a new desktop

[BobT]

Originally Posted By: Iambjm

PC or Mac, Chevy or Ford.......We all use what we are most comfortable with.

Yes Sir

I believe you mean, yes ma'am.

[JPSavage]

I just purchased an E-Machine at WalMart for $395.00.....Windows 7 , 6 G Ram,750 G hard drive, AMD dual core processor-2.70, with about as much software as you will need....A great buy, and I love it.........HP and Dell both were much higher for a comparable system.......I fully expected to pay more, but, was pleasantly surprised.

[spearchucker]

I just purchased an E-Machine at WalMart for $395.00.....Windows 7 , 6 G Ram,750 G hard drive, AMD dual core processor-2.70, with about as much software as you will need....A great buy, and I love it.........HP and Dell both were much higher for a comparable system.......I fully expected to pay more, but, was pleasantly surprised.

Not a bad deal, but E-Machine and other cheaper models are notorious for cheap power supplies. Just make sure to have backups of anything important. People don't realize what they have lost until it is gone...

[bassNspear]

so heres the deal, i have it down to a dell and a hp, and want to go and get one this weekend.

What do you all think i should get?

[upnorth]

Both are good brands, but lately I have been leaning towards HP. But I really don't think you would be making a mistake with either of them.

[bassNspear]

why you leaning towards HP?

[upnorth]

Mostly support. Dell isn't awful, but HP seems to be a bit quicker acting lately.

[bassNspear]

do you have a preference of what one to get if your looking dell or hp?

[BoxMN]

Max out the ram and get a 24" or larger LCD monitor

I have alienware right now, but I don't put much stock into actual brands of computers. I have gateway, dell, Micron, homebuilt, alienware, and have used HPs. I guess I would lean towards Dell over HP, but I would go based upon the machine specs for the price

Good luck! But get the hugest LCD monitor you can afford, you won't be sorry

[CJH]

Not to highjack the thread, but how do you like your alienware? I am looking at the new M11x for a small, portable machine.

We've had both Dell and HP and they both have been good, no problems, no complaints.

[BoxMN]

The Alienware has been good. Only problem was a bad stick of memory, and this beast (it is physically huge) is about 5 years old and still going strong.

P4 dual 3.2GHz with XP. Top of line at the time, and so far still my workhorse. I am not as much a gamer anymore, or I should say hardcore gamer... more casual now, as I make console games, casual style...

My boss had a really cool laptop, can't recall model, but he liked it.

[CJH]

Thanks. I am leaning towards it and nothing you have said has dissuaded me!!!

[walleyewild]

Bass N Spear,

IMO If I were looking for a new desktop computer I would look at General Nanosystems, my desktop was still going strong when I retired it a couple of years ago, when the monitor went out and had switched over to a laptop.

They don't add all of the junk software like the major manufacturers do, and if you want to add something to the box or have a problem with it they are local. And their prices are comparable to BB and the rest.

Hard to beat walk in service at their store.

WW

[merkman]

so heres the deal, i have it down to a dell and a hp, and want to go and get one this weekend.

What do you all think i should get?

You will do fine with either brand.

But my only comment is don't waste your money on a desktop, get a laptop and use it as a desktop (less mess, fewer cables, etc) then when you want to go mobile you still can.

Once you go laptop you will never go back.

Some of my suggestions for a laptop are:

At least a 15" MATTE screen (not the glossy ones)

Bluetooth is very nice for wireless headphones and wirelessly downloading photos from the phone.

A built in card reader for downloading pics from the camera is very nice too.

[simple1]

I just picked up an 18inch laptop for my wife for 699. Good deal and big enough to fit your desktop mode.

[jwhjr]

We've gone to laptop only in our house too. It's just more convienent for what we need them for.

[Whoaru99]

i'll be using my same old MAC ...

Exactly.

I like PC because I build my own and can choose components and or upgrade bits and pieces as necessary/as I go. For a few bucks here and there, I can keep my setup pretty fresh for a long time.

Back to the main point...

IMO, lots of people these days buy WAY, WAY more computer than they need. Actually editing (ie Photoshop) on large, high res images does require some horsepower, but not that many people actually do that sort of thing. Simply transferring files from computer to iPod, or camera pics to computer and resizing them for email isn't all that CPU intensive, and speed in that regard is typically limited by USB (or Firewire) transfer anyway.

[bassNspear]

i have 3 lap tops! I just want to get a desk top for hte house. I use my lap top for everything else outside the house!

[bassNspear]

im going to go with a dell. Good thing i waited, just found out i get a 7% discount through my work! Nice to have some perks

[Mnfisher]

I don't know a whole lot about computers although I've had one for 10 years or so...Most recent is a Dell and have good luck for the most part with it...never had one with an AMD processor. My question: The computer guy at work recently told me to go with an intel processor over an amd processor. I haven't heard anyone here mention the difference between the two. What do others think?

Thanks

[upnorth]

In a business environment I am pretty adamant about sticking with Intel, but the laptop I am keying this message in from is sporting an AMD Turion X2 and I will say there is nothing wrong with it at least for general use. I am not a big gamer and I don't do elaborate graphics, photo stuff or making movies. Would I buy another one, yep.

[Nick Kuhn]

AMD currently cannot compete in the higher end systems. If you are looking for budget builds that don't require a lot of power, AMD will suit you just fine. If you want some power, you are best off going Intel. I haven't followed mobile processors all that closely so I couldn't tell you which is better for laptops. One thing to watch though is both's current processor line-up. Buy something currently in the line-up, not something that is being removed from production.

[JollyT]

Up to mid line AMD actually offers better bang for the buck. Gamers like AMD as they throw all their money into high end GPUs and almost all games aren't multithreaded. If you're running Photoshop or Autocad all day buy Intel, probably an i7. Ditto if you're doing a lot of video or audio editing.

If you're just web surfing and doing office productivity type things, just about any chip out there will be fast enough.

[Mnfisher]

I like to store and send photo's and make slideshows, otherwise, just web surfing and routine stuff. Probably will go with an intel processor to be safe and that is what I have been familiar with. Thanks

[upnorth]

Pretty much what I do with mine and it works fine with an AMD. But can't blame anyone for going with the bigger name either. This is my first AMD and was a bit leery too.