Posted on 02/17/2016 2:00:49 PM PST by Hot Tabasco
I'm looking to purchase a new computer and would like some advice.
I’m in about the same place as you. I’m looking at Mac Mini:
http://www.apple.com/mac-mini/features/
I’ve finally given in. After buying countless pcs (8088 to i7) over the past 28 years and literally using every iteration of Windows, I recently made the switch to Mac. If I am not on my work laptop (VPN), m on an iPad. I’m not a gamer, only do light photo editing, lots of music and simple video. When my kids laptops need replacing in a year or two, they will get refurb MacBooks. I bought a refurb MacBook for my wife and haven’t had to touch it since I put MS Office on it. There’s now a refurb Mac mini with a SuperDrive and 27 inch monitor set up as our “reasonably priced fixed workstation” and is really a no-hassle solution for me when the iPad isn’t a good fit. I advocate looking at the apple.com refurbished store— I’ve had tremendous experience with it. The family switched from Android to iPhone a couple years ago so I guess it was only a matter of time...
I replaced my ancient G4 Quicksilver Mac with an Imac desktop last year. I love it! Does everything I need to do. Learning curve is very short. Very user-friendly layout.
Sounds like a trip to two or more local computer repair stores would be in order for you.
They can answer alot of your questions and quite often they have a bunch of used towers there
which you can purchase for not much money. Bring it home, plug it in and away you go.
The cheapest thing you can find (Apple or PC) is going to exceed your needs. Honestly, your existing hardware is probably much more powerful than you need, unless you're short on memory.
You want a basic computer. Here’s one under $200:
http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/703711/Dell-Inspiron-3646-Desktop-Computer-With/
This.
Havent used a desktop in years at home. Laptops with big screens.. 17 inch.
I been surfing on a Toshiba for years. No problemos.
That’s really an adequate system for what I read as the requirements. However, HT, if you do go that route, make sure that your monitor can connect (given its age I’m guessing it’s VGA) or purchase an adapter, and make sure that your keyboard and mouse are USB or purchase an adapter for those too. These don’t cost a lot of money, and I can tell you that unboxing and setting up your new machine can be infuriating if you get all the way to hooking up the peripherals and find out they don’t fit! So then it’s schlepping back to the store and buying a cable or adapter or whatever. Not that it’s ever - ahem! - happened to me... ;-)
Comes down to how cheap you are : )
Most pcs work well.
Starting point. Read the various comments for the pc you are interested in.
there are laptops that are touchscreen and also fold in half so it can be used like a tablet. Desktop below. Laptop link on left side.
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Electronics-Desktop-Computers/zgbs/electronics/565098
In January I put Windows 10 on a 11 year old Toshiba Satellite A105-S4074 laptop. Erased XP and installed the 32bit version of Windows 10 and used my 32bit cd I had from a purchase of Windows 7 that came with both 64bit and 32bit cd’s for the license. The Intel chip did not support 64bits.
Starts up in about 30 seconds and shutsdown immediately.
Minimum Intel Core i3
4 GB is sufficient for home use
500 GB Drive fine for home use
I’m on my third Toshiba Satellite. They are cheap and reliable.
Thanks so much, I feel awful that I didn’t mention no monitor and no VGA plug! I’ve had my computers hooked to a LED TV for a decade and must say I’d forgotten all about people using monitors.
Never had a problem....
I used to add powerful gaming cards to a standard PC, but found it would run the PC fan too hot and burn out the video card.
The hight end video cards should be powered by a high end computer power supply (around 600 watts or so). They should also have better cooling systems, rather than a standard noisy fan.
I am convinced the best option to get a computer that can game a bit at a reasonable price is to go the lower end of a brand designed specifically for gaming. They will have the power supply, video card, and cooling system appropriately matched. I don't trust the big name computer companies to put together a good gaming PC, since its not the focus of their business (and they can remain in business even if they screw it up). Rather I prefer a brand that only does gaming computers.
Alienware
For what you need you don’t want to waste your money on a new computer. I would buy a Dell Refurbished.
On first glance I would recommend this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883158418&cm_re=dell_refurbished-_-83-158-418-_-Product
But there are plenty more. The Dell OptiPlexes are business computers and have a realistic lifespan of at least 8 years. Most are rotated out at 3 - 5 years.
iMac or Mac Powerbook
If you have cats don’t get a laptop.
I like Toshibas. BTW... ditch Office and use “OpenOffice” for free. Search for “OpenOffice”.
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