Non Techie would like a new computer

ForOurFuture

Please be patient with me as after reading some of the threads in this forum I am feeling completely out of my depth. I have spent the last few days trying to find a good 'value for money' desktop computer, which I have to say is proving to be a difficult task. I am replacing a Siemens Nixdorf Xpert with pentium II processor, which has done really well for the last 8 years, however I have had to replace the monitor (only a few months old). I have a £400.00 budget and want a reliable computer to do the following:

• Use the internet (we have broadband)
• word processing and excel spreadsheets
• save photos using digital camera
• possibly for a game or two

My questions are:

• do I need a whole new package?
• if I just buy a new base unit will it fit my monitor, keyboard etc?
• local computer shop base units start at £325 and is AMD sempron 3000 (?)
• should I get breakdown insurance?

I would be really grateful for any advice that you can give, but please respond in simple language so that I might understand and be able to go into a shop and sound as if I know what I am talking about. I don't want to be ripped off as this is a big outlay for me and I need to make an informed choice.

Thank you in anticipation ...

csarge

Right, I'll try keep the jargon out.

Any computer, even the cheapest of the cheap will do 3 of the 4 things. The only potential problem is the gaming aspect, plus you'll find that excel tends not to come with computers these days (more on this in a bit).

If you're just talking about playing a game of solitaire or basic games, then any PC will do it. But if you're talking about some of the latest stunning games, then you'll need a reasonable "graphics card".

You won't need to replace the screen if you don't want to - it will fit the new PC.

You tend to find that base unit's bought in PC World will come with keyboards and mice. Small computer shops may differ, but your old keyb and mouse again will probably fit. If they don't a keyboard and mouse will cost you about £10-15.

That price for a sempron is good if it comes with a screen, but online places like dabs.com and ebuyer.com have them for around the £220 mark - with no screen.

What you are looking for is the Microsoft Office package, which lets you open excel spreadsheets and word processing etc. But I'd recommend another program, Microsoft Works. It will also cover spreadsheets etc. and tends to be bundled on "brand name" computers. Depending on how advanced you are, I'd 99% say that Works would be more than good enough for you.

Microsoft Office can cost you upwards of £200, although if you class as a parent, teacher or student you can get it for around £100.

I'm sure some of the others will give you exact PC's to look at, but your budget will get you a PC for your needs easily.

As for breakdown insurnace, I work as a computer engineer (no really I am), and computers do break down. If you know someone reliable who could fix it, then it's maybe not worth it... but again it comes down to cost and your needs.

MercilessKiller

ForOurFuture wrote:

Please be patient with me as after reading some of the threads in this forum I am feeling completely out of my depth.

There have been a few members who have treated users like this. However that's not what MSE is about. They will quickly hush when the real people come out

Anyway we are all here to help whether you can read binary code, or even if you cant switch on a pc... that's why we're here so don't be afraid to ask any questions at all As for your problem I wont answer as the other replier got it in a nutshell

EDIT: Though I will say, depending on what games you want to play a sempron might not be enough. It is a very weak processor made for home use not inc games. something like Half-Life 2 which is a highly graphical first person shooter game (go around, shoot people, thats it) it would struggle. The reason is that it won't have a proper graphics card in or a powerful enough processor.

Really you need to decide, if you want to play new decent games, its gna be a couple of hundred more expensive as you will be looking for a Pentium 4 processor instead of your sempron, you would also need a 128mb Graphics Card. Sorry for the use of jargon but when you look at a computeor online you can see the spec's so can compare 512mb of Ram is also a minimum!

If you want to play old games or games that aren't highly graphical, what you specified is fine.

Jolly_Roger

How about this from http://www.ankermann-pc.co.uk/


INTEL Pentium D 3.0GHz Dual Core Model 930

£362.00 incl. V.A.T. + shipping

ASUS P5RD2-VM MATX PCI-e RoHS | XFX NVidia GeForce 7300 LE
1024MB DDR-II RAM 533MHz | 250GB Samsung SATA-II HD 7200rpm/8MB
16x LG H10N Multiformat DL +&- DVD-RW | 23in1 Cardreader
WLAN WIFI 140Mpbs | 10/100 MBit - DSL ready

This site is very interesting and currently has three special offer base units listed, of which this is the most expensive! Other people using this site say it is a good supplier of gear and this machine should handle virtually all your requirements. When I next get paid (I'm freelance!), I am going to shop here.
Some of the better informed MSE contributors would be able to give you a good idea of how competitive this computer is, but this site has base units as a speciality, although will also put together packages for you including monitors, keyboard and mice.
I also trialled recently the Open Office package, which you can download via broadband for free in no time at all. It has word processing documents and spreadsheets. I currently have MS Office too; it's good, but so expensive. Using Open Office, you can save documents easily in formats that can be read by people running standards MS Office packages.

MercilessKiller

WOW! That is a GOOD price! *saves web page*

LittleJo

Hi,
Reading carefully I note the sellers address
Our address:

Ankermann PC
Kaiserstuhlstr. 2
D - 79211 Denzlingen

Bit of a way to go for assistance, or am I missing something.
Jo

Kilty_2

If thats where it's coming from, where do you stand with import duty?

Consider that before you buy anything, Pentium D processors are getting cheaper all the time now due to Conroe so you will see as good if not better prices elsewhere.

Jolly_Roger

Why woudl you pay import duty in the EU?

leesmithg

Just buy a Dell, computer active magazine are advertising some, they look o.k. if you want if for emails, word, surfing the net, burning a few DvD's/CD's,
creating some web space files, the ordinary things mostly done by most internet and computer users.

Issue 221 page 3 Dell Dimension 3100 £429 including V.A.T. and Delivery.

Windows XP media edition 2005.17 inch flat panel monitor also.

Looks good might buy 2 for my kids for xmas.

ksrao

You can get a Medion multimedia center at Aldi for 399.99. It comes with all bells and whistles and you dont have to pay for softwares.It is on sale this week.

leesmithg

ksrao wrote:

You can get a Medion multimedia center at Aldi for 399.99. It comes with all bells and whistles and you dont have to pay for softwares.It is on sale this week.

Page 22 -- No monitor, poor graphics.