Time to upgrade PC ?????

TakeThis

Obviously_the_best wrote: »

That's no use to the OP at all, they wanted at LAPTOP

Perhaps you didn't notice, but I also suggested a laptop, in my first sentence.
The latest version Norton IS is rated much higher than AVG.

Obviously_the_best

I will never trust norton again, I had a perfectly good computer ruined by it. Twice. AVG is the most reliable on the market. Fact

TakeThis

Obviously_the_best wrote: »

I will never trust norton again, I had a perfectly good computer ruined by it. Twice. AVG is the most reliable on the market. Fact

You just don't know. Anyway, enough of this thread hijack.

Amalea

I personally wouldn't use norton either - and for a long while I used AVG, but I would not recommend it anymore. It became increasingly bloated, and a performance drain. Avast would be recommended choice for anti virus.

Muppet81

Thank you all for your ideas and comments.
Clearly, computers and everything about them splits opinion quite sharply. Very interesting to see the different opinions and it gives me plenty to think about.

Will do as suggested and try out www.gnucash.org

Neil49

I am running Microsoft Money in Windows 7 Home Premium. It's loaded through Microsoft Works 2004 package from an old pc. I had to uninstall anything Works related that was newer otherwise there were program conflicts but I've had it running for over a year without problems.

You also say you want a decent keyboard. My partner uses my old laptop but as it stays in the same place all the time she uses a wireless keyboard and mouse rather than the trackpad and awkward laptop keyboard. The small receiver just plugs into a usb port. Finds it much easier to use and can always use the laptop trackpad etc if she wants to move it around at any time.

giraffe69

I know this would not work on Windows 7 and this is one reason why I have held off moving on

I also run Microsoft Money with Windows 7 Home Premium. No problems with doing so. It even updates stock prices although it was supposed to stop many months ago! No need to spend extra on Windows 7 Ultimate unless you need it for other reason. Ignore the saddo's with their "This is the best anti virus in the world and the others are rubbish" If you get one for free and it expires there is no reason to pay. I find Avast is good but others will also do a serviceable job for free and it is mostly a matter of taste and experience whatever others tell you!

TakeThis

giraffe69 wrote: »

I also run Microsoft Money with Windows 7 Home Premium. No problems with doing so. It even updates stock prices although it was supposed to stop many months ago! No need to spend extra on Windows 7 Ultimate unless you need it for other reason. Ignore the saddo's with their "This is the best anti virus in the world and the others are rubbish" If you get one for free and it expires there is no reason to pay. I find Avast is good but others will also do a serviceable job for free and it is mostly a matter of taste and experience whatever others tell you!

What are you talking? Some are definitely better than others.

In addition, a lot of laptops come with Windows 7 Professional as standard.

But let us not get sidetracked.

OP hasn't come back with a budget.

I don't believe in spending much unless there is a specialist need.

TakeThis

Muppet81 wrote: »

I have had my beloved Packard bell PC for over 8 years now. Operating on XP it has been a great friend.

I have of late had a few instances where I have had to accept that it is getting on abit ... aren't we all!

I was helping a friend today on her much newer PC using Windows 7 and I was impressed, so much faster and fun to use.

I am considering upgrading but as a bit of a numpty on the technical front I have some (probably daft) questions to ask

I know it is a "how long is a piece of string question" but what would be a good middle of the road wireless laptop package? I do a lot of typing so want a nice feeling keyboard. I know a lot of laptop keyboards get bad reviews.

I would like to finally invest in an external hard drive as to date i have survived by blind faith alone as my DVD writer is caput. What would be a reasonable one and what sort of cost?

I use Microsoft Money and could not imagine being without it. I know this would not work on Windows 7 and this is one reason why I have held off moving on. I am considering keeping my old PC and just using it for MS Money until I can find something to replace that wonderful software. Any ideas? This would also mean that I could move files I need over bit by bit to the new laptop to avoid a scary "all in one" manouvre.

Would love to be able to eventualy dispense with the PC but loosing MS MOney is my BIG fear.

If I go for a new Laptop and go wireless I would like to keep my current Orange e-mail address but would I be able to set up the same account on a new wireless laptop? Would I need to speak to Orange and obtain a new router or something? Thick I know

Anti virus - I know the techies use all sorts of different bits to provide their security and that many are free BUT I need something simple and foolproof, what would be the best one to add to my new package?

What exactly will Wirelss allow me to do? Use laptop all round house? Use anywhere with Wifi service?
Could i use it to access iplayer through TV? Seem to think that with a Wi this might be possible?

Any advice much appreciated.

Does your TV have an HDMI input?

gonzo127

TakeThis wrote: »

External HDD from £50.

What's your budget?

TakeThis - just to let you know hard drives have recently rocketed in price so £50 for a external hdd isnt realistic now (or for the forseeable future) - £70 for a 500gb one at the moment, and that is likely to increase same as internal ones have been doing over the last week or so - damned flood http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2011/11/07/hard-disk-component-supply-could-take-years/1

but anyway OP as has been stated whats your budget? if your set on a new system of course, if you want however follow Closed's advice and run the sticky at the top of the forum on how to speed up a slow or infected PC, this will bring your current system back close to new speed

as to antivirus, current independant tests (av comparatives) have shown AVG to be a poor program and consistantly gets beaten by a considerable margin in the detection tests by Avast and Avira, so i would recommend either of those, probably Avast over Avira due to no pop ups asking you to upgrade to the paid for product