What options for desktop PC apart from PC World?

jap200

I need to buy a desktop PC for running my business at home. Sadly my local trusty independent computer shop has closed down, leaving PC world as the only local option. I don't particularly have anything against them, but would like to explore other options too - Any suggestions?

CoolHotCold

Custom build if your techie, Or Order a system online from places like Overclockers.
Or go into PcWorld and at least check out the specs vs price.
Also if its business you could purchase from PcWorld business and the warranty is with the manufacture of the systems.

Also, Dell, What Price you looking at.

jap200

I'm not techie - so won't self-build. My budget is up to £1000 to include a 22-24" monitor. My work involves multi-tasking with Word, Excel, Publisher, various specialist software and the internet of course. Speed and storage are important to me. It won't be used for gaming (unless the kids 'break in'!).

CoolHotCold

VAT registered?

Redqueen

I find ebuyer always has a pretty good choice and very good prices!

jap200

CoolHotCold wrote: »

VAT registered?

Not at present, but considering it. This will be almost my only 'expense' other than usual work at home stuff, so it hasn't been worth it so far.

cgk1

Redqueen wrote: »

I find ebuyer always has a pretty good choice and very good prices!

Ebuyer has gone downhill recently, I had a look last week for a new laptop and they were pushing a lot of old machine at quite high prices.

cgk1

jap200 wrote: »

I'm not techie - so won't self-build. My budget is up to £1000 to include a 22-24" monitor. My work involves multi-tasking with Word, Excel, Publisher, various specialist software and the internet of course. Speed and storage are important to me. It won't be used for gaming (unless the kids 'break in'!).

Truthfully, unless you are doing something with photography or something that needs a lot of heavy number crunching, I'd wouldn't spend more than £400-£500 on the base unit and get two monitors instead (if spaces permits). Having two monitors has provided a lot of benefit to me, more so than any additional speed on the PC itself.

[Deleted User]

Blimey, a grand? You could get a PC for that usage for a lot less

e.g. Pick a machine from list: http://www.dmxdimension.com/dell-uk/inspiron-580-deals/
Example - Intel Core i3 550 3.20GHz, 4GB of ram, 1 TB hard disk, 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5450 - cost = £499

Then, buy a monitor, e.g. Samsung SyncMaster P2450H 24" Widescreen 1920 x 1080 2MS HDMI DVI-D VGA LCD Monitor
- http://www.dabs.com/products/samsung-syncmaster-p2450h-24--widescreen-1920-x-1080-2ms-hdmi-dvi-d-vga-lcd-monitor-71LR.html?refs=52980000-44600000

Total cost of £717 and a pretty nice system

There's plenty of options online.. especially if you are happy buying the monitor separately

Edit - there's probably a lot of merit in getting a couple of 17 or 19" monitors and running them side by side
e.g. http://www.dabs.com/products/acer-aspire-athlonii-x1301-pc---3gb-ddr---320gb-hdd---w7hp---19--lcd-ws-tft----keyboard-and-optical-mouse-78Y9.html then add on an extra monitor for a hundred quid

jap200

Thanks for those suggestions - I will investigate them over the next couple of days. By the way, I don't want to spend £1K if I don't have to (I am a MSE Super moneysaving fan after all!).

Sorry to ask a daft question, but how does having two monitors work? Can you display different things on each monitor - if so, how? I do frequently have to have two large text files open side-by-side, which on my current monitor (laptop) is too small to read properly. My idea of a big screen was to be able to see the full width of two A4-size docs side by side on one screen - but maybe two screens is better. Advice much appreciated.

j_bailey_3

jap200 wrote: »

Sorry to ask a daft question, but how does having two monitors work? Can you display different things on each monitor - if so, how? I do frequently have to have two large text files open side-by-side, which on my current monitor (laptop) is too small to read properly. My idea of a big screen was to be able to see the full width of two A4-size docs side by side on one screen - but maybe two screens is better. Advice much appreciated.

Dual monitors with Windows is the easiest thing known to man. I have them and its very helpful. You can either have clone monitors which both monitors display the same image of what your doing (opening a folder etc) (which is rather pointless) Or you can extend your desktop. It works like having one huge monitor but split into two. So when you move your mouse off one edge of the screen it appears on the second in the corresponding location. So for example if your researching something on the Internet and typing up an essay on it at the same time instead of going to the task bar and clicking between Microsoft office and FireFox/Internet explorer, You can have Microsoft word open on your left monitor and the Internet open on the right meaning all you have to do is move your eyes to the right. Its also very useful when you have lots of folders or programs open.