New Pc - Advice Needed

moda_2

Hi folks, I'm looking to buy a new PC & need advice on where to go.

We use the laptop we currently have for music, storing photos & internet shopping / browsing. We also need microsoft office.

I know to avoid PCW like the plague, but buying direct from Dell etc is getting a bit overwhelming with the techie talk!

I basically need a PC that has good storage & a fast processor (Celeron / Pentium? Don't know the difference!)

Any help for the untechnically minded would be appreciated!

Mx

totalsolutions

Browse the shops in Tottenham Court road plenty to see and touch. I take it you live near London then?

penrhyn

Try https://www.dmxdimension.co.uk it should help you sort out a Dell within your budget.

moda_2

I live in glasgow, so tottenham court road a bit far to travel!

The laptop we have just now is a toshiba satellite. its about 5 years old, & tbh, is knackered. if there's more than one application running at any one time, it takes an age to get through, especially when online. There have been various viruses over the years, & depsite having anti spyware, anti virus, anti everything, somehow, these things keep getting in. Have reconfigured it many times & i think this might be why its reached the end of days!

My problem is, I've been away from IT for so long, I don't know what's 'in' & what to avoid, so any help is much appreciated!

Mx

jay11_2

I tend to go to John Lewis, or use their online service. They have slightly more pricey, but usually good, models (look online), but include a free 2 year warranty, and I have always found them helpful and prompt when fixing faults.

evilgoose

Insight and Misco have both had some pretty good deals of late on latops. and I think you can use quidco or nectar when buying from them.

If you are going to be using the laptop away from the mains look out for ones which have 'mobile' somewhere in the description of the processor.

shaven-monkey

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/143128

get an old monitor off freecycle, if you have the old office installer cd you won't need a new one.

only downside of this thing is vista. if you can get XP installer CD then get a techie friend to flatten vista and install XP for the speed and usability boost.

alternatively...

you want a 2 to 3 GHz processor. for processors the cheaper models run slower "celeron" is the cheaper option of Intel processor.
2 gig of RAM if you're running Vista. 1 Gig for XP.
160 gig hard disk or larger (the more the better really, it's cheap)
DVD writer of some sort for backups.
unless you plan to play modern games on it, you don't need an expensive graphics card but ideally avoid an "onboard graphics" option.
onboard sound would work fine.

cmonthehoops

shaven-monkey wrote: »

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/143128

get an old monitor off freecycle, if you have the old office installer cd you won't need a new one.

only downside of this thing is vista. if you can get XP installer CD then get a techie friend to flatten vista and install XP for the speed and usability boost.

alternatively...

you want a 2 to 3 GHz processor. for processors the cheaper models run slower "celeron" is the cheaper option of Intel processor.
2 gig of RAM if you're running Vista. 1 Gig for XP.
160 gig hard disk or larger (the more the better really, it's cheap)
DVD writer of some sort for backups.
unless you plan to play modern games on it, you don't need an expensive graphics card but ideally avoid an "onboard graphics" option.
onboard sound would work fine.

Very good advice cheers.:beer: