Buying a simple desktop computer

Elementary_2

Someone recently told us that using Windows XP on our computer, as we are now, isn't a good idea since it is very vulnerable.
Windows' site will not say how much it would cost to upgrade and I am not sure if it would be worth upgrading such an old computer (I think it is from 2006).
The computer would be mainly used for emailing, light browsing, word processing, photo and music organisation, and light graphics.
For these purposes is it fine to just get the cheapest possible desktop which has any Windows included? A low learning curve would be preferable!
After a brief search I found that ebuyer has a desktop computer for approx £150 ( http://www.ebuyer.com/658956-lenovo-e50-desktop-pc-90bx0018uk ) which includes "Windows 8.1 with Bing", does that mean it has Bing as the default search engine, or what?? Does it sound like this computer would suit our needs? Or is there a cheaper option?
Any advice or input would be much appreciated - there seem to be SO many options available nowadays!
Thank you in advance!!!

henm2

Keep your desktop PC and just put the LXLE operating system on it. http://www.lxle.net/ 12.04.5 version is the one to look for. It is free.
Easy to use and much safer than Windows systems and will keep your PC running for a few more years yet.
Download the LXLE operating system also know as a distro and put it on a DVD disc. Boot from the disc, try it out in 'live' mode and then when happy with it and ready install it on your PC system.

Big_Graeme

http://www.howtogeek.com/195934/what-exactly-is-windows-8.1-with-bing-do-i-have-to-use-bing/

Decent value for what you get, it won't set the world on fire but it will do for surfing, email, Office and stuff. As long as you are not running Photoshop then you'll be fine.

windup

Elementary wrote: »

Someone recently told us

is there a cheaper option?

Any advice or input would be much appreciated

Ignore them, your machine is working and will probably continue to do so for many years to come. 20% of the worlds computers still use XP. It's pointless upgrading or changing the Operating system on a 9 year old machine, more so if you have a windows 7 laptop at your disposal anyway.

gjchester

Elementary wrote: »

Windows' site will not say how much it would cost to upgrade and I am not sure if it would be worth upgrading such an old computer (I think it is from 2006).

Windows 8 upgrade is anything form £60 to £80 depending where you buy it and any offers on.


However as you said given the PC is old probably not worth it. I'd guess a 9 year old PC probably only has a few more years in it before something goes and a repair would be expensive.


The biggest risk is malware as the system won't get security updates, however if you have anti virus and backup your data regularly then I'd says keep it as it is until it gets to be too slow to use.


Alternatively if you have any other newer devices available, stop using this for email and browsing, as that will be the main infection route, and keep using it for photos and music. You could also get this to "dual boot" and use a Linux system for browsing and email so its better protected and Windows for email and music, however that may need a local more techie friend to help.


Ignoring the issue is not the right answer, however there no point spending money you don't need to, and a little planning can save a lot of money.

googler

99.9% of security issues with XP are with Internet Explorer, the standard browser.

Use Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or any other, and you'll be fine.

Fightsback

googler wrote: »

99.9% of security issues with XP are with Internet Explorer, the standard browser.

Use Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or any other, and you'll be fine.

You are living in la la land if you believe this, besides there hasn't been Safari available for windows for many years now.

imatt

Win 8.1 with Bing is a freebie for the manufacturers such as HP, Compaq, Dell, Lenovo, Packard Bell, etc. It allows them to install Windows onto desktops, laptops and tablets and sell them cheap. Hence the arrival of cheap sub £200 laptops and sub £100 tablets pre-installed with Win 8.1 and Office 365.


The Bing element is simply Win 8.1 on these devices defaulting to IE as the web browser and Bing as the search engine from the off. Easy enough to install a rival browser or use an alternative search engine later on.

System

Hi

Try googling for ZOOSTORM as an alternative PC, also from ebuyer.

Also I agree with the idea of changing the OS to LXDE or similar.

gjchester

googler wrote: »

99.9% of security issues with XP are with Internet Explorer, the standard browser.

Use Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or any other, and you'll be fine.

Not really, all are vulnerable to one extent or another. The mistake is thinking because you don't use IE then you are safe.

Dont remember where I read it, but Chrome has more reported bugs than IE, and the recent Pwn2Own competition saw all mainstream browsers hacked.

Good news is that the bugs exploited in Pwn2Own are usually squished very very fast...

http://techcrunch.com/2015/03/20/your-favorite-browser-just-got-hacked-but-dont-panic/

gjchester

imatt wrote: »

Win 8.1 with Bing is a freebie for the manufacturers such as HP, Compaq, Dell, Lenovo, Packard Bell, etc. It allows them to install Windows onto desktops, laptops and tablets and sell them cheap. Hence the arrival of cheap sub £200 laptops and sub £100 tablets pre-installed with Win 8.1 and Office 365.

I think its only low powered tablets and phones that get 8.1 for free, PC makers still pay, but when you buy it in the millions of copies as the big boys do they can really get a bulk discount.