<p>We’re in the market for a new PC–just starting the research on this purchase and thought I’d tap into the CC ‘resource pool’ for suggestions. </p>
<p>Our old PC is 6-8 years old (not sure) and oh so slow–I’m worried it’s going to crash and take all our stuff with it. (No, we haven’t backed it up as we should!) We are very technologically-challenged, if you know what I mean! </p>
<p>Computer will be used by just DH and me for web searching, email, photos and a bit of bill-paying (…IF I get up the nerve! DD says we are SO last century and should wake up, but I’m still resisting–kicking and screaming all the way!) Think I’d like a bigger screen as the eyes aren’t exactly what they used to be!</p>
<p>We’ve considered a laptop, but desktops seem to be so much cheaper–not sure the convenience of a LT overrides the savings of a DT. I do have my “work” LT, which comes in handy when we travel, etc. </p>
<p>I’d be interested in knowing about any bargains that might be available and how others may have made the choice between DT/LT. Also, might be a good idea to know what to avoid, if there are those experiences to be shared!</p>
<p>I would recommend just going with a laptop since it makes your computering portable, especially if you have wireless - but you have a laptop already, so maybe that’s not so important.</p>
<p>One plug I will put in is that we recently had to replace our 3 year old Gateway monitor - we bought one of the new HD Widescreen monitors with a glossy finish on the screen and it is WONDERFUL!!! Now when I look at any other screen (like on my work laptop) I’m disappointed…</p>
<p>I always feel like I need to buy a computer from a well-known source. My choices for looking would be Costco or Best Buy - at both you will/can get additional warranty time which I like to have for electronics.</p>
<p>Our tech guy at work uses [Newegg.com</a> - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!](<a href=“http://www.newegg.com/]Newegg.com”>http://www.newegg.com/) all the time for himself and usually recommends that site when one of us asks for a suggestion. Their search engine will allow you to narrow down your search according to preferences such as price, amount of memory, etc. I usually look there and on this site [Technology</a> News - CNET News](<a href=“http://news.cnet.com/]Technology”>http://news.cnet.com/) for reviews before I buy anything techy.</p>
<p>We bought a Toshiba laptop for our 15 year old DD last Christmas. She uses it for school, Facebook and watching movies. It was less than $450 and has a good sized screen. She is not a computer kid like her sister that has a Macbook so this is just fine with her.</p>
<p>I too am looking for a new computer, as my desktop (5 yrs old) is dying a long, slow death (but at least I have automatic backup with an external drive!). Looking at Dells, they have specials running weekly and there are usually ads in the Sunday paper. Decided on another desktop to save a bit since I have a work laptop and use that when we travel. The one I may get is a slimline (inspiron 537s), less than $500 even with some additional stuff (no monitor). 4 GB ram, 640 GB HD. Don’t need all of the gaming stuff, etc.</p>
<p>If you want to walk in and get one, check out what Costco has if you’re a member. They usually have some inexpensive bundles (desktop, keyboard, mouse, monitor). I’d stick with the top name brands - Dell, HP, Gateway, etc. If you’re interested in a Dell you can also google ‘dell coupons’ and use one for a discount on their website or you can just visit their website and see what specials they have at the moment. PCs are so competetive these days that there’s really usually not much of a difference in price for comparable features among the top brands.</p>
<p>Since Windows 7 just came out I’d recommend getting a system with it on it as opposed to XP or Vista. The reviews of Windows 7 have been pretty good.</p>
<p>Get one with a decent monitor or with the option to get a decent monitor. The LCD monitors are pretty good and a decent price now so get at aleast a 22" one. If you have a TV tuner card in the desktop you can even make it double as a TV and digital video recorder if you want to.</p>
<p>Another option if you have access to a college campus is to see what their prices are like if your kid attends the campus. Sometimes they have decent deals and sometimes not.</p>
<p>I recently bought our new computer directly through HP.com. If you keep up on it, they offer specials all the time. They also have free shipping. The reason I order through them is that I customized it, adding more memory, better video card and a TV in/out card. We’re going to convert our home videos to digital, so I wanted a computer capable of doing it (our old one wasn’t).</p>
<p>So much great info. Akck, customizing is something I’d be afraid of–I like the idea of converting home videos to digital. Guess I should read up on it as I haven’t a clue!</p>
<p>Keep the info coming, my search has just begun~ Thanks!</p>
<p>check out the techbargains website. They have lots of systems listed from major sellers, and have ways of working the prices down. Its oriented toward the techie side, but I think most people can gain knowledge from it. Use the search function to look at past deals.</p>
<p>buy a flash drive and back up your pictures and files NOW! we all think that we’ll do that some other day but it needs to be done right away!</p>
<p>i don’t usually back up all programs and all files, but i do make sure that my pictures and any other important files are backed up. </p>
<p>now that this little lecture is over–go to best buy, costco, whatever and buy one of the cheaper notebooks. i bought a toshiba about 4 years ago and it’s running pretty slow. i went out a few weeks ago and bought another toshiba for about $349. it’s just fine for the normal type of stuff i use it for. </p>
<p>if you want to splurge, i’d really consider an apple. everyone else in my family uses apples–and we use an old mac mini as the server here at home, but i have to have a pc for two or three work-related applications.</p>
<p>For me the big issue is not initial purchase price but warranty and repair coverage. My work computers seem to last forever, but at home I am lucky to go a couple of years without problems. Several years ago we bought from CompUSA and got the extended warranty. We got 2 new replacement computers and a major repair within 4-5 years. Two years ago we had to actually buy a replacement. The cooling fan and motherboard died within the 1 year warranty. Another year and a few months later, the power supply went. I had that repaired at Staples for about $75.</p>
<p>Over the years I have bought cameras and some other electronics from Staples so I think my next computer purchase will also be from them. I have also decided no more HP computers. Maybe I have just been unlucky but they do not seem to last. They also come loaded with massive amounts of bloatware, games and other applications that I do not want and have a hard time getting rid of.</p>
<p>I will be purchasing a new box (screen is ok) for my son very soon. His old one completely died after I installed Microsoft Essentials Antivirus… thanks MS! I will probably buy a Dell. I will also probably get it with the new Windows7 operating system.</p>
<p>Wbow- me too, a nearly 4 year old toshiba laptop that was a deal at $1500 out the door (with some freebie or another add on stuff) can now be purchased for $300-500</p>
<p>What are the minimum specs some one should get for updating. HDs are all pretty big, but how much RAM etc?</p>
<p>Bumping this thread—still haven’t updated our dinosaur! Anybody know of bargains to be had? (We did back up a few things, but we’re probably still ‘living on the edge’.)</p>
<p>LOL! re my old post from October 2009… It’s ALIVE!! I tried to reinstall Windows on my son’s computer but for some reason the operating system would not install. However, after several attempts it did somehow repair itself, so the computer is running again and he did not lose his old files. Meanwhile I ran multiple antivirus and spyware scans and finally cleaned it up so we have a reprieve.</p>
<p>I second the Dell Outlet suggestion. I recently bought my daughter a 14 inch with a 2.2 GHz Dual Core Processor, 3 gig Ram, 320 gig hard drive, etc for $305 including shipping. Also bought my wife a similar 15 inch for $325 shipped. Both were “scratch and dent” but both were in brand new condition without even a finger print on them. (I have bought other scratch and dents and this is typical). Also, the inventory on the outlet gets updated about once per hour so keep checking back. Also, look for 15% off coupons.</p>