Buying a PC?

[tsatsa]

Can any of you knowledgeable people out there, give a senior some suggestion on buying a PC. My old PC is dieing on me, so better ask now while I still can.

I want to buy a “reliable” machine that I can do web surfing using Ethernet/modem connection --- some basic Excel speed sheet and ---- Word processor, my lcd monitor is still working good.

Thanks in advance.

[willy]

May I ask what you are having now ?

BTW, what's your budget ?

Judging by the requirement, I would suggest a low-/mid-end (< $500) Dell/HP ... Something like this ($399) ... http://configure.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=ca&CS=cadhs1&l=en&OC=D530DV_F_1E

[tsatsa]

Right now I am using Compaq Presario SR5448F. Price maybe under $500 without monitor.

[gflux]

Why not download Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download) and give that a try? Just burn the cd and boot from it to see if your machine can handle it - I'm pretty sure it can. That's all you really need as you just do web surfing and Office stuff.

[willy]

Right now I am using Compaq Presario SR5448F. Price maybe under $500 without monitor.
Huh ? Unless I am reading it totally wrong, your "old" PC isn't that "old" at all !?

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/ca/en/ho/WF06b/12132708-12133156-78308260-78308260-78308260-81670541-81979350.html

[tsatsa]

Yes Willy you are correct it is only 2 week old, but it is giving me problem which the tech support can not fix, tomorrow is the last day I can return for a refund.

I wasted sooooo much time which the tech support people that I am giving up on this PC.

That is why I want to know what to buy next? --- maybe I should order the Dell you mention above after I got my refund.

Is Dell more reliable than Compaq/HP?

[Fahrenheit]

Is Dell more reliable than Compaq/HP?

If you don't like the HP you got, just get rid of it. As for whether Dell is more reliable than HP, the answer is no. Both companies build PCs using the lowest cost parts possible. The type of PCs you are getting at a few hundred bucks are never great.

Want a good PC? Choose good parts and build you own.

[dragon_drift]

If you don't like the HP you got, just get rid of it. As for whether Dell is more reliable than HP, the answer is no. Both companies build PCs using the lowest cost parts possible. The type of PCs you are getting at a few hundred bucks are never great.

Want a good PC? Choose good parts and build you own.

+1 quality build will last a long time

[mariokarter]

i mean whats wrong with? If there was something actually wrong I can't see them not replacing it. And as far as little things go, that could happen with any computer. No offence intended, but perhaps you just need to freshen up on your computer skills.

[willy]

If you don't like the HP you got, just get rid of it. As for whether Dell is more reliable than HP, the answer is no. Both companies build PCs using the lowest cost parts possible. The type of PCs you are getting at a few hundred bucks are never great.

Want a good PC? Choose good parts and build you own.
Custom PCs are not for everyone, especially for relatively tight budget buyers ...

I am not 100% agree about lowest cost parts possible. While high-end components are definitely out of the question, low-/mid-end Dell/HP systems are still using the same CPUs, same RAM, same HDs, same DVD drives ... etc. It's virtually impossible to custom build a similar system with OS at Dell's cost.

Not to mention the system comes with technical support too ... which is important for some users.

[Kwirky]

Judging by the requirement, I would suggest a low-/mid-end (< $500) Dell/HP ... Something like this ($399) ... http://configure.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=ca&CS=cadhs1&l=en&OC=D530DV_F_1E

A near-identical Vostro is $50 less right now, although the CPU is one model down: http://configure.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=ca&CS=cabsdt1&l=en&OC=D200DV_F_1E - this one also has the benefit that you can add "Genuine Windows Vista Business to XP Pro Downgrade Rights" which means it comes with everything you need to revert back to Windows XP if you're more comfortable with that operating system.

I am not 100% agree about lowest cost parts possible. While high-end components are definitely out of the question, low-/mid-end Dell/HP systems are still using the same CPUs, same RAM, same HDs, same DVD drives ... etc. It's virtually impossible to custom build a similar system with OS at Dell's cost.

I am in total agreement here... even the motherboards are usually made by the same companies you'd look for when building your own PC. I've got a couple of eMachines systems here (lambasted for their poor overall quality) with Intel motherboards, Seagate hard drives, Crucial memory; the only really bad part is the power supply.