In the market for a new computer - What do you recommend?

My computer nearly crashed earlier this week  I've decided it's time to get a new one. I have a Dell Studio 540 desktop running on Windows Vista and an Intel Core 2 Quad processor. It's not completely ancient but it's pretty old (almost 10 years, I think?) and slow. I'm only looking at PC desktops and laptops, not tablets, notebooks, or those laptop / tablet 2-in-1 things.

Going from Vista to Windows 10 will be a huge change  I've  heard pros and cons about how user friendly the newest OS is. I've seen screenshots of the Windows 10 desktop and it's so different and a little intimidating looking

In the past I've used a clunky brick Toshiba laptop and a thinner Sony laptop and both worked pretty well for the early 2000s. I later had issues with the Sony not turning on when the button was pressed so I had to leave it on 24/7 on a power saving mode. I currently use an IBM Thinkpad T410 laptop at work which also needs to be upgraded to a newer model

Has anyone bought a new desktop or laptop recently? What brand did you buy? Do you like the compter overall? Are there any specifications I should consider / avoid? I know I don't want an Intel Celeron processor. I knows computers with that processor are really cheap but they can't handle a whole lot of resource demanding programs. A laptop that has a docking station option is a plus since I can continue to use my large desktop monitor.

i bought a new desktop computer last year. long story short -- went through no less than 3 brand new cpu's (pc's), one of which arrived DOA and the other two developed (very) serious issues within 3 weeks of arrival. these were not inexpensive cpu's either -- one lenovo k450e, and two hp envy phoenix's. i also had the two lenovo monitors arrive with the usb ports totally nonfunctional. i had to literally fight to get my refunds from lenovo, which took well over a month and only happened because i kept all of my receipts as well as the ups return receipts and tracking info -- i disputed the charges on my credit card, and had all the proof that those items were returned and lenovo did receive them. hp was quick to refund, no problems with them.

in the end i bought an apple computer. i really didn't want to spend as much as i did buying my mac, but it's run smoothly for 4 months now and it can and does do everything i want it to -- as well as new things i find i want to do.  i don't have your usual computer set up either, and apple's customer service and experts answered any and all questions i had about my unusual set up prior to me even placing an order. i have the mac as well as an external monitor, the external being located close to 25 feet away from the mac. two keyboards and mice, and two usb hubs and a 25 foot usb extension cable for one set of keyboard/mouse. i just recently set up streaming to my flat screen tv from my mac -- no problem.

i wasn't an easy apple 'convert'. my experience with the 3 cpu's (pc's) and 2 monitors i had bought, as well as what i'd read doing research online, is that in general pc's are not being manufactured to last as long and/or that the companies are cutting corners/using cheap(er) parts  in them. i don't like the higher cost of apple computers, but i'm willing to pay more for having a computer that runs, continues to run smoothly, truly is 'intuitive', and is able to do everything i currently want it to do as well as have the ability to handle new things i'm wanting to do.

just my opinion, but it might be worth considering an apple computer.

oh, and apple has started the process of moving it's manufacturing back to the US. there are now some macs that have been 'made in the USA' -- the ones that have been will have that noted on/in them.

What will you be using your computer for mainly, if it is primarily for browsing the internet you don't need a powerhouse. Do you have a budget in mind?

I bought an Apple Macbook Air (laptop) in the summer, and I LOVE it. I grew up using Windows/Microsoft products, and personally I find Apple SO much easier to deal with. I did buy Microsoft Office for Mac too though, so dad can send documents back and forth to me without losing the formatting (and for little things like my jewellery labels, which have a Word template).

The only thing I regret a little is not paying the extra to get the version with a cd drive. That's my fault, not the computer's though

No way would I go back to a Microsoft OS now - I'm a total Apple convert

Columbine said:

I bought an Apple Macbook Air (laptop) in the summer, and I LOVE it. I grew up using Windows/Microsoft products, and personally I find Apple SO much easier to deal with. I did buy Microsoft Office for Mac too though, so dad can send documents back and forth to me without losing the formatting (and for little things like my jewellery labels, which have a Word template).

The only thing I regret a little is not paying the extra to get the version with a cd drive. That's my fault, not the computer's though

No way would I go back to a Microsoft OS now - I'm a total Apple convert

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apple sells a 'usb superdrive'! i bought one when i bought my imac. here's a link to the product page -- http://www.apple.com/shop/product/M...30969b48853060b19c74726e93ac0fce1533e8691531b

back in early november 2015 when i bought mine, i was told that apple was going to phase out the usb superdrive, iirc because many/most people download the software they buy these days.

Ooh - that's great to know. Thanks for the link

Zed Xyzed said:

 
What will you be using your computer for mainly, if it is primarily for browsing the internet you don't need a powerhouse. Do you have a budget in mind?

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Internet, iTunes, MS Office, photo and video editing and storage, graphic heavy games (that I install on the computer). I want to spend under $1,000 if possible.

I haven't used an Apple in years. The last one I used was probably a Performa way back in middle school In high school we had PCs although I think there may have been a few Apples. My brother has a Mac laptop. Not sure what model but he bought it recently. He likes it a lot but I find it not to be user friendly although it might just be the way he has his desktop set up.

If you want a gaming laptop it might be hard to keep it sub $1000. I would look at MSI or Asus laptops For gaming you will need a decent video card I would look at something with a or 960M  or better yet a 970M here is a good site that reviews graphics cards.http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-970M.126694.0.html 

you will likely also need 8 to 16 G of RAM. 

Some good choices are (if you are going laptop that is)  http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?Recs=10&Nav=|c:3998|&Sort=4

Mac are good, but they are not a good bang for the buck that's for sure. 

Macs are expensive and I don't think they're necessarily any better peforming than a PC

I'm not a hard core gamer so I don't really need a tricked out computer. I have a couple of games that I play on occason and they're pretty heavy on graphics and video and such. A desktop is prefectly fine since I don't really have a need to take a laptop anywhere.

I'll take a look at the link you posted and compare the various laptop models.

I know there are people who don't like Dell, but I've had three Dell desktops now and they've all been fine.

My co-worker's kids are using our old XP desktop for homework and such....it's still doing well, has to be about 12 years old, but I'm not sure about it. Never had a thing wrong with it. Never. 

Rick's old Vista desktop is still going strong; it's much slower than it used to be, but working fine. That is the computer that had the original hard drive bite the dust. Still under warranty (just a wee bit less than 4 years old at the time) and Dell sent a new (refurbished) hard drive and motherboard and a techie came to the house and installed them. Never had a bad problem with the new drive, other than it tends to thrash from time to time. I upgraded the RAM in that computer a while back. Like I said, it's slower than we would like, but it gets the job done. When Rick needs to get online for something, he uses my computer. But for household budget and other things offline, it's fine.

Our newer computer was running Windows 8.1 when I bought it a couple years ago and I only bought the computer (no need for speakers, monitor, etc). Last year I upgraded it to Windows 10. It's a good computer and has never given me any trouble.....*knock on wood*.  Well, let me amend that to whatever trouble I've had was solely because Windows 10 was new to me. Once I got the hang of 10, it's been fine. (Things like "Where the   is that blasted Control Panel? How the heck do I do.......?" That kind of stuff.) I don't do a lot of heavy gaming at all, but I am into the graphics thing. I have Adobe Creative Suite on my computer and I'll have InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop open, along with Word and Excel, and my email. Doesn't slow it down in the slightest. And I wish I could say the same thing about my computer at work!! 

Rick gave me a new laptop for Christmas a couple years ago, but had me pick it. I went to Best Buy, bought a 17-inch Toshiba, running Windows 8.1, for $399. It's bare bones, which is what I wanted, but has plenty of RAM, plenty of speed for what I'm using it for....wouldn't want to use it for gaming. Nice and fast and we've not had any problems with it. I use it out on the the kitchen table. It's a good laptop and, again, I've heard people say they'd never, ever get a Toshiba. This one works well for us though.

Personally I wouldn't go with a MAC. Not because I don't like Apple (I do have an iPod and iPad and am thinking about an iPhone), but because my software all runs on Windows. MACs are crazy expensive and so is the software for them. That's the only reason. I think it's all in what you're used to using, what you feel comfortable using.

Windows 10 is fine. I swear. Yeah, there's a bit of a learning curve and you might spend a couple minutes here and there muttering to yourself and probably cussing out the OS. I know I did. But hey, you survived Vista! That in itself is a flipping nightmare as far as I'm concerned. Hated Vista with a passion. And once you get Win 10 configured to suit you, you'll be fine. Honest. And you're best to just jump right in with Win 10. Don't go with anything lower than 10.

Whatever you decide, good luck with your new computer!

The only computers I've ever owned were Dell's.  I've only owned two of them and the last one I bought was last summer.  My old one was very old also and still on the old OS, XP.

So I bought a new Dell and since I am also intimidated by the newer OS systems esp. Windows 8 and 10, I went with Windows 7 Pro.  I am not very good at learning new systems but 7 didn't take me as long as I thought it would to get used to it.

I can't give you any suggestions on what other brands of computers you can buy since as I said, I've only owned Dell's.  Good luck with finding what you want. I'm sure you will get more suggestions here.

My husband is a "computer guy" and is picky about his computers. :lol3: I got a new desktop at the end of last year and the one he selected was an HP Envy -

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-envy...0501.p?id=1219738783775&skuId=4370501&cmp=RMX

So far so good.

He had huge issues with his Lenovo laptop and vowed to never buy another one. He just got himself this MacBook air -

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-m...1921.p?id=1219056464137&skuId=1581921&cmp=RMX

He's happy with it.

My Dell desktop has been working just fine since I've had it. It's just that recently it has problems getting past the start up DOS screen Programs are a little slow to start up and the computer always freezes for a couple of minutes for some reason.

I use Windows 7 at work and it's not too much different from Vista. Windows 8 and up are a huge change with the vastly different desktop and start menu so it will take some time to get used to.

I wonder if it would be less expensive to just add in more RAM and whatnot to the Dell to get it to work faster? I'd probably need to upgrade the OS since hardly anything is compatible with Vista anymore.

Completely forgot that I get Apple and Dell discounts through work and through the alumni association I have access to a discount gift / travel / shop / etc site that includes HP computers and stores like Best Buy I have to check them out later to see what's available and how much I can save.

LTS3 said:

 
Completely forgot that I get Apple and Dell discounts through work and through the alumni association I have access to a discount gift / travel / shop / etc site that includes HP computers and stores like Best Buy

I have to check them out later to see what's available and how much I can save.

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wonderful news!  ...for discounts!

Who doesn't like a discount? I've browsed through the Dell EPP site to see what is available and how much of a discount I'd get. It's not much, maybe $50 or so And it looks like I might be able to trade in my old Dell desktop. My desktop isn't worth much of anything since it's so old. I'm going to spend the rest of the weekend comparing various computers and prices. Maybe tomorrow's newspaper will have a Best Buy and other electronic store sale flyer.