Useful tech videos when you do not need the newest gadget

Pulenaz: give the old laptop a fair test

Pulenaz has an older laptop that still handles her writing and video calls, but takes a long time to become usable after she signs in. In her video she starts with the task that frustrates her: opening a document and joining a call. She notices several apps starting with the computer and turns off the ones she does not need at sign-in. After restarting, the document opens sooner and the call still works.

The battery is a separate problem. It no longer lasts through an afternoon away from a socket, even though the laptop works well plugged in. Pulenaz backs up the files she needs and asks a repair shop for a battery replacement quote. She compares the quote with the cost of another laptop and chooses the battery service; afterward she takes the same document and call through an afternoon away from the desk. The machine meets her needs again, so she keeps it.

Her video is useful because the decision follows the work she wants to do. Reducing the startup load helps one annoyance; a battery replacement addresses a different one. Neither change is presented as a cure for every slow computer.

iJustine: buy a phone for the jobs, not the release date

In her secondhand-phone video, iJustine starts with a short list: a camera for everyday pictures, a clear voice recording and enough battery for a day of ordinary use. She compares two used phones with the seller, checks their condition and return terms, and tests the camera, speaker and microphone on the phone she is considering. One has a scratched screen she can live with, but its battery is weaker than she wants.

She chooses the other used phone after checking that it can be set up for her and that the battery condition suits her plans. Later she shares a photo and plays back a voice memo made on it. The useful part is the trade-off: she accepts a little wear on the case, while avoiding a phone that would need a battery service immediately. The decision turns on the particular devices in front of her, not on a claim that every older phone is a bargain.

Apple advises buyers to check a preowned iPhone’s condition, battery health and return policy. It also says not to buy one with Activation Lock enabled. Its guide describes how to inspect the phone and test functions including the camera and microphone.

References: Apple Support

Which one to start with

Choose Pulenaz for a patient look at what is worth changing on a device already in use, including when asking for a repair quote makes sense. Choose iJustine for the secondhand buying decision: seeing the condition, testing the functions and deciding which compromise is acceptable before paying. Both begin with a job the technology needs to do, so the outcome is more useful than a list of new features.

Sources and attribution

1. Apple Support

   If you want to buy a preowned iPhonePublished Mar 16, 2026 · Recorded Oct 30, 2026