need help with a desktop comp.

scottyboy76

We will be looking to replace our desktop soon.

Looking for 3-400 dollar range, no video games or anything, just web surfing,very basic stuff, maybe quality music files in the future, but that will depend on cost of songs.


Mainly wondering if brands are really all that different as far as dependability.

We have owned a custom built rig an off the shelf HP, and a Frys store demo unit Gateway being our current unit that is running windows vista

Believe it or not, the gateway has been great, just getting long in the tooth.

Also wondering if windows 8.1 is an overlay type deal that one could get from a download, as all the desktops at wal mart today only had win8 on the boxes.

Please forgive simple questions, but i am far from a techie.

And as always, any help is greatly app.

scott and deb

Oldfatdogs

( i am far from a techie)

I'm right with you there Scott.I just bought a Dell with windows 7 at a good discount.I heard windows 8 was not user friendly unless you have a touch screen.That's why I went with this computer so far I am happy.Check staples on line.
Dan

AsSiMiLaTeD

A little over your budget but for a desktop computer to fit your needs the Mac Mini is a great choice. It's small, efficient, cool and dead silent and will easily handle all but the most demanding tasks. I wouldn't recommend it for something like heavy video editing but for a desktop rig it's a great choice. I've converted a few family and friends and they all love theirs, and the best part for me is there's no tech support to handle now, I can just send my mom to the Apple store...

cnh

I bought a Lenovo laptop with W8 last year and just upgrade to 8.1 for free. 8.1 is a bit more user friendly without a touch screen. So you should be able to do the same.

I like Lenovos a lot. Don't have much experience with the desktops, though.

We bought a lower end HP laptop for my sister-in-law that I tweaked in order to simplify the W8 use for her. I was pleasantly surprised by the HP. It seems that HP had already provided some QUICK LAUNCH buttons that did much of what W8.1 now does. So I have to give them some credit there! The laptop also seemed fairly well built and durable.

cnh

shadowlight

I purchased 2 4430s laptop from HP refurbished about a year and both laptop looked brand new and came with the standard business warranty. Cannot remember if it was 1 or 3 yrs on the warranty though will have to look it up. I paid around 380 shipped. It had 4GB of RAM, 500GB HD and i5 processor. Keep an eye on the link below, they also list desktops.

https://h41183.www4.hp.com/pps-offers.php?prod_cat=notebook_pcs

The 2 laptops above was my 3rd laptop purchased through the refurb site.

obieone

Newegg has an 'All in one' Lenovo with WinPro7 and an 18" monitor for $299, free s/h.

jbooker82

Windows 8 isn't bad once you get use to it. Might as well make the switch because the older stuff sooner or later isn't going to be supported.

Tornado Red

AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »

A little over your budget but for a desktop computer to fit your needs the Mac Mini is a great choice. It's small, efficient, cool and dead silent and will easily handle all but the most demanding tasks. I wouldn't recommend it for something like heavy video editing but for a desktop rig it's a great choice. I've converted a few family and friends and they all love theirs, and the best part for me is there's no tech support to handle now, I can just send my mom to the Apple store...

Food for thought. I'm sitting on a 4 year old H/P desk top that's starting to act up, I can see the end is near. I've played with Win 8 and it just frustrates me as a desk top choice. I have a 24" display that's not too old, a 1080p camera and wireless keyboard and mouse. Actually, Win 8 is what finally may make me jump to Apple, I was leaning that way anyway. And unfortunately a bigger iMac is a little steep right now, the middle quad core mac mini might just fill that gap nicely. I have a blu-ray drive in the H/P right now, would like to be able to hook an external one to the Apple as well.

4xoddic

AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »

A little over your budget but for a desktop computer to fit your needs the Mac Mini is a great choice.

+1 for a Mac Mini

It will work w/monitor, printer & bluetooth keyboard & mouse (assuming you already have those).

IF you're interested, I have a 2006 Mac Mini, 1 GB RAM, 32-bit Intel Core Duo processor (upgradeable to an Intel 64-bit Core 2 Duo). New Intel 320 GB hardrive (May 2013). LNIB MicroSoft "Wireless Laser Desktop 4000" (BT keyboard & mouse, mouse was used until I got tired of swapping batteries). NEC MultiSync 1940CX 19" LCD monitor. Canon PIXMA MP210 printer. I have all the boxes (haven't found the Mac Mini box yet) & cords/adapters. Would deal w/in your price range. Send me a PM if you're interested.

I'm obviously not techie enough to know how this compares to what you've had, or what's available PC-wise in your price range. This model of Mac Mini is the oldest still supported for MAC OSX. I believe the newest Mac Minis start ~ $600, a great CPU if you have all the peripherals.