Need advice on PC purchase

[StillMamamia]

I need a new pc or laptop, haven't decided which one yet. Laptop is more tempting as I can move around with it and become even more addicted to CWD:D

Ok, so I need to know how much memory minimum do I need, what type of processor, etc etc
Don't get too technical with me, as I just won't understand it. I need a simple, effective, fast pc/laptop. With Word, Excel, PowerPoint and any other programs which I may use at home. Mind you, I don't need to calculate financial statements here, just everyday stuff.
Oh, and Acrobat Reader, is that automatically part of the pc or does it always have to be downloaded? (can u tell I'm IT-challenged?)
Anything I should keep in mind?
Also, price-wise...not too expensive...yet performant.

[frizzyrazzy]

Let me start with the easy stuff:
acrobat reader is free. It will either be on your new computer or you can download it.
Excel, word, etc will all either come with your pc or if they don't you can use something free called Openoffice.org (same exact thing, only free) or you can buy MS office.

you want as much memory as you can get :) Don't worry about size of your hard drive, that used to be what people shopped for, now, they're all plenty big enough.

For the hardware, most computers that are sold as Home PC's have plenty of juice for home use. Here's one magazine's list for pc's:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,142808-page,1/article.html
laptops:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,123678-page,1/article.html

sometimes you might even get a better laptop than a cheap pc and that's a good option.

[twodoor2]

IBM makes the best and most durable laptops (I know, I've dropped my IBM laptop and it keeps on going!!). I wouldn't go with Dell again for any of my computer needs. The quality has really gone downhill, as well as the customer service.

[Lee]

It seems to me that PC manufacturers are really awesome for about 4 years, and then they go downhill - like with Compaq, GateWay, and now Dell - the biggies! Compaq and Hewlitt Packard are actually the same company now - so buy which ever one is cheaper. I like them, and I also like IBM - probably IBM or HP for a laptop.

As for memory, if you arn't doing alot of gaming - then run of the mill should work - if you want to spend a little extra, you will get a little extra ooommmphhh if you up your memory.

Ig I could go out an buy a computer - it would be a laptop - and it would be Sony...but they are pricey -the best - but to much money!

Oh - I say go laptop cause nothin beats sitting on the couch, drinking a glass of wine, watching tv, and surfing the web :eek:

[Sandy's mom]

I vote for Mac laptop...:D

[frizzyrazzy]

and something else, if you're inclined to order online, look at each company's business line of computers. Ofter they have better cooling systems (since they are meant to run all the time) and often they are cheaper and have more in them than those marketed for home use. They may not look as pretty (like a bigger tower for instance) but pound for pound you'll get a better system. and you might even be able to get one with win XP still in it. ;)

[CJ's Mom]

www.pcworld.com/article/id,123729-page,1/article.html

I am totally sold on the Acer Aspire series. I don't recall the model number I have (that's just one more number I don't find necessary to have to memorize) but it is similar to the 5920 (a bigger machine than the 5920 but actually paid $800 less than the 5920) shown in this article but has a keypad and a 17" screen. I was hesitant on running Vista but took the chance and love it. It's probably more of a super system than you're wanting but we do everyting on it. I chose to go with a laptop so I could take it to the library and work on genealogy or I can take it in any room of the house. And since we can only get crappy dial up at home, I can take it to work and plug it into the network and get downloads and updates quickly.

Bought mine from a local mom & pop busines www.marvinsshop.com. They have the machines in stock and before they go out the door they clean out all the garbage and trial programs that come pre installed.

I'm very well pleased with the laptop. It's been dropped and run through the mill. No problems so far.

Oh, and I love the blutooth capabilities. We have a bluetooth mouse and can also sync our Blackberries to the laptop via bluetooth.

[saxmaniac]

There's almost no point in getting a desktop these days, unless you have a specific application in mind. For me, I do lots of music editing on a 24" monitor, and no laptop will do that. The prices have really dropped on laptops. Your requirements are pretty basic, so I wouldn't spend more than $1000.

Tip: keep an eye on the Dell outlet store for a few days, and some incredible deals will come buy. Also google for "Dell coupon codes" for great deals.

If you really must have Word/Excel, etc, make sure it's bundled with Office. I don't bother. For my needs, I use an ancient copy of Excel 97 and/or OpenOffice which is totally free. Also, note the viewers for these applications are free. You only need them if you want to create or edit them. I set my Dad up with the free Powerpoint viewer because people kept sending him slides. He thought he was going to have to spend a few hundred to buy office.

[Sarah Maddie's Mom]

MacBook ;-)
Love mine :D

[ScottB]

IF is the key word here but if I had the $, I'd toss my PC and get a Mac or at least try to ditch Windows and get my PC to run Linux if I had the time and I can't help but wonder if Mac's current version of OS-X will work on my PC now that Mac is using Intel processors. Justin's already messing with Linux on his comp but is having a hard time finding a sound card driver.

If you do choose a PC, the best advice I can give you is spend the extra $ and get a fresh copy of Windows XP or Vista because most likely the preinstalled version of either Windows that comes with the comp is absolutely, positively loaded with spyware, adware and otherwise totally useless/worthless programs that you'll never use and slow the comp down.

I reinstalled XP Media Edition with the "rescue" CD that came with my HP Pavilion because it locked up after only having it for a week. Immediately afterwards I installed my antivirus program and it went totally nuts finding all the spyware, it even found a "trojan horse". It locked up again so I went and bought a "clean" copy of XP and now it runs like it should. Mine might be a worst case scenario but I definitely let HP know that I wasn't happy.

[Ellen]

(I can't wait for you to get off dial up and be able to watch videos:D. Good luck with your purchase. Figure out a way to hook it up to your exercise bike LOL. Pedaling and chatting is a fine combo and excuse to log on.)

[funnygrl]

I would buy a Dell desktop again but never a Dell laptop again.

I had my dell laptop replaced piece by piece time and time again the whole time I used it. It was gone a week each time. Very irritating. Never again.

I have a Macbook now. I LOVE it. If it's in your budget, I'd seriously look into that. They're awesome. It's the smallest, fastest, lightest, quietest, longest battery life holding computer I've ever used. I'm sure I'll be using Macs from now one.

Otherwise: Get at least Vista Home Premium for the OS (unless you want to stick with XP, which I don't think I would recommend). Avoid Vista Home Basic.

Get at least 1 gig of RAM, preferably 2.

Hard drive space is the more the merrier. At least 120 gigs for a laptop. At least 250 for a desktop (desktop hard drives are cheaper).

Never get Celeron processor. They stink. Stick with other Pentiums or AMD.

You can find good deals online at slickdeals.net if you're patient.

[StillMamamia]

(I can't wait for you to get off dial up and be able to watch videos:D. Good luck with your purchase. Figure out a way to hook it up to your exercise bike LOL. Pedaling and chatting is a fine combo and excuse to log on.)


Thanks Ellen for letting everyone know I've got dial-up...yep, I'm still living in the Middle Ages...well, we do have a Grand-Duke and a palace and castles. And no, the men don't wear tights (although I could use some Spanx leggings myself:eek:).

And great idea hooking up the laptop to the bike...I wonder where you got that idea from :confused::D

[twodoor2]

Thanks Ellen for letting everyone know I've got dial-up...yep, I'm still living in the Middle Ages...well, we do have a Grand-Duke and a palace and castles. And no, the men don't wear tights (although I could use some Spanx leggings myself:eek:).

OMG, You crack me up!!!:p

[EmmasPapa]

Here is an option you may want to consider. I have bought several IBM/Lenovo laptops on EBay and have been very satisfied. Many of the laptops sold there are new items or used with a remaining factory warranty. Here is an example (http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Thinkpad-T61-2Ghz-1GB-RAM-15-4-80GB-HD-XP_W0QQitemZ250251476874QQihZ015QQcategoryZ177QQss PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting ) There are some really good buys available.

I was in the computer business for 30+ years and am partial to IBM laptops but my next laptop will probably be a Macbook.:eek:

All of the advice above has been good. Lots of memory is key!

[Jensmami]

MAC all the way:D If you want a deskop the IMAC has a great screen and no box (saves space) and I love my Ibook laptop, it is already a little old but I would never go back to a windows PC.

And something else, if you don't like your pc to be taken over by a virus, go for a MAC!!

Everybody on here knows how healthy an APPLE is:D:p;)

[StillMamamia]

MAC all the way:D If you want a deskop the IMAC has a great screen and no box (saves space) and I love my Ibook laptop, it is already a little old but I would never go back to a windows PC.

And something else, if you don't like your pc to be taken over by a virus, go for a MAC!!

Everybody on here knows how healthy an APPLE is:D:p;)


This is what a friend of ours (DH and I) told us re virus. Why is that?

DH really wants a MAC, but CW (Cheap Wife...not in that way, you guys!) refuses to get something so expensive...but if it's virus-proof...I don't know...