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BPO Off Topic Forum => Anything Non-Dog Related => : Anky January 30, 2006, 09:39:47 PM

: Need puter help
: Anky January 30, 2006, 09:39:47 PM
OK I need to buy a computer.  However I have a problem.  I have NO clue what I'm doing.  I want something that's pretty and fast and I can do my graphic intensive work on without it imploding.  I want to keep it under a grand, and be able to burn CDs on it.  I went to the Dell and Compaq site and those cheap little computers start getting really expensive when Is tart clicking buttons.  Any help? 

Edited to add

I like this but it doesn't come with software (I like word excel and Powerpoint) And I have no clue about the technical crap

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/product_detail.do?product_code=EL445AA%23ABA
: Re: Need puter help
: Anky January 30, 2006, 09:48:09 PM
And this one
http://www.refurbdepot.com/productdetails2.cfm?Product_ID=4240
: Re: Need puter help
: cricket36580 January 30, 2006, 11:35:37 PM
Personally I wouldn't get either one.  Presarios and compaqs are notoriously unstable.  They use really crappy motherboards and power supplies.  I would look for a refurb Dell though.  Contact a dealer in your area...a small computer repair person...and see what they can do for you.  I can put together a really stout Dell for under a grand.  Where are you?  If you're close I can put it together for you and get it to you.  But I can't ship it once I get it....
: Re: Need puter help
: Anky January 30, 2006, 11:37:19 PM
yeah I'm NO where near you :P  I'm in New Hampshire.  See this is what I need help with. Can't live without internet.  I'll DIE
: Re: Need puter help
: chaosndestruction January 30, 2006, 11:39:51 PM
Yes do NOT go with a compaq!!! It's what my parents have and it SUCKS!!!
: Re: Need puter help
: chaos270 January 30, 2006, 11:45:47 PM
We had a compac and it died within a month of arriving a complete hard drive crash and burn.  We got that fixed then slowly each of the disk drives failed.  I love all of the Dells we've had.  My brother and I have laptops and my parents just bought a desktop.  I haven't had any problems with any of them plus the initial setup is really easy.  So I second that you should go with dell.  I wish I could help more but I'm not all that strong in the computer lingo I can program in C++ and fix general problems but that's it so far.  I wouldn't go with apple either because you can either get a good one or a bad one my sister got a bad one that's now dead after several expensive fixes.
: Re: Need puter help
: hairprincessnyu January 30, 2006, 11:59:19 PM
Ok this is just my two cents. my first laptop was a dell inspiron. It lasated about one year then needed a new motherboard. That was $300 so I said nevermind. Got a loan check back from college and bought a new laptop. This one is a Dell Inspiron 6000. After all the upgrades, it cost around $2000. I had it for one month and it needed a new motherboard. Needless to say, after experiencing what happened with my old laptop, I purchased 3 year ON SITE insurance, (which I paid out the wazoo for). But a guy came out and put a new motherboard in for me in an hour. I was soooo glad I purchased the insurance this time. I don't know though, I prob. wouldn't go for another Dell next time, two Dells, two bad motherboards? Doesn't seem right to me. If you do go with a Dell though, GET THE ON SITE INSURANCE!!! Seriously, if you just get call in help, and you computer needs something, you have to send it in!! This takes FOREVER and shipping is expensive!!! Again, just my two cents!!
: Re: Need puter help
: Svnt4God January 31, 2006, 04:03:01 AM
DO NOT BUY A COMPAQ.   I would also not recommend an HP, only because the customer service and tech support are terrible.

Stay with a Dell.  Or if you have a computer store near you, ask them if they build computers.  If they do, you can chose every option you want for alot less money then if you purchased from a large company like Dell.

Since I know how to build computers, I went to a computer store and asked them to put together a Bare Bones system for me.  I chose the case, the mother board, the video adapter, the size of memory.  They put it all together for me (because I didn't want to).  Then I brought it home and put in my own Hard Drive, CD Roms, CD Burners, etc.   It kept the cost of the computer down to about $550.00 for a very nice system.
: Re: Need puter help
: AC January 31, 2006, 07:43:32 AM
I agree with everyone else to stay away from Compac and HP (same company anyway) and personally I would not by Dell or Gateway either. I always found the best option to have the computer built by a smaller computer company to my specifications, as they are easier to expand and upgrade in the future.
: Re: Need puter help
: 2dobies January 31, 2006, 08:32:58 AM
I just bought a refurb. Dell from a place near me that takes computers from schools and colleges and re-does them w/ totally new innards.  I had them put a new cd burner in it for me, and I paid about $250 for the entire deal, beacuse the outer shell had a scratch and a ding on it! Big deal....It's great!  Lots of memory, photo capacity to the hilt, and I just had broadband installed at home from my cable co.  At my work, I've had Compaq, HP, Gateway, and Dell over the past several years, and my opinion is that Dell is the best by far!
: Re: Need puter help
: brandon January 31, 2006, 08:58:17 AM
I've been purchasing Refurbished Dell Dimensions for work, they come with the same warranty as a new one.  Most of them have been 3000-3400ghz, with 160mb hard drive, and a cd/dvd burner, and at least a 128mb graphics card.  They've averaged around $700-750ish.

You have to check it in the morning really, as the availability of these varies, and there are more choices available in the mornings than in late afternoon..

You may need to up the memory a bit, just hit www.crucial.co m and enter in the model #, etc, and it will come back with what you need for a good price. 

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/desktops?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh

: Re: Need puter help
: lins_saving_grace January 31, 2006, 10:27:25 AM
We're in the market too.  Luckily my husband is in the computer business and knows what to look for.  He wants a Dell 500 or 700 with DVD/CD ROM etc.  Look on Dell's website and watch for specials...the y run a new one once a month I think.   I'll ask him his opinion on things if you want.
: Re: Need puter help
: Gypsy Jazmine January 31, 2006, 01:57:49 PM
After my neighbor praising her Mac to high heaven & then going to check it out I know I am getting a Mac when this computer dies...You might want to check them out!
: Re: Need puter help
: NoDogNow February 01, 2006, 05:37:28 PM
My Pentium 166 died last summer.  I had just quit a job that was making me crazy, and I had interviewed but hadn't gotten this one yet. 

I made some phone calls, and I ended up going over to USC's surplus sales office. Most big universities have them--especially the private ones--and they always have all KINDS of great stuff. 

My used Dell Optima (with a 333 chip, 512 ram and 40g hard drive) at home is set up for DSL (which I haven't gotten yet, which is why I'm never online at home, just at work when I have nothing to do, which is a lot of the time this time of year!), a CD burner, a ZIP 100 drive, a 3.5 floppy drive, a 17 inch monitor and came with Windows XP installed. 

I paid $75 for it.  It will cost me another $80 to have the I-will-come-to-your-house computer guy come over and install a new sound board (mine died last week) when I call him to come, which will put the cost of it at about 160. 

Check out university surplus departments.  They have amazing things most of the time!