Suggestions for a new computer

[jgillott]

I'm starting to look around for a new computer for home. The one that I am typing on right now is sort of like me... ..... old, slow, out of date, and takes lots of naps, usually at the wrong time.



Anyway, I'm hoping that some of you who are a lot more in tune with what is what in the technology world would be willing to give me a few suggestions. I'm looking for something that will run the basic Microsoft office products (word, powerpoint, excel, ect. ) and internet use. I don't currently do anything with video or any type of gaming. We use Mac products at work so I'm familiar with them, but I'd also consider another PC based unit for the house if that is what you all suggest. I'm really interested in what brands you suggest, hardware or operating systems, etc. I know that the latest thing is those touch screen laptop/tablet combos, but we already have an I-Pad, so that's really not what I'm looking for.



Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Wayne M.]

Well, it can be a bit confusing with all the options out there. My personal experience is with a HP touch screen all in one that im bangin on right now. AMD 2 core processor, WIN 7 home premium, and I think 2GB ram. it's been a real good machine- used like an appliance being turned on and off like one with the kids and all. I had a HP laptop and never again- problems with the battery and the hinges. At work I see all Dell, and especially the Dell laptop we use for diagnostics, takes an amazing amount of punishment. especially the hinges, it's never broken. It does get back to, whatever you get, it's gotta be optioned right. Personally I'd go with the best processor and the most RAM I could afford, The jury is out on WIN 8. But I don't think there are many other Microsoft options. Also, watch the software bundles, I got MS office with this machine, but it cost dearly with the other laptop. Everything else is preference and budget.

 

[Bill Stockard]

IIRC, if you want a PC with Windows 7 instead of Windows 8 (touch screen) your only option is Dell.

Bill

 

[jhenderson]

IMO not savvy , but my wife HATES Windows 8.

 

[Blu-meanie]

If you want Windows 7, I believe you only have until the end of this year to obtain it. Seems like many don't like Win 8.
If I need a new one after this year I am considering a Mac.
As for the Dell laptop: I went through 4 of them trying to get one to work correctly, ended up with an HP. Haven't had any problems with it yet.

 

[rscurtis]

I bought the 21" iMac in March and should have bought one two Dells ago.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Apple laptop and desktop, don't ask me ANYTHING about them, I know how to turn them on and use what I NEED TO and turn them off, the Wife, Son, Daughter all have the same none of us have any trouble with them. Have had Dell, HP, and Son Built one that ran better than the Dell and HP.

 

[Jim W]

I'm starting to look around for a new computer for home. The one that I am typing on right now is sort of like me... ..... old, slow, out of date, and takes lots of naps, usually at the wrong time.

Anyway, I'm hoping that some of you who are a lot more in tune with what is what in the technology world would be willing to give me a few suggestions. I'm looking for something that will run the basic Microsoft office products (word, powerpoint, excel, ect. ) and internet use. I don't currently do anything with video or any type of gaming. We use Mac products at work so I'm familiar with them, but I'd also consider another PC based unit for the house if that is what you all suggest. I'm really interested in what brands you suggest, hardware or operating systems, etc. I know that the latest thing is those touch screen laptop/tablet combos, but we already have an I-Pad, so that's really not what I'm looking for.

Thanks in advance for the help.

What operating system are you using now and what virus protection do you have? IE windows ME, Windows Vista and Norton or McAffe virus protection program.

I have a 2005 Dell that I bought new with Intel(R) Core™2 Quad CPU@233GHZ with 6. 00GB of RAM and a 64 bit operating system. That was reprogrammed with Windows 7 and Avast antivirus protection with Malware bytes anti malware in 2009 and I have not have had any operating issues as far as speed or virus.

It may not be the computer but the operating system is out of date and you may have malware along with a virus slowing you down. Another issue is Norton and McAfee are memory hogs and slow down the operating system. I read about Avast on Cent which reviews hardware and software for electronic devices.

It may be more cost effective to have the old computer operating system and virus protection removed and then have window 7 installed with a more robust virus protection program and malware installed. Windows 7 is faster and does not use as much of the Ram as windows vista did. My computer is much faster today and has had less operating issues since the up-date.
Jim W.

 

[crispyboy]

Timely subject.
Our company IT manager coaxed me into purchasing a used macbook pro 13. 3" for home use. I got the one with the retina screen. I figure I would spend more money on a good screen since that is the main interface with the computer. My old 2002 IBM thinkpad was pretty good but it has ran out of horsepower and drivespace and I didn't want to throw money at something so far out dated. I have been using pc's for the last 20+ years but I was really turned off when I toyed around with windows 8 at the store.
It is quite a learning curve for me on the new mac computer, I guess I will have to take a class or something.

 

[GCroyle]

I just bought one for me. I wish you luck. The W8 is a distraction until you find the magic button that brings back something that looks like what you know.

I made the mistake on another forum asking about anti virus software, yuck.

 

[Wayne M.]

A friends daughter wants a certain Mac book air something or other. Then I read somewhere that they were making a certain model Mac book in the USA.
To compare smartphones to pc's, and if a droid is a PC and a iPhone is a Mac, then my next machine will be a Mac.

 

[jeepit]

My HP lappy just died last week.
I am waiting for the new Apple stuff to come out 9-13-2103 and then Macbook Air and a MacMini.
O/W an Airport and wireless keyboard an IPad to surf.

 

[AEdelheit]

I have a newer Toshiba, its ok but I absolutely hate windows 8 with a passion, my next laptop will be an Apple

 

[JJPage]

I have a newer Toshiba, its ok but I absolutely hate windows 8 with a passion, my next laptop will be an Apple

I have a Toshiba Satellite laptop I purchased new, 2 years ago this month when I retired. It uses W7 Home Premium operating system, the only negative issues I've ever experienced, was when using Explorer as a browser, other than that it has performed flawlessly.

Whatever unit you decide on, be sure and make a recovery disc as soon as possible, as they are not provided with a new PC/Laptop, like they used to be.

 

[Tractorat]

I resisted getting a new laptop for a long time. My old laptop was a Dell, and I got it in 2002. It was good solid hardware and lasted a long time. One of the reasons I stayed with it was that it ran XP, and I didnt want to deal with a newer OS.

Well, my Dell "blew up" in nov, so I was forced to get a new laptop. (Ive heard bad things about the newer dells, so I stayed away from there) I bought an ASUS. Ive I'd never heard of it before, but it seems to be pretty solid. I got it in time to still get win7 so I dont have to deal with win8. I did have to pony up and buy a new copy of office. My old office2000 worked fine, but I could not figure out how to get the older version of outlook to work correctly (I needed outlook for the calender and meeting requests etc). I bought the version of office365 that stays on my pc, and I dont have to renew a license every year. I dont like it as well as office 2000. But it comes with the new version of outlook, and everything works.

 

[AMink]

I have an older imac that has been solid for at least 5 or 6 years now. Maybe longer. I also have a mac book pro that is about two years old. I use that way more than the big one. The imac will sit for literally weeks without being used. I used to think Apple were all hype but they're really good. Don't see not having at least one in the future. And they'll run office.

 

[Tractorat]

I believe that apple has always made a good product. The problem for apple was that 1. apple has always been expensive, and 2. Like it or not, the standard for business has been microsoft. It really doesnt matter how good a product is. If you cant generate a document and send it to someone in your company or another company, it will not be used.

Microsoft has always been used for business, and apple had traditionally been used more in an engineering environment. However, that has changed.

 

[jgillott]

What operating system are you using now and what virus protection do you have? IE windows ME, Windows Vista and Norton or McAffe virus protection program.



I have a 2005 Dell that I bought new with Intel(R) Core™2 Quad CPU@233GHZ with 6. 00GB of RAM and a 64 bit operating system. That was reprogrammed with Windows 7 and Avast antivirus protection with Malware bytes anti malware in 2009 and I have not have had any operating issues as far as speed or virus.



It may not be the computer but the operating system is out of date and you may have malware along with a virus slowing you down. Another issue is Norton and McAfee are memory hogs and slow down the operating system. I read about Avast on Cent which reviews hardware and software for electronic devices.



It may be more cost effective to have the old computer operating system and virus protection removed and then have window 7 installed with a more robust virus protection program and malware installed. Windows 7 is faster and does not use as much of the Ram as windows vista did. My computer is much faster today and has had less operating issues since the up-date.

Jim W.

This machine is from sometime in 2004 or 2005 IIRC. It runs windows Vista and Norton antivirus. The errors that I keep getting are not enough memory to complete operation and windows is not responding. Then the thing locks up and takes forever to get going again.

 

[jgillott]

As I mentioned, we have Mac products at work so I am very familiar with them. I was just hoping to avoid the Mac price. I think that I have a MacBook at workk right now and previously had an iBook G4. They have both been very good and we run multiple applications at once all day long. Is there much savings in buying a referb over new?

 

[Missouri Mule]

When I brought my HP to computer service store another guy with a problem brought his computer. Computer tech told him he had one of the best started with an A maybe Azus or something like that. (My probelm was my anti virus update messed up computer so I could not go any where on line (example it take me to the TDR home page but not to the forums. He un-installed the anti-virus program and re-installed and I was back in business again (plus he updated everything).



The cool thing I think he had fiber optic line because he download the whole program in ten seconds to usb drive,with dial up it would of taken me 2 days, with the data card it take about an hour.