Need computer recommendations

[gnihcraes]

I'm a dell pimp. Others will hate them. (Ford/Chevy) kind of thing.

Dell Vostro 230 package deal, usually about $400 total. I've bought two for my kids, and they are working well so far with no issues.

http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/vo..._id=vostro-230

Just like anything else in the world, you'll get 100's of opinions.

My suggestions, buy at much memory as you can afford, and warranty and support you can afford if you aren't a geek. Less frustration that way.

Pay for the MAC and learn something new, without the Windows/PC frustrations of viruses etc. I'd buy a mac too if I could afford one.

Stay away from the Best Buy type of stores, they will sell you a lot of stuff that you don't need on the computer. Extra software that you think you're getting in the price to find out it's just a "90 day demo/trial".

Buy directly from HP, Dell, whomever.

Go to Microcenter down in the tech center, see what they can offer, they have the mac's to play with and I don't think they will sell you items you don't need.

That's my 2 cents.

[spyder]

Computers are like cars. Do your research and buy one that has the hardware you need. Other than that, take care of the damn thing, and it will take care of your computer needs.

[Zundfolge]

With most windows based machines if you use good computer hygene habits (avoid the porn sites ... use some sort of popup blocking and good antivirus protection) and keep your data backed up it'll run fine for you (the occasional wipe and reinstall of the OS helps keep things fresh too).

As for Macs, I'm a mac fan but I'm also a professional graphic designer ... for 99% of users it really honest to God doesn't matter what OS you run (hell if Adobe would come out with Creative Suite for Linux I'd dump my Windows machine at work and Macs at home and run Ubuntu or Mint).

Also consider upgrading the RAM on your current machine. More RAM can't hurt.


Also noticed the OP is here in The Springs ... if you're going to buy a new machine go to Tech For Less (just off Garden of the Gods west of Centennial. Google map link here).

[Mazin]

I'm a Government Datatwhore and as such have been stuck on windows based systems for awhile now. I would perfeer a mac, better OS, less known to catch a virus, different way of navigating through the OS but if anyone tells you its too hard they are just lazy IMO.

Got my father in-law on one for his first computer and he loves it. There are compatiblity issues with running software (ie windows based stuff) but you could always run windows as a program through parellels, also they are starting to make more and more "universal" software to run on a broad range of OS's.

Last point for the mac is reliablity, my father in-laws just replaced his after 6 years of flawless day to day running (he is on that computer more than 8hrs a day). I cant afford a mac right now but bought a Asus for $500.00 it has a 15" screen, 4gb ram, i3 cpu, 500gb Hard drive. Runs great. I have had Dell's, HP, Crapac, Toshiba's, Sony's out of all I like ether Mac, Acer, Asus or build my own.

Just becareful building your own because if your like me I just wanna keep making if Beefer and beefer, last one I built was $4,200.00 in just hardware about 4 years agao but still it is a powerhouse.

GL with the purchase!

[patrick0685]

i have a dell and love it, its been a good computer for 4 years and my sister even dropped it down a flight of stairs didnt miss a beat

[Lex_Luthor]

+1 for Linux with Ubuntu. Not that hard to follow, in fact, weren't Windows platforms based off of Linux? No problems with mine, its very easy to use. I can up my learning curve when I have the time, tons of online support, free everything, so then you can concentrate on getting a more hardware based machine and still save a bunch of money.

[ghettodub]

All ASUS in my house, and an HP lappy and iMac at work. Love my Asus stuff

[rondog]

Computers are the debbil, IMO. I love to surf around the web on them, but I'm waaaay too stupid to make them work right. The hard drive crashed on my Dell, it was working fine and then just wouldn't anymore. I took it to Byte, and even he can't save the data off it. So all my stuff on that drive is either gone, or it'll cost me a fortune to have it recovered, if it even can be. Blows my mind.

Yes, I know, "back it up". But some of us aren't even sure how to do that. I've had to have that p.o.s. worked on so many times it's not even funny. I now have a new internal drive, and a 1tb external drive for backing up, but it remains to be seen if I can actually make it work.

[Ridge]

For just general usage, I'm pretty happy with mine of these.

Can get it with a BluRay drive, and it comes with an HDMI out. Makes for a great home theater setup, takes up almost no space (half the size of my Canon printer), and still gets the job done.

[van7559]

Just got off the phone with byte stryke, thanks for the help.