I currently have three laptops and am trying to decide which two are worth keeping. My primary machine is a Dell Latitude 5130 with an i5 processor, 32 GB of RAM, a 256 GB SSD, and Debian. It contains all my files and has been heavily customized with my preferred desktop environment and software, so recreating that setup would take a lot of time.
I also have a 2017 15-inch MacBook Pro with an i7, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD. It dual-boots macOS and Ubuntu, but the display is broken, so I mainly use it as an experimental Linux machine. I might eventually turn it into a server.
The third laptop is a brand-new Dell 14 (DC14250) with an Intel Core 5, 16 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB SSD running Windows. I won it in a lucky draw and couldn't return it for cash. Its listed value was about AUD 1,300, but the offers I'm receiving are only around AUD 200–300. I could really use the money, but I was hoping to get closer to AUD 800.
Should I sell the new Dell, keep and start using it, or sell one of the older laptops instead? I'd also appreciate suggestions for transferring my Debian setup if keeping the newer Dell makes the most sense.
4 Answers
Before deciding, compare the actual amount you could get for each laptop rather than focusing on the original price. The new Dell should normally bring the most money because it’s unused, while the customized Latitude has the highest practical value to you. If the new laptop sells for a fair price, take the money and keep your existing setup; if the offers remain far too low, use it as a secondary Windows machine until the market improves.
You probably don’t need two working laptops, so the practical choice is to keep the machine that already serves as your primary computer and sell the one with the strongest resale value. The broken-screen Mac is only worth keeping if you genuinely enjoy the project or need it for experiments; otherwise, selling it for parts could be simpler than maintaining three machines.
I’d sell the brand-new Dell, but don’t accept an insulting AUD 200–300 offer unless you urgently need the cash. List it in several local marketplaces, clearly mention that it’s unopened and include the exact model and specifications. It may take a few weeks to find someone who understands its value. The other Dell is already configured exactly how you like it, and the Mac can remain a repair or Linux experimentation project.
The Mac could also be useful as a hardware-learning project. Replacing the screen may be worthwhile if the cost is reasonable, but I wouldn’t repair it purely for resale.
If you decide to keep the new Dell, clone the existing Debian installation rather than rebuilding everything manually. Clonezilla can copy the current drive, after which you can expand the filesystem to use the larger SSD. Make a full backup first and check hardware compatibility, especially Wi-Fi, graphics, and suspend support.
The Mac was never really a second daily driver—it stayed around because I wanted to experiment with Linux and possibly use it as a server. The new Dell is the only one I’m seriously considering as a replacement for my primary machine.