where to buy a new computer?

**k12311997** · 08-22-2009, 04:52 AM

any suggestions, I just need the tower but I'm not smart enough to build my own. thanks

**Jacqui** · 08-22-2009, 08:03 AM

I got one recently from Best Buy. It is a Dell so you could probably get one there or directly from Dell.

**For-Life** · 08-22-2009, 08:38 AM

Hold off for the new Windows 7 though. It is either already being sold or will be in a couple of months. Don't get Vista

**Jacqui** · 08-22-2009, 09:45 AM

Some (most?) are now coming with FREE upgrades to 7 when it becomes available.

**Wes** · 08-22-2009, 10:50 AM

I get my parts from newegg.com or pcconnection.com and build em myself but they sell towers as well. Another good place is ecost.com. I've been using these guys for about 8 years, they're not fly by night. That was a god suggestion about waiting for windows 7. Good luck. Wes

**varmint** · 08-22-2009, 03:28 PM

My son-in-law works as an IT geek and he uses nothing but Dells and swears by them, however me being the stubborn father-in-law I've bought Gateway or most lately HP. I like my new HP laptop, but I run some pgms on my desktop that won't be compatible with the new windows 64bit systems so thats kept me from upgrading. In particular I use some graphics designing software to cut vinyl signage and some estimating software for my contracting that doesn't run on 64bit. You might want to check this issue with your software & allow that extra cost to upgrade software.
Sometimes they have good deals at the local costco, or the dell outlet online store, but you have to take them the way they are configured in the pkg.

**k12311997** · 08-23-2009, 07:32 AM

so what are the differences between brands? they all use the same processor, the same OS and the same programs right? what makes Brand A better than Brand B?

**Jacqui** · 08-23-2009, 08:46 AM

The big differences that I see between brands are the quality of parts and craftsmanship.

**Wes** · 08-23-2009, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by k12311997

so what are the differences between brands? they all use the same processor, the same OS and the same programs right? what makes Brand A better than Brand B?

That's true, but there are many more things that go into a computer. Motherboard, video cards, memory, optical drives, card readers, hard drives, etc. Another thing you want to look at is expansion bays and expansion ports on the motherboard.. It's nice to be able to easily upgrade and add hard drives to your pc, like from an olser system that has all your data. A lot of the big boys will use a cheap motherboard with a slow FSB no expansion capability, and some even go for onboard video instead of seperate video cards. I've been doing builds and repairs for about ten years, and I can tell you the motherboard is the glue that holds it all together. Sadly, even the most premium rigs from the "Big Boys" use only average grade boards.
All that said, I saw a nice HP Voodoo PC "Firebird" on ecost the other day http://www.ecost.com/Detail/Desktops...avid=155438718 It's the little brother of a "Blackbird" I have and would do well for you. It's good looking too. Another good option is a Dell XPS.
Here's a page of towers for your perusal. http://www.ecost.com/ecost/category/...gory=155438718 I've been buying from these guys for 8-9 years. You can trust em.
Wes

**k12311997** · 08-23-2009, 11:38 AM

wes,

thanks for the reply, I was looking at $400 - $600 the closer to 4 the happier I'd be(that whole broke optician thing.) Largely used for internet, wordprocessing and photo storage and a little photo manipulation. I'm not playing the latest and greatest MMP games. I would like some speed and power but not worried about the tops. would anyone care to give opinions of this, thanks http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16883108208

**k12311997** · 08-23-2009, 11:40 AM

what are the differences between Intel and Amd? what are atom , celleron(sp) and dual core?

**Wes** · 08-23-2009, 12:49 PM

Looks like a decent rig. Theres a nice HP mediacenter on that ecost link I posted. Might be a better deal. Intel and AMD are competing processor (and board) manufacturers much like Zeiss and Essilor are competing lens manufacturers. Atom and celeron are cheap lines of processors they make. Go for at least a dual core, or quad core if you can get it. More processor cores means more things you can do at a time with no lag. Wes

**Fezz** · 08-24-2009, 07:59 AM

"Where to buy a new computer?"

How about at the Apple Store!!!!!!!!!

:cheers::cheers:;):cheers::cheers::D

**varmint** · 08-24-2009, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by Fezz

"Where to buy a new computer?"

How about at the Apple Store!!!!!!!!!

:cheers::cheers:;):cheers::cheers::D

Silly.....apple's are fruit!!!

**k12311997** · 08-24-2009, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by Fezz

"Where to buy a new computer?"

How about at the Apple Store!!!!!!!!!

:cheers::cheers:;):cheers::cheers::D

Fezz,

Apples may be the gold standard, unfortunately I'm on a bronze budget.

**For-Life** · 08-24-2009, 09:15 AM

Meh, I have not been impressed by Macs. No matter what anyone says, they are not compatible. When I get a Word file from a Mac and the formating is messed up, there is a problem. Plus, I have heard a lot of stories about them crashing, A LOT.

**Steve Machol** · 08-24-2009, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by For-Life

Meh, I have not been impressed by Macs. No matter what anyone says, they are not compatible. When I get a Word file from a Mac and the formating is messed up, there is a problem. Plus, I have heard a lot of stories about them crashing, A LOT.

The reason I switched from a PC to a Mac was because I got sick and tired of the constant crashing of Windows 95/XP/Vista. I would have to reboot the computer every 2 days or so on average.

In comparison my Mac crashes about once every 3-4 months. The things I don't like about it are:

- 'Finder' is a poor substitute for Windows Explorer
- Updates almost always require rebooting that machine, even if it's only an update to Safari or iTunes. This whould only be required for OS and system upgrades.

Other than that the Mac and Mac OS is superior in every way.

**DragonLensmanWV** · 09-02-2009, 04:08 PM

That one from newegg looks suitable. The only really weak parf of it is the onboard graphics,, which can handle only the most basic of 3D stuff. Heck, I have a couple of ones using that basic setup breadboarded on my table and, using that graphics system, it only barely runs my 3-D Solar System screensaver, though in stilted fasion.
Never fear, graphics cards are cheap, you can get a very serviceable GeForce card for pretty cheap.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125260

I've got about 6 of those running on our puters at work.