computer recommendations

[aquilegia]

Mr Aqui and I are thinking of buying a computer for home, but I've no idea where to start. Can you recommend any or tell me ones to avoid?

We'd need it for: wordprocessing and internet mostly. A bit of photo editing, music composing and possibly video editing.

And not too expensive.

[aquilegia]

[derbex]

Hi Aqui,

if you're going to want to do video editing then as fast and with as much hard drive and memory as you can afford. In fact the drive and memory are more important than getting an extra fraction of a GHz out of the processor. If you can live without the video editing -or are just going to play at it a little- then you can go for a much lower spec machine. You may need a firewire card to talk to your video camera.

Personally I've had machines from all over, the current one's a Dell and is 3 years old, the previous one is (more or less) unbranded probably 8 years old and is still running fine as a web server. The point of that is that, in my experience, it doesn't really matter where you buy one from they're generally pretty reliable. Laptops are much less so and go out of date much quicker.

Might be worth thinking about the sort of screen you want, flatpanels take up less room and don't irradiate you, CRTs (telly type) bigger, heavier and cheaper, and are often of better quality.

If there's a decent local shop it could be worth trying them, there's a lot to be said for someone you can go and pester rather than just hanging on the end of a phone for hours trying to talk to a call centre in Bangalore.

As a thought Which occaisionally do surveys of the big suppliers, might be worth looking one of those out in the library.

Jeremy

Here endeth the first lesson -nos 2 to 1500 to follow  ;D

[rdak]

avoid e-machines (sold in PC World) and Time.
Dell usually considered very good, if price not a consideration!
Compaq are a good make.

Try having a look at www.ciao.com/uk and www.dooyoo.co.uk

[Jesse]

Aqui, I have a Compaq laptop and am very happy with it. It's possibly not what you're after (I am limited on space and also wanted a mobile setup) but as a brand, Compaq have been very helpful when I needed some questions answered when I initially set things up. They have an online help facility and they responded to my questions very quickly (the first time within minutes, the second time within a couple of hours), using plain simple "english" that was easy for a non-computer-whizz like me to understand. The help facility is based in the US so when I had questions at midnight they were online and available to help. I agree with Jeremy, try to buy from a local shop so that if you need repairs they are close by for help. Compaq's online help center was great but had I needed physical repair then they would have referred me to the place I bought the computer from and somewhere local would have been a real bonus.

[aquilegia]

The video editing is pretty low down on the list (we don't even have a video camera and are unlikely to be able to afford one after getting the computer!) So I think that can be forgotten about.

Definitely going for desktop rather than laptop.

Jeremy - can you explain to me which bit the memory and hard drive are. I know in terms of what they do, but I mean how they are described on the spec.

[derbex]

Aqui, the memory will normally be specified in MB(yte) probably 256 or 512 -possibly 1024 or 1GB(yte). If you can go for 512MB -even at the cost of a slower processor. That is if you get offered a (say) 2.4 GHz processor and 256MB or RAM (memory) vs a 2.0 GHz processor and 512MB of memory for about the same price -take the second one.

The hard disk in GB anything from 40GB up. If you're going to keep lots of photos and music then you need lots of space, I'd go for 60GB or more.

Finally, look for some sort of write-able drive, a CD writer probably, although you can get DVD writers too (which are better, but cost more). If you take lots of digital pics or compose a classic you'll need somewhere to keep them all in case the hard drive goes phut!

Jeremy

[Roy Bham UK]

Sorry to butt in, could I ask Jeremy or anyone if I'm wasting my time considering a video editor? when all I have at the mo is Athlon Processor 1.00 Ghz 256MB of RAM as I was after a VideOh! Editor and they are over a 100 squids.

I don't have a Didgital Camcorder I have the Hi8 handycam but also have loads of family vids I'd like to condense down onto CD's

Roy

[derbex]

Roy,

first off -this is worth what you're paying for it  ;D.

Reading the spec. it looks like your machine should cope, as long as you have enough disc space, although it might strain a bit. I'd turn off any other programs / windows that are running.

Secondly, there are several VideOh! products, the USB/VideoCD one costs about £45 + VAT. The £100 quid one is for DVDs, possibly worth it if you have a DVD burner and you may need it for you Hi8 camera.

You'd be wise to read this :
http://www.platys.com/worldwide/product/markeditorial.html?sess=no&language=English+US&prodkey=VideOh!_FAQs&cat=%2FProducts%2FAVC-1100&type=Product&productid=AVC-1100#11

Just to be clear, I have no experience of the VideOh cards and this isn't a recommendation.

Jeremy

[Ozzy aka Pothead]

Yo Aqui

Cant reccomend anyone but can only tell you that in my opinion avoid places like Index and Argos.. mines newish and have had loads of probs from RAMCOM.. if I had to do it all over again... id buy from dell.. if u know anyone who well up on puters...there are some real bargains to be had second hand... but u really do need to be genned up on what to look out for...  only thing about dell is the interest if you want to do it on the knock.. is a massive 29%...

hope this is of some use aqui

Oz

:-* :-* :-*

[Roy Bham UK]

Thanks for that Jeremy, :) I had read that Adaptec page B4 and it went straight through one ear and out the other side, I can barely grasp my pint let alone puter jargon ;) I also tried the £45 editor and it was poor quality and was hoping the dearer one would perform better.

A final question...Is it possible for me to upgrade my old PC with a bigger Giga HZ and Mega bytes of RAM? or just buy a new PC?

Sorry for rambling on cheers Roy ;D

[wattapain]

Hi , why not try Novatech.co.uk  - they have lots of options - have a look see what you think.
Terri :)

[kenkew]

Roy: Upping the RAM is easy enough, but not so to simply insert a higher processor. It usually means upgrading the mother board too. Do a google on Compaq/Helwet Packard and look out for offers that seem to be around at the moment.

[Doris_Pinks]

Love me Dell!

[derbex]

Roy,

like Ken says really, you could check the docs that came with your motherboard and see -but unless you want to turn into a geek it's really not worth it. Can you do a try before you buy on the more expensive VideoOh! or get them to do a couple of minutes of your film?

Dell have offers on at the moment, and it seems Compaq and the like probably do too. I have an HP here at work, it seems slow compared to my Dell and the spec. isn't that different.

Oz is right about 2nd hand -but maybe a bit of a risk unless you want the geek route again :) There's always computer fairs too -but again less safe.

Jeremy

[aquilegia]

Thanks for all your help - especially Jeremy.

[Roy Bham UK]

Cheers Guys thanks for the advice, :) I still have over a year left on my coverplan insurance so I'd best stick with what I've got for the mo, :) just thought an upgrade may have been possible. :-\

Roy