Posted on 12/23/2013 12:43:41 PM PST by savedbygrace
So, I want to buy a new PC. I have a 4 year old Asus laptop and the screen has a lot of bad pixels. And I do not want to install Win7 again, but Start and Shutdown are both taking a long time, so I know I should re-install if I keep it.
So, my options are to buy a laptop with Win8, or a combo laptop/touch-screen with Win8. I will not buy a desktop PC.
What are the advantages of each, and which models would you recommend? I want as much RAM as possible, maybe 8GB, and the fastest processor I can afford. I want to keep it under $800, or not much more than that.
Note that I will not buy anything from Toshiba.
Go.
Want to Buy a New PC
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Naw, not at the present time.
Very true!
The office software is nice and mostly compatible with Windows although there are a few formatting limitations.
Other features like remote desktop are default versus paying extra when buying Windows.
The free Apache server is nice.
I didn’t know Netflix wouldn’t play on it. I have no trouble watching online video from other sources, so far.
I said that if I had won that big lottery last week that I would try to start a conservative online TV channel, I was half serious. But I am going to play the Christmas powerball this week, if I win that I am going to spend some on getting better games made for Linux. Maybe even porting some Windows games.
One thing you should do when you get your new laptop is clone the hard drive onto a USB hard disk. If your HDD ever crashes or gets seriously infected you can just use the saved image to reinstall everything as it was when you made the clone. The whole process only takes an hour or so depending on how much data you have. You don’t have to worry about activation, drivers, reinstalling applications, transferring your data files, etc.
I use Clonezilla but Redo Backup is also highly rated. Both of these are free. A list of such software is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_disk_cloning_software
Cool. Good luck! :)
Always worth the price of an external HDD with a new Windows machine.
I think my first two targets (probably easier targets) would be older games like SimCity2000 and Roller Coaster Tycoon 2.
I hope I’m not too late to warn you about fanatics warning you against Mac and Linux fanatics!
Thanks for the suggestions - I’ll try them. It was pretty noisy from day one, though.
Wow! Completely silent makes it worth considering. Thanks.
My old machine was still running XP. Before I retired my company work laptop was on Windows 7. I've used every MS operating system except Vista. There's nothing wrong with 8. I haven't done the free upgrade to 8.1 yet. $240 bucks. I mean how do you beat that? I USB it to a full size monitor and keyboard when I want to and it just works.
But he is looking for a laptop.
If looking for a desktop i would send him to AllPCZONE, where i prayerfully got this for 578.00, which price for quality i would have a hard time beating if i built it myself, and could have payed less.
I customized the BUILD MY OWN AMD FX/X2/X4/X6 SYSTEM OR BAREBONE choice
(http://www.computerlx.com/products.aspx?category_ID=136) as per below:
AMD BULLDOZER FX-6350 3.9GHz Six-Core AM3+ Processor
AMD COPPER HIGH PERFORMANCE COOLING FAN
ASRock 970 EXTREME3 Socket AM3+/ AMD 970/ AMD Quad CrossFireX/ SATA3&USB3.0/ A&GbE/ ATX Motherboard
8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600MHz (PC3 12800) Dual Channel (HIGH PERFORMANCE)
SEAGATE / WD 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB CACHE SATA 6.0Gb/s
ALLPCZONE Dual Fan Cooler for Hard Disk (RECOMMENDED)
PowerColor Go! Green AX5450 1 GB 64 bit Video Card
REALTEK 8-CHANNEL DIGITAL SOUND ONBOARD
REALTEK 10/100/1000 Gigabit Network Card (onboard)
ALLPCZONE ENTERPRISE MID-TOWER ATX CASE
1x OKIA 80MM CASE COOLER
CORSAIR 430 WATT HIGH PERFORMANCE SLI/CROSSFIRE POWER SUPPLY
I-MICRO 103 Keys PS2 Basic Wired Keyboard
i-Micro 2.0 Channel Multimedia Speakers
3-Year Limited Warranty Plan with Lifetime of free USA based Support...Custom Hand Wiring For Ultimate Air Flow, Assembled in Cleveland, Ohio, USA
FED-EX GROUND SHIPPING “FREE” (1-7 BUSINESS DAYS)
http://www.computerlx.com/config.aspx?t=&product_ID=1558
All for 578.00
I should have gone with AMD BULLDOZER FX-6300 as it runs at 95 watts and cooler, but the 6350 was only 7 more.
Also the 1x OKIA Heavy Duty CASE COOLER for 6.00 more would have been better, and a different CPU cooler because the $35.00 AMD COPPER HIGH PERFORMANCE COOLING FAN is a load screamer.
A major upgrade was Asus 970 mobo, which offers more than the default one, and the Corsair 430 PSU for $50.00 more, but Techies say the PSU is very important upgrade.
The ALLPCZONE ENTERPRISE MID-TOWER ATX CASE has a lot of bays, and is better than others in its price range i think.
And it is fast, and can be overclocked, and i thank God for it!
Note also that you get 3yrs warrant and lifetime free tech, on the phone with a real English speaking techie, who (Edward) was knowledgeable and helpful, and offers much advice besides fixing problems.
I actually had as problem with a BIOS firmware upgrade that did not work, and i had to send it back, but they fixed it for free in about a week, except for 35.00 shipping as it was my fault.
Only thing i think needs improvement is better email updates on the progress of repairs. And praise Jesus!
Sorry for posting and running, everyone. Busy day.
Thank you all. I am reading your posts and studying. And thinking.
I’ve tried Linux several times. Like I said, it has limited value.
Win 7 is pretty good, and is likely to become the next XP. XP is the Gold Standard of operating systems.
Those would be a lot of fun. My son played RCT2.
Like this?
Think Apple may limit the transfers file types though.
I liked building the coasters, I had the “Deluxe” edition... lol
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