I need a new computer and I need help......
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$11 Answers
So, Dell has a Vista Inspiron 560 desktop PC (without monitor or speakers) for $349 (see http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/deals/popular_desktops?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&redirect=1 ). Personalizing to Windows 7 Home, adding the lowest cost speakers, and the least expensive 18.5" flat panel monitor increases the price to $534 (see http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dddoaa2&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19 ).
With the above as a baseline, you can compare deals elsewhere. For example, at Tiger Direct you can find an eMachines ET1831-01 Refurbished Desktop PC for $249 without monitor (see http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5722408&CatId=5138 ). However, adding a monitor and speakers would likely up the cost to over $430.
If you prefer to buy a bundle with monitor included, and to get a new rather than refurbished machine, Tiger Direct offers a SYX Venture H420i ITX Desktop PC LCD Bundle (see http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5554544&CatId=4275 ) with monitor and speakers included for $520.
If you prefer a better known manufacturer, check the list of desktop bundles sorted by price from low to high at http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=4275 .
If you're not set on having an Intel processor, you can find a desktop PC at Office Depot for $310. This is a Compaq Presario CQ5300F Desktop Computer With AMD Sempron™ LE-1300 Processor (see http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/182844/Compaq-Presario-CQ5300F-Desktop-Computer-With/#reviewTab ). One advantage is that you can go see this computer at a nearby store and if you like it, pay and take it home with you. Staples' lowest cost offering is higher, so there's no point in presenting it here.
The bottom line is that with your bare-bones requirements, almost any Windows 7 machine out there will do more than what you need, so you should buy based only on price, convenience, and reliability. The Office Depot Compaq seems to fit the bill nicely on all three counts.
One last option which I have not covered in detail is buying a refurbished or used machine e.g. from Craigslist. However, doing so may get you a lower price, but likely with reduced reliability and no return policy and/or warranty.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$If your budget won't cut it, go with Windows XP. Windows XP is more stable and has less problems anyways. Good refurbished PCs running Windows XP are running in the ~$150 range.
Here are some links:
PowerSpec from Microcenter (Windows 7) - $399
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0321352
Dell Inspiron (this one if better) from Microcenter (Windows 7)- $499
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0326332
Refurbished PC (Windows XP) from Overstock - $155.00
http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/HP-DC5100-SFF-Desktop-Pentium-4-3.0-GHz-Computer-Refurbished/4468494/product.html?rcmndsrc=2
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Would you recommend Windows XP instead of Windows 7? I just thought Windows 7 since it was the newest.? If I bought a new computer with Windows XP would it be cheaper than one with Windows 7?
I would go with Windows 7. You won't save anything by going with XP (unless you find a clearance model), and Windows 7 will support security updates longer than XP. You really should upgrade operating systems (Windows) before security updates stop becoming available, as they long have for Windows 98.
I'm a tech and I deal with both operating systems on a regular basis. XP is superior because if its stability, simplicity, value and speed. Windows 7 has some neat features that XP doesn't have, but most are graphical differences, so what your paying for is essentially eye candy. Windows 7 also has many problems that have yet to be addressed. (Such as driver/hardware compatability, general instability, frequent crashes)
Windows 7 will be a good operating system once all the bugs are worked out and the hardware catches up, but for now I always recommend sticking with XP. To my knowledge there are no major applications that will only run on Windows 7 and not XP.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
I have personally bought Dell machines, because, truthfully, I don't want to put together my own machine totally from scratch. Since I don't have the largest of bedrooms, I went with the small form factor machine, which is pretty silent, and takes up about half the space of a tower. The sacrifice there is that you can't put a lot of the full sized cards that you can in a regular tower.
I also bought my monitor secondhand. I know it's risky to trust online sellers, but there are also online retailers which are a bit more reputable.
Hope this helps!
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
---quote---
Acer AspireRevo R3610: Mini Media PC Has Windows 7, Ion Graphics, and HDMI
Processor
Processor class Intel Atom 330
Processor speed 1.6 GHz
Cache size 512 KB
Bus speed 533 MHz
Number of installed processors 1
Memory
Installed memory 2048 MB
Memory socket DIMM
System
Motherboard Manufacturer Acer
Motherboard Model FMCP7A-ION
Storage
Total Hard-drive capacity 160 GB
Number of storage drives included 1
Multimedia
Audio Adapter Model Integrated RealTek High Definition Audio
Audio Channels 7.1 surround
Video integration Motherboard
Audio codec Integrated Audio
Software
Operating system Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
----end of quote---
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$When that computer crashed my sister got me a computer at Office Depot. It was $309 with a $60 rebate. It is a Compaq and has Windows 7. I liked XP much better, but since it was brand new that's what it came with. It works fine but I had a hard time figuring out Windows 7. Once I did it works very well. It has a 350 gig hard drive, 1000 memory, and I love it. I'm not at home so I don't remember the model number. For the price, it was a great deal.
I think if you need a computer and a monitor then you might find a good deal on both at eBay. Try to buy from the same dealer to save on shipping, or find a listing that has free shipping. I bought my latest monitor from Walmart and have had no problems with it. It is a flat screen 19" and also a little strange and hard to get used to, but now I am used to it, I love it.
You may think you won't use it for very many things, but I guarantee you, if you start searching around you will find so many things that you can enjoy that you will use it much more than you think. I love playing games, searching for information, of course going to Mahalo, and I have a store on Bonanzle that brings me in additional income each month. They are much better than eBay but no one is selling computers the last time I checked. If you are unemployed right now you can search for jobs, submit resumes, and so much more. It will definitely give you something to do in your spare time!!! There is sooooo much to learn and do on the internet.
Good luck and feel free to ask questions.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$http://www.pcartisan.com/refurbished-desktop-computers-can-they-be-trusted.html
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
personal experience
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Unfortunately with labor, it usually costs more to refurb a computer than it does to buy a new one. Everything has to be compatible and some of the older ones don't have as many slots and really can't be upgraded. It may not have USB ports if it is old, have a floppy disk drive and a 3-1/4 drive which are seldom on the new computers. May not have a CD or DVD drive which the new one would have. And the program has to match the internal parts. Honestly I would suggest looking for a refurb on eBay or one on sale that is up to date. It's more problem to upgrade and usually more money than a new one. Just a thought .....
walmart,self
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$my experience
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
informative information