MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Hi looking to replace our very much outdated desktop system for another.
Looking at another desktop, like Dells, budget £450 'ish. Used for nbook keeping to designing posters etc.
Suggestions please
Lots of systems around for that kind of money, try www.ebuyer.com
One thing to note, is that if you have an old pc, then most systems are using the Windows 7 OS, so depending on what you are using now, some of the older software may not work and therefore will need to be updated too.
Also are you looking for a complete system, including screen or just looking to replace the pc/tower ?
Just stay clear of Windows Vista.
Dell Vostro or similar, go to DMX Dimension to find the models that are on sale.
So long as you only ever buy sale models, Dells are good value, and the support is pretty decent.
Personally, I reckon so long as you can afford it, replacing computers every 2 years or so is the way to go. The amount of time spent keeping older machines working well seems to increase hugely, and the performance of the new kit keeps moving on.
2 years! 3-4 is ideal I reckon and what we do (actually 5 for CAD workstations)
As above, Dell or similar at sale prices and make sure it's W7. Some older software doesn't work on it yet but all the more common stuff (eg Word, Excel, etc) does.
Phone an online retailer like Scan, Aria or Dabs. I don't trust Dell etc not to fill their computers with flaky crap.
Find a local business which will build you one. The 1/2/3 man bands usually give excellent support.
[url= http://www.cougar-extreme.co.uk/ ]Cougar-Extreme[/url]
Despite the flaky name, I ended up buying a £900 gaming base unit from them. This was based on high recommendations from forum users on PC advisor website.
Had a noisy DVD drive and they sent out a replacement without even wanting the old one returned or evidence.
[url= http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/forums/index.cfm?action=showthread&threadid=369686&forumid=2 ]PC Advisor thread[/url]
Ive just specced a new pc for my home office (well I work from home as an analyst) which is also my primary media server, tv, music player etc etc.
Ive got a very good price for a good spec that Ive added to from this guy with 400+ 100% reviews on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280544414619&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
He was perfectly happy modding his base spec for me (to include a 32GB SSD for OS and core apps, dual TV tuner and a new fast TFT monitor) - whole lot coming in at about £900 delivered. In fact when Ive priced up comparative builds at scan.co.uk they come to £1500+. Hope to receive it next week.
I usually get about 7 or 8 years out of my computers so like to spec well to be able to keep up for as long as possible.
Since the death of my last desktop Ive been trying to live my life on a 1gHz netbook - and it's tortuous 🙂 Roll on 2.66 GHz Quad Core i5 into my life!
Cougar-ExtremeDespite the flaky name
Hey!
I meant relating to a PC builder 😳
Anyway. If I were buying a business PC, I'd be going with a named brand, end of story. HP, Dell, IBM, that sort of thing. Look for extended warranties, and on-site support for the first year.
I'd be happier going for a system build from some corner shop / bloke on ebay if it was a gaming rig or home PC, because you're not losing money if it goes pop.
Nice bentley!
isn't it a Chrysler 300C or something?
Anyway. If I were buying a business PC, I'd be going with a named brand, end of story. HP, Dell, IBM, that sort of thing. Look for extended warranties, and on-site support for the first year.I'd be happier going for a system build from some corner shop / bloke on ebay if it was a gaming rig or home PC, because you're not losing money if it goes pop.
I'd have thought that support from a local shop would be better than some faceless corporation, at least if you're a one-man shop.
Whatever you get, budget for an external hard drive and do regular backups!
There are plenty of options out there, but I'm assuming you'd rather buy from a big name brand because of the warranty and backup you would get from them?
If so, check this out...
[url] http://www.ebuyer.com/product/227354 [/url]
It will have more than enough computing power for your requirements, but also has the bonus of having Windows 7 Pro (rather than home premium) installed already, with the option to downgrade to XP Pro should you desire. This could save you a lot of money as you would most likely have to either upgrade a system with Windows 7 Home Premium to Pro, or buy XP Pro for their added usefulness to business users.
Personally, I'd build a machine myself though, but that's cos I know a little bit about what I'm doing with computers, but for those that don't it's always nice to know you've bought from a big name brand for the backup.
I'd have thought that support from a local shop would be better than some faceless corporation, at least if you're a one-man shop.
... until they go out of business a month later, perhaps. I take your point, but it's an unknown quantity. Granted, in the current economic climate nothing's a certainty, but I'd take a HP warranty over one from Happy Dave's Used Computers any day of the week.
... until they go out of business a month later, perhaps. I take your point, but it's an unknown quantity. Granted, in the current economic climate nothing's a certainty, but I'd take a HP warranty over one from Happy Dave's Used Computers any day of the week.
A fair point, well made. Perhaps it's due to my experience of corporate support - albeit software, not hardware - that pushes me towards a local dealer.
Either way, regular backups to an external disc drive are the way to go!
... until they go out of business a month later, perhaps. I take your point, but it's an unknown quantity. Granted, in the current economic climate nothing's a certainty, but I'd take a HP warranty over one from Happy Dave's Used Computers any day of the week.
Given that reasoning you must only buy bikes from a large chain such as Evans, as they are less likely to go under than an LBS. LBS tend to be small outfits, with high stock value and smaller turnover than the likes of Evans, much like a reputable LCS compared with HP, Dell etc.
If a LBS goes out of business, the bike will still have a manufacturer's warranty, no?
With a homebrew PC, you'll have a manufacturer's warranty on the components. For your average geek that's probably sufficient, but for most other people that's not much help. (And if you're capable of diagnosing down to component level, you'd probably have built your own anyway)
Anyway. OP was asking for advice, that's my advice. I've purchased and supported desktops for companies with a thousand users and more, and I can tell you from bitter experience which I'd rather have to deal with when they go wrong. A roomful of disparate mongrel PCs is a bloody nightmare.
For SOHO users you don't have the same problems of scale, but warranty cover still stands. If I were buying a PC for critical business use where I was going to lose money if it went down, I'd want onsite support with a decent SLA. (Actually, in that situation I'd probably buy two for redundancy).
If you don't agree, that's cool; that's the beauty of a forum, you can solicit different opinions.
Whatever you buy, enforce a strict (offsite) backup regime.
Amen.
Cougar - Good points. I see where you are coming from.
Anyway. OP was asking for advice, that's my advice. I've purchased and supported desktops for companies with a thousand users and more, and I can tell you from bitter experience which I'd rather have to deal with when they go wrong. A roomful of disparate mongrel PCs is a bloody nightmare.
For that kind of setup I'd go for a massive corporation, too! No way I'd go local!
Still, I wouldn't worry too much about warranty cover, as long as I've got a decent (ideally offsite!) backup.