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Getting a new computer - Advice needed!

post #1 of 15
1/15/10 at 10:52pm
Thread Starter 
I will be getting a fairly nice refund this year. (I already did my taxes using info from my last paystub) So I am hopefully get a new computer since I never know if this one is going to cooperate or not.

I want a laptop but I am clueless on them. I do not want to spend too much money and DH has set a limit of about $500-$600. Does anyone know of a good deal and where I can buy it?
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post #2 of 15
1/16/10 at 2:42am
What kinds of things will you do with the computer? Just browsing the Web? Or will you play games or do other things?

Essentially, if all you'll do is browse the Web or play Web games, you can get a netbook. That's a smaller PC (i.e., the eeePC, Dell Mini 10, etc.) and they're a lot cheaper.

If you want to do more, you can check outlet stores by retailers (I know Dell has one), and you'll probably have to forego any extended warranties.
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post #3 of 15
1/16/10 at 10:21am
Thread Starter 
Mostly browsing the web, paying bills, and playing games. But I want to do other things too. I want it to be fast since this stupid machine is slower than a snail. It took it about 45 minutes to come up to where I could even get on the internet. It has some major issues that I have been trying to get rid of. It had some worms and viruses that ate up a lot of my stuff. I am still trying to recover from that.

How can I put a lot of my pics and files on a CD without bringing any remaining viruses?
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post #4 of 15
1/16/10 at 12:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Catkiki View Post
Mostly browsing the web, paying bills, and playing games. But I want to do other things too. I want it to be fast since this stupid machine is slower than a snail. It took it about 45 minutes to come up to where I could even get on the internet. It has some major issues that I have been trying to get rid of. It had some worms and viruses that ate up a lot of my stuff. I am still trying to recover from that.

How can I put a lot of my pics and files on a CD without bringing any remaining viruses?
Have you had someone look at it ? many places around here will fix issues like that for 50-100$ flat fee...

I would NOT transfer files till the current computer gets fixed...

Netbooks have to have optical cd/dvd drives as they do not come with them... another cost...

I would check out the places that build them often they have high end used notebooks for a great price
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post #5 of 15
1/16/10 at 12:56pm
I second getting your current one dealt with. Then after you get a new computer, put the old one away - don't get rid of it.
Why? Because you'll only run into the same problems you already have and it's always good to have a back up. If you must toss the old one out, either keep the harddrive from it or smash the platters (since you probably don't know how to wipe it).
- that may sound paranoid, but if I were to spot a pc sitting by/in a dumpster I'd probably grab it. While not interested in stealing anyone's info, I would have a look at the HD.

My other suggestion is look at tech sites. Get familiar with what's current and a good idea of what those parts cost and reviews before you go buying a complete system.


The other problem with netbooks is that they often come with a stripped down OS - such as a very stripped windows 7 because the full version can't run on a netbook. (I think the exception is the ones coming with ubuntu). They're great if you don't want them as your soul pc. Even better if you know how to put a fully functioning OS on them that isn't a resource hog.
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post #6 of 15
1/16/10 at 4:42pm
Thread Starter 
I do not plan on buying a netbook.. I wank a full laptop. Once I get that I am going to completely overhaul this one.
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post #7 of 15
1/16/10 at 8:58pm
We've recently had a good experience with Best Buy - we ordered something online, and went to the store to pick it up - with a great price.

If you have a Best Buy nearby - check the prices out online, order it, then go pick it up after they send you a confirmation number via email.

Our store here even has special parking designated for online shoppers picking up their orders.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Computer...rchterm=laptop
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post #8 of 15
1/18/10 at 5:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Catkiki View Post
I will be getting a fairly nice refund this year. (I already did my taxes using info from my last paystub) So I am hopefully get a new computer since I never know if this one is going to cooperate or not.

I want a laptop but I am clueless on them. I do not want to spend too much money and DH has set a limit of about $500-$600. Does anyone know of a good deal and where I can buy it?
Name something a laptop can do that today's smartphones cannot. Can you get $15 a month service with 3G, giving you INSTANT access to anywhere on the internet and your email with a laptop? I no longer have a so called computer or even a home phone because I just reach into my pocket for my smartphone which can do so much more than a mere laptop, including taking 120 fps movies and HD photos. My advice to you is to not buy a lighthouse, they have no use anymore.

BTW, you can buy a phone like I am talking about for $350 online from Best Buy and by not having the "real" cost of a cellphone computed in your monthly bill, your cell phone bills will be CHEAP compared to what other people are paying (we average about $58).
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post #9 of 15
1/18/10 at 6:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Persi & Alley View Post
Name something a laptop can do that today's smartphones cannot.
It depends on if you mean cheap laptop or laptop serving as a desktop replacement/for gaming. You couldn't run Crysis or any high end game on a smartphone. You couldn't use a smartphone as a server, nor could you stick a 500+gb hard drive on a smartphone. Video and audio editing would be out, too. (the gaming and editing would take higher end laptop/pcs even)
A smartphone has limited OS choices if you still want to be able to use it for a phone - a laptop just depends on what you can actually handle setting up.


Again, to the OP. Look at review sites like CNET, tomshardware, etc. Know your processors as stores like bestbuy will have a lot of lower end ones marked up higher than they're worth. A lot of companies take the older processors (and other technology) and try to market them as "green" because they'll pull less power. BUT you'll be getting older technology, stuff from 3+ years ago. The next few months will see more mobile processors released which will mean a price drop on current ones.
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post #10 of 15
1/18/10 at 9:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Persi & Alley View Post
Name something a laptop can do that today's smartphones cannot.
Provide a display that isn't a chore to look at when surfing. I prefer larger than a laptop provides, but it's OK -- no phone is going to come close.
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post #11 of 15
1/29/10 at 7:14am
Thread Starter 
I pretty much found the one I want. It is made by Acer. I have asked around at work and the computer techie guy recommends Acer. He has two of them. My supervisor has one too and likes it alot. The one I want is fairly inexpensive and comes with Windows 7. It is around $350-450. I am getting a new printer and a good anti-virus/firewall.
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post #12 of 15
1/29/10 at 10:49am
I've had an Acer for just about a year, and have absolutely no complaints.
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post #13 of 15
1/29/10 at 12:44pm
I have an Acer, and it just soldiers on. The battery, however, is an entirely different story.

Whatever you do, do NOT leave you laptop plugged in all the time with the battery in it, as this will kill the battery in just a few months. Ours did fine on the road, where we used it a few hours each day and recharged it. Once we got off the 48-state boogie, we left it plugged in all the time, and the battery didn't last 6 months.

I bought a 2-year warranty on our Acer, because that's about how long I usually kept them before replacing them, anyway. This one is now 5 years old.
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post #14 of 15
1/29/10 at 6:52pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrblanche View Post
I have an Acer, and it just soldiers on. The battery, however, is an entirely different story.

Whatever you do, do NOT leave you laptop plugged in all the time with the battery in it, as this will kill the battery in just a few months. Ours did fine on the road, where we used it a few hours each day and recharged it. Once we got off the 48-state boogie, we left it plugged in all the time, and the battery didn't last 6 months.

I bought a 2-year warranty on our Acer, because that's about how long I usually kept them before replacing them, anyway. This one is now 5 years old.
I was already told by my sup at work not to keep it plugged in. His MIL did that and now the battery will only work for about 20 minutes. I am happy to see other people recommend an Acer.
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post #15 of 15
1/29/10 at 8:34pm
Acer has been around a long time, actually. One of my first laptops was a TI...but it was actually built by Acer.
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