(Thu Mar 21 2019 00:00:00 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)) The system of selling us gadgets is geared to foist brand new gadgets on us. It can be expensive racing to keep up with the treadmill of upgrading to the latest thing every year, plus the environmental cost of throwing away perfectly good gadgets is enormous. Buying refurbished computers, cell phones or other gadgets, can save you a lot of money. It is much better for your budget and for the planet around us to ensure each gadget serves a long and useful life, rather than getting tossed away once a prettier gadget comes along. Since the game is designed with forced obsolescence in mind, those of us taking a different route have to tread carefully and decisively. This article is a guide to buying refurbished computers and other gear.