Computer advice.

[Bugman]

I'll be in the market for another computer soon, most likely this year. My wheezing old state surplus Compaq is bound to fail any time now, and its really not worth spending any money on for repairs. I'm just hoping it lasts until I can afford to replace it. I've never bought a shiny new one before and need some suggestions. As a very basic user a lot of bells and whistles are not needed, and reading the specifications on different models is useless since I don't have a clue what they mean. Any help here would be most appreciated.

 

[kered]

Buggy, I have had a Compaq Presario for over three years and it's been a good reliable machine. Mine was 1G of Ram( I upped it to 3G) and 320G of hard drive and cost me about 350 bucks back then . For the same amount of money today you can probably get 3G of Ram and maybe close to 1T of hard drive. Got mine from my favorite Geek (she's purdy!!) at BestBuy.

 

[Bugman]

Buggy, I have had a Compaq Presario for over three years and it's been a good reliable machine. Mine was 1G of Ram( I upped it to 3G) and 320G of hard drive and cost me about 350 bucks back then . For the same amount of money today you can probably get 3G of Ram and maybe close to 1T of hard drive. Got mine from my favorite Geek (she's purdy!!) at BestBuy.

Thanks my friend. There is a Best Buy around ten minutes from my apartment. Looking online, they have the same model (tower only, which is all I need) with 3 GB memory, 500 GB hard drive, AMD E-Series processor and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit for $289.99. I don't know what any of that means but I assume its a good deal?

 

[Gothika]

Thanks my friend. There is a Best Buy around ten minutes from my apartment. Looking online, they have the same model (tower only, which is all I need) with 3 GB memory, 500 GB hard drive, AMD E-Series processor and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit for $289.99. I don't know what any of that means but I assume its a good deal?

with the spects and brand sounds like a good deal to me just my opinion tho

 

[Kunzite]

Thanks my friend. There is a Best Buy around ten minutes from my apartment. Looking online, they have the same model (tower only, which is all I need) with 3 GB memory, 500 GB hard drive, AMD E-Series processor and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit for $289.99. I don't know what any of that means but I assume its a good deal?

I'd agree, this sounds like a reasonably good deal, assuming you plan to use your computer for basic Office + Internet. Gaming is kind of out of the question on a machine like that, but then if you were looking for a gaming machine you'd have said so 🙂

On a related note, have you considered looking on Craiglist? You could find a used machine similar to this for a lot less, since computers have terrible resale value and a lot of people have to unload old machines to buy new ones.

 

[Bugman]

with the spects and brand sounds like a good deal to me just my opinion tho

Thanks bro. Much appreciated. 🙂

I'd agree, this sounds like a reasonably good deal, assuming you plan to use your computer for basic Office + Internet. Gaming is kind of out of the question on a machine like that, but then if you were looking for a gaming machine you'd have said so 🙂

On a related note, have you considered looking on Craiglist? You could find a used machine similar to this for a lot less, since computers have terrible resale value and a lot of people have to unload old machines to buy new ones.

I appreciate your suggestions. I would not know how to use Office if my life depended on it, my computer is used only for Internet browsing and research. As you noted I have no intrest in gaming. I'd rather spend more and buy new and local, with a warranty of some sort for what its worth.

 

[Flatfoot]

If you're looking strictly for internet browsing and research, I'd look into a netbook. Yeah, the view is a lot smaller, but you'd be saving yourself a decent amount of money to get the most out of what you want it for.

 

[Jericho716]

Wow, you're kind of sheltered when it comes to computers. You should learn something so you don't get taken advantage of. Knowledge is power, and you're on the internet now. The TMF will still be here, so go read up on computers a little bit.

I agree with Flatfoot. Consider a netbook; they're much cheaper, even though it's smaller than a laptop. At the same time, that gives you the chance to go pleasure yourself in another room if mom and dad (or whoever else) is in the room. I've no idea how old you are and don't care to check right now. You can't exactly haul your desktop out in the garage or wherever your favorite spot is.

Otherwise, go to Best Buy and just say "I know nothing. I have $400. Tell me what to buy and I will blindly follow your advice." That usually works, and they've seen "your type" before.

 

[Bugman]

If you're looking strictly for internet browsing and research, I'd look into a netbook. Yeah, the view is a lot smaller, but you'd be saving yourself a decent amount of money to get the most out of what you want it for.

I already have a Dell laptop. Granted its not state of the art and I'm having some problems getting it set up, but it does work and won't be used all that often. I'm intrested in replacing my home computer. Thanks for the suggestion though. 🙂

 

[phant0m]

If you must buy from Bestbuy, don't get their warranty, get a manufacturer warranty. Bestbuy is a pain in the ass and if your computer fails somewhere down the road, they won't give you a computer of equal current market value, they'll "determine" how much your old computer is worth today and let you pick out a replacement from that value. I know someone who had a $700 laptop for three years. It kept on failing and she had to keep taking it to Bestbuy for repairs. By the time they let her replace it with a different computer, they said it was worth only a little over $300. She essentially paid $400 (plus the cost of the warranty, probably 150-200) to rent a computer for three years that wouldn't even work for more than six months.

Check with the manufacturing company, and see what their warranties state. My brother got to replace his computer with one of equal value after two years, which pretty much meant a minor upgrade and several system specs.

This is important for you not because you need good hardware in your computer to surf the internet, but because if a $700 computer can drop to $300 in three years, what will a $300 computer drop to over the course of 1,2, or 3 years? For the money, you're better off buying an external hard drive to back up your files in the case of hard drive failure.

Also, there are online retailers (both manufacturers and resellers) that have good sales that Bestbuy never matches. PM if you want some suggestions on places to look.

 

[Bugman]

If you must buy from Best Buy, don't get their warranty, get a manufacturer warranty. Best Buy is a pain in the ass and if your computer fails somewhere down the road, they won't give you a computer of equal current market value, they'll "determine" how much your old computer is worth today and let you pick out a replacement from that value. I know someone who had a $700 laptop for three years. It kept on failing and she had to keep taking it to Best Buy for repairs. By the time they let her replace it with a different computer, they said it was worth only a little over $300. She essentially paid $400 (plus the cost of the warranty, probably 150-200) to rent a computer for three years that wouldn't even work for more than six months.

Check with the manufacturing company, and see what their warranties state. My brother got to replace his computer with one of equal value after two years, which pretty much meant a minor upgrade and several system specs.

This is important for you not because you need good hardware in your computer to surf the internet, but because if a $700 computer can drop to $300 in three years, what will a $300 computer drop to over the course of 1,2, or 3 years? For the money, you're better off buying an external hard drive to back up your files in the case of hard drive failure.

Also, there are online retailers (both manufacturers and resellers) that have good sales that Best Buy never matches. PM if you want some suggestions on places to look.

Thanks for the advice and offer. I'll send a pm tomorrow, its bedtime here. Reply at your convenience. I'm not looking to buy anything right away so there is no rush. 🙂

 

[Coup de Grace]

I'm in the market for a new laptop as well. My warranty just expired a few months ago and the screen started flickering. Either the inverter or the backlight are starting to fail and the cost of repairs would total almost half the cost towards a new laptop. Just to have it diagnosed is $70 and another $150 for labor + parts for the repair. Certainly not worth it.

I'm currently looking at an HP on the Best Buy website for $350. It has a 350GB HD, 3GB ram, AMD E-Series processor and comes with Windows 7. This computer has TRIPLE the specs of my old one and it costs half of what I paid for it.

If you live near a Fry's Electronics, they have pretty much the same laptop with identical specs with a Pentium processor for $340. Their warranty is a bit better than BB, but most of the time they have useless chimps working in the computer department that couldn't tell their butt from a hole in the ground.

In the end, I suggest you do your research so what you're purchasing fits your needs. Don't be swayed by sales people. Chances are they know even less than you.

 

[paracarl44]

Go to a person who repairs and sells computer and tell them exactly what you want in it.

 

[Bugman]

I'm in the market for a new laptop as well. My warranty just expired a few months ago and the screen started flickering. Either the inverter or the backlight are starting to fail and the cost of repairs would total almost half the cost towards a new laptop. Just to have it diagnosed is $70 and another $150 for labor + parts for the repair. Certainly not worth it.

I'm currently looking at an HP on the Best Buy website for $350. It has a 350GB HD, 3GB ram, AMD E-Series processor and comes with Windows 7. This computer has TRIPLE the specs of my old one and it costs half of what I paid for it.

If you live near a Fry's Electronics, they have pretty much the same laptop with identical specs with a Pentium processor for $340. Their warranty is a bit better than BB, but most of the time they have useless chimps working in the computer department that couldn't tell their butt from a hole in the ground.

In the end, I suggest you do your research so what you're purchasing fits your needs. Don't be swayed by sales people. Chances are they know even less than you.

I have a Dell laptop, I'm looking to replace my desktop. There is a Frys here but from what I can see they have the highest prices in town on just about everything electronic. I'm just looking right now and picking brains. Thanks for your suggestions. 🙂

Go to a person who repairs and sells computer and tell them exactly what you want in it.

I'm always leary of anyone who wants to sell me something I don't know anything about. That's why I'm asking people here and in the real world for suggestions and opinions. They have no stake in my decision.