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Archive through December 14, 2005

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2005 Dec. ~ 2006 Feb.: All Things Technical: The Help Desk: What's the easiest way to buy a new computer?: Archive through December 14, 2005 users admin

Author Message
Newman
Member

09-25-2004

Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 7:10 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Newman a private message Print Post    
I don't need much. My old computer is dying. All I do is email and post opinions and play fantasy football and baseball.

I have fear of technology. What if I have trouble setting it up? My kids all live out of state.

I'm leaning to buy a Dell, for safety, assurance. Pay extra for a flat screen. My son says get a Pentium 4, not the other thing, which I already forgot the word.

Q: is it best to buy it over the internet?

Q: can I do it as well to go to a computer store and then, if it breaks in the first 90 days I can just bring it back??


Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 3:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
The thing your son told you not to buy is a Celeron or Sempron. They are two different makers of slower chips but maybe for an extreme amateur user such as yourself, it really doesn't matter. I bought Bigdog a Sempron, and it is just fine for his needs.

If you have trouble setting it up, you keep your old computer running and come to the computer help thread here (Use the Search function to find it; select the pull-down option to search in Subject Titles} You probably won't have a problem. They are pretty easy nowadays.

I have bought two new desktops over the past year. I have a Dell, which I bought over the internet for myself, and an emachine that I bought for Bigdog at Circuit City with a maddening ton of rebates. Both machines are just fine. I think I paid about $400 after rebates for Bigdog's emachine but it included a monitor and printer I didn't need. The monitor is in the attic waiting for one to die. I sold the printer on Craigslist new in box. I paid about $500 for my Dell, cpu (tower) only.

Now might be a real good time to buy one. Start watching or saving the Sunday newspaper ads for Circuit City, Best Buy, Office Depot and Office Max. Do your own comparison of what they are offering. They will all probably be pretty similar.

A good place to keep an eye on the Dell sales, as well as on sales at other online sellers is www.bensbargains.net. You can check there daily to see what is on sale. After you watch ads for a little while, you will get a feel for what a good deal is.

Get at least 512 Mb RAM, a hard drive over 60 Gig, and a DVD writer (also called DVD-RW).

Abby7
Member

07-17-2002

Friday, December 02, 2005 - 9:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Abby7 a private message Print Post    
juju: is this a good deal. it's on tv now, but dh is sleeping. i'm not sure if this will be okay for his CAD needs.

http://tinyurl.com/a3t29

what do you think? a printer comes with the notebook.

Abby7
Member

07-17-2002

Friday, December 02, 2005 - 10:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Abby7 a private message Print Post    
actually, i shouldn't have just asked juju.

anyone have an opinion on this? price-wise, is it a good deal. (i would like for dh to be able to do CAD on it too).

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Friday, December 02, 2005 - 10:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Landi a private message Print Post    
i got more laptop for less money, and i have a fabulous toshiba

Abby7
Member

07-17-2002

Friday, December 02, 2005 - 10:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Abby7 a private message Print Post    
thanks landi.

JUJU!, i just checked my folder and saw your post. thank you so much.

i'm going to show that site to dh tomorrow. (this is a gift for both of us for Christmas, but we don't have to get it by Christmas. i'm thinking there will be even better sales after Christmas.)

i don't think i'll get that Dell above.

thanks again landi and juju.

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Saturday, December 03, 2005 - 9:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Abby7, I am not sure what specs you might need for CAD. Maybe you can Google that?

I think the QVC offer above may not have been a real good deal.

I am no expert on retail but my instincts sort of tell me the most competition for computer sales might be before Christmas. But I don't really know. Maybe we have somebody else here who is either in sales or knows more about buying computers.

If you decide to start watching the Dell sales, keep in mind that if you miss one $250 rebate, there likely will be another along soon. Of course, the best deal to shoot for is simply money straight off the top without having to mess with rebates.

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Saturday, December 03, 2005 - 10:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Abby7, I just went to the Dell website and configured that XPS M140 that QVC was offering. With no discounts whatsoever I was able to configure it with the very same features from Dell for $1494 vs. QCV's super special price of $1690.

Abby7
Member

07-17-2002

Monday, December 05, 2005 - 5:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Abby7 a private message Print Post    
juju, you are so great. thanks to you and landi, dh and i have saved quite a bit. so glad, i didn't buy that dell.

i now have a much better idea of what i want/price-range and will have fun finding it.

thanks again. i'll let you know what we get, once we get it.

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Tuesday, December 06, 2005 - 8:11 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Landi a private message Print Post    
abby, check this out. at $1399.99!!!!

awesome toshiba laptop


Abby7
Member

07-17-2002

Tuesday, December 06, 2005 - 5:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Abby7 a private message Print Post    
landi ,that does look great. i e-mailed the link to dh. i just got off the phone with him. he thinks it looks good too. although he's like me and doesn't know what what some of it means.

we are going to google information on it tomorrow. dh mentioned he would like to get one before/for Christmas. he has the week after Christmas off...so would like to be able to use it then. (when we travel).

thanks, i never thought to look at a Toshiba.

i think i'll have to get dh to start posting here regarding this. i really appreciate all the help. i google as much as i can...but i'm still a bit confused.

thanks again.

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Tuesday, December 06, 2005 - 6:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Landi a private message Print Post    
i bought mine in april. and toshibas have the best screens. i've been extremely happy with mine.

Abby7
Member

07-17-2002

Tuesday, December 06, 2005 - 7:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Abby7 a private message Print Post    
landi, is that the exact same laptop? i checked and found 3 reviews at:

http://tinyurl.com/9hj8w

all 3 reviews mentioned problems with the keyboard, otherwise the reviews were very good. other than that, this looks like a great computer to get. we are now comparing it to the SonyVAIO. it gets great reviews, but it's hard to compare price-wise against the Toshiba.

what do you think about those reviews (if it is the same computer).

does anyone know anything about the SonyVAIO? i've googled and did find some reviews on that one too.

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Tuesday, December 06, 2005 - 7:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Landi a private message Print Post    
i have satellite M35X-S311

i've never had any problems with my keyboard. as a matter of fact, i have one of the nicest keyboards i've ever had with a laptop.

i'm typing on it right now.


Abby7
Member

07-17-2002

Tuesday, December 06, 2005 - 7:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Abby7 a private message Print Post    
thanks landi. we are seriously considering getting the one mentioned above. we also need a new printer/photo printer, so i'll see about a deal for that, and shipping. i also need to check out their return policy.

thanks!

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Tuesday, December 06, 2005 - 7:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Landi a private message Print Post    
mine is comparable to this M45-S269

Wendo
Member

08-07-2000

Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 12:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wendo a private message Print Post    
I think Sony Vaio's are nice laptops. You just pay a bit more for the Sony label. If I were buying a new laptop today, I'd buy the Sony Vaio TX series. It's their current ultra-portable laptop. Widescreen and a fantastic keyboard with integrated optical drive at under three pounds.

*drool*

Why must gadgets cost money.

*sigh*

My suggestion, research the computers you're looking to purchase. Read not only professional reviews, but try to find customer reviews too.

That's one drawback of buying a Windows computer, soooo many choices!

March
Member

10-02-2003

Wednesday, December 07, 2005 - 8:21 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send March a private message Print Post    
My DH and I both have Sony Vaio laptops and love them.
Nice wide screen and full size keyboard makes typing much easier.

Abby7
Member

07-17-2002

Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 12:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Abby7 a private message Print Post    
wendo, march:

thanks so much for letting me know about your experiences w/Sony Vaio. i've read all good reviews. happy to read a couple at tvch have the Sony Vaio and are happy w/it.


dh and i have spent last night and today checking out Toshiba, Dell and Sony. they all look great...we hope to buy something tomorrow.

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 5:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Keep us posted, Abby7. It must be exciting. Are you both going to buy the same? Or different brand each?

Abby7
Member

07-17-2002

Thursday, December 08, 2005 - 7:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Abby7 a private message Print Post    
i definitely will keep you posted juju. you have all been such a great help. i was too burned out today to keep looking today. it was fun at first, now we just want to get it and forget trying to get a deal! lol

yes, dh and i will share the laptop. it will be mostly for when we travel for dh. i'll probably use it around here where i live (pool, complex rec areas). the place is set up for wireless for only $30 a month. (flat fee ,no long term contract, month to month).

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, December 09, 2005 - 4:57 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
FWIW, I think it's less about what manufacturer you buy than what it is you are buying... Most manufacturers these days make great laptops. It's just a question of whether it has all the stuff that you want. Is speed more important than weight? Is a large screen important? What about a landscape screen? How much memory do you need? Do you need a DVD-RW/CD-RW or just a DVD-ROM/CD-RW? How fast is the graphics card? How many USB ports? Yadayadayada...

I would just stay away from Dells. I think Dells have planned obsolescence... they die in 2 years. (Lots of corporations purchase Dell laptops, and purchase 'em again and again! <grin>)

Webchiq
Member

07-11-2005

Saturday, December 10, 2005 - 10:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Webchiq a private message Print Post    
Always check www.cheapstingybargains.com for information on manufacturer specials that you might not know about. You don't buy through them, you just get the coupon codes and other information from them. They always have the latest hidden Dell discounts plus lots of other manufacturer's specials.

They have lots of hidden deal information, not just for computers. I'm not affiliated, I just go there with my clients who are buying new technology, before they buy, so they can get the coupon codes.

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 9:30 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Landi! Abby7! Found this one featured on bensbargains.net today. It might be a good one, has a lot of features, excellent price.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7579257&type=product&id=1129786822744

Grannyg
Member

05-28-2002

Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 12:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Grannyg a private message Print Post    
I've been checking out laptops on Dell, HP and Ebay. That really is a great deal!!