Need a New Computer Any Suggestions?

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

It is time to replace one of our computers, 8 years old, to slow, etc. any suggestions? I have a budget of say $1500-2000, perhaps a few $$ if it makes a big difference. Dell, IBM, no name brand, what is the best? Would like to burn DVD’s from the video camera and CD for music and of course digital camera storage and editing, and cannot forget video games. I looked at the various mfg web sites and get overwhelmed. Looking for a desk top, do not need a printer or a monitor. Buy now or wait until the holidays?? Brick and mortar store or direct from say Dell?? Thanks for your help.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Most people reject the brand, but Apple consistently is rated highest by its users, as well as highest quality. I own an office complex full of Windows machines but I switched to an Apple and would never go back to Windows. In the past 2 years I think my computer "crashed" one time. Prior to that, my Dell would crash 2 times a day. Of the 30 or so PC's in the office, I'd say they crash an average of more than one time each week. We strictly control the software, many have no internet access so downloads and viruses are minimal issues, they crash because of Microsoft glitches or hardware incompatibility or some other obsure thing. We've also found the cost of ownership of the Apple is lower because the software needs to be upgraded far less often. I also switched to Apple for my home network and have two laptops a wireless base station, wireless repeater station, two printers and I can sit in any room (or for that matter on the porch) and print to which ever printer I want to, connect to the internet while walking between rooms, etc. The stuff just works and configuration is often automatic and done by the system.

 

[SteveH_CT]

I recently left a job as a MIS Manager for a good size health care group... I've bought Dell, Gateway, and HP. Of what's out there right now, the HP's were better built machines. They were more solidly constructed, and had noticibly better quality power supplies. I got the impression that the machine was better thought out than the Gateway. We installed wireless cards in the HP's because the Gateway's riser card lacked the room for a full height PCI card.

My opinion is all in reference to corporate machines. I haven't bought a "home PC" in a few years. How long do you plan to keep the PC? If you go real cheap, you'll get real cheap. I frequently go to www.cnet.com and www.pcworld.com to compare reviews. If you want to get techy, check out www.tomshardware.com.

Good Luck.

 

[texbaylea]

I have always built my own. I started back in the mid 70's with a CPM machine. At the budget you are mentioning you could have a really fine machine. Top of the line motherboard and power supply and exactly the video and other functions (brands) you want.

Dell and others have special coding in the BIOS that limit the upgrading you can do.

There are good manuals that will guide you through the project.

Vernon

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Dell has the following on sale
Dimension XPS desktops 30% Off Instantly

Any good?

Sale is only good until Thursday

 

[GRUMPA]

I have had my fill of pre-made computers. 1 thing they all have in common is the fact the all use their own version of windows. Meaning if you buy 1 that uses lets say windows XP, your NOT going to go to the store if theirs a problem and buy XP off the shelf and expect it to work, IT WONT. I've had Dell, HP,IBM, Gateway, and with exception of 1 they were garbage from the start. And most if not all WILL pollute the computer with all types of stuff to buy, I've worked for hours on some getting rid of all that cr*p it makes my head spin.

Most, if theirs a problem will fix it (if its under warranty). After that your on your own. HP you call on your dime not theirs and theirs alot of bad feedback from the HP users. I built my wifes comp from using new parts and disecting her old one, total cost was just over $300. I put in a DVD burner later for another $100. Personally I'm a very heavy gamer and play military style games online ALOT. I built mine for speed and it works just wonderfully.

Putting one together for some folks is scarry because they dont know how. Thats what the internet is for (and most 11yr olds) took me all of a day reading up on them and put it together myself. Parts can only go in 1 way its simply really and you dont have to worry about calling someone for a fix. When mine goes on the fritz I re-formatt and start all over ( of course I back up EVEYTHING thats important to me).

I would never again buy garbage (pre-made) computers again. After building my own for under $400 total (each machine) I learned more about computers than I really want to know and found out how the big companies try and corner the market with their products for the people that just dont know any better.

If you just want 1 to get on the net, a pre-made one will more than likely fit your needs. But if you really want one that you can add on to, learn while you reap the knowledge of building your own and have everything at your fingertips, build your own.

One more thing I noticed, you mentioned games. Most if not all pre-made comps come with MICROBOARDS meaning small. If you think that with modern games like DOOM 3 and Half life 2 can play on those think again. Microboards dont come with video cards they use micro chips. Not very adequette with those types of games. And from what I've woked on most if not all dont even come with an A.G.P. port(accelerated graphics port) which is what you need. The best you can do is use the P.C.I. slot and thats terribly slow.

If your at all interested in building just pm me, I could go on for hours on this. Tell you the best/cheapest place to get parts and what types/kind work best.

 

[Dozernut]

You might take a look at the Sony Vaio VGC-RA826GKIT9P Sony Home Page. With the rebate it puts it in the ballpark figure you mentioned. A liguid cooled multi-media pc that packs a punch with a 19" Sony flat panel monitor, plus free shipping. We are in the process of replacing our antiquated Gateway and it looks like this is the way we will go.

 

[BillyP]

For what it's worth, I'm on my second Dell. I don't think you'll find a better company out there. Their warranty and tech support is top notch. Unless something drastically changes, my next computer will be another Dell.

 

[hobbyfarm]

I work in the IT dept for a college and we've gone strictly to Dells and they are the hottest OEM computer right now. When there is a problem, they stand behind the equipment really well. Warranty problems are handled Next Day Air.
We were having problems with IBM, Gateway, Compaq, and HP [although all our servers are now HPs and Compaqs]. The workstations that the students use [abuse] are Dells and they have been pretty durable.
I ordered one for myself and have not have even a restart in a year and a half! Plus it boots in about twenty seconds.
Model 4600, 2.6GHz, 1.0 GB RAM, and at the time I ordered it, since I ordered on the internet, they threw in a flat panel display. Ordered it on a Sunday and it arrived Wednesday.
Paid about 1,300.
phil

 

[California]

On this one you are going to get responses from all directions!

I like Dell portables, I have one out at the ranch and a daughter is using another for her semester abroad in India. Features and reliability are excellent.

For home use I prefer to build a clone every couple of years with the latest features.

This time I started with a Fry's Athlon 2400 because it costs little more than the cost of the Win XP license. It was only $299 including 40gb HD and 128mb ram. So far as I can see there are no proprietary parts in it, everything is industry-standard generic stuff as good as HP etc uses.
See: http://shop3.outpost.com/product/4199323

(Fry's is a huge West Coast based pc retailer).

The $299 includes integrated video (which drives this 21" monitor fine) plus an AGP slot if you want to add a gamer's high speed video card. Also a network card on the motherboard, and an integrated card reader for camera cards - SD, CompactFlash, and two others I don't recognise. I added 512k ram, a $49 Fry's DVD burner, and the 120gb hd from my previous pc.

As another poster pointed out this generic approach avoids Dell or IBM's modified version of Windows. And I'm not convinced that buying name brand improves reliability. The only component that has failed on me in years was an IBM brand 60gb HD. I later learned that *all* of IBM 60gb hd's (Deskstar) were lemons, near 100% failure rate.

Of course clones have no 1-800 tech support but I don't miss it.

This approach isn't for everyone but I thought I would pass it along for the DIY types here.