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connectedgeek | December 24, 2008 06:33 PM | in Computers

If you had only $400 to spend for a new computer where would you buy it from and what would buy?

Laptop or Desktop?

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BEST ANSWER chosen by asker | girldrummernw | December 24, 2008 10:55 PM

I can't believe I'm saying this, but for $400 I would really suggest that you check and see what specials Walmart is running on computers. They do carry Acer and a few others that come in at that price. And Walmart does get you a lot of bang for the buck. I don't know if you could get more for that low of an investment. And you would save the $60 to $80 of shipping that any mail order company would cost. As a computer lover I have never seriously considered buying from Walmart (though I've looked), but with that price range I think it is really the right fit.

Here's a Compaq Presario that comes in at $398 on their web site.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10528893

source(s):
25 years of computer experience

Asker's rating:

I can't believe I am support a Walmart answer ;) Thanks !!! ;)

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spoon | December 24, 2008 06:40 PM

You know I actually ran this experiement earlier in the year and built a desktop computer for $350 which is now running Windows 7 (when I first built it I was running OSX). The parts list and how to is found at my site (sorry, I would link directly to the site that I got the info from but the link is blocked by my corporate firewall and only gives me random letters instead of an actual link)

source(s):
http://assortednerdery.com/?p=61

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bmlhailstone | December 24, 2008 07:04 PM

I don't know if I would spend $400 on a computer, but if I had to, I'd buy one from Tiger Direct (www.tigerdirect.com) because I think they have good quality stuff for decent prices. I bought the NComputing X300 from them a while back and I love it. I also bought a Systemax computer from them some time ago, which has proven to be worth the $699.00 that I spent.

If I could find really really good prices, I would buy a barebones computer and assemble it myself, but I just doubt I could make one I would like for under $400.00

Desktop, definitely.

source(s):
www.tigerdirect.com

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ssharon | December 24, 2008 07:37 PM

Whenever someone is in the market for a new (or used) computer, regardless of the price range, my first question is always what do you plan on using it for.

If you want a really cheap gaming computer my answer will be very different than if you plan on plugging this computer into a TV for use as a media server.

Do you have a preference between Mac and PC? New Mac Minis should be announced January 6 so I would wait until then to see what they look like.

You ask about laptop v. desktop but that is directly tied to what your computer needs are and whether you already have one or both types of machines. For example I already have both a desktop and laptop and my next computer will replace my desktop because it is older and because my laptop still is useful for what I use it for (taking notes, light web browsing) whereas my desktop is not even though it is faster.

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taffy71 | December 24, 2008 11:31 PM

I would buy a second hand Mac Mini off Ebay.

Or alternatively keep an eye on the local listings on Craigslist - you can sometimes get a bargain if you're willing to wait for the right posting.

source(s):
www.ebay.com
www.craigslist.com

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