PC advice???

[Garrypd160]

My laptop has become a real pain in thass recently. It keeps cutting off for no apparent reason. So I've decided to buy myself a PC. I have a rough idea what I want. Sony Vaio desktop PC, with dvd recorder, 19" flat screen etc.

What I'm wondering though, is what the latest good pc specs are? I think the last time i bought a PC it had 1gb of memory and a 1.8mhz processor. What kind of numbers am I looking at today?

[Maxxed_Ross]

Try the Dell website, it's a great way of fully customising a PC and seeing what it'll roughly cost you

www.dell.co.uk

[Garrypd160]

I hate the Dell website with a passion. And that doesn't help me with whats the most up to date numbers I should be looking for.

[Dave]

Personally I would never buy a dell or sony.

Numbers are coming down because of dual core processing.

Maybe 2 x 2.4GHz

Looking for at least 1GB Ram

As big a hard drive as you need

and a nice graphics card to use if ur gaming or watchin movies(HDTV)

[Garrypd160]

Why not a Sony dave. I can understand Dell, but I've always had Sony cmputers and cant fault them. Plus they always look space age (yeh I'm a techno snob).

That other info is the kind of thing I'm looking for. I have a 60gb external hard drive for all my file storage, so i dont need a lot of space for storage. I just want it to be fast. Nothing worse than downloading prawn and it takes ages :D

[Dave]

same spec will be dearer with sony

[ballsie]

Agree with Dave, but I must admit the Sony Laptops I've had have been pretty much faultless - you do pay a premium for them though!

I've only had one Dell machine - PowerEdge Server for the house :D :D :D. It runs well but needs more RAM and HDD space - I spec'd it so it's my fault.

[Garrypd160]

I'm not worried about the cost. I've always had Sony PCs and never had any hassle with them. I would rather pay more for a fault free experience.

I can get (without looking to hard) a dual core 3.2Ghz processor, with 1GB RAM, and a 600GB hard drive with SOnys new floating flat screen, wireless mouse and keyboard, integrated HD TV tuner, blue ray player and a load of other stuff I'll probably never use for £1200. Is that a decent deal?

[Big Gordy]

I've run Dells for probably the last 20 years (home/work, desktop/laptop) and NEVER had anything go wrong with one:roll:
Whats you problem with the Dell website Garry:?: It does exactly what it says on the tin;-) and like Ross says it will give you an idea of what todays spec/pound your gonna get. They've just been knocked of the top slot as world PC suppliers so good deals will probably be coming up soon to regain top position.

[Garrypd160]

I've used Dell computers at work and had nothing but problems with them. And there website says this computer is £300, click here to order, and by the time you get to the next page its £450, then when you add on a couple of extras, its up over £1000. Like I've already said, I have no problems spending the money on something decent, but from what I've experienced with Dell machines, I wont be getting the same quality as I would with a Sony machine. My experiences may have just been unlucky, but at work I dont pay for them so I dont care too much, at home when I have to pay for repairs/faults etc, I want to get the best I can for my money and I dont believe that Dell fit that bill.

Cue everyone saying they've had a Dell for 20 years and had no problems (People say that about french cars too, but it wouldnt convince me to buy one :D )

[Big Gordy]

People say that about french cars too, but it wouldnt convince me to buy one
I'm with you on that one:mrgreen: (My dad never bought a Ford again all because he had problems with one.........in 1968:shock: :roll:)
Yeh you've got to watch and not change any of the spec of the dell stuff as you go through the options as it does soon mount up. The initial price difference is usually because they have the box for 3 years warranty already picked:shock:If you change that to 1 year collect and return it comes back to the advertised price......so I've found anyway;) Its like most thing I suppose its all down to personal taste/experience in the end 8)

[ross minimad]

You could always go the clever route and buy an Apple. That way you'll get a computer that
-is very nice to look at.
-will never catch a single virus as virtually none exist that are aimed at macs.
-will probably never ever crash ( i use macs at work and can't remember the last time one crashed)
-will probably never even break down (again in my experience with them at work i can't remember the last time anyone in our office of 60 had any downtime caused by a broken computer)
-doesn't use a Microsoft operating system...... which can only be a great thing as they're rubbish.

only slight drawback is the price, but if you want a computer that does all the above it might be worth it to you ..... it was to me.

[Garrypd160]

My mate works for Apple and he is constantly trying to convince me. And anyone who has one raves about how good they are. Maybe its worth looking into.

[Alex Lindsay]

Hi Garry

I was in Costco at the weekend and they had, in my opinion, a beautiful looking Sony PC. AN entertainment PC - standing free desktop (NO TOWER) big wide screen, black monitor with wireless keyboard and mouse, all units built into monitor - same sort of screen as our Sony laptop. (if you can remember what it looks like).

1024 mb ram 250mb hard disc, on board card reader and dvd - don't know what the other number were, but is was nice, and worth a look around £750 plus VAT.

Regards

Alex

[Garrypd160]

Thanks Alex. Sounds like its worth a look

[Dave]

Bought a Apple MacBook Pro and have never looked back and if cost is not an issue this is the first place i would go!

If a Windows Virus Box is what you want then i would go to Silicon-Groups in Edinburgh or Alloa.

You will get same spec of the Sony machine and then u can upgrade it with what you want!

[ballsie]

Hi Garry

I was in Costco at the weekend and they had, in my opinion, a beautiful looking Sony PC. AN entertainment PC - standing free desktop (NO TOWER) big wide screen, black monitor with wireless keyboard and mouse, all units built into monitor - same sort of screen as our Sony laptop. (if you can remember what it looks like).

1024 mb ram 250mb hard disc, on board card reader and dvd - don't know what the other number were, but is was nice, and worth a look around £750 plus VAT.

Regards

Alex

Saw it a fortnight ago at the one in Sighthill by the Tesco Extra - absoluately stunning :)

[Maxxed_Ross]

Hi Garry

I was in Costco at the weekend and they had, in my opinion, a beautiful looking Sony PC. AN entertainment PC - standing free desktop (NO TOWER) big wide screen, black monitor with wireless keyboard and mouse, all units built into monitor - same sort of screen as our Sony laptop. (if you can remember what it looks like).

1024 mb ram 250mb hard disc, on board card reader and dvd - don't know what the other number were, but is was nice, and worth a look around £750 plus VAT.

Regards

Alex

I've seen that one before in the Sony shop, looks fantastic! Would imagine it's impossible to upgrade though as there's so little space

[ballsie]

Yeah, I'd agree with that too Ross.

Just have to get yourself in the mind set that if you need to upgrade then sell yours and buy the latest model.

Having said that HDD, RAM etc shouldn't been too difficult to upgrade, just don't try and change the motherboard!

Cheers.

[Garrypd160]

Just have to get yourself in the mind set that if you need to upgrade then sell yours and buy the latest model.

SHould suit me fine then. :razz:

I'm actually leaning more towards a Mac now. My mate works for mac warehouse and can get me a decent deal on a really good machine.

[ballsie]

Always wanted to venture into Macs without having to rely on them (have a PC too).

[ross minimad]

you really can't go wrong with a mac....... just think you'd never be bothered by wee pop-ups telling you that some virus is trying to turn your computer into a toaster ever again, never have to update your system every time another hole is found that viruses can get in through.

[Dave]

My mate works for mac warehouse and can get me a decent deal on a really good machine.

That sounds ideal!

Deal me in!

Also you can put Windows XP on any Mac machine these days but can't put Mac on a Windows PC!

[Garrypd160]

That sounds ideal!

Deal me in!

Also you can put Windows XP on any Mac machine these days but can't put Mac on a Windows PC!

But from what I hear, once uv used the Mac OS, you'll never use windoze again

[Dave]

That is correct.

But from experience i have been forced to use windows because there are some programming programs that do not run on Mac.

I would def wait until Leopard is released.

[Alex Lindsay]

Is that not a rock group?

Only problem with a Mac is the software you may have might not work on that system.

I know printers and designers use them a lot and although most people say the files are interchangable, in terms of desktop publishing and the like i don't think they are.

[Garrypd160]

Is that not a rock group?

Only problem with a Mac is the software you may have might not work on that system.

I know printers and designers use them a lot and although most people say the files are interchangable, in terms of desktop publishing and the like i don't think they are.

I was worried about that. The guy who does our IT at work said the 3d modelling software I use wont work on Macs, but a few guys I know who have macs, say he is wrong, and he is a bit if a numpty at the best of times.

I'm told there are loads of programs to let you run software if you need to.

[Dave]

Does adobe Creative Suite not do that along with alot of other stuff?

You can use either:

Boot Camp - which allows you to have serparate Mac OS and Windows

Virtual PC - allows Windows to run inside a window using MacOS