Road Runner is here! Need PC suggestions

[Cheyenne]

I just checked the Road Runner website and FINALLY it says that the service is available in my area! I signed up back in July of 2000 when they first started to advertise it but I couldn't get it.

So, I've been using this older laptop and dial up service, waiting to get a decent PC all this time until I'd get Road Runner cable access. This is a very good day!

My only problem is that I am a newbie as far as buying a computer. I could use some help from all you experts out there.

I'll be using it mostly for surfing- quite a bit of the time spent right here! Also power point presentations (work related), Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, and pictures. I don't (or at least haven't) use my computer for downloading music at all.

I need to be able to print, although super high speed printing isn't important on whatever printer I get. I need color if I am going to be able to print pictures. What about an easy to use combination gadget that is a printer/fax machine/copier? Anyone have any luck with one they particularly like?

If I can ever figure out a web cam or digital camera, I also need to get those.

Christmas comes in October this year for me!

 

[SweetCherry]

Don't buy Gateway. Their reputation is going way down as far as quality machines. If you feel a need for a major name brand, stick with Dell. I've got a new pc coming, but I got Draco to build me one. If you know anyone who can build one from a kit, you can check out tigerdirect.com and get it that way with a little bit of help. It's a lot cheaper and you can get exactly what you want. Bad thing is, it doesn't come with any software like you would buying it from a shop.

 

[Cheyenne]

I'm not anywhere near that good on a computer to try something like that on my own. The closest I can get to "plug it in and watch it go", the better off I will be.

I also need to get a flat screen, no room for a big honking monitor on my computer desk. Suggestions for that appreciated, too!

 

[Thumper]

MEEP MEEP!

Finally moving in to the broadband arena!

You will love it...and of course ina few ekks you will be complaining that it isn't fast enough LOL

As for computers...get one with a LAN card already installed. If you can stand the wait get a Dell. Or maybe an IBM directly from the manufacturer. Splurge for a TFT display too..saves mega room and the picture is great.

At least 256 Megs of RAM and a 1 gig processor..

Good time to be buying right now, the manufacturers are selling cheap to stay on top.


I am jealous...

Web cams and digital cameras...get a digital camera on the high end that you can directly connect to the comp...that way you can take it on vacation or wherever with you...film...we don't need no stinking film! You can take the picture..look at it in the viewfinder and if you don't like it delete it and take another.

Gotta love technology!

 

[SweetCherry]

Tigerdirect also has complete systems for sale. Along with flat screens. Just about anything you might need. That's the best I know. I get regular mailings and emails from them about sales and such. You'd be able to get a system that is all set up, and I thik they have payment plans available if you can't afford to get it all in one shot.

 

[sexy-girl]

the best place to buy will be via the internet i dont know any good american internet retailers but you can save a LOT of money by using an internet retailer and they give just as good service often


maybe someone can recommend a good internet retailer you can buy complete systems from internet retailers too

 

[April]

Congratulations Cheyenne. I'm so envious. I don't really have any good suggestions for you. The computer I am using is a Compaq, and I've had no major problems with it. Sometimes it likes to dump a driver, but it doesn't happen often, and any computer can do that.

For Power Point, I agree, a 1 GhZ is at least what you need. God, that sounds so wrong! LOL *in a whiny old ladies voice, "I remember way back when...")

Digital cams, huh? Resolution is damn near everything. The higher the better. I've used a Canon Digital Elph, and it was great. If you're intending to have the pictures printed at a photo lab, you should have a resolution of at least 2 million pixels, but preferably more. But that's just my opinion.

Oh, I simply love Best Buy. If you can get one of their interest free financing, it's great.

 

[Thumper]

"Elf"

heh heh

Got any samples of the output on this Canon you have...???

Extremely interested in the way it handles nude photography...*less than subtle hinting*

I am sure many here would appreciate the opportunity to see this camera in action...and then we can get Cheyenne to get one too...

More nakedness is a good thing.

Best Buy is good Cheyenne...and fun. OH...I like the Sony Vaio machines too! I can't believe I forgot those...reliable (so I have heard) and of course a leader in the video field.

 

[Willing and Unsure]

DO NOT BUY A COMPAQ!!!!!


i have one and it pisses me off nearly every day.. it likes to disagree with one of my drivers on occasion and the whole system crashes for a day or two (basically till i can fix it)... not just that, but the thing is so frickin annoying sometimes and extremely anal (yes i give it personality cuz it acts like me sometimes)..

 

[miles]

I've bought two Dell PC's in the past two years and swear by them. They are slightly more expensive than ones you see advertised at the big retailers but worth the difference if you ever have a problem. Two weeks ago my keyboard died. I called Dell at 3:00 PM, and FedEx delivered a free replacement at 10:00 AM the next day. Their Technical Support is excellent.

I would never buy from any of the big discount retailers. Their return policies suck (Circuit City has a 15% restocking fee) and you won't find many people there with much technical knowledge.

The Dell PC I bought in August had a 17" monitor, 128 MB RAM, 20 GB HD, Rewritable CD, and 1 GB processor, a LAN card, including shipping $850.

Remember - warranty and return/refund policies vary. Be careful.

 

[Problem Child]

Chey- I bought my Dell back in march and the only advice beyond buying as much machine as you can afford is stay away from Windows Me! It sucks! I heard they are discontinuing it and of course they are pushing their latest piece of crap, Windows XP now, but definitely stay away from Me.

That of course is just my personal opinion, I'm sure there are some out there that like it. Of course they are all crazy.

 

[Cheyenne]

Wow! Dell seems to be in the lead. Do they have a long delivery time once you order?

I don't really like the big discount stores like Best Buy only because I know their people are there just to sell, not to actually help you figure out what you need. If I shop there at all, I always know what I'm going in to buy before I walk in the store.

I have a Compaq laptop and I don't want to say anything too bad about it while I'm typing on it because it may hear me and just stop working. The thing locks up on me all the time.

 

[Cheyenne]

I take it Windows XP replaces Windows 2000? I'm still on Windows 95! Does Windows XP come with all the stuff like Word, Excel, etc.?

 

[miles]

Windows Me is garbage. Everything I've read about Windows XP says it's great.

Dell still has Me installed but I think XP is about $40 more - worth it.

 

[miles]

Cheyenne

Word and Excel are seperate from Windows anyhting. They are part of Microsoft Office. Dell comes with Microsoft Works, which is really just a wimpy version of Microsoft Office. Unless you do lots of word procesing and spreadsheet work at home, Works is fine.
If you call Dell they will ask you how you plan on using the PC and make an honest recommendation for hardware and software.

Also, Road Runner may give you the modem for free.

 

[lavender]

 

[lavender]

 

[Barb Dwyer]

stay away from Me! It sucks!
but definitely stay away from Me.

That of course is just my personal opinion, I'm sure there are some out there that like it. Of course they are all crazy.

I really didn't have to do much editing, but I think that is the first time I have ever read those words at Lit!

 

[April]

In all seriousness, some of the pictures I've taken were done with the Canon. Of course, they look better on the monitor than if they were printed out on photographic paper.

The first step, as always, is to do research to figure out what you need and what is extra fluff. The manufacturers web sites are a great place to start.

 

[Barb Dwyer]

Cheyenne,

Many times shopping online presents additional discounts and bonuses. I just checked Dell's site and they are offering a choice of premiums: free printer, scanner, or a CD rewritable drive. They are also offering cash discounts.

I didn't check out their pre-loaded software, but most computers are now shipping with Windows XP and they also offer Microsoft Works- which is a slightly less grandiose version of MS Office. Just fewer bells and whistles but you still get PowerPoint, Excel, Word and (sometimes) Access.

Most manufacturers also offer deals on peripherals as well- digital camera, video camera etc. I'd look at those offers as well since buying a package deal might afford you some significant cost savings from buying individual hardware.

 

[lavender]

 

[Chuckus]

Cheyenne I wish I had some experiences with Dell, Gateway, etc.. but I don't. I build my own machines myself.

I buy the motherboard, processor(s), RAM, etc....and build it myself. I haven't bought a "retail" put together machine, ever.

Now as for what I have read and heard from others that have. Dell is the way to go. Get at least a 1.7 Ghz with at least 256 Megs of RAM (preferably PC800 RAM) and at least 40 GIGAbytes of Hard Drive Space. Plextor CD RW's are the best, IMHO.

My machine at my house is a P3-866Mhz with a Gig of RAM, 32MB Video Card, 80 Gigs of HDD, 52X CD Rom, 10/12/32 Plextor CD-RW, 16X DVD with a Soundblaster LIVE soundcard, LAN Card (3 Com), My board and processor run at 133MHz........hooked up to a 21 inch monitor.......


Good Luck and you will love RoadRunner..........I do.

 

[Problem Child]

Cheyenne I wish I had some experiences with Dell, Gateway, etc.. but I don't. I build my own machines myself.

I buy the motherboard, processor(s), RAM, etc....and build it myself. I haven't bought a "retail" put together machine, ever.

Now as for what I have read and heard from others that have. Dell is the way to go. Get at least a 1.7 Ghz with at least 256 Megs of RAM (preferably PC800 RAM) and at least 40 GIGAbytes of Hard Drive Space. Plextor CD RW's are the best, IMHO.

My machine at my house is a P3-866Mhz with a Gig of RAM, 32MB Video Card, 80 Gigs of HDD, 52X CD Rom, 10/12/32 Plextor CD-RW, 16X DVD with a Soundblaster LIVE soundcard, LAN Card (3 Com), My board and processor run at 133MHz........hooked up to a 21 inch monitor.......


Good Luck and you will love RoadRunner..........I do.

bigshot. (my processor is bigger than yours, so neener)

 

[Cheyenne]

Now as for what I have read and heard from others that have. Dell is the way to go. Get at least a 1.7 Ghz with at least 256 Megs of RAM (preferably PC800 RAM) and at least 40 GIGAbytes of Hard Drive Space. Plextor CD RW's are the best, IMHO.

My machine at my house is a P3-866Mhz with a Gig of RAM, 32MB Video Card, 80 Gigs of HDD, 52X CD Rom, 10/12/32 Plextor CD-RW, 16X DVD with a Soundblaster LIVE soundcard, LAN Card (3 Com), My board and processor run at 133MHz........hooked up to a 21 inch monitor.......

Yikes! I don't even know what half of that stuff is! I've spent the last 45 minutes at the Dell site reading. Out of time for the moment since I have other stuff I have to do today, but I'll get back to this thread and to the Dell site later on. Dell can't be too bad with all of you singing its praises!
Thanks for the help, everyone.

 

[Xander]

Actually the cheapest way to go, is to build the machine yourself. On the other hand you have to know what to put where, and which part is under what guarantee.

Still you can save big bucks doing it like that.