New desktop advice

[pianowizard]

comptechexpert, I think A31 asked you before but somehow you didn't answer him: What computers are you using right now? What are their specs? Are they powerful enough for you? Telling us the answers to these questions will enable us to give you better suggestions.

Oh, one more question: Do you like to upgrade often so you get to play with a different computer every once in a while? Or would you rather stick with the same machine for 5 to 10 years?

[comptechexpert]

Well at the moment for the stuff I will want to do with my new desktop I am using a Compaq Presario A900.

I like to have a computer that will last a few years but not like haver the same one for ten but about 4-6 years would be good

[pianowizard]

Well at the moment for the stuff I will want to do with my new desktop I am using a Compaq Presario A900.

Wow, you have a powerful laptop there. In your "I need a laptop for programming" thread, you made it sound like you were using some obsolete machine from the previous millennium. With this two-year-old Compaq, I don't understand why you were actually considering replacing it with the T42 Thinkpad at one point. If you aren't happy with this Compaq's performance, that's probably due to Vista and/or the amount of RAM. The easiest solution would be to upgrade to Windows 7 or add more RAM -- HP claims that this laptop can support only up to 2GB, though I bet 3GB is possible. If you need more real estate on the screen, just attach an external monitor Of course, this is a huge laptop that you don't want to carry around, so get an ultraportable laptop or netbook for mobile use, like we discussed in your other thread.

I like to have a computer that will last a few years but not like haver the same one for ten but about 4-6 years would be good

Your Compaq, if adequately upgraded, should be powerful enough to meet your needs for at least 6 years.

[comptechexpert]

Well that is a good pointy but I would still like a desktop because I may need to pass this computer on soon so what to do?

Thanks for the help so far.

[A31]

so what to do?

1) Keep the Compaq laptop until you have to pass it on.
2) Get an utra-portable laptop for mobile use, but only if you have to.
3) If the ultra-portable laptop is powerful enough for your needs, keep it and DON't buy a desktop, there's no point...

Basically, I am just repeating pianowizard's post above... Try to get an ultra-portable with at least 2GB RAM and 80GB HDD with either XP, Vista or 7 and with a Pentium 4M or a processor such as Intel Core 2 Duo etc... Becuase what you can do then is have your main computer as the ultra-portable laptop, your ultra-portable laptop as your - well, ultra-portable laptop (the one that you would be using as your main PC) AND with the specs I listed above, it would be powerful enough to run all of the applications that you want to run on this new desktop... that saves you having to buy a desktop and an ultra-portable laptop when your ultra-portable laptop can be your desktop (or main computer) and your mobile laptop - you see what I mean?

Something like a ThinkPad X-Series machine would be fine for everything... and would save you having hundreds of different desktops and laptops laying around everywhere...

If you aren't happy with this Compaq's performance, that's probably due to Vista and/or the amount of RAM. The easiest solution would be to upgrade to Windows 7 or add more RAM

Or you could go to XP Professional, on a laptop, XP is faster than Vista - Vista was slow and sluggish on my A31 even with 1.5GB RAM whereas XP on my A31 with 1.5GB RAM is nice and quick and allows me to install lots of programs

[comptechexpert]

Well thanks for that advice I will definitely be getting an netbook soon for school so I need a desktop anyway.

[A31]

I will definitely be getting an netbook soon for school so I need a desktop anyway.

So wait a minute - you're now getting a netbook as well??

Why don't you do what I suggested and get an ultra-portable that would be good for everything, school, desktop/power use, mobility etc... then you wouldn't need a netbook as well as a T42, a Compaq laptop AND a desktop - you could just have the one laptop and no other computers... If the ultra-portable is small and powerful, it would be fine for your school use and it would also be good as a power/main computer.

[comptechexpert]

Well I NEED the netbook for school. But everybody says that a netbook screen is not good for programming so there is no doubt that I am getting a netbook then passing on this laptop and get a desktop.
Thanks.

[A31]

Well I NEED the netbook for school. But everybody says that a netbook screen is not good for programming so there is no doubt that I am getting a netbook then passing on this laptop and get a desktop.
Thanks.

Ahhh... I see now!! Ok then... What will you use the netbook for?
Are you still searching for other desktops??

[pianowizard]

I am getting a netbook then passing on this laptop and get a desktop.

I don't know why you said you "need" to pass on the Compaq. If it's possible to keep it, that would be the best solution. For the applications that you said you would do, a desktop doesn't offer any advantage and would cost you additional money. But even if you keep the Compaq, it's still a good idea to get a very light laptop/netbook. True, ultraportables have small screens that aren't very good for programming, but one always needs to sacrifice something in order to travel light. That's why as soon as you get home, you switch over to the Compaq.

If you follow A31's advice to use a powerful ultraportable laptop for everything, make sure you get a big and nice external monitor for use at home. But having just one computer is a bit risky IMO, because if it breaks down you won't have a backup.

[comptechexpert]

Ahhh... I see now!! Ok then... What will you use the netbook for?
Are you still searching for other desktops??

What do you mean?
And I will post a list of the desktops I am looking at soon.

[comptechexpert]

Here are the links to the computers I am looking at:

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en/ho ... 32750.html
http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/busines ... cs=ukbsdt1

I would preferably like windows 7 64 bit over 32

[A31]

If you follow A31's advice to use a powerful ultraportable laptop for everything, make sure you get a big and nice external monitor for use at home. But having just one computer is a bit risky IMO, because if it breaks down you won't have a backup.

I would go with this advice... so if you can - keep the Compaq, but still get a light laptop anyway. You said to me in another thread (or maybe even this one?) that you had a monitor already, well, just plug it into the back of your ultra-portable laptop for use at home and then set the display settings to the extend the desktop onto that monitor. When finished, it should look like this... http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=84445 - except I didn't set the display to "extend the monitor", I just mirrored the screen which is why the resolution looks so funny!

Here are the links to the computers I am looking at:

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en/ho ... 32750.html
http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/busines ... cs=ukbsdt1

The Optiplex's look nice, though I'd still have that HP like a shot, except I'd install a better Windows 7 than Home Premium, but that's for my computing needs (I run lots of HDD/memory/graphic intensive games, programs etc) - I'd probably go for Win 7 Pro (I have a retail copy of this) or Win 7 Ultimate.

I would preferably like windows 7 64 bit over 32.

Although x64 is smoother than x86, I haven't really seen a performance leap at all, really. I run two desktops over a KVM switch, a HP DX2200 and a ThinkCentre A50, the HP with Vista Ultimate x64 and the IBM with Vista Ultimate x86, both have 2GB RAM (but the HP has DDR2 RAM as opposed to the IBM's DDR), but both run about the same speed. OK, with DDR2 RAM and a 64 Bit OS, the HP is ultimately a little faster, but not enough to get everybody to use x64 as opposed to x86. If x64 is available however, and you have a processor that supports x64 and you can be sure of getting all the drivers etc, then go for x64 - but if you are unsure, go for x86... Virtually ANY computer/desktop or maybe even laptop made in the past 2 years or so will have an x64 Processor and enough RAM to make x64 OS's worthile.

x86 is 32 bit BTW and x64 is 64 bit, just to make life confusing!

EDIT, the ThinkCentre is now back on XP Professional as it has become my "workstation", the HP is now just a gaming, internet browsing etc computer whereas the IBM is now my working computer.

[comptechexpert]

Thanks but I would still like a desktop because I cant rely on the ultraportable and I need a desktop because I am fed up with using a laptop as my main computer and an ultraportable wouldn't solve this problem.

[pianowizard]

I am fed up with using a laptop as my main computer

Hey, I came to this same conclusion as well about a year ago. From 2002 to late 2008, I thought it would be more convenient to use laptops as my main machines (see this thread to see my main rigs over the years. But I gradually realized that for a variety of reasons (listed in this post), desktops are far more convenient than laptops.

As far as productivity and convenience are concerned, your migration from the Compaq to a desktop is a good plan. I recommended keeping the Compaq from a money saving point of view.

[comptechexpert]

Cool so what desktop do use use and what do you think I should get?

[A31]

I think pianwowizard currently uses a Dell Dimension B110 for home with Win XP on it... I don't know what this desktop is like so I cannot comment on it, but I'd still have that HP like a heartbeat if I were you...

You can check what he currently uses for work in the thread link that he posted in his post above (which is how I know he has a Dimension B110 with XP on it! ) You probably know what desktops I use and can recommend...? (HP DX220 and IBM ThinkCentre A50)

[A31]

Why?

Good...
A) It's a HP, better make than Dell
B) Good specs
C) Windows 7 x64
D) Looks good

Bad...
A) More expensive than the OptiPlex's - nearly £400 as opposed to nearly £200 for one of the Optiplex's, but there's probably a good reason why it's more expensive!!

[pianowizard]

A) It's a HP, better make than Dell

Dell has gotten a bad reputation because of its inferior laptops of the distant past, i.e. pre-2005. Their desktops are rock solid, despite their low prices (versus HP). Look at how close Dell's and HP's scores are in the latest PCMag survey. I have used very few HP computers, just one laptop and one desktop (loved the former but hated the latter), and so I can't comment much on their quality. But based on large-scale surveys like the one linked to above, HP's desktops seem about as good as Dell's, whereas HP's laptops are not so reliable -- see this 2009 PCMag survey. I suspect HP's reputation has come mainly from their famously excellent printers.

The bottom line for me is, if a Dell desktop and an HP desktop have very similar specs, but one is more expensive than the other one, I'd go for the cheaper one. But you need to draw your own conclusion.

Cool so what desktop do use use and what do you think I should get?

I recommended you to get a Dell Vostro earlier and this remains my top recommendation.

[comptechexpert]

If you prefer a Vostro why do you use so many optiplex's?

[A31]

I suspect HP's reputation has come mainly from their famously excellent printers.

Right, much as I like HP (owned 2 HP desktops and my father sells all sorts of PCs, and most are HPs), this has to be said - HP printers are actually quite terrible, really. I had an Officejet 6110 series and it broke and came up with the famous message of "Ink catridges not detected, please replace catridges", replaced the cartridges and it still displayed the HP printer version of a BSOD - according to some internet research, this is due to something in the printer needing cleaning and even if you do clean it it has that problem - a very famous problem on the Office Jet 6000 series, appartently. We also have a HP PSC-750 printer and that's also not really much good - it's a bit rubbish really... but at least unlike the OJ6110 it doesn't come up with that error message!! To be fair, these are both quite old printers and maybe like Dell laptops and desktops, HP have improved on their printers. We are obviously soon going to replace the PSC-750 and we are thinking of an OJ Series HP, but we have also found many other good printers for around the same cost (£70-£90).

I can still confidently say though, pianowizard, that my 2008 DX2200 HP is better than my friend's Dell Inspiron desktop (newer than 2008 I assume) - both have Vista (only difference being the HP has Vista Ultimate and the Dell has Vista Home Premium), both have 2 DVD drives - the HP has 2GB RAM and my friend's Dell actually has 4GB RAM, but yet my HP is faster... yet it has less RAM and runs many more programs... Ok, sure enough the Inspiron is a nice enough computer, though I'd still take my HP anyday of the week...

If you prefer a Vostro why do you use so many optiplex's?

pianowizard may be recommending the Vostro to you, but for him, the OptiPlex's may be better for what he does on his PC's.

[pianowizard]

If you prefer a Vostro why do you use so many optiplex's?

To save money. Like I've told you 6 or 7 times, most desktops made in the last 5 years have been way overkill for most of what we do, so I don't see any reason for buying new (as in "never used") computers. I got the Dimension 8200 for free; the first OptiPlex GX280 for $25;and the second OptiPlex GX280 for $65. I upgraded their RAM (cheap) and hard drives (which I already had from previous computers). I did buy the Dimension B110 new, but that's just because I happened to have extra grant money for my scientific work. In other words, I got it for free. I bought it in early 2006 and at that point, it was the cheapest and most basic desktop on Dell's site. Even so, four years later, it's still powerful enough for everything I do.

I have never owned a Vostro, but have played with several at work, and a coworker has told me his personal experience with his Vostro at home. Considering their prices, features, designs, and reliability, I think they provide excellent values.

HP printers are actually quite terrible, really.

Virtually *all* inkjet printers I have used have been junks, regardless of brand. I was referring to laser printers. HP's laser printers are very good. I just bought one for my lab two months ago and was highly satisfied.

my HP is faster...

Sooooo many factors determine speed. I wouldn't use it to evaluate a brand's quality. Instead, I prefer to use reliability, i.e. how long the product lasts and how often it needs repairs. People on this forum swear by Thinkpads, not because they are the fastest laptops, but because they are reliable.

EDIT: One more good reason for buying cheap used computers: you won't have to waste too much time researching on different models or waiting for a sale. If you realize it's not good for your needs after buying it, just sell it or even toss it and look for another one.

[A31]

Virtually *all* inkjet printers I have used have been junks, regardless of brand. I was referring to laser printers. HP's laser printers are very good. I just bought one for my lab two months ago and was highly satisfied.

That maybe why we are looking at a HP LaserJet printer... sorry, I made a typo when I sadi we were looking at OJ Printers!!

Sooooo many factors determine speed. I wouldn't use it to evaluate a brand's quality. Instead, I prefer to use reliability, i.e. how long the product lasts and how often it needs repairs. People on this forum swear by Thinkpads, not because they are the fastest laptops, but because they are reliable.

OK then, well this Inspiron is probably pretty reliable, but just remember that HP's are very reliable - 6+ year old HP, designed for Windows 2000/XP, still running fine - it's in the hands of my neighbours now and last time I checked in Summer '09, it was running perfectly on it's small 256MB RAM and 18.2GB HDD!!

EDIT: One more good reason for buying cheap used computers: you won't have to waste too much time researching on different models or waiting for a sale. If you realize it's not good for your needs after buying it, just sell it or even toss it and look for another one.

Good point... I think comptechexpert should think about this point before buying a new desktop...

[gb_ibmguy]

Well, I figure I might as well jump in here and add to the discussion
I agree with the previous posts about buying 'used'. I bought my Z-Pro Intellistations for around $125.00 USD from fleabay. Easily upgradable, a joy to work on and with 2 HT Zeon's and 3 U320 15k SCSI drives they have proven more than adequate for anything I have thrown at them. For around $300.00 USD total each after upgrades, I really don't think they can be beat, for the price. For some reason, Intellistations are still 'cheap' for what they deliver and they are still supported by IBM.

My advise is to look around, you never know what you might find that wasn't on your radar screen.

[A31]

My advise is to look around, you never know what you might find that wasn't on your radar screen.

I'd also follow this piece of advice, comptechexpert...

[A31]

When are you thinking about buying the desktop??
By the way, you'd be better off ordering your HP Slimline s502 (or whichever model it is that you want) off the HP site as all the HP Slimlines on eBay are more expensive than the one on the HP site.

[A31]

If you wait a while before you buy the desktop, comptechexpert, then you can search around a bit longer... I'm sure you'd hate to have your heart set on the HP, spend £388 on it and then find another desktop that's better than cheaper afterwards!!
Your more than welcome for all the advice by the way!

[A31]

comptechexpert, also consider these HP desktops - they both have DDR3 RAM and depending on what model/sub-type you buy, they come with either 3GB DDR3 RAM or 4GB DDR3 RAM. Both have Win 7 Home Premium x64 which would be more than adequate for your needs...
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en/ho ... 79861.html
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en/ho ... 79858.html

[comptechexpert]

I am currently looking at this one because I have a very good experience when I use these type of HP's.

[A31]

The other HP is better, for a start it has 3GB RAM as opposed to only 2GB, it has a 300GB + hard drive rather than 250GB, it is more expandable than the Compaq and yet despite the ohter HP, the Pavillion s502UK, is much better (in my view), it costs just under £400 as opposed to £450??

This computer does have one cool feature though, it's DVD drive which is a Serial ATA LightScribe which measn you burn images onto the actual DVD itself, it saves you having to use a DVD-CD marker when you apply text to the actual DVD.

Oh, by the way, the s502 also has Win 7 x64 which you said that you preferred, well, this Compaq only has x86.

You'll be much better off going with the s502, this other computer is far too expensive for what it is in my view.