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Posts: 4266
| Shopping for a new cumpooper..........had enough.
What are you using, running, and what do you consider overkill for a basic home computer.
Definitely going to get a new one, and have been looking exclusively at Dell.
Your thoughts?
Thanks,
Beav |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | I'm using one that works 
I have an HP for the home computer, but it does not get used anywhere near as much as it used to since the wife got a Mac notebook. With wireless internet, I use hers more now.
As a recommendation, I would look to go with a mac if it is affordable. They are a little more spendy, but the operating system is much more reliable than microsoft. (Think about all the updates that microsoft has to put out there, patches for viruses, etc since there are so many PC networks out there) depending on the programs that you need to run, the Macs will have most of them, if not all of the home computer needs.
Steve |
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| Custom rig buddy of mine builds them Bells Whistles and I have no clue how to use 1/2 of it |
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Posts: 1316
Location: Madison, WI | Built my own. About 1/2 the price of buying one from the store. How much you looking to spend? Desktop/laptop? |
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Posts: 1504
Location: Oregon | Compaq. I bought the tower for about 500 dollars and the 19" monitor was about 200...maybe 5 years ago, not a bit of problems of any kind. I think they are all good Beav if you maintenance them. I run spyware every single day and find about 20 files every time! I also run two different "free" virus programs about two times per week. Three of us are using the machine probably 6-8 hours per day and no probs.....that speaks for itself I think. The key is spyware/virus maintenance!
jed v.
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| Between work and home I have about 4 HP's and 3 EMachines. The interesting thing is EMachine started out as a low end, low quality unit sold for cheap.....then they got bought by Gatewayand the quality is now very good (never a problem with the 3 I own) but they still sell them very affordably. Worth a look.
BT |
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Posts: 303
Location: Valentine, NE USA | I run a dell, 21" flat screen, XP Pro, & Norton anti-virus.
Good system in my opinion. This is my first Dell, I like it.
B |
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Posts: 32954
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I have a Sony VAIO 1.6 P4 with 1 Gig Ram Media machine for my office, an HP 1.2 that I just rebuilt for a back up, anf my OutdoorsFIRSt machine is a Dell XPS Media Center Laptop, and it ROCKS!! |
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Posts: 80
Location: Northwoods | Did SWorrall mention this XPS system by Dell was located and purchased by his one and only, Szq?!? No ? Well 'nuf said -- thinking Dell has the better tech backup and all around support for any pc user so suggest you check them out Beav!
Hey thanks for pic of Taylor -- she is growing like a weed and obviously a threat to all others on the ice! My best to Becky -- one of these days we will get together again. Szq Wral  |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | I got a compaq presario 900 laptop, for the most part it has worked great. Got it from a best buy as some sort of package deal, haggled with the guy and got him to throw in a digital camera, pretty sweet deal.
Mike |
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Posts: 2091
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Dell Dimension 3.4 ghz HT processor with 1GB DDR Memory. Screaming machine. |
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Posts: 507
| DESKTOP MACHINES:
Dell - 2.5Ghz - 1gb ram - 2003 server (dual monitors) | iMac G5 - 1.8Ghz - 2gb ram - OSX Tiger
Like 'em both alot. If I were you beav I'd run a Mac you'll eliminate alot of headaches. |
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| I have three Dells and an IBM Thinkpad for work. All great machines with no problems.
Hey, Dude...My kids also have a Dell |
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| Apple. By far. No complications like Windows based systems. Pricey, but prices will fall as they begin to use Intel's chips instead of IBM's. Apple products are the hottest things out there now and will only get more popular. |
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Posts: 29
| Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop....wireless. I would recommend looking at this option, as I can't believe I waited as long as I did before going wireless. Pretty convenient to be able to use the laptop anywhere in the house, or outside the house.
Spent about a $900 for everything.... |
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Location: Green Bay, WI | Windows based PC if you want to allow pop-ups, security threats, lock-ups, and a fair amount of frustration.
Mac if you want to be relatively worry free.
We have 7 PCs (Mostly Gateway) that all run Windows XP and I spend a fair amount of time updating and securing everything. I just bought a used Mac Powerbook G4 on e-bay and absolutely love it. But it is quite different from a Windows machine and thus there is a learning curve. But invariably, the majority of people using Macs love them--and there are more & more software packages being offered for the Mac platform: and there is also an application called Virtual PC that installs on a Mac and allows you to run just about any PC-based application. The exception to this would be games and simulations, as they run slowly in this fashion.
I agree with what someone here has said--if you are going with a Windows-based PC, then have someone locally build it for you. There are lots of people doing this, and offering these services--it's quite simple to build a computer; but much harder to know which components work most efficiently with one another. You would pay no more than for a Gateway or a Dell, and then have local tech support. And then you don't have to worry about all the extraneous junk that Dell/Gateway/HP installs on your system. Yuck...
In the end, there is nothing really wrong with Windows for *most* users, as long as you understand that it takes a fair amount to maintain system security.
TB |
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | I use a Sony VAIO laptop with an incredible LCD 16 screen SXGA+ TFT with XBRITE display. Pentium 4 processor 3.06 GHz, 80 GB hard drive, and a 512 MB DDR SDRAM, which is expandable to 2 GB.
It is a little more expensive than I would like to have bought, but I give virtual tours of the businesses that I sell, and the incredible picture quality could potentially sell the business on its own! I subscribe to Norton System Works with automatic daily updates which has performed flawlessly for two years. |
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Location: Green Bay, WI | That Sony machine is an outstanding unit, to be sure. I have a friend that owns one, and if I were to buy another Windows-based laptop...that would probably be the one. But aren't they a bit on the pricey side? I have never really checked but someone told me that.
TB |
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Location: Minneapolis, MN | With all the crap that can find its way onto any machine you buy I would suggest doing your homework and getting the right stuff installed and configured before you point your new machine to a single public web site. I've rebuilt my Dell 2x in the last three years to rid myself of all the spyware that finds its way into my mahcine. About a year ago I installed a Zone Alarm firewall and that nearly eliminated my problems. I also run both Microsoft's new ( http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=321CD7A2-6... ) and SpyBot ( http://www.spybot.info/en/download/index.html ) anti-spyware systems. Many of the pop-ups you may experience are actually designed to deliver that nasty spyware to your machine. In my experience a great first line of defense is to use the Microsoft Toolbar with pop-up blocker. ( http://toolbar.msn.com/default.aspx ) All are freeware and very good in my experience.
I have a Dell dimension 8200 w/ 512mb. Great machine. What I love about Dell is their support. IF you ever need support that's when you are going to find out how good a machine is. IMO the machines you buy at retail stores have lousy support. You may want to consider doing a Google search on ratings for places like Best Buy before you consider buying retail. Here's a link to see what I mean - http://ostg.pricegrabber.com/rating_getreview.php/r=597/m=7752067
Sure Dell support is provided by people from a foreign nation but at least they are willing and have the skills to get it done.
You may also want to try this link. You can sort by price, mfg, etc. to find the best computer for you if you believe in reviews.
http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/sfchart/0,typid,8,product_type,Deskt... |
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Posts: 921
Location: Apollo, PA | Beav,
This is a very interesting and educational thread. Please let us all know after your search, what you chose and why. It may help some of us (like me) in our own compooper searches.
Best, PS |
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Posts: 477
Location: Iowa | Dell Dimension 4700 with all the video software they had. I haven't had time to play with all of that yet though. Had it 1 year and no problems. It was time for the Wal-Mart HP to go out the door! |
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Posts: 4266
| Right now we are looking at a Dell XPS 400.
Twice the memory of our last one. 512MB upgradable to 4GB.
Virus/Firewall/Spyware protection and removal......besides the other security features that we've purchased. 20" flat panel monitor....got to get this freakin' TV off of my desk.
I've had great luck with my Dell, until I got "corrupt and infected"........hell, I thought I got over that when I was in my 20's. I'll always be corrupt and infected a little, I just don't need it on my computer.
This machine is almost 7 years old, so I guess that we got our money out of it. Actually, even with the upgrades, it will cost less than we paid for our last one.
I better get my butt in the garage so I can pay for it.
Beav
SVL....the problem that found it's way into my machine corrupt my Norton Anti-Virus. We can't even uninstall it, not even with the help of Norton Tech Support.
I'm going to ask for Zach's help with my anti-everything decisions.
Edited by Beaver 1/8/2006 1:41 PM
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Location: Green Bay, WI | If you decide on a Dell (or a Gateway, for that matter) I *highly* recommend you buy the extended warranty program. Without it neither company will want to talk with you when you have problems (and you will have problems) after the initial warranty has expired. I have owned a few Dell systems and their customer service is great as been mentioned--as long as your maintainence agreement is still valid. Otherwise you may spend a couple hours getting transferred from one phone number to the next, only to be told that "we don't support that system at this extension." Been there, done that. They are using inexpensive components and mass-producing systems...there will be problems. But I advise you not to take my word alone--Google it.
Having said all of that I will add that HP is very good about helping you after the maintainence agreement has expired. I once worked on a 4 year-old system for a friend; with no agreement in place. I got transferred around a few times but eventually got to a guy in India (most of the after-hours tech support for all of these large companies is now overseas) who was absolutely great. And it didn't cost me a dime.
I have no complaints about HP/Compaq in terms of support, but I will never buy another Dell or Gateway. Just my 2 cents...
TB
Edited by tcbetka 1/8/2006 2:18 PM
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Posts: 20271
Location: oswego, il | Beav, you want a great deal goto dell.com and goto their outlet section of their site. These are already built computers and they list everything that is in them. I bought one for my kids 599 shipped, dimension 4700 which is their top of the line dimension. I priced it our new and I quit when I got to 1200 bucks. Celerons were going for 350. If you see one you like you have to buy it becuase once it is bought, it is gone. I have seen a full screen of puters on that section only to go back an hour later to find them all gone. |
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| Build your own or buy a barebones sytem (at pricewatch, tigerdirect, newegg). Not only will you save a lot of money, but you likely won't need customer service or expensive warranties. If you don't want to build your own, go with compaq/hp, eMachines, or your local computer geek (best option).
I can't believe how many people recommend Dell. I guess I've had bad luck with them and I try to steer people away from them as well as the tons (and I mean tons) of others that claim the same as I do (just type "Dell sucks" in google). My brother buys nothing but Dell because he says their customer service is the best (like others have said here). I guess his customer service experience has been better than mine. I won't even get into the problems I encountered with Dell customer service, which was never fast nor helpful.
From what I've been told from a friend of mine who builds comps for a living, it is well known that Dell uses some cheap hardware to keep their costs down. At the last company I worked for, I was in charge of buying and setting up new computers. The owner insisted that we buy Dell. After buying 6 Optilux business systems with 512MB RAM, we wanted to upgrade the memory to 1.5GB. I figured Dell would use 2x256 sticks to make the 512MB, but I did not know that the motherboard they used in the systems only had 2 memory slots (they were both being used). I have never seen a motherboard with only 2 slots for memory (usually they have at least 4). We ended up throwing the 256 sticks in some other computers (all of the non-Dell comps had at least 4 memory slots). And to top it off, the memory I bought was not compatible with the computers even though Dell tech support said it would be.
Once I finally got some compatible memory installed, 4 of the 6 comps had hardware issues within one year of being purchased; 3 power supplies and one hard drive. I guess one thing that was good with Dell, when we had the hardware failures, a Dell technician came to the office and repaired them onsite within 24 hours.:) Although, you obviously have to pay extra for having a tech come to your house.
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Posts: 41
Location: Minneapolis, MN | Sorry, I thought I was logged on. Here is a good link for consumer complaints.
Dell: 17.9% market share but 58% of the complaints!!!!
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/computers/computer_complaints.html
Edited by MuskieSlayer 1/8/2006 11:29 PM
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Posts: 32954
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Guest:
It's simple really, look at the market share, then look at WARRANTY as a percentage of sales for each builder; that will give you a more accurate picture, not numbers from one site's message board(it is very possible that the number of users n that web property who HAVE a Dell is statistacally higher by a ratio that would supply an 'offset' to that data). Typing in a direct 'complaint link' into Google will, of course, give you exactly the results you are looking for, right? I have had 4 HP computers, and all had serious issues, but they were repaired and are in service today. I have a Sony Vaio that has been flawless. I have a Dell XPS, and so far, it's a great machine. I bought my wife a Firelite, which has been fantastic. I had three E Machines, all were pretty good.
Bottom line is any computer can and will eventually have issues. If the machine is old and using an out of date OS, it probably should be replaced when it goes down, but I prefer to reinstall the OS, scrub the machine, and start over just becaue I can. Just did that to an HP that was trashed according to support; blue screen with no partition recovery available. It no longer knows it's an HP, but it's running great now.
The numbers there are FOR THAT SITE ( and they actually say they use and buy Dell), and are not industry numbers. It would be interesting to get actual numbers from Dell, HP, Apple, IBM, Sony, etc. |
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Posts: 224
Location: Madison | Mac mini at work, dual processor G5 at home. It's nice to not have to run any virus software.
One of the reasons Apple computers have traditionally had fewer failures than other PC manufacturers is that Apple is in full control over the entire system. They put together their own OS with all components fully spec'ed by them, so things truly work together. PC components are SUPPOSED to work that way (and do most of the time) but sometimes you get companies who don't exactly adhere to standards, and suddenly your mobo isn't talking to the CD drive or the RAM exactly the way the OS was designed.
I've always heard good things about Dell, especially WRT adhering to standards moreso than, say, Compaq. |
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Posts: 32954
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Looks like Beav will be off the cyberspace 'air' for a few days. He has a new 'puter on the way, so expect him back online soon! |
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| Beav,
It would help if you could post what your price point is and what applications you want to use. Someone wanting to do non-linear video editing needs a significantly different system than an e-mail, ms-word power user.
Good luck in your search. Computers are like Notre Dame - you either love 'em or hate 'em. |
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