Time to upgrade

badger09

Largely due to advice from closed, kwikbreaks and NiftyDigits, I have my 8 year old Dell Dimension 3000 (512MB RAM) with XP up and running again after a 'corrupt profile' :eek: nightmare on Saturday.

Over the last few months I've also had several 'blue screen' events and I understand Microsoft will no longer support XP after April next year. So, I've decided to replace what I've got. I know closed will say its not necessary - but trust me, for my own sanity - it is

Problem is I don't really know where to start. I've had a look at a few websites (Which?, TechRadar, PC Pro etc) I don't want to go to PC World/Currys and be bamboozled by some technobabble so these are my thoughts on what I need/want:

• Desktop or All In One (no need to be portable)
• Basic office type applications, email, internet, watch TV/DVD, listen to music, Skype (built in webcam). No gaming or photo/video editing
• Get rid of cables, so wireless mouse, keyboard (and printer?)

Is Windows 8 only really any good with a touch screen?

The current DELL PC, monitor, speakers, & printer cost £505 :eek:in 2005. Budget around £600 - £750 which I think will buy something decent/reliable?

If anyone can suggest what might be suitable, or even point me in the right direction I'd be really grateful .

grizzly1911

If you have access to a John Lewis it might be worth a look - online is good too.

Whilst not your wish list last weekend they were offering laptops with three year warranties and with touch screen for £400.

I have a 5000 with 2.5gb of RAM and it still runs sweet. I don't think I would go desktop again (primarily reliability at the time). A laptop gives more flexibility. You could add a separate mouse/keyboard if you prefer them.

For what you need I wouldn't have thought you needed such a big budget unless you choose to over egg the specification.

NiftyDigits

grizzly1911 wrote: »

If you have access to a John Lewis it might be worth a look - online is good too.

Whilst not your wish list last weekend they were offering laptops with three year warranties and with touch screen for £400.

I have a 5000 with 2.5gb of RAM and it still runs sweet. I don't think I would go desktop again (primarily reliability at the time). A laptop gives more flexibility. You could add a separate mouse/keyboard if you prefer them.

For what you need I wouldn't have thought you needed such a big budget unless you choose to over egg the specification.

Your post is a bit of a mish mash.

ThemeOne

If I were looking for a new desktop I'd consider something like the Zoostorm range http://www.ebuyer.com/407538-zoostorm-desktop-pc-7873-1076?utm_source=google&utm_medium=products&gclid=CIbCwbCf1LkCFc7C3god0CYAsQ

They look quite adequate for normal needs, but note they're base systems only so you'd need to buy peripherals separately e.g. keyboard, mouse, monitor (or re-use your existing ones), and would also need to purchase and install Windows.

Cisco001

IMO, don't get all in one desktop. They are similar to laptop component, which is difficult to upgrade. and they are not portable

For your application, I personally would get something with higher end APU A10 or intel i5. So you won't need upgrade for another 5 year

http://www.ebuyer.com/519893-zoostorm-desktop-pc-7873-0477
http://www.ebuyer.com/519870-zoostorm-desktop-pc-7873-0463

If you need touchscreen, you should consider better get laptop. Touchscreen monitor are over £200, a bit expensive...

Keyboard and mouse - I recommend Logitech as they have good battery life.

As for monitor, LG 23" IPS are around £120.

rmg1

I built my own system after advice on here.
It's not that difficult and came well within your budget (although I bought the OS separately and reused monitor/keyboard/mouse).
The thread is here:-
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3007218=

NiftyDigits

Cisco001 wrote: »

IMO, don't get all in one desktop. They are similar to laptop component, which is difficult to upgrade. and they are not portable

For your application, I personally would get something with higher end APU A10 or intel i5. So you won't need upgrade for another 5 year

http://www.ebuyer.com/519893-zoostorm-desktop-pc-7873-0477
http://www.ebuyer.com/519870-zoostorm-desktop-pc-7873-0463

If you need touchscreen, you should consider better get laptop. Touchscreen monitor are over £200, a bit expensive...

Keyboard and mouse - I recommend Logitech as they have good battery life.

As for monitor, LG 23" IPS are around £120.

You keep pushing this story, but I'm still using a more than four year old Dual Core Celeron and have a similar pattern of usage to the OP.
It's not unlike advising that someone should buy a seven seater people carrier, just in case they should decide to start a family in a few years time.

I agree with ThemeOne, buy what you need for now and the foreseeable future. The money that you save now will buy a much higher spec computer in four years time.

Personally, I prefer this Celeron based tower from ZooStorm as compared to the AMD. £159.99. £20 to £30 on a Graphics card and that will do nicely for the next five years.

closed

software causes blue screens, a factory restore (assuming the previous owner hasn't wiped the partition) taking a couple of keypresses will cure that in minutes. copy your data to usb drive, keeping the old image backup as well. Boot, holding ctrl+f11 at boot, factory restore, 10 minutes later it will run like new, add in a cheap ram upgrade and it will fly. If you backup regularly and install AV, lack of xp support next year shouldn't worry you. New pc's can also get blue screen and corrupt profiles, fortunately you had a backup last time..

badger09

Thanks for all the replies so far. Had another Blue Screen this morning - different message to those in June & July so definitely going to replace it.

@ ThemeOne NiftyDigits and rmg1
I know that's the most cost effective way, but I'm not confident I could select all the components and put them all together. My DELL came with idiot proof instructions but now I'd rather buy something I can just 'plug in and go'. Better for my blood pressure;)

@ Cisco001
I'd rejected a laptop as I thought they were more expensive than equivalent PCs, but that Lenovo looks interesting and a good price
http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/Lenovo_ideapad_Z500_Touch_1357423.html

I don't 'need' touchscreen, just assumed Windows 8 was better with one

Presumably I could use a wireless mouse (as I'm not keen on trackpads)

Anyone any negative - or other comments?

badger09

closed wrote: »

software causes blue screens, a factory restore (assuming the previous owner hasn't wiped the partition) taking a couple of keypresses will cure that in minutes. copy your data to usb drive, keeping the old image backup as well. Boot, holding ctrl+f11 at boot, factory restore, 10 minutes later it will run like new, add in a cheap ram upgrade and it will fly. If you backup regularly and install AV, lack of xp support next year shouldn't worry you. New pc's can also get blue screen and corrupt profiles, fortunately you had a backup last time..

Again, slow typing means I hadn't seen this.

Cycrow

blue screen errors are generally caused by hardware problems or driver errors.

software by themselves can not cause a blue screen error.

if you have not updated any drivers recently, then its more likly to be a hardware problem.

this could be due to heat and dust build up