It's time for a new computer at home. Thoughts?

[dec5girl]

I have a desktop and a laptop at home and both are barely working, or not working right now. The kids always need them for reports and school related stuff, so I think it's a good time to get something since school is starting.

I'm trying to decide if I would rather go desktop, laptop, PC, MAC???

I would like to hear your thoughts.

 

[sunlover13]

Sorry, I'm no help, but I'll give you a bump.

We have always owned Dell desktops and have been happy with them.

I have a laptop for work so I use that at home. I'm not very careful w/ it though and have dropped it and broke the screen. So, I'm not so sure I'd want kids using a laptop if you know what I mean........

 

[Tinijocaro]

I would go Mac all the way. Our first mac lasted 9 years. We are now on our second and still love it. I recommend going into your nearest Apple store and playing around-ask for help if you need it.

See any one of the many threads on here about Macs. There was one this week about "Mac users: would you go back to a PC?" The nice thing about a Mac is that they are also PC's so if you need Windows, you can load it on and use either the Mac side or the PC side. The same cannot be said for PCs.

 

[SilverL]

My dad fixes computers for a living and he recommends HP laptops as far as laptops go. I can't really help with desktops, since he always builds those from scratch.

Just FYI: Windows is releasing a new operating system, Windows 7, in October. Anything you buy right now is Windows Vista. Typically I prefer to wait a little while after an OS is released for them to work out the bugs. However, I'm not sure I'd buy a brand new computer with an old OS either.

 

[DISNEY1975]

IMOO, desktops are way more reliable. Ive had bad experiences with laptops never lasting more than a couple of years.

I am currently typing on my 10 year old Compaq Presario. Ive never ever had an issue with it. I have upgraded all programs like Microsoft/Adobe/Flashmedia etc...for free on the company's websites. Once in a rare while, I will try to download something and I will get a message saying that its not compatible with my computer, so I have to use an earlier version. Obviously, if you are getting a new computer, you will not have this issue.

Right now there are super deals on computers and laptops. Comp. companies are trying to get rid of their inventory for back to school, their biggest season all year. If your planning to do it, now is the time.

I just got my son an HP laptop from BJs Wholsale Club for college. I cant tell you how it is because its still only week one. Our last laptops mother board burned, batteries would not charge, got viruses from wifi because they used them in unsecured areas, like school..not to mention the keyboard is not as easy and if you dont have a wireless mouse scrolling and getting back to a spot is annoying. For home use, I would def. go with a desktop.

 

[Shutterbug]

I would say go for a Mac except that I went through 4 Macs in two months the first time I ever bought one...power supply issues, screen issues, hard drive completely dying....

 

[DisneyBlonde]

I'm a recent Mac convert and I'm very happy.

 

[dec5girl]

My dad fixes computers for a living and he recommends HP laptops as far as laptops go. I can't really help with desktops, since he always builds those from scratch.

Just FYI: Windows is releasing a new operating system, Windows 7, in October. Anything you buy right now is Windows Vista. Typically I prefer to wait a little while after an OS is released for them to work out the bugs. However, I'm not sure I'd buy a brand new computer with an old OS either.

I've seen some ads for new computers that come with Windows Vista now and a free upgrade to Windows 7 in October. If I do that is it hard to upgrade that software? Also do I delete Vista from the computer or just add the upgrade to it and if I add the upgrade will that be too much "stuff" in the computer and take up a lot of space? I have heard people saying that their Vista takes up a lot of space and makes things run slow. I don't know anything about Vista.

 

[mikeyandscoobyx2]

Whatever you do, do NOT get vista. XP is way better!

I had to write a term paper for school that was five pages long. I saved the paper on word a bunch of times. First, I could not even find the file ANYWHERE on my computer. After searching for almost half a hour, I open it up to find it's encrypted or something. It took me another good 20 minutes to remove all the added encryptions. For example, if I added a tab, instead of a tab, it would say /tab, /-enter, whatever.

Everytime I wanted to save, I would have to attach the paper to an email draft.

I'm sooo glad I switched back to XP.

As for macs, my friend got a macbook pro less then a week ago. From when I used it, it was pretty cool. I really didn't see the difference between a MAC and a PC. Besides, I think MACS are more for like artists, and professional graphics and all that. I think PC's are better for word documents, business and such.

I also compared my friends macbook pro to my friends dell inspiron, and the pro weighed ALOT more than the inspiron, even though the inspiron was bulkier. Also, the macbook pro's touchpad was bigger than the inspiron. I didn't find it useful though. You had to either press really hard anywhere on the touchpad to click, or go to the bottom left corner since there were no buttons.

Obviously, this is nothing really to decide on whether or not to get a PC or MAC, but just basic stuff you may not like about either; or an inconvenience.

 

[SydneyFalco]

An OS upgrade doesn't usually take up double the hard drive space. At any rate, any new computer you buy today will (likely) have hard drive space enough for forty OSs.

If you do the "Vista upgrade to Windows 7 later" purchase, at least you'll get the OS disk. A lot of places now sell computers with pre-loaded OS (like Vista) and that means no installation disc. This potentially causes problems down the line because back-up and restore systems, despite what they claim, are far from infallible and Microsoft, I hear, can be prissy about licenses. As a Mac user I can reload Leopard endlessly (if I ever have to).

Upgrading on either system is pretty easy. It should be a basic overwrite and it (probably) shouldn't bother you too much, asking about what and where to install. It will see what hardware and settings you have and take care of it (again, very probably.) You can always call the Geek Squad if you're not sure you want to do it.

Macs are fun and easy (I have one) but switching to one takes a lot of getting used to if you've toyed with Windows to some extent. If you're strictly and click and work type who's never bothered with customization or digging very deep into things, you wont have much problem, though.

 

[princess momma]

I recently purchased a new Dell desktop. It's my second and I was really happy with their customer service. I did initially have problems with my previous Dell but they quickly took care of it. When it crashed I needed a disk to reinstall the OS and they sent me one.

My new computer has Vista but there is the free upgrade when the new Windows becomes available. There will probably be problems with that too, but I needed a computer now. So I had to bite the bullet.

A lot of people are really happy with their Macs, but as previous poster said, they're different. People who have to switch back & forth between a Mac and a PC (for work, for example) tend to have problems.

A laptop is nice but I wouldn't have one as my only computer.

 

[RadioNate]

I recently purchased a new Dell desktop. It's my second and I was really happy with their customer service. I did initially have problems with my previous Dell but they quickly took care of it. When it crashed I needed a disk to reinstall the OS and they sent me one.

My new computer has Vista but there is the free upgrade when the new Windows becomes available. There will probably be problems with that too, but I needed a computer now. So I had to bite the bullet.

A lot of people are really happy with their Macs, but as previous poster said, they're different. People who have to switch back & forth between a Mac and a PC (for work, for example) tend to have problems.

A laptop is nice but I wouldn't have one as my only computer.

That really isn't true any more. There was a time that there were some issues but it has been awhile. In fact, I switch from Windows to OSX all day long on the same computer!

My DH and I share an external drive between a Mac and a PC lap top.

While I'm a mac person, there are pluses for both operating systems. We use both in our house on a regular basis.

We've had issues with both. I've had better luck with Apple Care than I've have with Dell or Gateway or HP (the worst!) but I can't say all my Apple calls have gone 100% smoothly. In store service (Apple Genius) can't be beat.

Vista is horrid but if you are buying a new PC today you are stuck with it. You might find some downgraded XP machines at Costco or a net book with XP. To down grade your machine, it isn't as easy as buying a full copy of XP and installing that over Vista.

The good news is that everything today should come with the free Windows 7 upgrade.

Good luck on your search. I really think you should factor in what your want /need in terms of spec and how much you want to spend and then fine the machine that fits those needs.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would say go for a Mac except that I went through 4 Macs in two months the first time I ever bought one...power supply issues, screen issues, hard drive completely dying....

We bought my dd a mac laptop for college this year and it has already needed a new hard drive.

However bonus is we get to get it fixed thru the college so we don't have to put up with all the headaches of fixing it.

 

[princess momma]

That really isn't true any more. There was a time that there were some issues but it has been awhile. In fact, I switch from Windows to OSX all day long on the same computer!
My DH and I share an external drive between a Mac and a PC lap top.

While I'm a mac person, there are pluses for both operating systems. We use both in our house on a regular basis.

We've had issues with both. I've had better luck with Apple Care than I've have with Dell or Gateway or HP (the worst!) but I can't say all my Apple calls have gone 100% smoothly. In store service (Apple Genius) can't be beat.

Vista is horrid but if you are buying a new PC today you are stuck with it. You might find some downgraded XP machines at Costco or a net book with XP. To down grade your machine, it isn't as easy as buying a full copy of XP and installing that over Vista.

The good news is that everything today should come with the free Windows 7 upgrade.

Good luck on your search. I really think you should factor in what your want /need in terms of spec and how much you want to spend and then fine the machine that fits those needs.

Well, all I know is the people I encounter on a day to day basis have a hard time switching back and forth. I hear it enough that I have never considered a Mac.