A laptop rent-to-own deal may be viable for those who can't afford to pay full price outright. Critics say renting may end up costing more in the long-run, but there's no denying the benefit of small month-to-month installments that don't break the bank.

Go Local

The best options for rent-to-own laptops are local ones, especially because when you're dealing with refurbished laptops, you don't want to risk hardware issues that require you to ship your laptop to a distant home store for technical assistance. First check out local rent-to-own stores where you can physically go in and see the laptop before signing off on a rental agreement.

Rent-a-Center

If a local option is not available, another viable rent-to-own resource would be a reputable online company like Rent-a-Center, a company which has over 3,000 locations nationally. If Rent-a-Center does not have a location in your city, they are likely to have one close by that can be used as a resource in the event of computer maintenance issues.

Online Companies

If prices are too high locally or Rent-a-Center doesn't carry the product you're looking for, doing a quick Google search for rent-to-own laptops will yield hundreds of options, but be sure to use the Better Business Bureau website (www.bbb.com) to ensure you're not renting from a fraudulent company.

Laptop Insurance

Insuring your laptop in case it is damaged or stolen is necessary, especially if you are renting. Read through the rental agreement carefully for the insurance clause, and if there isn't one, look into outside options for insurance during the duration of your rental period.

Price Check

There are tons of rent-to-own options out there for laptop computers, so do your homework by looking into at least half a dozen to make sure you're getting the best deal. If you find an online option that is cheaper, chances are you might be able to negotiate with your local store to bring their price down.

Source:

"WiseGeek.com: Can I Rent a Laptop?"

"Buzzle.com: Laptop Rentals"