.  Last year all three major producers
     have  introduced new versions of their machines.  IBM brought  out
     the 486 version with Microsoft's improved Windows  program.  Apple
     showed us a whole new line of MacIntoshes  with greatly reduced
     prices.  Commodore Amiga released  its Amiga 3000  sporting a new
     operating system.  

          With the introduction of laser disks (CD's).  This  latest
     developments in digital technology have been  incorporated into the
     newest VCR equipment as well as  camera's and audio products. 
     Again the price of more  traditional equipment  is plummeting.  On
     the retail  level, dealers are eagerly trying to unload the older 
     models in hopes of not being stuck with an out dated inventory. 

          Cameras are beginning to inlude CD technology as well.  Soon
     35mm film will  go the way of reel to  reel tape, 8mm movie film
     and more recently, the  phonograph.  Keep in mind that electronic
     equipment has  always enjoyed an excellent service record.   

          Statistically, electronic products will usually fail during
     the first two or three months of use if  they are going to fail at
     all.  So by the time you get  it second hand, it should last ten
     years.                    


             
