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| Thread ID: 23518 | 2002-08-18 03:30:00 | buying new comp any suggestions ?? | unity (212) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 72111 | 2002-08-18 03:30:00 | with all the trouble i am having on this old machine i''ve decided i would be better off HPing a new one but what type....restriction on budget and weekly repayments will limit my choices but being used to win 98 what kind of computer ops should i be looking for. I am begining to design web sites along with being a writer, i have no interst in downloading music, but i will be downloading graphics, animated gifs and the like? what operating system is easiest for non techies to navagate and even what brand. I am turned off hp brand because of the way there cd drive pops out, i can see that being the first to break. + others have told me that parts are hard to get for there cd drive ? PC company...well i do support nz made and would if i'm gonna spend the $$ like a package, scanner and printer essential cdw hmmmmm may come in handy later. Not to sure about dell may go check their web site. Basically i'm looking for a deal, on hire purchace that won't stretch me more than $25a week that will be big enough to do the job, + i need to know the difference between all the new ops out there XL XP guess i'm looking in the range of around $2000- $23000 ???? any info would be welcomed |
unity (212) | ||
| 72112 | 2002-08-18 04:25:00 | IMHO the big name brands (Compaq, HP, Dell) are all overpriced crap. If you know what you are doing I would recommend buying the components separately and building it yourself. Otherwise, yes, there is the PC Company, but I would probably look at somewhere like Computer Future (https://www.computerfuture.co.nz) (Chch) or maybe NetPC (Glendene, Akld), both have ads near the back of the latest PC World. |
antmannz (28) | ||
| 72113 | 2002-08-18 05:43:00 | The best value for money deals are usually found at your local PC store. In other words, not at the large retail outlets. Make sure you do some research into the reputation of the shop you are thinking of buying from - you don't want a cowboy. Otherwise go PC Co., but make sure you get all the waranty options - you will need them. Hmm, on second thoughts avoid PC Co. like the plague - you want a working machine. The big brands like HP and Compaq are usually good quality, but extremely over priced and do not allow for upgrades as well as others. G P |
Graham Petrie (449) | ||
| 72114 | 2002-08-18 06:01:00 | If you can avoid it then try not to get into a HP deal. By the time you will of finished paying it off you will find that you would of been better off spending the time saving the money and paying cash, in doing getting a better PC at a cheaper price. | Sam H (525) | ||
| 72115 | 2002-08-18 06:16:00 | Hi. I suggest: Buy a system with specs that were top of the range about 6 months ago - that way you'll get the power at the "sweet-spot" price. Win XP Home OEM is prob the best way to go - it's XP Home version supplied new with your PC. Sounds like you won't need the mega-power cpu's and graphic cards - probably a mid-range Celeron or Athlon would suit you, with a GeForce MX vid card Buy from a local reputable PC shop - their specs will always be less expensive than an off-the-shelf from a major retailer. Preferably go to a shop that does their own servicing as well. Get "named" components rather than generic - eg Philips monitors can come with a free onsite 3 year warranty - generics would never have that unless you pay extra. Many shops that aren't too small also have rent-to-buy options, that are essentially the same as HP, and often for lower interest. Get a quote from 2 or 3 locals, then take your specs to the store you prefer and ask if they're prepared to match. |
Greg S (201) | ||
| 72116 | 2002-08-18 06:18:00 | whats wrong with the old machine?? what is the specs of the "old" machine? it might be easyer just to upgrade/fix whatever is bugging you, or re format if its a software problem im running a 450 meg CPU 128 meg of RAM 4 (?) year old machine here called vanessa on win98. By the sounds of it, your demands on the machine are far less than mine.. the old machine is fine for me, i dont see why you NEED to upgrade so badly that you are considering going into debt over it, when a little tweaking and maybe a 3 figure upgrade would more than fix it. |
Chris Wilson (431) | ||
| 72117 | 2002-08-18 06:20:00 | i should have also asked... what size ard drive(s) do you have? | Chris Wilson (431) | ||
| 72118 | 2002-08-18 06:24:00 | Chris has a good point. But if you want to more-or-less future-proof yourself for the next two years, then buying new is possibly still the best way to go. Interest on 2 - 2.5 grand over two years isn't horrific. | Greg S (201) | ||
| 72119 | 2002-08-18 06:31:00 | I agree with Sam regarding avoiding hire purchase if you possibly can. The big stores do offer interest free terms for a while but then you are restricted to buying a "name brand" PC at extra cost. If you can't avoid a loan then try and get a personal loan from your bank as it should be cheaper. There's a guy in Nelson, Erin Salmon, who will custom build one for you at a reasonable price. I don't actually know of anyone who has dealt with him but he posts on here every now and then and is very knowledgable about computers. Have a look at his website (http://www.unleash.co.nz/). As far as operating systems go, you can stay with Win 98 and have that installed on your new machine if you wish. If you sell your old one though, it would have to be without an OS as you can't just leave Win98 on it while keeping the CD. If you decide to go for WinXP wait until the service pack comes out, expected in October, before buying a new machine. Any more questions, just ask. :-) |
Susan B (19) | ||
| 72120 | 2002-08-18 06:33:00 | best operating system for your new/rebuilt machine....... win98.. seriously, if your used to it, it'll be the easyest. it's stable, and the best bit... you all ready have a copy, atleast i assume you do. |
Chris Wilson (431) | ||
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