Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (Full Version)

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Marc2b -> Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 8:50:28 AM)

I am in need of your assistance.

The time has finally come to get that new desktop computer system I have been saving for. I want to get a new computer, monitor and printer. I have about $1500.00 to spend (I could go higher if I had to but I don't really want to and, of course, it would be awesome if I could go lower). I am looking for recommendations.

Things I want to do with my new system:

Surf the web

Watch streaming videos without any of that buffering shit.

Download videos.

Download Music MP3s

Play CDs

Play video games (I particularly enjoy city building games and "civilization" type games but 1st person shooters are also fun).

Download onto other devices such as an MP3 player or a tablet (I don't have a table yet but eventually...)

Microsoft office (most especially Word and Excel).

Printing off good quality pictures and word documents.

Is anyone out there familiar with Windows 8.1 because that is what I will probably get. It is particularly important to me that Word documents on earlier versions be compatible with the most recent version of Word.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Marcus the Befuddled.




ashjor911 -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 8:57:48 AM)

I would recommend Aleinwear for the best of the best ..
but if its higher than 1500.00 I can recommend dell systems ..

for the CPU go for intel i5 or i7
ram go for 4 giga or up.
graphic cards go for nividia 2 gigabyte as minimum .
hdd 1 terabyte or higher.

you may chose the rest as for the printer .. I really recommend HP coz its easy to refill it illegally .. [:D]
put some 24 inches screen (+HD is recommended ) & you are good to go.



Missokyst -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 9:07:50 AM)

First I would say, please avoid HP.
What you list is fairly standard. Look for a system with 8G of ram, that will help process your tasks with greater ease, including watching vids.

And about that, if you are not already on a high speed connection use your money to switch to that, it really cuts down on that buffering shit.

If you want a gaming computer specifically ask for one. We recently sold one to a lawyer for his daily work because the graphics were fabulous and the processing speed was huge. He needed it because he does several things at once. Gaming machines generally have more cooling options and heaps of ram.

If this were 2 yrs ago, many machines come with office starter (excel and word), but now they are pushing office 2013 on people. I don't care for it. I would not make that part of the package and maybe pick up a retail version of 2010.

Printing.. well that is dependant on your printer. Get something which does photo quality.

Windows 8.1 is new, it adds a SORT OF windows start button. I prefer 8.0 and downloading a start button that is more like the original one. But, since new ones are 8.1 buyers are stuck using a start button that only takes them back into the metro screen with apps that take them to where they need to be.

And like the guy above me I would also choose alienware



crazyml -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 9:16:03 AM)

An alternative would be to reduce your budget to $1000 and spend the $500 on a loved one.

Alienware produce pc's that are fab and all, but if you're not hooked on online 1st person shoot-em ups then you're paying for goodness that you don't need.

I'd suggest a Dell at $1000 bucks.

Out of interest... would you consider a laptop? They're not as fab for hardcore gaming, but they're not too shabby either - and a laptop would take up less space...



DomKen -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 11:35:03 AM)

FR
Alienware used to be something special now its just Dell machines with a different nameplate.

look here
http://www.microcenter.com/

not sure how close you are to Westchester but they will ship as well. What you need is a good computer, i5 or i7, 4+gigs of RAM and a newer graphics card. You should have no trouble getting that system for less than $1000. getting a touchscreen monitor, don't bother with Win 8 unless you get touchscreen, and a good home printer won't cost $500 unless you go for a huge monitor.



ShaharThorne -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 11:57:51 AM)

Got my HP for $579 4 years ago with 6 gig RAM and about 750 Gig HD. 21 inch monitor. Great for gaming. Got a printer/scanner/copier for $50 and my PDF reader converts my scans into files. There is a new Office suite that I want to get but I am content with the free Open Office that I downloaded a year ago.



Marc2b -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 1:36:10 PM)

Thanks for the info folks. I'll probably get my new system within the next two weeks (first I've got to order my windows 8.1 for dummies book). [:)]



LookieNoNookie -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 3:30:14 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Marc2b

I am in need of your assistance.

The time has finally come to get that new desktop computer system I have been saving for. I want to get a new computer, monitor and printer. I have about $1500.00 to spend (I could go higher if I had to but I don't really want to and, of course, it would be awesome if I could go lower). I am looking for recommendations.

Things I want to do with my new system:

Surf the web

Watch streaming videos without any of that buffering shit.

Download videos.

Download Music MP3s

Play CDs

Play video games (I particularly enjoy city building games and "civilization" type games but 1st person shooters are also fun).

Download onto other devices such as an MP3 player or a tablet (I don't have a table yet but eventually...)

Microsoft office (most especially Word and Excel).

Printing off good quality pictures and word documents.

Is anyone out there familiar with Windows 8.1 because that is what I will probably get. It is particularly important to me that Word documents on earlier versions be compatible with the most recent version of Word.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Marcus the Befuddled.




Bud, with exception to a network system, a holographic system, or some super mega graphics capabilities....for $1,500.00 you can pretty much get a system that will blow you 3 times a day, fold your towels and change the kitty litter every Friday.

Shit....I just saw an ad today for a 2 TB hard drive for $58.00, and a 256 mb static disk drive (basically an SD card) for $112.00.

Crazy shit.



PeonForHer -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 3:44:32 PM)

I would cut my budget for the computer but add to my budget for my internet service provider. You want a damned fast internet connection. Mine, for instance, is OK - but for an extra fiver a month I could have something a lot faster.

Good on you for thinking 'desktop' rather than 'laptop'. Here in the UK, at least, you get way more computer power for your money with desktops. And they don't seem to fuck up nearly so often. Who needs everything to be microscopically small, anyway?



MasterG2kTR -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 4:12:49 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Marc2b

I am in need of your assistance.

The time has finally come to get that new desktop computer system I have been saving for. I want to get a new computer, monitor and printer. I have about $1500.00 to spend (I could go higher if I had to but I don't really want to and, of course, it would be awesome if I could go lower). I am looking for recommendations.

Things I want to do with my new system:

Surf the web

Watch streaming videos without any of that buffering shit.

Download videos.

Download Music MP3s

Play CDs

Play video games (I particularly enjoy city building games and "civilization" type games but 1st person shooters are also fun).

Download onto other devices such as an MP3 player or a tablet (I don't have a table yet but eventually...)

Microsoft office (most especially Word and Excel).

Printing off good quality pictures and word documents.

Is anyone out there familiar with Windows 8.1 because that is what I will probably get. It is particularly important to me that Word documents on earlier versions be compatible with the most recent version of Word.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Marcus the Befuddled.




upgrade your internet connection to fix that problem



frazzle -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 4:34:06 PM)

Do not touch a laptop. unless you need one. work out what you need a computer to do. I'm looking at a new at mo. I gave my computer , I know it all son, 2 choices.

1. comp can do the house work cooking etc.

2. It can run the programmes I use.

Version 1. about £300

Version 2 about £600

Neither work if internet connection is rubbish



DomKen -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 4:54:17 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Marc2b

Thanks for the info folks. I'll probably get my new system within the next two weeks (first I've got to order my windows 8.1 for dummies book). [:)]

Do you really need touchscreen? If not get a Win 7 system. Win 8 is a completely knew interface and most power users hate it.



ShaharThorne -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 4:58:18 PM)

Dom is right...Lizard's HP Envy has 8 on it and she loathes it. She plans to sell it and get a Mac.



Masterlikes31 -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 5:09:40 PM)

For a 1000$ you can build one that will blow the doors off anything you would spend 1500 on. Would you like me to build you a list? You can find someone to put it together for around 100-200.



littlewonder -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 5:13:21 PM)

If you're getting a brand new computer, most are pre-installed already with win8, unless you buy one that they are trying to get rid of that still has win7 on it.

I personally like Lenovo over Alienware. Most of what you want to do is pretty typical of most computers out there these days. What everyone else mentioned is pretty much it.

Oh and most computers no longer come with software bundles including Office. I recently bought a new computer, like two weeks ago only to be shocked to find out that 3 different places I went said the same thing....."we no longer offer any software pre-installed". So you will most likely have to buy it on your own or order Office 365 which I personally like.

Save some money. Buy a basic computer that can do what you want and put more money into your connection. Also most laptops are as cheap as desktops and can do the same if not more than a desktop can do. I can't ever imagine going back to a desktop. I only use one at work because it's all I have available. I absolutely hate it.



MalcolmNathaniel -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 5:13:32 PM)

For what you describe your needs are: I'd say go with an HP business model (not consumer grade) and spend some extra cash on a video card upgrade.

Here's the thing. Everything you mentioned could be handled by a POS Walmart system until you mentioned gaming. How serious are you about gaming? Gaming utilizes every part of a system to it's max. If you aren't hardcore then you can spend $300 on a cheap system, spend $500 on a new PS4 and spend the rest on buying me a fabulous steak at Morton's (I am not cheap date.). You'll still have $400 in your pocket.

If you are a serious gamer then you need to build your system from parts. It isn't that hard but it is a little more expensive than buying a premade computer. Things to pay attention to:

1) RAM. Lots of it.
2) HDD speed: You want fast. The size of the drive won't be important nearly as much as speed. Get one small but very fast drive and a larger slower one for videos and music.
3) Forget processor speed: the video card is where it's at for gaming.

Some people have said they hate HP and love Dell. They are wrong. Dell's are entirely made with proprietary parts - this means that if your cat chews on the power cable you not only need a new cat but you have to buy a Dell power cable. That's a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much. If your mother board goes South though you have to buy a Dell replacement for it. Dells also use a proprietary power supply. It's the same as all the other power supplies but the screws are in a slightly different place.



littlewonder -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 5:22:11 PM)

UGH. Dell. Yep, you're right.

I refuse to own a piece of Dell Hell.



MalcolmNathaniel -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 5:26:52 PM)

Ironically I am writing this on a Dell. My BIL gave me all the spare parts to his Dell XPS after he had upgraded everything. All the parts except the case.

The motherboard is completely backwards from a standard ATX. Literally: the design is reversed. I had to buy a Dell XPS case to fit it. That was about $200. Just the case. If it wasn't top of the line (my BIL is an avid gamer) I would have just tossed it all in the junk pile.



lovethyself -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 5:56:28 PM)

one thing to consider for your printer, make sure it's capable of being a network printer. The price difference is negligible, but if you get a tablet (or laptop) later on, it will make a big difference in printing capabilities. My Brother ink jet, all in one (printer, fax, scanner, photocopier) was great. Uses a lot of ink (which can get costly if you're printing a lot), but was able to come on gigs with me for the office centre, and handled pretty much everything we threw at it, including card stock.

As a network printer, you can connect it to your wireless router (assuming you're going that route for a tablet), and then print to it from said tablet, once you have the drivers for it installed.



MalcolmNathaniel -> RE: Calling all computer ge- er... uhm... savvy people. (10/18/2013 6:32:11 PM)

Don't get me started on printers.

I could write an entire book. Nobe of it would be nice.

The current state of print drivers gets even worse if you know PCL (Printer Control Language.)



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