Opinions on computers....

[gwenneh 7]

I really think an Apple will suit your needs better. My last job was in the computer industry working with PC's....believe me, I won't ever switch back! I have MS Office suite on my Mac and it works quite well. My Mac doesn't randomly crash, like my Dell Inspiron used to...it doesn't get infested with spyware, programs don't just freeze and die...It was expensive, but by far the best investment as far as a computer goes that I have ever made.

[Fischkoepfin 1]

dont want to get into a debate here or anything (im sure someone will take offense) but can you do your taxes on an ipod? can you do online banking on an ipod? can you surf the web on an ipod? if you only want to play music, then ipod is for you.

No, can't do all that on my ipod. But I can do all that on my Mac.

Michelle, you can't get Access for the Mac, but there are certainly professional database applications available that can do as much... The MS Office Suite is otherwise available...

Linux is great, too. But you can't use standard MS applications that way.

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

Get an old Dell laptop... take XP off, drop in linux. Open Office can import/export all the office apps you see. Can burn DVD's, CD's etc plus actually makes beter use of the processor for mathematical processes and number crunching... and actually uses DLL's dynamically... Also, uses less than the now 4gig XP OS.. eesh!

other than that... mmmm, sure! Apples are great too.. gave M$Windows the gui and the mouse

I OpenOffice.

M, don't really have any advice, I've built my own PC for about $400. Sure, doesn't look as sleek as a complete Dell setup (although the case is SHWEET) but Dell'd charge you twice as much.

Maybe your friend can help you set up another pc, newegg.com has some nice deals on parts.

Have fun either way

[gimygirl 0]

i'm totally with swirlygirl on this one, mich!!

search newegg.com and build your own!! you can get combo deals with certain purchases. and since your bro-in-law does this sort of thing, it will be no trouble whipping one together with the parts you buy:

case

motherboard/cpu (separate or combo - get on board sound/video since you're not a gamer! )

hard drive

memory

cd/dvd-rom drive (optional)

monitor (optional)

keyboard/mouse (optional)

good luck!!

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

i'm totally with swirlygirl on this one, mich!!

search newegg.com and build your own!! you can get combo deals with certain purchases. and since your bro-in-law does this sort of thing, it will be no trouble whipping one together with the parts you buy:

case

motherboard/cpu (separate or combo - get on board sound/video since you're not a gamer! )

hard drive

memory

cd/dvd-rom drive (optional)

monitor (optional)

keyboard/mouse (optional)

good luck!!

Yup, I don't think I'll ever buy a pre-configured machine again. But as I said before, it doesn't "look" as cool as the combo's Dell offers. My case is a really sleek high tech black one (I got a good deal on it, $80) but my monitor and keyboard are the really old grey-white things. It's all about priorities. I needed a setup to handle graphics and gaming at the time, my videocard was probably the most expensive part.

I'm saving up for a huge widescreen LCD monitor. Either that or a projection screen that covers half the wall. B)

[MichelleandCraig 1]

Well we've still got the old crappy gray/white too... Anyway..sounds like a good idea on the building again thing, but my nieces hubby lives about 4 hours away downstate, so I don't think he could do it anytime soon..and I WANT IT NOW! hahaha...anyway...I don't know..we'll see what happens..I'll check out the site at least, and I'll browse Dell and Apple too..the ones I was looking at for Dell were anywhere from 3-700.00 but the 300 ones I don't think would be large enough capacity for all of the things I want to put on it. The five hundred dollar one looked alright for the money. I'll check out Apple and that do it yourself too and we'll see..let you know later! Thanks all! M.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Depends what you want to use the computer for. If you're doing a lot of specialised graphic intensive design work, movie editing - I'd go with the Mac. They are however rather more expensive compared to an equivalent spec PC.

PC's are the best value for money, although Windows XP is a piece of #######.

[MichelleandCraig 1]

Really Fish? I haven't had any trouble with my XP, but then again that's just me. I always heard ME and 2000 were bad, but mostly only good things about XP..what don't you like about it? (check back later..the only Mon. night show I like...Miracle Workers) M.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Really Fish? I haven't had any trouble with my XP, but then again that's just me. I always heard ME and 2000 were bad, but mostly only good things about XP..what don't you like about it? (check back later..the only Mon. night show I like...Miracle Workers) M.

Its better and more stable than previous versions of Windows, but its still nowhere near as good as Apple OS10. Lots of security vulnerabilities for one thing, and there are bugs some that can cause program crashes.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Dell customer service now sucks!! it used to be the best now it sucks.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Dell customer service now sucks!! it used to be the best now it sucks.

I can attest to that as well.

Gateway is another stinker also.

[ChristinaM 0]

Personally, I've had nothing but "Friday Afternoon" Dell computers, but I think I've been unlucky. However, two desktops, three laptops and two docking stations that have died on various members of my family have not endeared Dell to me.

I am also one of the rare people who really finds Apples hard to use. I did a lot of music processing of various kinds on one in the not-too-distant past, and I think they're hideous.

I have a Toshiba laptop, but since you're not looking for a laptop, that's not much use! My only feeling would be that I regret not spending the extra hundred bucks and getting a Pentium processor - the Celeron is lacking.

[MichelleandCraig 1]

The ones I'm looking at are Pentium 4s but I don't think you can really get much less nowdays! What are 'Friday afternoon' computers? sorry to be ignorant!

Well, this is giving me some things to think about. I was leaning toward Dell, I admit, but I don't know now...seemed like a good deal, but not if it's gonna break down every 10minutes and no help when it does! Hmmm...my main concern is that I have done all of my learning on PC and not Macs(that's what we have at school as well) and that I'll be totally lost. Will have to do some more investigating! Thanks! M.

[gwenneh 7]

With Dell, you will definitely get what you pay for! If you don't spend the extra $330 on their service package, they'll charge you $99 just to call in-and that's before they help you. Buy their low-end computer and you will get a low-end product. A $500 machine will end up costing you far more than $500, guaranteed.

Building your own system is lovely-every desktop I've owned has been built from parts purchased at a trade show-but of course there is no tech support other than yourself.

Macs are not hard to learn to use at all. MS Office is the same on either platform. The operating system is WAY easier to navigate and understand. I love my Mac, and not just for photo processing since I'm a photographer. It doesn't crash. I don't get viruses. I have had it for more than a year and I have never had so much as a whisper of a problem, technical or otherwise-and that is FAR more than I can say for my Dell Inspiron. Sure, the Dell was half the price, but what did I get? AWFUL customer service, problems with the wireless, software/hardware conflicts, bad video card, and believe me at that company the right hand does not know what the left is doing!

It costs more, but you'll be able to get more use out of a Mac.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Good tip if you're buying a Dell. They automatically include a 3 year service plan when you buy the PC. That is NOT free - its actually very expensive $200-$300 when I bought my laptop. If you buy through their website you can actually opt out of it, and you'll get that money off.

My advice, don't bother with it - a 1 year warranty is included anyway, and realistically most people would upgrade or buy another PC after 2-3 years anyway. Add to that Dell's customer service is atrocious, trust me - you won't want to pay for the privelege of drawing it out for 3 years...

In any case, there are plenty of regular PC repair shops who can fix Dell PCs if need be. Its not exactly rocket science.

Edited April 4, 2006 by Fishdude