Xhumeka
Well-known member
Dell has a good deal on the Studio XPS 9100 series... just got one of these for work and they are pretty slick. Not bad for $999 (if you don't want to build your own):
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Best Place For New Computer
- Thread starter Hardwrkr13
- Start date
the problem with some one else building Hardwrkr13 a computer is if there are issues down the road, who's going to provide support? thats what you pay for with the OEM. got a problem? call them any time day or night and they will walk you through fixing it over the phone. Link's offer to build the computer probably doesn't include having you phone him at 3am because windows update isn't working properly. Hardwrkr13 has admitted to not being tech savvy so if they can't build a computer (very easy thing to do) do you think they are adept at fixing software or hardware issues. if the mother board fries who does Hardwrkr13 call?
toshison
Well-known member
Man, that is beyond total overkill for what Im guessing the OP needs. Its sounds like all he needs is a basic PC/laptop for mulimedia and web surfing.
OP, it sounds like you'd probably do just fine spending around the $500 dollar mark.
Of course, if you want more power, HDMI output, nice graphics card etc.. etc... then you can spend more. With computer buying you should start by establishing your budget first and then find the right mix of features/functionality that suits your budget. Any PC sold in this day and age will be much better then your 8 year old PC and will likely impress you and do everything you want it to do.
My preference these days is to go with a solid manufacturer like Asus, Toshiba or Sony and to get a laptop with HDMI output as its great for connecting to TVs.
Be sure to recycle your old PC when you get the new one. In fact, I think best buy will give you a $100 discount if you do that.
RedFlagDeals has a thread on a loaded laptop from BestBuy at about $460 right now. Can't remember if this one does but many new laptops have HDMI ports and some pretty good sound and video cards. Using an external monitor like some have suggested is great, docks are wonderful things too. I have a dock with my laptop connected to a large LCD monitor, external hard drive, DVD burner, external keyboard and mouse and USB power for charging the GoPro etc. All I do is click a button and lift up the laptop and I'm ready to go, just do the reverse for connecting, no playing with cables.
Oh yes..last hint..if you do get a PC or a laptop...best bang for your buck for performance is RAM. For Windows 7 you want at least 4GB...more is better and RAM is cheap right now.
Oh yes..last hint..if you do get a PC or a laptop...best bang for your buck for performance is RAM. For Windows 7 you want at least 4GB...more is better and RAM is cheap right now.
Xhumeka
Well-known member
I agree, but it's better to "overkill" when buying than get the bare minimum - otherwise you'll be shopping again in a year's time.
For $999 this computer will probably satisfy the OP for another 5-7 years.
Thanks but yeah that's overkill for what I need. I'm all for going big and having it last but I'm pretty sure I can do it at a smaller price-point. And Ike that all-in-one compared to the laptop I posted earlier just doesn't really standout at the same price (and the all-in-one has 2GB less RAM).
Like cruisngirl stated I'd really like ot stay larger chain in case of a problem. Thanks though for the offers to build one for me. Henestly if I knew what I was doing it would likely be the best way to go.
I"ve been looking all over at all the places suggested and that Acer laptop that I posted earlier still seems to be the best deal and it gets great reviews. Unless anyone has anything better (or negative to say on it) I'll likely grab it today while it's on sale. And if so, would this be a good monitor to pair it with?
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=58521&vpn=G2222HDL&manufacture=BenQ&promoid=1367
Like cruisngirl stated I'd really like ot stay larger chain in case of a problem. Thanks though for the offers to build one for me. Henestly if I knew what I was doing it would likely be the best way to go.
I"ve been looking all over at all the places suggested and that Acer laptop that I posted earlier still seems to be the best deal and it gets great reviews. Unless anyone has anything better (or negative to say on it) I'll likely grab it today while it's on sale. And if so, would this be a good monitor to pair it with?
http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=58521&vpn=G2222HDL&manufacture=BenQ&promoid=1367
Build it yourself, just buy all the parts and put it together. Look up some guides on the internet, there are tons of parts lists/combinations/installation guides. That's what I did. You'll end up saving about $200 vs buying a pre-built computer.
toshison
Well-known member
Maybe you'll save $200 if you are building a more high-end machine but when it comes to building a basic PC's there really isn't much of a difference anymore. If you get a good sale, its probably cheaper to buy prebuilt. To top it off, he won't get a manufacturer warranty and if he is unfamiliar with building one then it will likely take a while with the potential to F things up. Buying prebuilt will also get you a copy of Windows where most folks with technical know-how that build their own PCs tend to get illegal software to run it (im guilty of this in the past) and thats one of the areas where they save money.
Historically I have always built my computers from components but I find its not worth it anymore unless you need something specific or a lot of horsepower in the case.
buying a 1/2 decent computer now is worth while. also remember some OEM's have different tiers of support for different products.
www.tigerdirect.ca
i bought a $389 laptop from them (im on it right now) and its still lightning fast with no issues. It's a gateway and I know what everyone is going to say, but i have 2 and both have never given me a reason not to love them.
i've owned 2 HP's 1 died and the other's battery blew.
I've owned a dell that is slow as hell now. my gf has a dell thats slow as hell now.
and my sister had a compaq who's monitor stoped working. she's now using an acer and is happy with it.
(my work computer is an acer and its been pretty good)
i saw this one that might be worth a look, great core.
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=835530&sku=T71-22020 CA
i bought a $389 laptop from them (im on it right now) and its still lightning fast with no issues. It's a gateway and I know what everyone is going to say, but i have 2 and both have never given me a reason not to love them.
i've owned 2 HP's 1 died and the other's battery blew.
I've owned a dell that is slow as hell now. my gf has a dell thats slow as hell now.
and my sister had a compaq who's monitor stoped working. she's now using an acer and is happy with it.
(my work computer is an acer and its been pretty good)
i saw this one that might be worth a look, great core.
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=835530&sku=T71-22020 CA
Try a clean installation of Windows, on those 'slow as hell' computers, and watch the performance return.
The store he bought it from. The standard 1 year warranty still applies to all your parts whether you buy it OEM-built or build it your own.
IN FACT...an OEM computer's hard drive will only have a one year warranty because its all sold together as a package.
If you go to any computer store and buy your own hard drive, most of them are 3 years warranty and the higher end ones are even 5 years.
My motherboard had a 2 year warranty.
Unless you pay EXTRA to the OEMs, you just get one year warranty.
You do make a good point that the OP can save a bit of money by having one built for him by any of the computer savvy people on this board, but when he has an issue he doesn't have anyone to call. Whoever puts his PC together for 50$ has no obligation to assist him.
Also another thing to point out is that everyone's standard of "computer savvy" is completely different.
Putting pieces together with connectors and slots that are all unique and impossible to mess up is super easy.
Configuring the hardware to work at optimum performance is another thing...
@ OP: As some have mentioned, it's back to school time. Sales are everywhere and every manufacturer wants to shove their products down your throat.
The best thing to do right now is to set yourself a pricepoint, find one that has pleasing numbers and then just buy it.
You can look for months and months at all the available computers and eventually get drowned in all the numbers and specs.
The rule is: Whatever you buy today will become outdated in 6 months.
And according to your first post, basically any computer on today's market will stream videos and play your Contour movies. Even a netbook.
Don't lose sleep over picking a computer and looking at 14 different websites.
I have a friend who "doesn't know anything about computers" and he asked me to pick one for him. He told me what it was going to be for and a price (school and 500$~).
I searched my favorite site and sent him 3 different ones, and I pointed out which one I would personally buy, and then he bought it.
Came in the mail a few days later and he brought it straight to my house so that I could reformat it (the OEM bloatwares are what slow down your computer so bad).
He's happier than a pig in **** at how smooth it runs now.
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Just saw this on sale at Futureshop.... looks like a good deal and substantially less $$ than the Acer. If you are getting a second screen, it doesnt matter much that the laptop has a smaller screen http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/id/10176486.aspx?CMP=NLC-ALL-110902
Cheap monitors to consider:
Calypso 22" 1680x1050 on sale this week for $99.99 at Factory Direct http://www.factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=CA0023
Calypso 24" 1920x1200 at Factory Direct for $129.99 http://www.factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=CA0024
I dont know anything about Calypso monitors but they are sold by Bestbuy and Staples as well. Here is the manufacturers website.... http://calypsolcd.com/index.php
I would say that most LCD monitors on the market today are decent enough for most users. Graphics professionals may need better than standard for more accurate colour rendition etc. and gamers might need faster response times to eliminate ghosting on fast action games. These monitors don't have HDMI inputs, but they have DVI...its the same thing except DVI doesnt carry sound. You will need a cable that has HDMI on one end, and DVI on the other to connect it (or use the VGA connection.)
Cheap monitors to consider:
Calypso 22" 1680x1050 on sale this week for $99.99 at Factory Direct http://www.factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=CA0023
Calypso 24" 1920x1200 at Factory Direct for $129.99 http://www.factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=CA0024
I dont know anything about Calypso monitors but they are sold by Bestbuy and Staples as well. Here is the manufacturers website.... http://calypsolcd.com/index.php
I would say that most LCD monitors on the market today are decent enough for most users. Graphics professionals may need better than standard for more accurate colour rendition etc. and gamers might need faster response times to eliminate ghosting on fast action games. These monitors don't have HDMI inputs, but they have DVI...its the same thing except DVI doesnt carry sound. You will need a cable that has HDMI on one end, and DVI on the other to connect it (or use the VGA connection.)
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Thanks for the help everyone. I ordered the Acer laptop (out of stock at my local stores). When it arrives I'll try it out and if I like it I'll grab a monitor to pair it with.
Looks like it has a great parts list, is def much more than I need which means it'll last me years, has lots of great reviews, and everyone I know has had good success with Acers.
Can anyone suggest a good cheap wireless router (for in-home, just using one laptop)?
Looks like it has a great parts list, is def much more than I need which means it'll last me years, has lots of great reviews, and everyone I know has had good success with Acers.
Can anyone suggest a good cheap wireless router (for in-home, just using one laptop)?
my work laptop , IBM, is now 9 yrs old , 2 usb ports, multi cardreader, hdmi output. Its needed cleaned up a few times but seems bulletproof. It was 2k. The same equivalent today is $6oo bucks.
It has software in it I have never used . There are 3 other laptops and 2 desksets in the house of mixed heritage, We do regular stuff on them , photo editing, projects for school, spreadsheets for work and surf porn.
To really stay current you'd need to buy a machine every 6 months. I haven't met the guy yet that needs the "new fastest best", wants are different. My friends that sit in front of one all day doing fairly powerful stuff, graphic design and video production don't have machines more current than 2 yrs back.
The arms race in computers is driven by a public that "needs" more power and an industry than must introduce better every couple months to keep us buying.
It has software in it I have never used . There are 3 other laptops and 2 desksets in the house of mixed heritage, We do regular stuff on them , photo editing, projects for school, spreadsheets for work and surf porn.
To really stay current you'd need to buy a machine every 6 months. I haven't met the guy yet that needs the "new fastest best", wants are different. My friends that sit in front of one all day doing fairly powerful stuff, graphic design and video production don't have machines more current than 2 yrs back.
The arms race in computers is driven by a public that "needs" more power and an industry than must introduce better every couple months to keep us buying.
There was HDMI on laptops 9 years ago?
HDMI was designed in Dec 2002 and produced in 2003.
At the TigerDirect tech desks I saw this huuuuuge computer case and said a comment on its massiveness.
The "technician" said "Oh yeah it's ginormous and is 100% custom. Customer dropped 7k$ on it and doesn't even know what he wants to use it for."
I walked away in disbelief. With 7k$ any one of us on this forum can buy a decent motorcycle and full gear and get a lot more enjoyment from life than that monster PC could ever provide (in my opinion anyways, i know hardcore gamers4life will disagree but that's a subject for a different thread).
Anything you buy these days will be powerful enough to stream anything short of full HD. Heck, the 6 yr old computers I give away to my friends for free are good enough for most streaming.
FYI, computers are way cheaper in the US. Last laptop I bought I saved over $1000 (yes, this was a very high end laptop).
FYI, computers are way cheaper in the US. Last laptop I bought I saved over $1000 (yes, this was a very high end laptop).
There is no way a laptop that cost $2k nine years ago has the specs of a $600 laptop today.
Whatever you do do not build one or get someone to build one. That is just inviting problems down the road if your not computer savvy. You wouldnt ask someone to build you a TV or a toaster...why would you do the same for a computer? If your not looking for anything fancy get an iMac or if your hell bent on PC pick up a Sony or Asus.
Ignore the nonsense about Mac's being overpriced. You kept your last computer for 8 years so your not some techy who needs to have the latest and greatest 15 core pentagon 5.99 GHZ chip every year. An iMac will be bulletproof and do everything you need for 5 years with absolutely no problems.
building a pc is no more complicated than putting lego together...absolutely nothing wrong diying it or getting someone else to do it - plenty of instructions online and the installation guides they include with the hardware these days are pretty straight forward...diy it if youre not comfortable - totally understandable
had you actually went through the process of building a pc yourself, you would likely retract those statements.
we're not talking about blade servers or mainframes here (neither of which are too hard to assemble properly either)...
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