New PC - help me choose please!

tigs78

On my recommendation my sister ordered the £399 aria PC from this thread...

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=349334

They paid with a credit card and apparently the money has been refunded to their card and the order cancelled! She has tasked me with finding a new PC for her, I really have no idea what spec she needs but this is what she intends to use the PC for:

Internet surfing
Emails
Must have a DVD RW for their camcorder and burning the odd CD.
Storing photos
Writing the odd letter

I've seen this...

http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.aspx?Quicklinx=4C8S&CategorySelectedId=11101&NavigationKey=387150000,4294963789,15&InMerch=1

...from another thread, can anyone tell me if it will meet her requirements? If not what should she be looking for? Had a look at the on site reviews in the link and it says that it doesn't come with 'Microsoft Works' does that mean it won't have Word etc?

Thanks for any input

Beebe

Microsoft Works is a package similar to Microsoft Office. It wont have word, but WILL have a word processor which will do the same functions.

The link to dabs is a good PC and will more than meet her requirements! Good find. This doesnt have any word processing software on it, tho you can download openoffice from the internet for free and its just as good!

Beebe

One thing to notice tho is that this is the PC only and not the monitor and speakers etc....

tigs78

Beebe wrote:

One thing to notice tho is that this is the PC only and not the monitor and speakers etc....

Thanks for spotting that! Not fussed about speakers as they are fairly cheap to buy but they will need a monitor! They didn't really want to go over £400 so factoring in the cost of a monitor rules that one out

Anybody have any recommendations fo a different one?

niccy

does she want a desktop (a big lump on a desk with loads of wires and immoveable) or a laptop she can take around the house, sit on her lap,take upstairs,outside etc

tigs78

She'd like a big lump on her desk with wires please! Saying that they are getting sky wireless broadband installed (fingers crossed having read some horror dtories!) so I might be able to convince her to get a laptop if the spec and price was right for her....

Zagu

A Dell?

The £349 C521 modle would appear to do the job, and comes with a 19" monitor and a DVDRW with MS works, which is fine for letters and stuff. You might have to drop some of the support to get it below the £400 mark.

tigs78

Freaky, I was just looking at that in another tab and was going to ask if it would be suitable! With a 1 year warranty at home (instead of 3 years) it comes in at £390 so fits the bill.

niccy

IMHO wifi would be a waste of time if she's gonna have a desktop,believe me we've one desktop for the twins ( 6 years old) and three lappys, and my do those lappys travel:rotfl:

i'm actually flat on my back now on the bed with lappy balanced on my chest:D

tigs78

The wireless comes as standard with sky broadband, they haven't specifically chosen wireless, might have a look around and see if I can find her a laptop for similar money/spec.

One question though, if laptops are so great why would anyone buy a desktop? There must be disadvantages to having a laptop - does anyone who has one have any ideas what the disadvantages would be?

niccy

slightly smaller screen maybe, not so good speakers (i use headphones) i'm not trying to sell you a lappy though its just since we swopped over we could never go back.I think these days there wont be a huge difference in price,there are always deals about.Having said that we have three dell laps and touch wood no probs with any of them, i bought mine from main site but my boys bought theirs from the dell factory outlet.

also not so easy to upgrade and home repair