I'm in the market for a new computer. Where should I go? What should I get? What to stay away from? I know nothing, so please inform me.

I'm not a gamer. I don't run 'slick programs' or anything of that nature. I need something new/updated and will offer me reliable service for years to come.

I currently have an HP Pavilion that I scored from Circuit City around '03.

The misses wants a laptop, but I've always been partial to full-on desktop models....primarily because I don't like laptop keyboards (I like to think of myself as a proficient typist [toot, toot].

Needs:
- dvd burner
- cd burner
- Lots of memory for storage of pictures, word docs, pdf's.

I recall spending around 900 bones on our last one. Not sure what the going rate is nowadays:huh:

I don't understand computer jargon, so no need to talk me up on the specs. I would however like someone who understands said specs to say, here is a link- go buy it...its a great deal and an awesome system:D

Lastly, I am NOT an Apple guy-- so don't even try, ha ha ha

I was really happy with the HP I got. I ordered it right through HP.com. it cost me around $900 but you could get a good computer for around $700.

you're going to want something with at least 1800 jigahertz and dual flux capacitors.

I know nothing of computers. Also, I am not a good typist.

You can get a good one that will meet your needs for way less than $900, even if you buy a new monitor. Heck, for that you could get a decent computer and a laptop for the missus. Costco often has great deals on computers and there are tons of sales out there. Virtually anything in the $400 range should meet your needs fine. I'm partial to Dell, but most of the major brands are good quality and reliable. A DVD burner will also burn CDs, so don't worry about getting both. Memory is cheap right now, so that would be a good place to splurge, especially with the way Windows 7 uses memory. Hard drives, on the other hand, are very expensive at the moment and you'll have to pay for a larger one. Unless you're storing a bunch of video, 500GB should do you fine, with 1TB being even better. A solid state drive for your system files will make a big difference in overall system speed but you'll pay and extra $100 at least and it adds an additional layer of complexity to the system. I'd look at one of the Intel Core i3 or i5 systems for good longevity. A quad core will multi-task better than a dual, but for the light duty stuff you're talking about either would be fine and a dual will use a little less power. Finally, check out http://www.newegg.com. They sell a ton of stuff and the user reviews are really handy. I buy most of my computer parts from them.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883108568

This looks like a pretty good machine for a reasonable price. You can go cheaper and slower, you can also go faster and more expensive. It's a midrange system. If you don't already have a decent monitor (or two) that will be extra of course. Plenty of those to choose from on Newegg too.

Or this one. Similar, but with a slightly faster processor, a little less ram (like Justin said, RAM is dirt cheap right now so easy and cheap to add more later if you need it), and a little less hard drive space, but still, 1TB is a lot. Also this second one doesn't have a video card, it just uses the built in video on the motherboard. This means it won't play the newer PC games like Skyrim or Battlefield 3, but you said you don't use it for that anyway.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883155204

Or yet another option. Almost identical to option #2 except with a 0.1 GHz slower processor and $30 savings. I know you like to pinch those pennies.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883108588

Also one other note, if you do go with a laptop, you can still hook up a USB keyboard to it when you need to type something. My work computer is a laptop but I have my Microsoft Natural Keyboard attached to it and use that to type since I also hate laptop keyboards, and a mouse as well since I don't like touchpads either.

my primary computer has been a Gateway laptop, that I got in 06', and it's still kicking, never had a problem with it, and it has been able to handle 95% of stuff i've needed it for... the casing/keyboard and all that has held up perfect, i'm getting close to upgrade time and i'll definitely be getting another Gateway if I can...

We picked up our laptop at Costco a few weeks back, Lenovo. Full size keyboard. Our HP that's 4 years old or so is just about dead. The new one is nice, don't fully remember the specs on it, but they still have it for $699. For extra drive space we also have a 1TB external drive. Granted, we're nowhere near using that drive nor the space on the laptop.

ooo, good info in here. Thanks everyone. I'll read each in detail and check links too.

Costco miT? Really? ha ha (I was thinking about Costco too) but was expecting a slew of Microcenter responses, heh.

kingtut wrote:ooo, good info in here. Thanks everyone. I'll read each in detail and check links too.

Costco miT? Really? ha ha (I was thinking about Costco too) but was expecting a slew of Microcenter responses, heh.

Devilscupid should be able to give you the 411 on that (re: microcenter). We got our family laptop there. My gripe on a laptop is that it is more of a personal computer (in my mind). We have one, but I think of it more as my wife's computer. I just use it occasionally.

Oh yeah, it is a SAmsung. Some minor things I don't like about it, but nothing serious.

This computer will be mine...all mine! But paid for by wife....how do ya like 'dem apples? ha ha..I keed.

What do I do about transferring all of my pics/docs from old computer to new computer?

kingtut wrote:What do I do about transferring all of my pics/docs from old computer to new computer?

hook up external USB hard drive > copy porn over > copy porn over to new computer > hide porn folder from wife.

^very thorough and accurate response.

Give wife her own computer so she never has a reason to be on yours and see the porn folder. That's my preferred method.

But seriously, do you have a router? Or do you just have the one computer plugged straight into your cable/DSL modem? If you have a router you can hook up the new computer to the router, share the folders you need to transfer on the old computer, and access them on the new computer to copy the stuff over. Without a router a USB external hard drive will work, or a thumb drive if they are relatively small files or you don't mind filling it up several times to transfer them a few at a time.

I just rebuilt my computer with some major upgrades and that involved losing everything on my hard drives, so I borrowed a friends 3TB personal cloud to back up my junk. Transferring 1.5 TB of crap took a long time even using gigabit. USB anything was not an option for me, heh.

I just built me self a 6x core with ASUS EVO mobo, 8GB RAM and all the essentials for about $500 a few months ago.

That doesn't include monitor or OS. I have MSDN Ultimate so all MS OS and software are free for me since I need them all for "development".

Not sure how much it would cost with all the (legal) OS and software.

Either way, buy it online so you don't have to pay taxes. Most of them are free shipping anyway.

erod550 wrote: do you have a router?

Luckily I have no porn file to worry about, heh.

Router? Actually, yes...yes, I do! Interesting...

erod550 wrote: borrowed a friends 3TB personal cloud

Whaa, you lost me at friend...

I`m Batman wrote:I just built...

Whoa, whoa...batman-- a whaa? Gigi-whaa? core? I don't know what any of that means. Sounds exciting though (jealous)