I am in the market for a desk top computer. The one I have now is fairly old (it uses windows 98!). I am thinking of buying an i-mac, or a pc. I like the idea of not getting viruses on a mac, but I can get more "stuff" for my money with a pc. I don't really like the idea of buying one over the net because it would be difficult for me to get it serviced if I needed to since I live in a small rural town. If I buy a PC, I would buy one at our local shop, even though it costs a bit more. I would consider something on the net if I could get a really good deal, with lots of software, and lots of that neat "stuff" that I mentioned before.
Here is what I want...
fairly fast while surfing the net.
cd/dvd/mp3/ burner/player with two drives (so you don't have to keep switching discs). Please let me know if one drive would work, or if I need two.
15" min. flat panel monitor
Windows xp home
(not sure what software I need)
Video card to watch disc golf clips (or whatever I need for this).
mp3 downloads (and some mp3 player)
some games
some storage, but not a huge amount (again, not sure).
Digital picture stuff (I have a cheap digital camera)
I have an hp all in one printer/scanner/copier that I like.
Not sure what else I need/want/should have. So if you would, ask me questions, or make suggestions.
Keep in mind that I went to college in the 80s. We used Radio Shack TRS 80’s. We called them the “trash 80’s). I am not joking when I say I use computers, but don’t know much about them.
Thanks for the help.
Don
PS I posted this on the PDGA site too, but wanted a pure "Kansas" point of view as well.
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What computer should I buy?
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SmoothDrawOS
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2004 1:38 pm
Well first off if you want to go the mac route, but the cost scares you I would look into testing out the new Mac Mini http://www.apple.com/macmini/ its only 6.5" square. Its not blazing fast, but it does a pretty good job for its size
If you go that route though you'll also have to look into getting a monitor seperate because its not included, which could make the price tag look deceiving
For all your wanting to do you dont need anything more expensive than just a basic Dell (which start around $400 or so) or something similar, but one thing I suggest you making sure you have is atleast 512 ram... most will come with 256 which will get the job done, buy my personal opinion is definitly go with 512.
A site to check out regularly is http://slickdeals.net/ the sight basically go around and takes all the great deals from all the ads and sights and brings them all into one place, so if you paruze through there your bound to find a deal that might suit your needs, its updated daily.
For more specifics on your questions...
think of a cd drive as doing what it says, and everything lower... example
cd drive - plays cd's
cd burner - plays cd's and burns cd's
dvd drive - plays cd's and dvd's
dvd burner - does everything
regularly i would just say cd burner, but dvd burners are getting atleast reasonably priced these days
stock video card will be just fine for your needs
mp3 downloads you can just use a program like Limewire or such, which is a free download
and 40 gig should do you fine, which most pcs come with these days anyways
any questions just shoot me a pm or email
If you go that route though you'll also have to look into getting a monitor seperate because its not included, which could make the price tag look deceiving
For all your wanting to do you dont need anything more expensive than just a basic Dell (which start around $400 or so) or something similar, but one thing I suggest you making sure you have is atleast 512 ram... most will come with 256 which will get the job done, buy my personal opinion is definitly go with 512.
A site to check out regularly is http://slickdeals.net/ the sight basically go around and takes all the great deals from all the ads and sights and brings them all into one place, so if you paruze through there your bound to find a deal that might suit your needs, its updated daily.
For more specifics on your questions...
think of a cd drive as doing what it says, and everything lower... example
cd drive - plays cd's
cd burner - plays cd's and burns cd's
dvd drive - plays cd's and dvd's
dvd burner - does everything
regularly i would just say cd burner, but dvd burners are getting atleast reasonably priced these days
stock video card will be just fine for your needs
mp3 downloads you can just use a program like Limewire or such, which is a free download
and 40 gig should do you fine, which most pcs come with these days anyways
any questions just shoot me a pm or email
(you have a pm SmoothDrawOS is pretty much right on.
Honestly you can't beat a Dell. Any honest computer builder will tell you that it's nearly impossible to beat the amount of performance you get for such a small price. I've owned a Dell and had ZERO problems with it.
Definitely get at least 512 of ram as it is easily the best performance enhancer and really doesn't cost you that much more.
Dell also runs some great sales on their stuff and it changes almost on a daily basis. Right now they are offering up to 25% off and free shipping on all desktops. Can't beat that!
Honestly you can't beat a Dell. Any honest computer builder will tell you that it's nearly impossible to beat the amount of performance you get for such a small price. I've owned a Dell and had ZERO problems with it.
Definitely get at least 512 of ram as it is easily the best performance enhancer and really doesn't cost you that much more.
Dell also runs some great sales on their stuff and it changes almost on a daily basis. Right now they are offering up to 25% off and free shipping on all desktops. Can't beat that!
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Brian Shields
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2004 9:40 pm
pc
Don I bought my Dell last year and I love it ....you go online and choose what you want you design your own so what more could you ask for? 
I think where I am having a problem is where I live. If I buy the service contract, I am afraid they will not honor it if they have to drive from Hays or McCook. I am thinking I need to order one from the local shops. There are two in town. One sells Dell and one sells Compaq. The one that sells Dell orders them about 3 at a time and they don't have what I want. They said they can switch things out, but at full price. They won't just order me one the way I want. The HP store has one that would work for me, but I am not really sure of that brand. Seems like everyone says Dell is better.
My other problem is, I like to support the local businesses. Neither one of these shops has ever donated to our tourney, but they might if I was their customer!!!! I bet if I go with the Dell shop, and tell them what I want, they would order it for me. Who knows.
My other problem is, I like to support the local businesses. Neither one of these shops has ever donated to our tourney, but they might if I was their customer!!!! I bet if I go with the Dell shop, and tell them what I want, they would order it for me. Who knows.
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disc golf superhero
- Posts: 760
- Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2004 12:12 pm
- Location: Salina
- Contact:
Don,
Here's my story: I forced my wife into buying a mac. http://www.theimac.com/ She strongly resisted as she knew nothing about mac and was well versed in Windows. Now it's three years later and we're talking of getting another computer. I was shocked when I asked her if she wanted to get a Windows computer this time and her reply was "____ NO"!! I knew she liked the mac but thought she'd like to at least have a Windows PC around.
Our mac's been great! It's blazing fast, has more memory then we'll ever need, reliable, user friendly, and compact.
If you think you'll ever want to do things like video editing, (you can have hours of fun making your own home videos.) organize your photo albums, photo editing, Garage Band (music editing plus it's got a gazillion tracks ready for you to lie down), music library (you can save every CD you'll ever own in Itunes, then if you ever get an Ipod...way cool!) All these things come standard with the mac. Not to mention the full encyclopedia with video clips and it'll still do all the things you asked for.
It won't have Windows XP. That's obviously a Microsoft product. It will have OSX...or OSX point 2,3,4,5...what ever the latest version is. Mine has the G4 chip. The new ones have the G5 which means even faster, stronger, better.
Down side to owning a mac is nearly everything is written for Windows. There's ways around everything but it's a big down side at times. Someone may send you a picture or a file and you might have a hard time opening it. Like I said though there's usually ways to do it, you just have to try a few things or download a program or two off the net.
If you're use to the Windows set up then the mac will take some getting use to. BUT, if you're truly a product of the 80's then the mac should be old hat.
That's just my story. Nothing against Dell or any other Windows based PC. You're doing good to ask your friends their opinions. Read all you can before buying.
http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/22738.html
My next computer! http://www.apple.com.au/imac/ The whole freaking computer is a monitor!
Here's my story: I forced my wife into buying a mac. http://www.theimac.com/ She strongly resisted as she knew nothing about mac and was well versed in Windows. Now it's three years later and we're talking of getting another computer. I was shocked when I asked her if she wanted to get a Windows computer this time and her reply was "____ NO"!! I knew she liked the mac but thought she'd like to at least have a Windows PC around.
Our mac's been great! It's blazing fast, has more memory then we'll ever need, reliable, user friendly, and compact.
If you think you'll ever want to do things like video editing, (you can have hours of fun making your own home videos.) organize your photo albums, photo editing, Garage Band (music editing plus it's got a gazillion tracks ready for you to lie down), music library (you can save every CD you'll ever own in Itunes, then if you ever get an Ipod...way cool!) All these things come standard with the mac. Not to mention the full encyclopedia with video clips and it'll still do all the things you asked for.
It won't have Windows XP. That's obviously a Microsoft product. It will have OSX...or OSX point 2,3,4,5...what ever the latest version is. Mine has the G4 chip. The new ones have the G5 which means even faster, stronger, better.
Down side to owning a mac is nearly everything is written for Windows. There's ways around everything but it's a big down side at times. Someone may send you a picture or a file and you might have a hard time opening it. Like I said though there's usually ways to do it, you just have to try a few things or download a program or two off the net.
If you're use to the Windows set up then the mac will take some getting use to. BUT, if you're truly a product of the 80's then the mac should be old hat.
That's just my story. Nothing against Dell or any other Windows based PC. You're doing good to ask your friends their opinions. Read all you can before buying.
http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/22738.html
My next computer! http://www.apple.com.au/imac/ The whole freaking computer is a monitor!
Well, I think I have decided not to get a Mac, because they are out of my price range. Not so much the hardware, although that is high, but the software is ridiculous! Also all the other stuff is very high. Anyway, I am still looking at Dell and Compaq. The Dell guy at our local shop is going to quote me a price on a computer that has everything I want. I talked to them yesterday about service and was amazed to find out if I buy the service contract, I have to send my computer in if stuff goes wrong with it! That makes me not want to bother with them at all!!! I mean the whole point of buying from them was service. Then they start talkin to me about some other brand (mywhitebox.com). Who knows whats up with that. The selling point there is, they service it right there in Norton! So now I don't know what to think. I don't like the thought of packing my computer up for a couple weeks while it ships out to some other country, but I also don't really like the idea of shelling out big bucks for some weird computer I have never heard of!
Then there is the compaq guy. Some people say you can't go wrong with this brand. I need to find out if he services the computers in Norton, or if you have to send them off. If anyone knows about this "mywhitebox" stuff, shoot me a pm, please. Otherwise I might just stick with my 20 gig, 385mb, the kids probably did somethin to it, piece of crap!
Hope to see all of you tomorrow in Hays!!!!
Don
Then there is the compaq guy. Some people say you can't go wrong with this brand. I need to find out if he services the computers in Norton, or if you have to send them off. If anyone knows about this "mywhitebox" stuff, shoot me a pm, please. Otherwise I might just stick with my 20 gig, 385mb, the kids probably did somethin to it, piece of crap!
Hope to see all of you tomorrow in Hays!!!!
Don
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disc golf superhero
- Posts: 760
- Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2004 12:12 pm
- Location: Salina
- Contact:
Don,
Don't be afraid to order your PC on line. These days computers are more user friendly and 90% of what might go wrong you can fix yourself. Either by asking your question on-line or calling a TS line. I'm pretty sure Dell doesn't even have outside dealers. Everything is sold straight from the factory. Don't buy it from the local shop where they'll make a good mark up then charge you if and when you need support. Dell will support you for free. Soon we'll be talking about computer technicians that make house calls like we talk about the milk man. "Man Little Smitty sure looks like the computer technician." Badda bump bump
Compaq is the Omega Putter of the PC world. (Cadillac) Not that there's a huge difference between Omega and Aviar so is the same with Compaq and Dell.
Or just buy a Mac OSX to be sure your next child doesn't resemble the computer technician.
Don't be afraid to order your PC on line. These days computers are more user friendly and 90% of what might go wrong you can fix yourself. Either by asking your question on-line or calling a TS line. I'm pretty sure Dell doesn't even have outside dealers. Everything is sold straight from the factory. Don't buy it from the local shop where they'll make a good mark up then charge you if and when you need support. Dell will support you for free. Soon we'll be talking about computer technicians that make house calls like we talk about the milk man. "Man Little Smitty sure looks like the computer technician." Badda bump bump
Compaq is the Omega Putter of the PC world. (Cadillac) Not that there's a huge difference between Omega and Aviar so is the same with Compaq and Dell.
Or just buy a Mac OSX to be sure your next child doesn't resemble the computer technician.
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McCabe
- Regional Rep
- Posts: 2857
- Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2004 2:22 pm
- Location: Discraft Country
- Contact:
Babbit Loves The Craft!
Why don't you just get that "old School" Tandy or apple with nothing but the green screen..you know what I'm talking about.
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Eaglehigh99
- Posts: 250
- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2004 12:54 pm
- Location: Wichita
computers
My turn to chime in.
Don, I know you are "miles away from the big city"
but you might want to hit the Office Depot or Office Max web sites. I got a top of the line Compaq Pentium 4, etc. for home for about $800 including monitor and printer. I did put their $100 carry-in additional service contract on it but I really don't ever plan on using it.
Here at the office, we have everything from e-machines (which are quite reliable) to HP's (the old ones crash a lot) to compaqs (good machines). It is rare that any of them have hardware problems. Then its usually a pull and replace the CD or DVD drive problem. We don't carry service contracts on any of the office machines.
As far as having one built for you; since I have a "computer guy" that I call for network, software and hardware problems that I can't or don't have time to solve, I contracted him to have a machine built for me here at the office. Got an Athlon new generation 64bit processor (you can't get faster than this) with plenty of memory and storage for $800. Didn't need a monitor or printer. Its so fast I can watch our server slow down! Has a 1 year warratny. Again, no service contract. We did have an initial cable problem but again it was a pull and replace issue.
Finally, I know of companies here in Wichita that only buy their computers from Dell over the computer. They order what they want and don't have any problems with their computers.
With the reliability of computers now days, I would not worry too much about ordering over the internet or "coming to town"
to get your computer. If a problem occured, it sounds like you have someone local who could fix the problem for you if you didn't want to "carry it back to town" or mail it in. My guess is that the repair would be fairly inexpensive in most cases.
Good luck.
Bob
Don, I know you are "miles away from the big city"
but you might want to hit the Office Depot or Office Max web sites. I got a top of the line Compaq Pentium 4, etc. for home for about $800 including monitor and printer. I did put their $100 carry-in additional service contract on it but I really don't ever plan on using it. Here at the office, we have everything from e-machines (which are quite reliable) to HP's (the old ones crash a lot) to compaqs (good machines). It is rare that any of them have hardware problems. Then its usually a pull and replace the CD or DVD drive problem. We don't carry service contracts on any of the office machines.
As far as having one built for you; since I have a "computer guy" that I call for network, software and hardware problems that I can't or don't have time to solve, I contracted him to have a machine built for me here at the office. Got an Athlon new generation 64bit processor (you can't get faster than this) with plenty of memory and storage for $800. Didn't need a monitor or printer. Its so fast I can watch our server slow down! Has a 1 year warratny. Again, no service contract. We did have an initial cable problem but again it was a pull and replace issue.
Finally, I know of companies here in Wichita that only buy their computers from Dell over the computer. They order what they want and don't have any problems with their computers.
With the reliability of computers now days, I would not worry too much about ordering over the internet or "coming to town"
to get your computer. If a problem occured, it sounds like you have someone local who could fix the problem for you if you didn't want to "carry it back to town" or mail it in. My guess is that the repair would be fairly inexpensive in most cases.Good luck.
Bob