So I Need A Computer

[icoverbucks]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I will file all of this away. I figured I would go to the experts and get the answers I needed. Will also report what I find/decide

 

[PCLoadLetter]

I was just at Costco looking at laptops, and there were several that would easily match your requirements that were all around $600 - $700.

From personal experience I would recommend HP or Toshiba and wouldn't go near a Dell.

 

[Bob Crotchet]

If you're just editing photos for the Web, then yeah, you don't need a top-of-the-line monster. And despite the size, take a look at the models with 17.3-inch screens. Bigger screens are always useful in photo editing. There are always tradeoffs.

Check reviews at tech sites before you buy.

Also give newegg.com a look. And for daily deals, techbargains.com, bensbargains.net and slickdeals.net.

I've had good luck with Toshibas, but really, these days it's a crapshoot.

Here's something to read, and it's pretty fresh: http://reviews.cnet.com/best-budget-laptops/?tag=

And: http://reviews.cnet.com/2733-3121_7-574-1.html?tag=

 

[SpeedTchr]

I have had great luck with my Samsung RV511. It has taken a beating on the road with flights, outdoor work, all that fun stuff related to covering sports. Nice size, but not super-heavy. Beautiful screen, too, and runs complex software well. Beats the hell out of my MacBook Pro for almost everything, and was a quarter the price.

 

[baddecision]

My favorite is TigerDirect. They've had laptops as low as $299 in the last month, but most are in the 450-650 range, often reflecting 60 percent savings (but yeah, they can be a model year behind the new-in-store ones). Don't hesitate to consider refurbished stuff -- almost every piece of electronics in my house is refurb.

Fifteen months ago I used Tiger to buy a refurb HP, 17-inch screen, 4GB, 500 HD, Intel chip, Wi-fi, Microsoft Office, for $550 shipped (marked down from nearly a grand). It still sails along like a champ, at home and on the road. I use it to edit photos, write, send, record TV off the air, stream Netflix and all that.

It's smartest to know your desired specs and brands, then shop for price within those guidelines and thoroughly check reviews on the exact model you are considering. It's an advantage to NOT be in a big hurry so you can wait for the NewEgg and Tiger deal mailings to come every day.

Don't settle for less than 4 GB of ram and insist on Windows 7 and an internal DVD/ROM burner. Don't worry so much about the hard drive; you can (and should) get an external one for work stuff. 2TB externals are less than 100 bucks on sale, $150 if USB-powered for the road.

First thing when you get it, download and run PC Decrapifier (free program gets rid of all the ****ware). Load it up with Spybot Search and Destroy and a good (paid) virus fighter (I like Norton but only because McAfee bothered me with too many messages). Get all the updates (Windows and other Microsoft stuff, Flash, Acrobat, Java, Firefox) before you install programs.

Re. physical toughness, road dogs tell me Toshibas and Lenovos seem to take more hard-core travel jostling than HPs, but I believe HPs have the best displays and will be safe with a good case. Sonys are great but a poor value and not all that travelworthy (they seem optimal for video work, in my opinion). Dell can go to somewhere it rhymes with. Acer and Gateway and the rest of those off brands are totally out of the question.

Re. software: You can get by with IrfanView and OpenOffice.org (both free), though you are getting what you pay for: Basics only.

These are all my opinions and may not be your optimal choices. They won't steer you wrong, though.

 

[Cubbiebum]

My favorite is TigerDirect. They've had laptops as low as $299 in the last month, but most are in the 450-650 range, often reflecting 60 percent savings (but yeah, they can be a model year behind the new-in-store ones). Don't hesitate to consider refurbished stuff -- almost every piece of electronics in my house is refurb.

Fifteen months ago I used Tiger to buy a refurb HP, 17-inch screen, 4GB, 500 HD, Intel chip, Wi-fi, Microsoft Office, for $550 shipped (marked down from nearly a grand). It still sails along like a champ, at home and on the road. I use it to edit photos, write, send, record TV off the air, stream Netflix and all that.

It's smartest to know your desired specs and brands, then shop for price within those guidelines and thoroughly check reviews on the exact model you are considering. It's an advantage to NOT be in a big hurry so you can wait for the NewEgg and Tiger deal mailings to come every day.

Don't settle for less than 4 GB of ram and insist on Windows 7 and an internal DVD/ROM burner. Don't worry so much about the hard drive; you can (and should) get an external one for work stuff. 2TB externals are less than 100 bucks on sale, $150 if USB-powered for the road.

First thing when you get it, download and run PC Decrapifier (free program gets rid of all the ****ware). Load it up with Spybot Search and Destroy and a good (paid) virus fighter (I like Norton but only because McAfee bothered me with too many messages). Get all the updates (Windows and other Microsoft stuff, Flash, Acrobat, Java, Firefox) before you install programs.

Re. physical toughness, road dogs tell me Toshibas and Lenovos seem to take more hard-core travel jostling than HPs, but I believe HPs have the best displays and will be safe with a good case. Sonys are great but a poor value and not all that travelworthy (they seem optimal for video work, in my opinion). Dell can go to somewhere it rhymes with. Acer and Gateway and the rest of those off brands are totally out of the question.

Re. software: You can get by with IrfanView and OpenOffice.org (both free), though you are getting what you pay for: Basics only.

These are all my opinions and may not be your optimal choices. They won't steer you wrong, though.

Quality post with a lot of good info. Definitely agree on Sony, Acer and Gateway.

The only thing I don't agree with is Norton. Norton is very effective at stopping viruses but it does so by checking your programs continuously. That severely slows down your computer. If you have excess memory for what you are doing it is no problem. However, if you are on the borderline for RAM and processor speed, it will aggravate the **** out of you because your computer will run slow.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

My favorite is TigerDirect. They've had laptops as low as $299 in the last month, but most are in the 450-650 range, often reflecting 60 percent savings (but yeah, they can be a model year behind the new-in-store ones). Don't hesitate to consider refurbished stuff -- almost every piece of electronics in my house is refurb.

Fifteen months ago I used Tiger to buy a refurb HP, 17-inch screen, 4GB, 500 HD, Intel chip, Wi-fi, Microsoft Office, for $550 shipped (marked down from nearly a grand). It still sails along like a champ, at home and on the road. I use it to edit photos, write, send, record TV off the air, stream Netflix and all that.

It's smartest to know your desired specs and brands, then shop for price within those guidelines and thoroughly check reviews on the exact model you are considering. It's an advantage to NOT be in a big hurry so you can wait for the NewEgg and Tiger deal mailings to come every day.

Don't settle for less than 4 GB of ram and insist on Windows 7 and an internal DVD/ROM burner. Don't worry so much about the hard drive; you can (and should) get an external one for work stuff. 2TB externals are less than 100 bucks on sale, $150 if USB-powered for the road.

First thing when you get it, download and run PC Decrapifier (free program gets rid of all the ****ware). Load it up with Spybot Search and Destroy and a good (paid) virus fighter (I like Norton but only because McAfee bothered me with too many messages). Get all the updates (Windows and other Microsoft stuff, Flash, Acrobat, Java, Firefox) before you install programs.

Re. physical toughness, road dogs tell me Toshibas and Lenovos seem to take more hard-core travel jostling than HPs, but I believe HPs have the best displays and will be safe with a good case. Sonys are great but a poor value and not all that travelworthy (they seem optimal for video work, in my opinion). Dell can go to somewhere it rhymes with. Acer and Gateway and the rest of those off brands are totally out of the question.

Re. software: You can get by with IrfanView and OpenOffice.org (both free), though you are getting what you pay for: Basics only.

These are all my opinions and may not be your optimal choices. They won't steer you wrong, though.

Quality post with a lot of good info. Definitely agree on Sony, Acer and Gateway.

The only thing I don't agree with is Norton. Norton is very effective at stopping viruses but it does so by checking your programs continuously. That severely slows down your computer. If you have excess memory for what you are doing it is no problem. However, if you are on the borderline for RAM and processor speed, it will aggravate the **** out of you because your computer will run slow.

I'll second both of these posts. (We have a Sony laptop that did pretty well for us, but we probably could have done better for less money.)

And I used to use McAfee but the bloating and resource-hogging got completely out of control. It will use up all of your memory. Our laptop hit the point where it simply couldn't be used with the anti-virus software running. I dumped McAfee and went to the Ad-Aware free software and haven't had a problem. There are plenty of other free options out there.

 

[baddecision]

Or just go old-school: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-RadioShack-TRS-80-Model-100-Portable-Computer-/390333922950?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae1b6fe86

 

[BrianGriffin]

Get a Macbook. They cost more, but they last. I've bought HP and Dells that have crapped out a few months after the warranty expired. My Macbook has lasted almost five years.

Plus, word processing software (Pages) is ridiculously cheap through Apple's App Store at $19.99.

When I bought my Macbook, pages was part of the software package. I have a personal Macbook and a work-issued Pro. Once you go Mac ...

 

[flexmaster33]

Get a Macbook. They cost more, but they last. I've bought HP and Dells that have crapped out a few months after the warranty expired. My Macbook has lasted almost five years.

Plus, word processing software (Pages) is ridiculously cheap through Apple's App Store at $19.99.

When I bought my Macbook, pages was part of the software package. I have a personal Macbook and a work-issued Pro. Once you go Mac ...

agreed worth the money if you ask me...of course you'd be asking someone who had his laptop supplied by his workplace (as it should be)

 

[Cubbiebum]

Get a Macbook. They cost more, but they last. I've bought HP and Dells that have crapped out a few months after the warranty expired. My Macbook has lasted almost five years.

Plus, word processing software (Pages) is ridiculously cheap through Apple's App Store at $19.99.

When I bought my Macbook, pages was part of the software package. I have a personal Macbook and a work-issued Pro. Once you go Mac ...

Once you go Mac, you wish you could go back?

My college was Mac, my workplace has been Mac. Still hate it and still want my PC. Only thing it is better for is designing pages.

And don't give me the video stuff. Avid>Final Cut Pro

 

[mrbigles01]

Before you make a purchase, I'd recommend checking out TigerDirect.com. It's always worked for me, and their prices are much lower than Best Buy.

Bought my last two laptops from there ...

Newegg.com is a similar excellent site, as it Ibuypower.com

 

[Azrael]

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac

 

[baddecision]

Newegg has a poor return policy.

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

My favorite is TigerDirect.

Re. software: You can get by with IrfanView and OpenOffice.org (both free), though you are getting what you pay for: Basics only.

This and this. Just go on TigerDirect, see what the best selling laptop is in your price range and bag it. Don't bother with any Big Box stores. They'll rip you more likely than not.

With software, open source (free) is the way to go. OpenOffice does the job and GIMP is a more than adequate Photoshop clone. You're going to have to pay for decent virus protection. I prefer AVG.

 

[Cubbiebum]

My favorite is TigerDirect.

Re. software: You can get by with IrfanView and OpenOffice.org (both free), though you are getting what you pay for: Basics only.

This and this. Just go on TigerDirect, see what the best selling laptop is in your price range and bag it. Don't bother with any Big Box stores. They'll rip you more likely than not.

With software, open source (free) is the way to go. OpenOffice does the job and GIMP is a more than adequate Photoshop clone. You're going to have to pay for decent virus protection. I prefer AVG.

I had never really looked at TigerDirect before but through a quick skim they do have some great deals. That Samsung one with 2.53 GHz, 4 GB RAM for 499.99 is a good deal.

 

[Stitch]

Apple says you can't be a good journalist without a Mac.

http://www.apple.com/education/profiles/missouri/#video-missouri

 

[NightHawk112005]

Get a Macbook. They cost more, but they last. I've bought HP and Dells that have crapped out a few months after the warranty expired. My Macbook has lasted almost five years.

Plus, word processing software (Pages) is ridiculously cheap through Apple's App Store at $19.99.

When I bought my Macbook, pages was part of the software package. I have a personal Macbook and a work-issued Pro. Once you go Mac ...

Once you go Mac, you wish you could go back?

My college was Mac, my workplace has been Mac. Still hate it and still want my PC. Only thing it is better for is designing pages.

And don't give me the video stuff. Avid>Final Cut Pro

And not even necessarily for that. My last paper used Macs and we all wanted to slam them against the wall because of how many issues they had with designing. I went Mac and went back at the first chance I got.

I'd say getting a Mac is like playing roulette. You're essentially paying extra money to take a gamble where you could end up with a great experience, but you're equally likely to land a dud. If you're willing to take the risk and have the extra money, look at a Mac. If you just want something you know will work, go for the PC.

 

[BrianGriffin]

Get a Macbook. They cost more, but they last. I've bought HP and Dells that have crapped out a few months after the warranty expired. My Macbook has lasted almost five years.

Plus, word processing software (Pages) is ridiculously cheap through Apple's App Store at $19.99.

When I bought my Macbook, pages was part of the software package. I have a personal Macbook and a work-issued Pro. Once you go Mac ...

Once you go Mac, you wish you could go back?

My college was Mac, my workplace has been Mac. Still hate it and still want my PC. Only thing it is better for is designing pages.

And don't give me the video stuff. Avid>Final Cut Pro

And not even necessarily for that. My last paper used Macs and we all wanted to slam them against the wall because of how many issues they had with designing. I went Mac and went back at the first chance I got.

I'd say getting a Mac is like playing roulette. You're essentially paying extra money to take a gamble where you could end up with a great experience, but you're equally likely to land a dud. If you're willing to take the risk and have the extra money, look at a Mac. If you just want something you know will work, go for the PC.

Man, that's weird, I'm at a PC shop and anybody who has a choice gets a Mac. I use a Mac and for some things I do I access a PC environment in a cloud. My Mac operates better in the cloud than most of the PCs.

I'm virus free, everything runs smoother and faster for any work application I need it for. I was a PC guy 6-7 years ago, but I can't see EVER going back that direction.

 

[flexmaster33]

Yes, Mac dominates our office. Been great.