I would like a computer that...

[Angela]

has some new version of Windows that works well
burns CD's and DVD's
is either a laptop or just a cpu
I can easily transfer stuff to from my ancient dinosaur pc
doesn't have to be terribly big or fast, but let's be reasonable
and costs little or nothing.

This is to be an "extra" computer to use as a backup and to fulfill what my mac won't do -- run windows-only software and make cd's and dvd's.

I just thought I would put this thought bubble out and see if any of you smart computer geniuses have some good advice for me. I just went shopping online (dell and geek.com) and got a little overwhelmed. Any ideas, smarties?

Thank you!

[Lil Chris]

What's your budget? I'm assuming inexpensive but, what range...?

[Barcs]

I'm not sure about transferring files from a mac, but I'm sure it's doable for things like pictures and music. If you're looking for cheap, you could go with one of the lower line toshiba laptops. They are much more reliable than most dells, sonys and hps. A good website to look into is Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!. They have reviews on all the products and good prices. I'm not a big fan of Windows Vista but you don't really have a choice these days.

Here's a decent machine:

Newegg.com - TOSHIBA Satellite L305-S5921 NoteBook Intel Pentium dual-core T3400(2.16GHz) 15.4" Wide XGA 2GB Memory DDR2 800 160GB HDD 5400rpm DVD Super Multi Intel GMA 4500M - Laptops / Notebooks

You might want to consider upgrading the memory to 4 GB if you purchase this, but it's decent for what you want to do. Also check the sales for best buy, etc because you can probably find it for $100 or so cheaper if you keep an eye on the sales. Good luck!

[rocksupreme]

I want a computer that cooks breakfast for me... Somehow, your requirements seem much more sensible.

[Angela]

hooo-boy, my head is swimming from looking at all the choices -- I'm looking for super-cheap (<$300) but not one of these netbooks (which I didn't know existed before today).

I think I'm going to untwist my head and look again tomorrow. Owch. Thanks for your help, everybody!

[silicon toad2000]

eBayeBayeBayeBayeBayeBayeBayeBayeBayeBayeBay

[themaster]

Here is some of the smartest "real world" advice you'll get..

fatwallet.com
slickdeals.net

[Trezker]

You really need to use Windows? :'(
Could you please try to run that software you need in Wine and make sure any bugs you find are reported? WineHQ - Run Windows applications on Linux, BSD, Solaris and Mac OS X

[Angela]

Well, one of the reasons for wanting it is that there are two programs I'd like to use that run on Windows 2000/XP/Vista.

One of them also needs:
256+ megs of RAM
800+ MHZ CPU
Stereo and Microphone Capable Soundcard
ability to burn CD's (and DVD's would be nice, too)

I guess I could just get an inexpensive new CPU for less than I could get a laptop, right? Or is it possible or even a good idea to load a new operating system onto my old CPU? I'm thinking as inexpensive as they are now, it would be smarter to just buy a whole new thang.

But I would rather have a laptop. My Mac has gotten me accustomed to the laptop sensibility.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Trezker

You really need to use Windows? :'(
Could you please try to run that software you need in Wine and make sure any bugs you find are reported? WineHQ - Run Windows applications on Linux, BSD, Solaris and Mac OS X

Trezker, I just looked at the Wine site and am intimidated! It sounds like applications need tweaking and you can see that I'm not that kind of girl. Not yet, anyway.

Since I want that extra computer anyway - I want to be able to run these programs on a separate computer from my Mac -- I think it would be easier to not add tweaking programs on Wine to my brain's to-do list. Ack! Just thinking about it is making me feel a little woozy. (I guess wine'll do that!)

[spirit4711]

Originally Posted by Angela

...
I guess I could just get an inexpensive new CPU for less than I could get a laptop, right? Or is it possible or even a good idea to load a new operating system onto my old CPU? I'm thinking as inexpensive as they are now, it would be smarter to just buy a whole new thang.

But I would rather have a laptop. My Mac has gotten me accustomed to the laptop sensibility.

Well, don't upgrade old PCs. Not with hardware, not with a new OS. It's usually a time-consuming hassle especially for non techies. (For techies, it's a hobby to get frustrated ). An OS upgrade usually makes the PC slower as it wasn't designed for the extra capacity needed. Buy a cheap external hard drive, transfer the files and sell the dinosaur.

Better spend some extra cash and buy a not too expensive laptop. Compute your hourly fee and see what it really costs you when you put so much time in it.

Alternatives: is it absolutely necessary to run Windows software? There's no MacOS alternative? Or Linux? I'm running Ubuntu Linux together with Vista on my laptop. You might consider putting Linux on the Dinosaur. You can burn a Ubuntu version and test it on your dinosaur PC without installing it.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by spirit4711

Better spend some extra cash and buy a not too expensive laptop. Compute your hourly fee and see what it really costs you when you put so much time in it.

This is the option I find most appealing.

Do all laptops have this stuff?
256+ megs of RAM
800+ MHZ CPU
Stereo and Microphone Capable Soundcard
ability to burn CD's (and DVD's would be nice, too)

[spirit4711]

Originally Posted by Angela

This is the option I find most appealing.

...

Why doesn't that surprise me?

Most not too old laptops (say less than 2 years old) will more than fit that list of reqs.

[Apollia]

If you can get something with Windows XP, that might be better than Windows Vista. My relatives have a computer with Windows Vista, and despite being newer than my Windows XP computer, it's surprisingly slow at times.

Here's an article listing some reasons why XP is better than Vista: Is Windows Vista really better than XP ?

Windows XP is the most stable, useable version of Windows I've ever used. All the other versions I ever used have had some major annoyances - I remember with Windows ME I had to restart the computer almost daily due to some glitch or other. With Windows XP, major problems requiring a restart have been exceedingly rare for me, on both computers I've had with Windows XP.


The last time I did any computer shopping on eBay was in 2006, but it was a very good place to look, back then, and hopefully it still is.

My current desktop computer was about $344 or something (including shipping) from a seller on eBay. I was really astonished at how excellent it turned out to be. It has served me well these past few years.

I recommend checking the seller's feedback record before deciding to buy. I've never had a bad experience buying on eBay, possibly because I avoid buying from sellers with a lot of bad feedback. (Another reason I've never had a bad experience buying on eBay might be because I rarely buy anything at all).


It would probably be good to take your time and do a lot of comparisons of what's available, and browse the auctions that are going to end after numerous days, rather than auctions that are close to ending, so you won't feel rushed to make a decision.

If you want to feel _totally_ unrushed, you could even browse completed auctions to get a feel for what's available and how much things sell for, etc.

One of the most annoying things about eBay for me is auctions with a reserve price, where if your bid doesn't meet the reserve price, the seller doesn't have to sell the item to you even if you're the winning bidder. Searching for auctions with "no reserve" or "NR" in the title might be a good idea if you don't want to encounter annoying reserve-price auctions.

Watch out for the shipping costs, they can be a bit high. (If you get a cheap enough computer, like an ancient iMac for $30, the shipping cost might be more than the computer itself. )

I recommend concentrating on getting the most for your money and finding the best, most feature-packed laptop you can get for the price you're willing to pay, instead of being content with anything that meets your minimum requirements, when there are probably (I assume) much better laptops available for the same price.

eBay's Advanced Search features will probably be useful to you.

I guess that's all the best advice I can think of. I'm not really that experienced of a shopper (especially for computers) since I try to avoid tantalizing myself by browsing for things I mostly can't afford, but, hopefully the above will be useful to you.

Good luck and best wishes,
Apollia

[Angela]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! That was very helpful -- you addressed many of my concerns and some I hadn't thought of, so thank you!

The whole project is occurring as a lot more fun than it was last night when I was so overwhelmed. Thank you everybody for being such great and valuable resource.

Lots of love,
Angela

[Brutha]

CPU is an abbreviation that stands for the processor of a computer.
I think you mean desktop computer when you use the term.

[Apollia]

Glad to help, Angela.

I forgot to mention one thing - auctions often start to get more popular toward the end, so, if you have your eye on something, it might be good to be poised to place some bids in the last minute (or last seconds) of the auction. Otherwise, someone else might get the item at the last second.

It's also a good strategy, if your goal is to save money, to only place bids at the last second - though doing that is not very generous to the seller, and lots of bidders understandably hate it when rival bidders do that. The official term for that strategy is auction sniping.

It's not against the rules (as far as I know) but many do frown upon it (and it makes me feel a little guilty). It's good to be aware of that practice, though, since some people do use such tactics and forewarned is forearmed, so you'll be less likely to lose an item you really, really want or need.

Best wishes,
Apollia

[codenamesmiley]

Originally Posted by silicon toad2000

eBayeBayeBayeBayeBayeBayeBayeBayeBayeBayeBay

I conquer

[codenamesmiley]

Angela,

I purchased a refurbished Dell and a refurbished Hp from geeks.com. Both were about your price range. Right about $300-400.

I am typing this on one of them now. I am on the HP. I love this little laptop more than My cpu that I payed like 1200 for. It goes just as fast, and has lots o memory. The Dell is just as awesome, but the keys on this one are just the most comfortable to type on. They are equal in performance and memory.

Blessings,
Rebecca

[Trezker]

Originally Posted by Angela

Trezker, I just looked at the Wine site and am intimidated! It sounds like applications need tweaking and you can see that I'm not that kind of girl. Not yet, anyway.

Since I want that extra computer anyway - I want to be able to run these programs on a separate computer from my Mac -- I think it would be easier to not add tweaking programs on Wine to my brain's to-do list. Ack! Just thinking about it is making me feel a little woozy. (I guess wine'll do that!)

Well, you shouldn't have to tweak. Even I who is a techy guy dislikes tweaking wine. The only thing I've changed is I've enabled emulate virtual desktop in winecfg, which means I always run fullscreen apps in a window.
I just want you to install it, install the application you want to use. Then at the first sign of trouble, make a bugreport. That's all, just see if it works out of the box, if it doesn't you'll just have to use Windows.

Installing wine on a Mac might be a little trouble though since they don't seem to keep an official Mac download. Though there seems to be a guy that keeps on making Mac builds so there is an unofficial download.
MacOSX/Installing - The Official Wine Wiki

Otherwise you can install Ubuntu on your fancy new computer.

[Dkm]

CPU E5200
Newegg.com - Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
Motherboard GIGABYTE GA-G31M-ES2L
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-G31M-ES2L LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards
Put in a gig of Ram, and have it assembled for grand total of 160$
Works fine with enough horsepower to run anything.

[Angela]

You folks are so wonderful -- thanks!

[ThoughtAddict]

My current laptop is an Acer Aspire 5050. A laptop on the cheap end that I bought to replace one that was stolen. It was $350 about two years ago from Best Buy. As purchased, it was slow and rather painful to use. I re-formatted the harddrive and installed XP. The result was a computer that just flew...
Lots of computers come bogged down with crapware (software that runs at startup and doesn't do a whole lot of good). Getting rid of it makes a cheaper computer much, much faster.

Money saving ideas:

1- Open source! Linux if you're a techie. Openoffice.org even if you're not. Free OS and word processors can easily cut $200 off the price of a PC.

2- Build your own. It is intimidating at first, but there are some nice guides on the internet. It is relatively easy to do and you can find deals on the hardware from places like newegg.com and tigerdirect.com. Instruction manuals are available multiple places. I used mysuperpc.com/build.shtml for the first one I built. It took around 5 hours the first time (mostly due to unnecessary nerves) and was very rewarding.

3- Ask a techie friend. Since building my own, I've built computers for a number of friends. It takes very little time or effort for me, and I usually get a free lunch with nice conversation. Win/win.

If you have any questions, this forum is a great resource. Good, smart people here who are willing to help a stranger... and even more willing to help someone like you who has constantly radiated love.

[Dkm]

If you're happy with your old monitor, it can be used with the new rig.
RAM costs about 15$ per GB, you can increase as required, for your usage
1GB is more than enough.

[ShiningLight]

Originally Posted by Angela

This is the option I find most appealing.

Do all laptops have this stuff?
256+ megs of RAM
800+ MHZ CPU
Stereo and Microphone Capable Soundcard
ability to burn CD's (and DVD's would be nice, too)

generally speaking, for the same money, you will get a faster, more capable computer if you buy a desktop than a laptop. What you will sacrifice is portability. So first, decide if you want a laptop or desktop.

For your needs, any new laptop or desktop you buy will surpass those requirements, considering of course it has a dvd/cd burner. The question is can they be had for $300. Yes, but that's where you will be doing the searching.

FYI, I just built a computer with almost all top of the line components for only $700. I'm talking, latest intel processor, i7920, 6 gigs DDR3 RAM, 1 TB hard drive. Now, you can get the same for around $600-650.

I say, spend a little more and you will have a system that will last you 5 more years.

[Bruce Achterberg]

Hi Angela,

Sorry I didn't make this post yesterday as I said I would.

In late 2008 I bought a laptop. It was a good deal and came with fairly powerful hardware considering what I paid for it, although unfortunately it came with Windows Vista (Vista isn't bad, but it's not that great, either. I did prefer using Xp, but Vista is the newer operating system, so I figured it'd be better in the long run in terms of compatability. Not sure how accurate that belief is--maybe Xp will still be supported for a long time).

These are some things I'd consider when buying a laptop:

A Mac might be worth it, even if they are expensive. If I bought another laptop, I'd seriously consider buying a Macbook. They're expensive, but I have reason to believe a Mac creates a superior user experience. Many swear by them. I'd put in some research before I made the move from PC/laptop to Mac, but it would be high on my list of things to consider. I'm not sure if you can get Mac laptops with Windows. You'd have to look into that yourself.

Get extended warrenty if it's an option. I would aim for, at least, a 1 year warrenty from the date of purchase. 3 years would be great (whether it includeds the factory warrenty and maybe an extended warrenty, or not). 5 years (whether it includeds the factory warrenty and maybe an extended warrenty, or not) would be even better, although maybe a little hard to get. I suggest asking what your options are when it comes to warrenty. My story about the usefulness of warrenty: my laptop worked fine for a few months, then stopped working. I tried to re-install Windows, but it didn't work. I took it back to where I bought it (a retail store) and they looked at it, told me it was an issue with the hard drive, and it had to be sent away to get a new hard drive. This cost me nothing because it was under warrenty. It's a bit of a shame, but these days, things aren't build to last. They're usually built to cost (i.e. made cheaply). I try to get as much of a warrenty as possible, even if I have to pay extra.

You may want more battery life. If you can afford to pay for it and if you need it, it can be nice to get another battery for your laptop, perhaps one with even longer battery life than your original one.

Some retailers can give you hardware upgrades on a laptop that you want. When I bought my laptop, I had the opportunity of upgrading the RAM (i.e. the memory), and I think I could also get another hard drive, but I can't quite remember (so don't quote me on that). Either way, if you'd like to (e. g. if you're looking at a laptop that you like but it's a little slow), you can ask retail sales/service assistants if they are able to upgrade any of the hardware. At least, you can ask them what your options are (which could be handy if, say, you want one laptop because it's priced cheaply, but it might not have much RAM. In that case, you might be able to ask for a RAM upgrade, which might still be cheaper than buying the "next model up." There are lots of situations where the option to upgrade hardware is useful and gives you more options).

[Angela]

Thanks everybody! I bought a Gateway laptop yesterday at BestBuy for $499 and I think it will fit my needs perfectly. A bit over my budget, but the under-$400's had half as much size and memory, and this one has a nice big wide screen, which is a nice change from the dinky little screen on my Mac.

One really nice bonus is that I had been having problems doing voice recordings on my mac -- just not getting great quality results on it, despite trying everything the Geniuses recommended. Newie records beautifully -- and I found a nice free software that does exactly the kind of effects and editing I want.

While I was at BestBuy, by the way, I found a Macbook for $999 that also ran Vista! If I was starting again, I might go that way. I'm very glad to have the two separate laptops though -- that will come in handy for a variety of reasons.

Thank you so much for all your help, everyone! You guys are so knowledgeable and helpful.

[Plato]

I had a similar issue when I was buying a laptop. Makes me wonder if there's a market for those of us who just want basic, functional computers. A company that has 5 options, rather than 100. I'm part of internet generation and I find this stuff confusing, I can't imagine what elderly people must think of it.

[Angela]

These new netbooks -- $199! seem to be perfect for elderly people or those who don't want to mess with and the junk and stuff. Just Internet and email -- this would have been the perfect gift for my mom, for staying in touch and playing on the web, calendars, skype, etc.

I'm definitely going to keep these in mind as gifts for some of the older people I know.

[Plato]

Oooh, I hadn't heard of net books before. They look great! On the other hand, there goes my big idea.