Please Help Me Buy a New Computer

bohuma wrote: iMac does everything you want, is easy to use, and comes with a built in camera. Test drive at the Apple store or at Best Buy (to name two).

This.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/imac?mco=MTAyNTQzNjA

Depending on your budget, you could also go with a Mac Mini if the iMac is too expensive, or a Mac Pro if you want the high end (although that sounds like overkill for what you currently need it for, it will be longer before it's obsolete).

Just fix a comfortable price range and take a look at what newegg.com, tigerdirect.com, and wherever else you like has to offer. I'd get something quad core to hold you for quite a while, and yes, go for the 4GB+ of RAM. Something like this would do you nicely - Core i5 650(3.2GHz), 6GB RAM, a terabyte of hard drive space, DVD-RW, keyboard, mouse, 64-bit Windows 7 = $700. That was just my first click, I'm sure there are even better deals out there. I like Acer, too, fwiw. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883103265

Also been following these folks as of late and learned of some good deals - http://twitter.com/techbargains

And geeks.com has some cheap setups as well.

I'd stay away from the iMac. They're not upgradable and they seem to come with quirks. My quirk is the screen seems to crap out sporadically and literally needs a kick to get the screen back. I'd go with a dressed down Mac Pro. A dressed down Falcon Northwest if you want to go Windows.

Boygabriel wrote: [quote=Idlewild]I'd stay away from the iMac. They're not upgradable and they seem to come with quirks. My quirk is the screen seems to crap out sporadically and literally needs a kick to get the screen back. I'd go with a dressed down Mac Pro. A dressed down Falcon Northwest if you want to go Windows.

Upgradeable how? You can put in more RAM. You mean increasing HD size?

If one doesn't want a laptop, iMacs are incredibly useful for people like New Yorkers who have limited space/surface area.

Not sure your anecdotal evidence holds up (not trying to be a jerk). Last year they had a problem with some monitors, but it's the only major problem they've had and it was fixed.

I used an intel one for four years, and our whole art dept has them and they work great.

In terms of MOBO and related RAM, you're pretty much stuck with what you get, The same thing with your video cards. Maybe I should have said "expandable"? I wanted to upgrade my RAM's speed but couldn't do it because the MOBO wouldn't accept it, and since the MOBO is proprietary I am stuck with that as well. And while iMacs are space savers, with a tower you have room to expand even at the cost of a square foot. Although, right now, looking at the specs for the current iMac, and these specs are very impressive, maybe my point is moot.

macs are just fancy paper weights for the artsy crowd. other wise get any pc for functionality and money savings.

armchair_warrior wrote: macs are just fancy paper weights for the artsy crowd. other wise get any pc for functionality and money savings.

PCs are neither more functional nor more cost-effective.

Got anything else you want to pull out of your a--?

hitokiri wrote: Macs are overpriced and underpowered.

Also - and this is a biggy - if you have used a PC your entire life, DO NOT get a mac. So many people I know have made this mistake and fell into the apple hype despite my warnings.

They all came back saying how bad a mac is, how they cant do anything with it and how they paid so much $$$ for it and now it looks pretty.

This is B.S. These people must be awful with technology. The platforms do the same exact thing, especially with regards to web/word processing/simple tasks. The only difference is that the buttons are in different corners and the start menu is the apple menu. It's all the same sh-t.

I have a lot of friends who switched to Macs and did great.

hitokiri wrote: The only reason apple is where it is right now is not because of their computers (they were going under!). It's because of the ipod. Apple is known for ipods/iphones now. Computers secondary.

Apple's market share increased b/c of brand recognition, but it's illogical to extrapolate this to the idea that they don't make good computers.

hitokiri wrote: You can get the equivalent of a $1000 mac for $500 on newegg or even bestbuy if you go PC.

No, you can't. Macs are better built, last longer, and have better customer service. If $1000-1500 is out of your price range that's one thing, but to say you're not getting anything for the extra money is simply untrue.

hitokiri wrote: 100% incorrect

I will start gathering proof while you make up a false reply as to why.

What on earth does "more functional" mean?

PCs are not more cost effective when you take into account life expectancy and quality of product.

I like both Mac and PC. It used to be I'd stick with PC's because it was a Windows world. I hated the OS', from '95 on up to XP. They were just plain harsh. I do like Windows 7. A lot! I don't have a 1/10 of the problems I used to have with the former platforms. With Mac, even though I like their OS and general stability (except for the screen thingy on my iMac), you didn't have the variety of software like you did with Windows. Hell, I still can't figure out why Entourage won't let you hyperlink. But now it seems a lot of software is being addressed to OS X. And you can't beat the graphics programs.

"Boygabriel” wrote:
This is B.S. These people must be awful with technology. The platforms do the same exact thing, especially with regards to web/word processing/simple tasks. The only difference is that the buttons are in different corners and the start menu is the apple menu. It's all the same sh-t.

hitokiri wrote: You can get the equivalent of a $1000 mac for $500 on newegg or even bestbuy if you go PC.

"Boygabriel” wrote:
No, you can't. Macs are better built, last longer, and have better customer service. If $1000-1500 is out of your price range that's one thing, but to say you're not getting anything for the extra money is simply untrue.

See above post for whiplash

"Boygabriel” wrote:
PCs are not more cost effective when you take into account life expectancy and quality of product.

Life expentancy? Serious? That is based on the user and how they take care of their computers. My fiancé has a mac book and it it literally falling apart. The plastic shell is cracking AND she takes care of it too. I bought her a nice case for it.

I have 3 pc laptops and 2 desktops (one I just built this Christmas) The laptops are virtually brand new ad run great and the desktop is the same. The desktop is nearing 5 yrs old. One laptop is the same.
However, how long do YOU expect to have a computer for? 5 yrs is the MAX. Any computer older than that is outdated and needs to get replaced. Mac and PC alike. The day you buy it, it’s already old news.
So lets do the math. $500 every 5 years for a base PC that has better stats than a base mac or $1000 for a weaker mac…and have it for 10 yrs.
Macs pwn mah world ;p NOT

Boygabriel wrote: Wait, hitokiri, that's your argument? Specs?
This completely ignores the actual quality of product.
This is like buying a Chrysler with lots of horsepower and then being shocked when it dies 10 years earlier than a similar Toyota and you have to buy a new car while I'm still driving my Honda which costs more but lasts longer.
So as I stated 10 posts ago:
In terms of cost-effectiveness over the life of the machine, quality of product, stability of OS, viruses and customer service, Macs are better.
In terms of entry-level cost, PCs are better.
It's really a question of what you can afford. If you can afford $1200 on a new computer, Macs are the best you can buy.

ok...i see how it is.
An apple fanboy. There is no arguing with one. Do you agree with Steve Jobs in that you are holding the new iphone4 the wrong way? lol

First off…comparing a car to a computer? Really?

And your comparison isn’t even accurate. You took 1 aspect of a car and compared it to.. well nothing. You didn’t even say anything and just spouted nonsense.

Computers are not a 1 comparison deal. There are lots to consider.
The LEAST being manfucaturing. While apple has a nice new full aluminum casing…that’s all they got that makes them special. But it was to save on costs for them.

And again, what proof do you have that the OS is more stable than windows?
10x more companies write programs for windows.
20x more companies use PC’s over MACS.
Customer service is another lie. You CANNOT compare customer service to a PC since MAC is a single entity and Windows is an operating system. DELL has great customer service! HP sucks ass. I think Dell has better customer service than Apple.

As for customer service, the apple stores are the only stores who REFUSE to work on computers that have been around smokers. Great service!

If macs were nearly as popular as PC’s, then they would have virus problems too (and btw, the first few viruses for macs have come down the pipes.)

As for stable, doesn’t Steve Jobs say the “only time” a Mac crashes is when Flash in installed? Really? Funny how such a stable OS crashes with such a simple program and windows works fine.

You are just stating claims with no backup.

“It's really a question of what you can afford. If you can afford $1200 on a new computer, Macs are the best you can buy.”

Now lets add…if you want to spend $1200 on a computer that gives you a fraction of what other computers give you.

$1200 for a brand name and a good look with nothing under the hood. Great. Thats being smart with money ~_~

Boygabriel wrote:

It's really a question of what you can afford. If you can afford $1200 on a new computer, Macs are the best you can buy.

and just for the icing on the cake.
Sice the user is looking for a desktop, here is what $1200 can buy you if you go PC

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227266

ibuypower is a well known company with great build quality and customization options (hense the fancy casing)

Now this is a gaming rig, something the OP does not need.
But holy crap does it blow away any apple computer for the same price.

stats:

Processor Intel Core i7 930(2.80GHz)
Processor Main Features 64 bit Quad-Core Processor
Memory 12GB (2GB x 6) DDR3 1333
Hard Drive 1TB SATAII
Optical Drive 1 24X DL DVD+/-RW Drive
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce GTS250 1GB
Audio Sound card - Integrated
Ethernet 10/100/1000 Mbps
Power Supply 700W
Keyboard iBUYPOWER USB Deluxe Keyboard
Mouse iBUYPOWER USB Mouse
Operating System Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Special Features PSI CyborgX Gaming Tower
Motherboard
Chipset Intel X58
CPU
CPU Type Intel Core i7
Installed Qty 1
CPU Speed 930(2.8GHz)
CPU Socket Type LGA 1366
CPU Main Features 64 bit Quad-Core Processor
Graphics
GPU/VPU Type NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250
Graphics Interface PCI Express 2.0 x16
Memory
Memory Capacity 12GB DDR3
Memory Speed DDR3 1333
Form Factor DIMM 240-pin
Memory Spec 2GB x 6
Memory Slot (Total) 6
Memory Slot (Available) 0
Maximum Memory Supported 24GB
Hard Drive
HDD Capacity 1TB
HDD Interface SATA II

quick summary:

without getting too technical, everything in those stats are 3 -5x greater than macs AND the build quality is super.

Boygabriel wrote:
Careful now. Deal with the points I make, don't bother with labeling me, thanks. That's called ad hominem and it's the sign of a weak argument.

Just stating facts

No, I used horsepower as a parallel to specs. Take a car's specs and compare it to another car, and you're still ignoring the quality of the car itself.

Again, ignoring the fact that you are using 1 aspect when computers AND cars are a multi aspect product. Poor argument/comparison on your part and you are just avoiding facts.

“See how that parallel works?”

Wait, really? The quality of production and craftsmanship of what you're buying doesn't matter? Ok.

I never said doesn’t. I said the least in terms of computers. Don’t put words into my mouth.

10x more companies write programs for windows.
20x more companies use PC’s over MACS.

There are a lot of reasons for this, which we can discuss if you'd like.

Macs suck. End of that discussion 

Customer service is another lie. You CANNOT compare customer service to a PC since MAC is a single entity and Windows is an operating system. DELL has great customer service! HP sucks ass. I think Dell has better customer service than Apple.

It's nice what you think, but consumer studies regularly rank Apple far ahead of the rest.

Apple cust. service is better than ANY PC company.

"Apple has been consistently ranked number one in product reliability and customer support by Consumer Reports, and for good reason. " - http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-Between-an-Apple-Macintosh-and-Other-PCshttp://www.wikihow.com/Choose-Between-an-Apple-Macintosh-and-Other-PCs

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/apr2009/tc20090415_602968_page_2.htm wrote: article[/url], after article, after article shows that Macs are better built, with better customer service.

You've shared nothing but useless personal anecdotes.

Funny that 2006 article seems to bash macs for their high price and underpowered stats. (I would joke about the date of the article, but the same is true now)
They don’t go into detail as to why the other computers went into repair or the factor that much more people have PC’s over macs.
Example: 20,000 people have PCs
5,000 have macs.
You will see more people having PC problems. It’s inevitable. Look at the article yourself.
Its Compaq, Dell, eMachines, Gateway, HP, Lenovo, Sony, and Toshiba vs a Mac lol
8 companies vs 1 company

$1200 for a brand name and a good look with nothing under the hood. Great. Thats being smart with money ~_~

dumb and false exaggeration.

i've already stated my examples. But you can keep ignoring facts.

And it seems their manufacturing process is your only thread of logic in this, so you really have no ground to stand on. You are grasping at straws

No, I've listed lots of things Macs are better at. You just don't agree. .

No… you haven’t. You have mentioned horsepower on a car and a solid case. lol

it was pretty funny when you said "that's your argument? Specs?"
lol
Why WOULDNT be it an argument for computers?
Even cars!

because the quality of what you're buying matters, not just how big or fast it is. At this point I think you're willfully ignoring this point.

um…no. I have confronted it dead on. You are just ignoring valid points to support something that obviously isn’t worth the money.
If apple dropped the price about $400, then I would say it’s a good competition.

Macs are expensive, a point I actually made before you did.

PCs give you more specs for your dollar, a point I never actually disputed.

Macs have higher quality parts and require less repair (See the multiple articles I linked or google 1,000 more).

Macs regularly rate higher in customer service (See the multiple articles I linked or google 1,000 more).

you on crack? pc parts are by far much cheaper and same parts as macs LOL. they'll label things as macs for say simplicity sakes say a dvd drive. the mac one would cost more than the pc one, yet its the same damn thing, they just charge more for mac parts.