Dean's World

Just like me, my computer is getting old and has started forgetting things. ;>)

I can’t give da ‘puter gingko biloba or brain exercises, so I’m going to be replacing it.

Thing is, in the four or so years since I got this one, the market has changed. Used to be you could go to Dell or Gateway and hook up with a decent system for around $300. Now they start at $600 and don’t even have any software! (Well, not the kind I need, anyway.)

My needs are less simple than they used to be. I’ve recently got an RCA Small Wonder video camera and am making lotsa videos of the grandkids.

I also need Publisher, or something like it. The ‘puter I have right now is the first ever that didn’t have it, and it’s getting old waiting until I get to work to use Publisher. Other than those two things, I don’t do much but word processing and internet stuff.

Last summer when I first started thinking about a new system, I had no need to worry about the cost – I was going to get whatever I wanted. Only I’ve since quit the big bucks job as of Nov 1, and I’m back to economizing again. Guess I shouldn’t have spent so much on Christmas (I did all my shopping in October) but who knew?

Even tho I’ve got an old A+ cert, and probably could, I really don’t want to build my own. I want something plug-n-play, out of the box. This is a desktop model I’m looking for.

I’m open to suggestions!

(link)

Trudy W. Schuett (mail) (www):

ADDENDUM: Forgot to mention I still have a good set of Boston Acoustics speakers w/bass booster from the last 'puter, and I'd like to be able to use them again. I've got a jukebox player and love to rock n roll while working!

12.2.2007 8:28am

William (mail):

Assuming you have a Fry's around, that's a good place to find stuff. You can order on-line if you don't have one around.

At the risk of being trite: eBay can be an option.

Dell has this:

Dell Desktop

And if you have a Linux bent: Walmart has a $200 PC that is alright, if you already have a monitor. Even if you don't like Linux, you can install the MS OS that you probably already have on your current PC that you aren't using anymore.

Vis-a-vis publisher: again, you can pick up a legit
copy from eBay.

12.2.2007 9:47am

I am out in the boonies. If I had Fry's I'd do it.

No way, Ebay! Don't get it, don't wanna.

THX anyway!

T____

12.2.2007 12:08pm

Chris Crawford (mail):

I'll weigh in with two suggestions:

1. I heartily endorse William's suggestion that you consider eBay. The price of a computer drops with astonishing speed, and the older the computer, the better price/performance ratio you get. The only value of getting the latest, greatest machine is that it lets you play the latest greatest games.

2. Once again I shall poison the atmosphere with my Mac heresy. Yep, the Macs have a higher sticker price, and there's no question that you can get more raw power in Wintel machine for the same price. However, in terms of getting things done, the Mac is (in my heretical opinion) the superior machine. I don't have time to screw around figuring out how to get something working, messing around with drivers, sweating malware, or any of that other stuff that's so common on Wintel machines. I just want to get work done. The iMac, at around $1000, is a really great machine: clean, ridiculously easy to set up and use, and you can even use BootCamp to run Windows natively when you feel like rolling around in the mud. And if you want to work with your word processor rather than fight it, the Apple iWork package is a dream.

The above commentary reflects the opinions of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of the management, the Internet, Bill Gates, Miss Manners, or Mortimer Snerd. Void where prohibited by law. Cash value one mil. Your mileage may vary.

No, no, no Ebay. I am not interested in playing any negotiation games. I live a mile from the Mexican border and am forever held up in normal shopping by Mexicans who think they can change the price of a can of peas at Albertson's.

$1000 for anything is far beyond my budget. I have $500 max.

Apple has always been far too expensive.

12.2.2007 12:23pm

Dan the Highway guy (mail) (www):

You really aren't going to get good value from a pre-made system. If you feel you *can* build your own system, you will get the best bang for the buck that way. You can prioritize the things that are more important to you, and spend the money on non-redundant things, instead of another keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers.

You do need to remember to get everything tho. Motherboard, processor, memory, video card, case, power supply, hard drive, optical drive, and whatever else I've forgotten. The good news is that motherboards today come with a lot of features: Network adapters, USB, Firewire, good audio.

Good luck.

12.2.2007 1:15pm

Elisha Feger (mail) (www):

I put together a parts list for a system a little while ago for a friend of mine. If you want to build one, it's not bad for 600 bucks. If you're not comfortable doing that, well there's no shame there.

12.2.2007 3:53pm

Ruth H.:

Last week I read what I thought was a bait and switch add in the Circuit City after Thanksgiving sale brochure. It advertised an HP Pavillion with AMD Athlon dual core processers, 2 mg memory, 350 mg hard drive with 17' flat screen, upgrade to 19' for $30, for $449, after $250 rebates. We bought two. We didn't get there till 1 PM, I thought they wouldn't have them, they did, no lines or anything. I went to a smaller town near San Antonio where they are big enough and have enough SA commuters to have a Circuit City. They were more than helpful. I am exceedingly pleased to have got them except that they had VISTA on them. It's okay but the new "contacts" instead of address book has me going wild be cause the look of emails is so messy, It doesn't just put the name of the person you have in your address book, it puts the entire email address in. I have six siblings, three children and 4 grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. We all keep in touch by email. Can you imagine how messy that address line looks? AARGH!!

12.2.2007 6:05pm

K :

I saw the system Ruth H bought at CC. It was a very good price for a good machine.

For local shopping at established chains I advise looking at Compaq or EMachines or Gateway. They are good machines currently overshadowed by Dell, HP, Sony, etc.

If you see one you want make a ruthlessly low bid.
Better yet, ask them to toss in the extended warranty for free. You may get it.

For online computers try Newegg.com. Very easy site to use, reputable, and tremendous selection.

As for free software. Good applications for almost everything are available. It is pretty hard to beat OpenOffice, Avast Antivirus and ZoneAlarm firewall for a start. I prefer the Opera browser myself.

Look at MajorGeeks for software.

12.2.2007 6:36pm

Acksiom (mail) (www):

Trudy, you can just outright purchase build-at-buy bargain systems from sellers on Ebay. There's this "Buy It Now!" function that sellers can apply to items in order to skip the auction process. Some of them have pretty good lists of build options, too. I would have gone that route myself a couple of years, if my parental care responsibilities hadn't increased such that it became pointless to upgrade until just recently.

12.2.2007 6:49pm

Jerry Kindall (www):

Just bought my parents a new computer for Christmas. Intel Core Duo, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB HD, DVD burner, 21" widescreen LCD, Windows XP Home for under $500. Watch techbargains.com to see when Dell comes out with their best deals -- these are often to be found on the Dell Small Business site rather than on the Home and Home Office site.

You don't need to get the software with the computer. You can just put the software you already have on the new computer. Just buy Pubilsher if you want it and then you'll always have it.

12.2.2007 7:41pm

Kristian H. (mail) (www):

Okay, for $500-600, you really aren't going to significantly beat Dell/Gateway/Compac/HP. Yes, you can get a locally built PC or a do it yourself, but unless you are gaming, the perfomance difference is neglible.

The biggest problem you are likely to find if you by a prebuilt computer is that it will only come with Vista. While is it definetely getting better (due to patches and 3rd party drivers finally getting stable), it is still not as stable or as "normal" as XP.

Now, if you finally decide to build your own, check out Ars Technica DIY Budget Box. You can save a bit of money on the Vid Card (the Ars guides are biased towards gaming...)

But really, for simple, piece of mind build, get a Dell (or equivalent) computer.

Just get as much ram as you can afford. Givena trade-off between the CPU and Hard Drive, get the better CPU (it is easier to add a new drive than upgrade the CPU, but then I am sure you knew that...)

12.2.2007 8:16pm

mariner:

Whatever you buy, make sure is has Windows XP on it, NOT Vista!

12.2.2007 9:09pm

Yeah, the must-have-XP rule was why I went with Dell. I actually have access to a discount on HP hardware through my agency, and it was a marginally better deal than Dell's, they only offer Vista on their low-end machines, and (according to an HP pre-sales rep) Vista must remain on the machine for the warranty to be valid. In addition to XP, Dell also included the 1-year on-site warranty, which is full of win considering my parents live across the country from me, so they got the business.

12.3.2007 12:06am

Oooh, lotsa ideas there! THX also for the reminder about XP.

Thank you, everybody!

12.3.2007 9:35am

CERDIP (mail) (www):

*gazes at Trudy's $600 computer-to-be and wishes he could get his job done with one that costs less than three times that much...*

12.3.2007 4:24pm

Commenting on Dean's World is a privilege, not a right. Dean is your host, you are his guest, and you should behave in that fashion. Dean is not your babysitter, nor is he your punching bag. Please remember this. In general, you are free to disagree with anyone on any subject you wish, but abusive behavior will not be tolerated.

Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.

Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.