Suggestions for a new computer

[Marlie]

Don't do anything but use the internet for fun and education. Any suggestions?
I think my current computer is ready to bite the dust and with all the sales
going on now, maybe now would be a good time to replace it. I currently have a
Gateway. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance guys.

[Cronus Protagonist]

1. Get the cheapest brand name you can find

They're all good now. Just avoid gateway and dell, they're the worst in quality. I think the Shuttle is the best computer value today.

Educate a Freeper Today!
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[Peter Frank]

2. Make sure your processor has hyper-threading...

http://www.intel.com/technology/hyperthread

[ET Awful]

12. You need hyperthreading for browsing the internet now?

Overkill for the users purposes, not a necessity at all.

[leftstreet]

3. Doesn't really matter which brand. But DO THIS:

Unless you're really pc proficient, take whatever you buy to a local pc shop. Explain to them what you'll be using it for. Then ask them to strip all the "crap" software off your new pc. The techies at these pc shops are pretty good at increasing the performance of anything you buy. Fee is minimal.

[this_side_up]

5. Opinion on Knoppix?

http://www.knoppix.net/

Someone told me that the OS, email and word processing
program all run from the CD. (does it do bookmarks?)

Therefore, there is no hard drive to catch a virus or hack
and that all I would need is a monitor, modem and
internet provider and would save by not spending
money on anti-virus.

If all we do is e-mail, letters and surfing for fun
and news, would this work for us?

Thanks and g'night.

[leftstreet]

6. Never heard of it. But I'd call a local pc shop and ask

They're very helpful.

[B Calm]

9. Why would you spend money on an anti-virus? The best

anti-virus protection out there is free! AVG Free Edition is the best protection and it's free!!!

[wtmusic]

4. Mac

unless you have a lot of extra time on your hands.

[lvx35]

7. Big suggestion

Whatever deals you find that you might like, take the make name and number of the computer (example Dell inspiron 1000) and do a search on google for the name, plus "review". Read at least 3 reviews and compare it to others before you buy.

[B Calm]

8. A lot of hard drive is important to me.

[RebelOne]

10. I have an eMachine.

If you only use your computer for surfing the Internet, then get an eMachine. It works for me.

[ET Awful]

14. They don't suck. The only drawback to eMachines is that they use

sub-par components (the power supply for instance). SO it's very touch and go. You might get one that lasts years, or you might get one with a Deer power supply that has capacitors that literally explode and shoot blue flame out the back of the machine :). I've seen it happen.

They make good machines, but use parts from the cheapest bidder, so might not be as long lasting as some others.

Like I say, they don't suck, but I've seen some pretty nasty lemons come from them :)

[RebelOne]

17. I guess I got lucky.

I have had mine for 3 years now and not one problem.

[ET Awful]

18. I think it's more that some people get unlucky than you got lucky

:P

I think the ones that fail catastrophically are few and far between.

[fujiyama]

11. Consider

www.newegg.com

A hell of a site. Fast shipping. Efficient. Decent prices. You can't go wrong. Plus they have user reviews of most products.

For your uses, you don't need to spend too much. Depending on whether you need a monitor or not, I think you can get one for around $500 or less...

[ET Awful]

13. For your purposes, you could get a very good machine for $700 or less

There is some good advice here (i.e. avoid Dell but I say that because it's a redder than red company more than for any other reason), and some that isn't worth the time to read (i.e. buy a Mac . . . always someone who needs to pipe in with the Mac advice, "it'll save you time" my butt, if you have to re-learn how to use a computer, you aren't saving time).

For your uses, almost any currently manufactured processor will will be fine. My personal choice is an Athlon64 from AMD, but that's just me. The budget line of processors from both AMD and Intel are both high quality for the type of work you're doing, you don't need a top of the line processor.

I would say any 1.8 ghz or above CPU would work fine.

I would recommend at leat 512 MB of RAM. It's inexpensive, and well worth the cost. If you can go 1 GB, do so.

For hard drives, they're CHEAP these days, you can get 250 gigabytes or more for around $100. (check newegg as one poster above mentioned).

You don't need to spend a lot of money, you don't need to buy a Mac, and you don't need hyperthreading.

You need a simple machine that will do simple tasks for a simple price.

[Marlie]

19. Thanks so much everyone

You've been lots of help.

[BigMcLargehuge]

15. Mac Mini

five hundred bucks. Use the same monitor, keyboard, and mouse you ave now.

[ET Awful]

16. Not a bad suggestion. I kind of dig those little things.

My only disagreement would be as to whether she wants to re-learn how to use a computer since Macs are quite a bit different.

As far as price goes, the Mac Mini is tough to beat.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

20. Compaq is good.