Need a new computer, any recommendations?

[CapeCodTenor]

I looked into Dell, but those great prices they show are really stripped down models. When you started adding the extras I wanted, the price went way above what I wanted to pay.

Boy aint that the truth. I just did a price check online, started adding what I wanted and it went from around $680 to over a $1000. NOT!

Now, I just bought an HP and I LOVE it. It is a1220n, I believe. It had everything I needed and with some pretty nifty incentives and rebates from Staples I ended up paying $709 for it. I still have $100 in rebates coming back to me. So, for a little over 600 hundred dollars I have an awesome computer. Can't say enough good things about HP.

I've thought of HP. My wife, and both her parents have one and they seem to like them. A friend of mine just bought one and loves hers. But what about tech support? If you bought it from Staples, who do you call? Staples or HP?

 

[CapeCodTenor]

A quick search show that they've had big financial loses and poor profits but haven't threatened bankruptcy yet. They did drop some non-computer business lines though.

Thanks for that quick check Galahad. I appreciate it very much.

 

[ugadog99]

You call HP for tech support. Staples does happen to be a drop off point for HP repair, though. My Staples is just really easy to deal with and they had the best value for what I wanted. I did a lot of research before buying. You may find better prices now at Circuit City, Best Buy, etc. I highly recommend HP.

 

[WIcruizer]

It really depends what you will use it for. We have several PCs/Laptops for personal and business use. The one that gets used the most by everyone (because it's in a common area of the house) is actually a Dell for about $400. But all we use it for is the internet, Word, PowerPoint, etc.

Most people "over buy" when getting a PC. Unless you're doing some heavy duty gaming or running massive programs for business, you really don't need the newest and most powerful processor. You won't notice a difference between Celeron and P4 for example. You don't need a huge HD and a ton of memory.

Gateway IS on the brink of going under, and have been for several years.

 

[Disney-Kim]

Another Dell happy customer here. I just ordered my 2nd Dell laptop. Have 2 family members with Dell laptops. All of us are happy with them. Have had no reason to deal with support in 3 yrs. (knock on wood)

HP's hard drives run so loud...it always bothered me.

I have only heard bad things about Gateway in the last couple of years.

I thought about a Sony Vaio until I read the reviews.

Go to PCmag.com...and check out the reviews. Dell's Inspiron 6000 gets great reviews. (thats what I ordered, only I souped it up a bit)

 

[N.Bailey]

For those of you who have dell, what has been your experience with their tech support? I'm looking into Dell right now, as our law frim has an employee purchase program with them...still not sure yet, I may be able to get a better deal else where.

Well, personally I HATE their tech support. As has already been stated by another poster, it's the reason I will never buy another Dell either.

I'm going Alienware next time and am hoping their support is better. If it is, I'll probably stick with them. The thing is though, I don't believe they make a lower end computer. All the ones I've seen have started at about 2K. I paid more than that for my Dell and every computer before it, so it's not like I'd be paying more.

 

[N.Bailey]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I'm thinking of going back to a Gateway, I've not had too many problems with mine and the tech support is pretty good...I get actuall Americans.

The computer I had prior to my Dell was a Gateway and I LOVED it. I had it for years and it was a solid running machine. I just think that all the computer manufacturers have lowered quality to get the price down.

If my last computer is any indicator of what today's Gateway computer consists of, IMO, you've definitely got a winner! I'm just not conviced you can compare like that and I don't just say that about Gateway.

 

[Indyman]

I've owned two Dells in the last 6 years and have only had to call tech support twice in that time, so I wouldn't put too much weight on the tech support issue. If you're still interested in Dell click here.

 

[DVC-Don]

I'm running 2 Dells now here. This desktop I bought in July of 2002 and the other is a laptop I bought in February of 2005. I have not had to call support for either of them.