::: Looking For A New Laptop / Desktop? Look Here :::

Lord_Chris

Okay, every week several people on the techie board will ask "what desktop/laptop should i buy?" or "wheres the cheapest place to buy a desktop/laptop" ... these questions CANNOT be answered, unless you help the techies on this board to help you. These questions are fine, but there is no said rule for best / cheapest desktop or laptop, because it depends on your circumstances.

Below i've compiled a list of things to consider when looking for a new desktop or laptop computer. If you give details such as these when asking for help about new computers, techies can help you faster and better, because they'll know more about what you personally need.

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+===+ any techies who think something should be added/removed/changed on this please private message me and i will edit this +===+

so here goes the first draft:
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1. INTENDED USE: What do you intend to be using your computer / laptop for?

- browsing internet / sending and receiving email
- office programs (word, excel, access or equivalents)
- listening to music / watching dvd's
- playing games
- editing photos / videos



2. BUDGET: What sort of budget are you on?

= DESKTOPS range in price from around £280 to in excess of several thousand, but bare in mind, a computer for high-end games will only cost around £1000. You should not really expect to pay more than around £1000 if you are reading this.
= LAPTOPS are more expensive, and can range from around £300, and you shouldn't expect to pay anymore than around £1200-£1300 for a high-end laptop.

---REMEMBER--- computers from tescos and woolworths are cheap because they are made from cheap components. Stick to reliable companies if you want a reliable computer. Particularly with laptops: YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.



3. (DESKTOPS) PERIPHERALS: Do you NEED peripherals such as monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, printer etc.? While most Dells and computers from places like PC World come with the essentials, if you are going for something a little more professional, you can save yourself a fair amount by using your existing peripherals. (and some companies do not provide peripherals with their sytems).

= invest in an optical mouse: they are quite cheap now, and do not 'clog up' like trackball mice. they are also less likely to get damaged.
= wireless keyboards and mice aren't necessary. Remember wireless keyboards need batteries, as do some wireless mice. Other wireless mice come with chargers, so dont forget to charge them everynight if you use them regularly.

= 2 types of printer: Inkjet and Laser. Inkjet are very cheap now and you can get a good HP from places like Currys for around £40. Inkjets tend to be made either by Canon, Hewlett Packard (HP), Lexmark or Epson. (i personally like HP, but Epson are cheaper as they have seperate colour ink cartridges so you only replace the colour you need).
= Inkjet printers can be expensive to run. Compatible ink cartridges are great and a lot cheaper than the real thing. Lexmark compatibles can be hard to find.
= Laser Printers are considerably more expensive, and toner can also be more expensive. More useful for businesses, or if you use your printer a lot as you get loads more pages from toner, than inkjets get from cartridges.
= If you want a Fax, Scanner or copier, consider an All In One Printer. Saves money and desk space.



4. (LAPTOPS) BATTERY: How much battery life do you expect to need?

- will you be using your laptop for a prolonged time where it cannot be hooked up to the mains?
- do you need only a couple of hours (standard with most laptops) or do you require an extended life battery of say 6 or 7 hours?
- are you in a position to buy an extended life battery or a second laptop battery? (they can be quite expensive)

= remember that listening to music, watching dvds, and playing games all drain battery life.



5. OPERATING SYSTEM: What Operating System and version do you need?

- WINDOWS XP - best for novice users... compatible with most software. Do you need Professional edition, or will Home suffice?
- Linux/Unix - some versions are completely free, however may not be as easy to use (i can't comment as i havent used them personally, input appreciated)

= MOST computers come with XP Home, but you may have to buy one on top of the unit price. Other companies (i.e. Dell) offer an upgrade such as XP Professional at a fraction of the cost of buying an OEM.
= If you own a boxed version of Windows it is possible to transfer your license from one computer to another; so if you're not keeping your old computer, you can save yourself some money. you CANNOT transfer OEM licenses for Windows.




++++ input appreciated, including constructive criticism ++++



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with thanks to: (contribute and i'll put your name here :P)

Little John - licensing info, peripherals info etc etc etc

Browntoa

Chris, you are assuming they will use the search button in the first place ....lol

they won't find this

Lord_Chris

this is true, but still, at least i can say ive done soething useful today

T4i

Lord_Chris wrote:

this is true, but still... next time someone posts one of the aforementioned vague threads i have every right to have a right b i tc h at them

Lord_Chris who exactly do you think you are? Do you know what a forum is there for? It's called open discussion, which basically means peoples opinions/finidngs/experiences. Not you telling people what is required and how things should be done to suite your needs etc etc etc

This forum is a very good forum because we don't get too many annoying people, so how about if you don't like this forum and the questions that are asked why not just do us all a favour and go away :wave:

Ivrytwr3

Ooooh!! a techie who knows his stuff. Can i just ask:




















where is the best/cheapest place to buy a desktop?

ABH_3

Some reasonably good information there, unfortunately it's not exactly 'in-depth' is it. If I were you, I would stick to advising anyone interested in laptops to go where they really know about such things, in other words 'leave it to the experts'

http://www.whatlaptop.co.uk/Forums/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=222
http://www.notebookreview.com/
http://www.notebookforums.com/
http://www.small-laptops.com/

HTH

sra

Lord_Chris wrote:

this is true, but still... next time someone posts one of the aforementioned vague threads i have every right to have a right b i tc h at them

erm no!

Let me point out my post here.

This is a forum where people can ask questions without having to worry.

If people are vague you can ask them (hopefully politely) what they're particular needs are - or you might decide just not to post on that thread at all if you think you're not patient enough to deal with a novice user.

Some people don't know what they want and aren't confident enought with computers to go through a checklist deciding on specs.

This is the site for that kind of poster. where else?

Above all:
Remember there's no such thing as a stupid question, pls be nice to all MoneySavers!

Lord_Chris

@ sra - i didnt think this thread would make people 'worry' as such, i didnt see it as agressive, but i will edit it later. but i still think it wouldn't go amiss for people to glance over this, so even the absolute novices can save everyone the trouble of answering the same questions over and over again.

ohh and also, i didnt mention specs.. i saw no numbers besides anything.

@ ABH - thanks for adding the links, as i said, i didnt have time when writing the thread to go 'in depth' and besides, this is meant for novices to get help in telling us exactly what they're looking for.

@ IvryTwr3 - lol... not at your post, at you.

@ T4i - 1) im Lord_Chris, i don't believe i've had the horror.
2) yes
3) open discussion, freedom of speech... last time i checked i have that right too.
4) im not trying to tell anyone whats required? i didnt get that impression from the thread, so i will review it later to see what your trying to say. the idea of this was to give people an idea of what they could tell us so that we can find them what they want/need... i'm not DEMANDING they use this, and by no means is it a form. for some reason your painting me as a little hitler, when i wrote a small guide... not a form for processing novices into camps.
5) you talk of open discussion, yet tell me to go away.... which is it gonna be? cant go both ways unfortunetly for you. Ohh and despite your opinion of me 57 people have thanked me for stuff, so i cant be all bad.

ohh, and if this is such a bad thing, why are people talking of having something such as this as a sticky? i quote Little John "I just read your post, after repeated questions aboutt he same thing I hope somthing similar to this gets made a sticky."

Lord_Chris

okay, just done some revisions... is this more to peoples liking?

please message any more suggestions to me

T4i

See post 7.

Some people come here with no clue of what they want hence we try to put them in the right direction. Some of us have never had a p.c so how would they know what they want? This will only put certain people off making them afraid to ask questions incase you b i t c h at them.

If I was new here and read this thread I would not dare post here and would end up going to another forum. This would be bad for MSE.

We treat EVERYONE the same here, people with good knowlage and people with limited knowlage. Unfortunately we can;t all be experts like yourself so i'm afraid you will come across vague posts. If you don't like this then simply don't post instead of b i t c h i n g at them, there are plenty others that will help no matter what.

albertross_2

Poor Chris, he is trying to do something helpful, but not quite getting the wording right..