any PC makes to avoid

henm2

Just select and configure a desktop using this web site http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/pcs/ they have been around a fair while now and have a good reputation. They are not the cheapest though.

StumpyPumpy

soolin wrote: »

I'm really dreading changing as it isn't the cost of the PC that is an issue, it is everything else. I'll have to re buy excel and things like that which I need for work and I have to get everything off this one via an external hard drive and put what I need on a new one. If I could just go and get a new one and everything magically went across I would be really happy ! Alas, that is probably something for the future.

Just jumping in to hopefully help with this point - If you end up with another Windows system you can transfer everything relatively pain free with Windows Easy Transfer - you already have it in Win 7 so you don't even need to download a copy. for more info see http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/transfer-files-settings-from-another-computer#1TC=windows-7
This page has another link to a video tutorial that shows how it all works and it is as easy as it appears, though it can take some time to chug through all the files.

SP

soolin

StumpyPumpy wrote: »

Just jumping in to hopefully help with this point - If you end up with another Windows system you can transfer everything relatively pain free with Windows Easy Transfer - you already have it in Win 7 so you don't even need to download a copy. for more info see http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/transfer-files-settings-from-another-computer#1TC=windows-7
This page has another link to a video tutorial that shows how it all works and it is as easy as it appears, though it can take some time to chug through all the files.

SP

Thank you to everyone that has made suggestions.

As for this easy transfer- I'll go and have a look, thank you.

prowla

You will need the licence keys if you are transferring MS Office to another PC. If you don't have the original sticker, you can use a tool like produkey (http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html) to extract it on your current computer.

prowla

enfield_freddy wrote: »

please steer away from any machine that has a silly low wattage PSU , ie: 170/190/230w , you will regret anything so small shortly after the 12m warranty

That very much depends upon the model of the computer and whether you want to add cards to it; things like a Mac mini or a Dell 7010 USFF have lower wattage power supplies and are perfectly viable machines.

(Incidentally, MS Office is available on the Mac, though it would need to be purchased, as the Windows version's licence key wouldn't work.)

bluesnake

Personally I would not buy Acer.

Asus on the other hand have great electronics, but historically in some products the cases were a bit thin for rougher mobile computing/kids

I_have_spoken

Unless your current PC is really kaput, I'd maybe wait until PCs running Windows 10 appear in the autumn. Buying retail now you'd likely get Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 is a country mile better (I'm running 10 Technical Preview BTW)

Jivesinger

I_have_spoken wrote: »

Buying retail now you'd likely get Windows 8.1

... but you'd also be able to upgrade for free to Windows 10.

Fightsback

Jivesinger wrote: »

... but you'd also be able to upgrade for free to Windows 10.

You can on W7 as well.

torbrex

I went to my local PC workshop and told the guy what I needed/used my desktop for and he asked how much I had to spend then got the best combination of everything that he could for the money and built it himself.
Last time I did this it lasted me over 10 years