Posted on 01/08/2009 10:58:26 AM PST by reaganaut1
I'd like to buy another Windows PC and can spend up to $2000 for a nice one. Which retail chain typically offers good deals? Are there particular manufacturers/models you recommend? I'm not a gamer and am not looking to use it as a TV. I do a lot of number crunching. I live in Massachusetts.
I hesitate to use the “N” word on this forum, but Norton sells three-packs. The latest version gets good reviews.
I hesitate because my experience with Norton is not good.
I use AVG free at home and AVG for networks at work.
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/protect_your_pc_from_guys_like_this
What's wrong with Best Buy?
Bookmark for later.
Oh, as for vendor choice: Just go on Amazon, BizRate or any of those websites and check price and vendor. Pay attention to vendor ratings. Stay away from vendors with no track record.
You should also look for a warranty that gives you at least one or two years of in-home service. If possible I would buy a second year of in-home service if it is not part of original warranty. If the machine doesn’t break in that time it will probably last until you want to replace it.
On a $2,000 machine I figure it takes about three years to pay for itself through internet shopping and buying alone.
Also, buy a machine with as much memory as you can afford. Graphics and photo programs eat up gobs of it. I thought the memory that came with my machine would be adequate. But i’m at a point where I’ll have to start moving stuff to data sticks to regain and conserve the memory I have. Next time I’ll double the memory that comes with the machine.
I'll never buy another Norton product as long as I live--and I don't care what the reviewers say.
Well yes. I can’t say I would ever actually buy a Norton product. But it would be dishonest to ignore new products with good reviews.
Online, I bought a great laptop 6 years ago from TigerDirect. I is sill going strong today, as a backup of course.
I liked them so much, I bought second on two years. I am typing from right now it and love it. Best $600 I ever spent. (Toshiba Satellite)
In the retail centers, I’ve bought from Fry’s Electonics. with Fry’s it helps to know what you need and want. They have a HUGE selection, buy they are mostly Geeks and will sell you their favorite, which might not be what you need. Fry’s has a great return policy, I had a dead HD and returned it for an exchange with no hassles. (They offered a refund, but I was happy with the exchange)
I have also bought from local Las Vegas custom builders (PC Club) and while their computer’s were excellent, the customer service was spoty. (SLOW on upgrades and repairs)
I’ve checked with other small shops and found the the same problem. Since I know what I need and what, I can deal with it, but I wish these small shops had better help.
Send me the 2 grand, I’ll build you a real gem.
I bought an HP for my wife a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, it came with a lot of preinstalled crapware. The performance is poor, and I'm pretty sure the crapware is the problem, but none of it will uninstall. Thanks HP.
Home Depot
Agreed, especially if he wants to spend $2k. That will get him a core2 quad plus a really nice monitor.
Dell is an easy choice, not the cheapest, not even the best, but fairly painless. You should be able to buy 3-4 PHAT PCs for $2k.
Popular these days is the so-called “small footprint” for a desktop PC. The power supplies in those indeed have little reserve capacity and I have seen them hang up with the addition of an extra card or two OR an external USB hub loaded up with googahs. I reco buying something in a bigger box.
Ebay has some sellers who are very highly rated who sell Dell refurbs, which I’d have no problem with.
I would also start by considering which operating system you want. XP Pro is my choice, it may not be yours, but if it’s not, you may effectively be “forced” to buy Vista (at roughly +$100) from a Best Buy or equivalent.
The last PC I bought (not a gamer, very generic needs) was a Compaq-hp for $170 on ebay + $50 ship. (No kbd/mouse, engine only) Virtually perfect condition WITH BOOT DISK (which I consider to be VERY important)
I bought a program called “Yourinstaller” and it works fine. Also ccleaner has an uninstall program and it’s free.
OOps, that should read “youruninstaller”
I have used and highly recommend eCollege PC
You can build your own system there if you like (Custom Builder link in the left frame). I bought a slam-bang super system from them last year and only paid $850 and that included shipping. You can still get XP Pro from them too. Check it out. You might wind up saving $1000.
Am I the only skinflint here? I can buy a car or truck for $2,000 and run it for 100,000 miles. I needed a laptop a bit over a year ago. I checked the ratings and bought a used Thinkpad off ebay for well under $500. It’s been drug back and forth to a construction site since and it’s survived.
The computer industry wants folks to view computers as consumables. Keep trading up. If I had $2,000 to spend, I’d keep $1,500 to buy all the cheap stuff deflation will provide later and budget $500 for a new, to me, computer.
My HP DV9000 laptop has been problematic - flimsy hardware and hot as a frying pan.
A few years ago, right after our Best Buy opened here in Harrisburg, PA, I went in to buy a portable boom box for the wife for the kitchen counter.
The manager was at his post at the front door checking receipts and I counted no less than 23 “floor associates” wandering around, pestering customers, asking them if there was anything they could help them find.
(Some may think this is being helpful, but I feel its a royal pain. And anyway, I digress.)
After I made my choice, I took my purchase to the front of the store to pay for it.
They had two cashiers manning the cash registers and a line about 15 people deep waiting to check out.
Now keep in mind, they had 8 cash registers at the front of the store and only 2 were manned.
After standing in line for 10 minutes, the manager came over and told one of the cashiers to take her break.
The problem is that he didn’t replace her!
At that point, I spoke up and asked the manager, (and I’ll admit, I was using my Grouchy Old Curmudgeon voice) why he didn’t pull anybody off the floor to man the empty registers?
This was met with numerous echoes of this sentiment from the folks in line ahead of me.
In fact the gal at the front of the line stated that she had been standing in line for over a half hour. (And she looked to have at least $2500 bucks worth of stuff in her cart.)
His response was, and I quote “If you don’t like the way I run my store, you don’t have to shop here.”
My reply was, “You’re absolutely correct. I don’t have to shop here!”
I left my intended purchase right there on the floor and walked out.
I might add, everybody that was in line in front of me did the same.
So, that’s my tale of woe and what I think is wrong with Best Buy.
Remember, you asked.
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