HPSP Computer Rental: Is it Worth it?
Posted by Matt P on
So you’ve stumbled upon militarypcrentals.com. After poking around, you’ve learned how you can rent a laptop for 1 to 4 years and get fully reimbursed as part of your HPSP scholarship. You may be thinking, “Sounds great, but I would rather just buy my own laptop and keep it. Why would I rent one?”
Here are some things to consider.
Cost
Think about the cost of a new laptop. Laptops are expensive and many schools require students to purchase a new laptop. Often times, these laptops have specific minimum requirements for storage, processing speed, and new software. This ends up adding up to a large out-of-pocket cost. A lot of times, students see this a just being a necessary cost of graduate school. But, if you use the HPSP laptop reimbursement benefit you pay $0.00 out of pocket.
Useful Life
Students must also consider the average lifespan of a laptop. The great thing about laptops are the all-in-one design that allows for performance, flexibility, and portability. However, these traits limit the lifespan of all laptops. As technology progresses, there is an ever-increasing need for faster processors, expanded RAM, and larger amounts of storage. In addition, the compact design makes it more difficult to keep electrical components from overheating. Each individual laptop's actual lifespan will vary. After factoring in increasing processing needs and wear and tear from use, it is reasonable to expect a laptop to have a useful life of three to five years.
Depreciation
Computers and electronics are right up there with new cars in the terrible investments category. In our experience, laptops and tablets tend to depreciate at a rate of 20% per year over the course of 4 years. So, an initial investment of $1000.00 to $1500.00 results in a machine worth $200.00 to $300.00 at the end of its useful life. By renting, the student saves the $800.00 to $1200.00 depreciation.
The Choice is Yours
Unlike most people, HPSP students have a choice here. Students can either purchase a laptop themselves or use the HPSP reimbursement benefit to cover the costs. In both cases, students get to use a brand-new laptop during the best years of its useful life. However, students who rent laptops get a few significant benefits:
- Saving Money: Pay $0.00 for that laptop.
- Avoiding Depreciation: Take on none of the depreciation costs that come with laptop ownership.
- Investing elsewhere: Use that money they saved for anything, including investing in a new laptop after graduation (which you will need regardless of whether you rent or buy).
We believe that renting a laptop is a worth-while opportunity for HPSP. At Military PC Rentals we have worked hard to make the rental process a great experience. So, don't wait! Take a look at our selection, or contact us to get more information.