Seeking Pc Recomendation

[Samrc]

I was given the most unusual gift for Christmas today: a leaf vacuum/mulcher/blower. My brother insisted that it be demonstrated in the living room in front of others. I turned it on in the blower mode and blew $100 bills all over the living room. IT was like being in a candid camera episode. You should have seen people scrambling for them! Well I can now afford a new pc and finally dump my Micron WinME machine that groans, moans and creaks when warming up (It's tired!)

 

I work with images, web stuff and burn my cds into mp3s for my own use. Not a gamer per se, but want a decent audio/video capability for DVD's.

 

Is there anything I should stay away from?

Anything that is strongly recommended?

Anything re speed, front bus, color (), etc that I should definitely look for?

 

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

-Samantha

[LisaJill]

*whistles innocently* and *smiles happily*. Edited December 25, 2004 by TCH-Lisa

[Head Guru]

of course dont by a apple.

 

yuck

[LisaJill]

*blinks at Bill*

[Samrc]

Guess that apples are not on the menu this evening since I get this error when I go to those links:

 

SORRY. Your session has timed out after a period of inactivity. Please return to the Store Menu to continue shopping.

 

I have one more criteria for machine...compatible with my work programs (all running on XP).

 

-Samantha

[TCH-Bruce]

I like Sony machines

[LisaJill]

That's becauase it was the store, go to apple.com, click on Store and look at the imac and powermac. =)

[TCH-Dick]

If i was to buy a pre built pc it would either be a dell or an emachine (yes i DID in fact say emachine )

 

From past exp Dell has great support and the prices arent to bad either. Before about 6 months ago I would have NEVER recommended an emachine but TCH bought me one for work and it has been solid as a rock.

 

I wouldnt recomend an "out of the box" pc, meaning its all preconfigged and all you do is unpack it and plug it in. What I would do is either order one online where you can configure it how you want (more ram, better vid card etc) or go somewhere you can order it built how you want.

 

The main thing I would look at are RAM and video card, at a bare minimum I'd get a gig of RAM and minimum 128MB video card as well. If your an Intel fan your better off staying away from a celeron and getting a P4, theres less L2 cache on the celeron and more cache on the proc would do you some good with any processor intensive stuff (like working with graphics) Theres also basicly 3 flavors of P4 as far front side bus speeds go, theres 400, 533 and 800MHz front side bus.

 

If your an AMD fan at a bare minimum I'd say an XP 3200, unless you wanted to get into a 64 bit processor then theres a lot more choices (just stay away from socket 754 if you go that route)

[tattoovampire]

If i was to buy a pre built pc it would either be a dell or an emachine (yes i DID in fact say emachine )

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I'll have to say Dell, also. I've always bought no-name barebones machines and added desired components to them, but name brand PCs have gotten so cheap, and so easy to customize online, that I finally went that route and bought a Dell Dimension 2400 early this year.

[Samrc]

My Micron was special ordered with components I wanted. Reached as far as I could (was upgrading from win95) and got an AMD that still performs most of the time. Use P3 and P4 at office but really don't know the difference between Pentium and AMD...think I heard a long time ago that AMD runs hotter. Is that still so, or was that a wives tale? Is there any special reason to go with one over the other?

 

gig of ram? ok...I would not have thought about that! Have been running 512 on my old machine but the extra elbow room would be nice.

 

Expected to hear Dell brought up in the mix, but was surprised by emachines. Was not impressed with the HP machines I have worked on. The only mac I used was a 1991 version (WAY ahead of windows). Don't know how easy it would be for me to use one again after being in a window environ so long.

 

-Samantha

[LisaJill]

OSX is *very very very* easy to use, and lightyears ahead of Windows, imo. But if you have bought alot of windows software, you may want to consider that in the process.

[Betty1]

I'm using a Dell right now and I love it.

 

I've used Gateway, which I will never use again. And I used Compaq which I'm not too impressed with.

 

But I love my Dell. Got ownership of it through Rent-A-Center because I couldn't afford to pay outright for one and layaway wasn't an option because I couldn't of gotten it out in time.

 

 

But perhaps one of you can give advice to my brother when it comes to computers. He goes for the cheapest used one he can find. He bought his first one at a pawn shop for $100.00. Lasted him a few months before it died. And now he's going to a flea market for one. He wanted me to copy my XP Operating System onto a CD for him so he wouldn't have to go out and buy out. He wanted to put XP on a Win95 system, that had only one CD drive. Told him I don't think you can run XP on your system anyways.

[Madmanmcp]

This just came up last month...see what was mentioned then.

 

http://www.totalchoicehosting.com/forums/i...indpost&p=95721

[Samrc]

Thanks fo rthe link. Wonder what Beth ended up getting?

 

-Samantha

[annie]

Laughs

 

XP on a Windows 95 machine? Now that I gotta see!

 

Those usually have no USB, and the ram is usually way on the I AM A SPAMMER side. 64 was pretty good back then. Some came with 32 and in the beginning they came with 16!

 

Hard drive space was around 6 gigabyte. Towards the end upped to around 20 gigabyte.

 

No, tell him to forget about it, and do NOT give him your registration number. If he insists on being laughable, tell him to be that way on his own time.

[tattoovampire]

But perhaps one of you can give advice to my brother when it comes to computers. He goes for the cheapest used one he can find. He bought his first one at a pawn shop for $100.00. Lasted him a few months before it died. And now he's going to a flea market for one. He wanted me to copy my XP Operating System onto a CD for him so he wouldn't have to go out and buy out. He wanted to put XP on a Win95 system, that had only one CD drive. Told him I don't think you can run XP on your system anyways.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He wouldn't be able to register a copy of your XP install CD anyhow, since its key is now tied to your system. Besides, there is no way his Win95-era system would be able to run XP.

[Samrc]

XP on a Windows 95 machine? Now that I gotta see!

 

Those usually have no USB, and the ram is usually way on the I AM A SPAMMER side. 64 was pretty good back then. Some came with 32 and in the beginning they came with 16!

 

Hard drive space was around 6 gigabyte. Towards the end upped to around 20 gigabyte.

 

No, tell him to forget about it, and do NOT give him your registration number. If he insists on being laughable, tell him to be that way on his own time.

 

Don't laugh...I had a pentium 133 win95 that had 8 ram, 1gig hard drive (240mb used up with programs) and ran many programs from my external zip100 drive! I upgraded ram to 64 and thought I was in great shape for YEARS (I came from dos era with 10mb bernoulli boxes and the thought of 1gig of storage was unbelieveable!)

 

From there I went to my current ME with 1.0gig processor, 40gig hard drive, 512 ram, internal 250 zip drive and again, I thought I was flying HIGH.... And here we are ready to upgrade again!

 

Leaps and bounds.

 

My brother is running a 266 with win 2000 and wants to upgrade to XP. TOLD HIM NO...Break down and buy a new unit! Only thing new that he buys is motorcycle parts!

 

-Samantha

[Deverill]

Samantha,

Tell your brother to go get his own copy because, as much as you love him (if that's the case ) the numbers are all tracked and he could drag you down with him for stealing... Sure, it's not as likely that MS would come after you "little guys" but who knows what they'll do with the info later.

 

I agree with everything Mike said except the last experience I had with emachines was about 5 years ago and they stank at that time... but things change. I have Dell for my desktop and love it to death - especially the way they let you customize everything. I have an HP laptop that (long story) I had to get because of the circumstances and didn't expect as much out of it but it's been way better than I expected. I had an HP desktop that was a major pain (it quit working with my HP printer) and the support was a nightmare! Those guys had me running in circles for 10 months and I got ticked and trashed the computer! I use a higher-end Compaq at work and it's been fine but to buy new I'd go Dell.

 

Of course, everyone has their own preferences and most of them are based on personal horror stories so take all this for what it's worth (not much.)

 

Congrats on your "lettuce" blower and the ability to get a new toy! Just make sure you pick the one you want instead of settling for something less.

[Head Guru]

Just my 2 cents.

 

find a local PC shop. One with a good Rep and been around awhile.

 

While they might be a tad more expensive, nothing beats local service.

 

Plus it helps the local business economy

 

Bill

[Hockeypuck]

Just my 2 cents.

 

find a local PC shop.  One with a good Rep and been around awhile.

 

While they might be a tad more expensive, nothing beats local service.

 

Plus it helps the local business economy

 

Bill

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I go to a place in Ann Arbor called Amtech Computers. My Dad and I have built two machines with parts all bought from them.

[annie]

My next machine will probably be bought with this halfway expensive box from a music store close by. They're quiet and wonderful. And then custom built from then on. By using stuff I already have, it shouldn't be too bad, though still more than an eMachine.

[TCH-Bruce]

Dell is running a 20% off desktops priced over $1199.00 deal. Check out www.techbargains.com for the code to use.

 

From TechBargains:

20% off select online Desktop Desktops $1199+

Coupon Code:GBM?7353?X5T31 Exp Tu 1/4/05 5:59am CT

Edited December 27, 2004 by TCH-Bruce

[tattoovampire]

Just my 2 cents.

 

find a local PC shop.  One with a good Rep and been around awhile.

 

While they might be a tad more expensive, nothing beats local service.

 

Plus it helps the local business economy

 

Bill

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's what I used to do. Sadly, when WalMart opened in this area, followed by Sam's Club, they drove the mom 'n pop computer stores out of business.

[Samrc]

Tell your brother to go get his own copy because, as much as you love him (if that's the case ) the numbers are all tracked and he could drag you down with him for stealing... Sure, it's not as likely that MS would come after you "little guys" but who knows what they'll do with the info later.

 

Jim, I'm not the one with the brother that wants a pirated copy of windows. That was someone else (Betty1). I was commiserating with her because I have a brother that just wants to make his 266 run forever and wants to upgrade it to xp next if possible. Let me make this clear...I do not share software that is purchased! I will gladly pass on shareware/freeware suggestions, ex Irfanview. I have been offered free copies of (..&..&..) and turned them down because I know I have no right to them. As far as I am concerned, it's stealing. Makes me a fuddy-duddy to most people, but I'm, comfortable with that.

 

Will take a look at techbargains and see what I find.

Already planned to take a look at "Cheap Guys" here in Orlando. They have repaired a couple friends machines and they supposedly build decent systems. I've bought PIECES from them, not full systems. My only concern there is warranty. Dell or other major manufacturer may have better warranty...

 

I ordered a nice photo printer yesterday (with scanner built-in) since my old scanner died about a month ago. Saw a monitor I was drooling on but will wait (till it goes off-sale) until I get a new pc...may get a better deal.

 

-Samantha

[jnull]

I have had wonderful results with:

 

Dell

eMachines (now owned by Gateway)

Sony

WinBook

Acer

 

I have had bad results with

 

Compaq

 

I have had mediocre results with

 

HP

[Deverill]

Jim, I'm not the one with the brother that wants a pirated copy of windows.  That was someone else (Betty1).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry, all you posters look the same. Sorry also if it seemed I was saying you did share (euphemism for pirate) software. In fact, fuddy duddy or not I think it's great you stand by your decision.

[jslagle]

Sam, we have a couple of fairly new Dell desktops and one Dell notebook we use in the home businesses. All were reasonably priced and are performing flawlessly.

 

We also have two Toshiba Tecra laptops, an imac and an ibook. No problems there either.

 

Also there is an antique HP LH dual pentium 350 server in the basement. Only downtime in 6 years was a couple of hours last May when we moved. I'm not going to talk about the time I decided to upgrade its ram and ordered the wrong p/n

 

At work my folks have 12 Dell desktops, 10 Tecra laptops, and a couple more antique LH's. No problems with any of them either other than self inflicted wounds induced by our it department.

 

At both the home office and at work I've had problems with Compaq and HP desktops.

 

If I needed another desktop I would go with Dell and if it was a laptop I would get another Tecra.

[annie]

I talked to one of the really big warehouses that sell computers. They say the Toshiba laptops are the ones with less returns. Mine are Toshibas and I'm really pleased with the keyboard on the big one.