All my computers are HP factory refurbs. and I've never had a problem with any of them. I've got a quad core hp for my home theater setup and my wife and I each have loaded up (core 2 duo, hdmi, wifi, fingerprint scanner, etc) HP DV4t laptops that we use daily. I didn't pay over $500 for any of them, there's good deals to be had out there for the HP's.