Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Hello EDFers. My laptop has more or less died on me, and at 5 years old, isn't really worth fixing. We've decided to splash out on a new Desktop PC for the family.


Main uses will be media (music & film.), internet (including remote access to work), and word processing. It won't be used for gaming.


Budget ?600 - ?800


PC World have this, which to my untrained eye, looks pretty good, and has ?200 off.


Can anyone point me in the direction of something good, for a good price?


PS. I've never owned a MAC, and probably don't need to go down that road, unless anyone can convince me there is a good reason to.

Link to comment
https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20031-buying-a-new-pc/
Share on other sites

Otta Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------


> PS. I've never owned a MAC, and probably don't

> need to go down that road, unless anyone can

> convince me there is a good reason to.



Well put it this way...


You probably won't be writting a post like this again in 5 yrs time.

What happens if one bit of it goes wrong?


I bought a Sony Vaio laptop about 4 years ago and basically just use it as a server, ie, I plug a monitor, keyboard and mouse into it and it works just fine. It's still fast and it's allowed me to change my screen and keyboard as I desire.


Very happy with Sony and would buy another one when this one dies.




Otta Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Any opinions on All in ones?

Otta Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Any opinions on All in ones?


All in ones (aio) tends to be overpriced, low 'specced' and can be difficult to upgrade/repair.


Apples tend to have quality components but their equipment are overpriced for what they do.


Sony are not exactly a player in the PC market but are renown for their reliable laptops using quality components.


PC World, the shop, tends to mainly caters for those who don't know any better. Likewise with M&S. Better informed people tend to build their own PC as they can build exactly to how they want it.

A word of advice - if you're going to buy through a big shop (PC World) do make sure you are aware of who actually holds the warranty - the shop or the manufacturers. Whilst the shop still have an obligation to deal with any problems within the time outlined in their T&Cs it'll save you a lot of bother especially when the shop will probably try to con you out of money to use their PC assistance thingy :)

PC World is probably fine, as long as you stand your ground and don't buy the shitty warranty.


Personally I wouldn't be tempted by an all-in-one, I'd rather have a separate monitor for the sake of repair/reuse.


Dell is OK-ish, and the prices are good for the basic models (which is all you will really need). But they do load up the PC with crapware.

Well it seems the Insight's HP units are mainly 'specced' for business users. For example it has windows professional and only 2gb of RAM which frankly is disappointing.


The monitor is okay but there are much better ones for just a bit more money. Alternatively, a monitor with much better picture quality can be bought for less if height adjustment is not needed.


Typically the going rate of 8GB of RAM is ?42 and this works out to around ?5 per GB. ACM has stated ?20 per GB for memory which sounds ridiculously expensive. Typically 4GB should be enough for most users and the only reason for buying more is to future proof your system as software these days are not very efficient in hardware usage.


ACM, are you still claiming to be an IT consultant?

I had a quick look at PC World. For the same cash you can get an HP PC, also with an i3 processor - very slightly slower, but with double the memory and double the hard drive space. I know which one I'd choose. You also have the option of going to the shop to pick it up, rather than having to take a day off work to wait for the delivery.

I always go to John Lewis - service and knowledge is first class and their warranties are well worth the money. Bought my HP desktop from their 3 years ago and never a problem.


In fact here's a nice one with a 2 year warranty to boot ...


http://www.johnlewis.com/231302259/Product.aspx

ibilly99 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I always go to John Lewis - service and knowledge

> is first class and their warranties are well worth

> the money. Bought my HP desktop from their 3 years

> ago and never a problem.

>

> In fact here's a nice one with a 2 year warranty

> to boot ...

>

> http://www.johnlewis.com/231302259/Product.aspx


That does look pretty good actually. And funnily enough, my wife is a big John Lewis fan, and pointed out last night that we have ?100 in vouchers left over from our wedding (4 years ago!), so it's looking like JL may well be the place for us to go. There is a JL at the new Westfields in Stratford too, which is very easy to get to from Forest Hill, ON oVERGROUND & jUBILEE lINE.

Jeremy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> > I wouldn't p*ss on PC World if they were on

> fire.

>

> What's the difference between an HP unit from

> Insight and a HP machine from PC World?



* hand held up high *


" Me sir, me. Is it P.C World ? "

Otta Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hello EDFers. My laptop has more or less died on

> me, and at 5 years old, isn't really worth fixing.

> We've decided to splash out on a new Desktop PC

> for the family.

>

> Main uses will be media i-pad(music & film.)i-pad, internet

> (including remote access to work)i-pad, and word

> processing. i-pad


It won't be used for gaming.

>

> Budget ?399-?599 @ J.Lewis

>

> PC World have this, which to my untrained eye,

> looks pretty good, and has ?200 off.

>

> Can anyone point me in the direction of something

> good, for a good price? i-pad

>

> PS. I've never owned a MAC, and probably don't

> need to go down that road, unless anyone can

> convince me there is a good reason to. i-pad



And you'll get to fall in love with what you buy.( with all the security of John lewis & your vouchers )


You just know it makes sense.


NetteB)

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • The co-op uses ATMs operated by Cardtronics, and they also operate a digital ATM service (meaning he could have made those transactions electronically).  That cashpoint is operated by Natwest. It sounds like he brought up their 'Get Cash' scheme screen as the distraction (a way that allows Natwest customers to withdraw cash without needing to use their card). So he was using a skimming device to steal your card in that moment, but brought up the Get Cash screen to distract you while he did that. Your confusion was just long enough for him to get away. Card thieves are incredibly slick. Here is some info on Natwest Get Cash for reference - 'To use a Get Cash code at a NatWest ATM, you first initiate the withdrawal through the NatWest mobile app, which generates a secure code. You then visit a compatible ATM (NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, or Tesco ATMs). At the ATM, press the "Enter" key and follow the on-screen prompts, entering the code twice. The code is valid for 3 hours, and if expired, funds will be recredited to your account.' I use that cashpoint all the time, so it's good to know if a local thief is targetting Natwest ATMs.  
    • So, i've had time to think about ever step of this incident. The main points are: I'd entered my pin number and was on the screen/page where you put in how much you want to withdraw At exactly that point the guy appeared and said the machine had taken his card, and started waving his hands over screen A 'menu' option came up on screen with two choices, one bottom left, one bottom right The bottom left option said something about entering a code to continue with transaction The guy was saying "press that or it'll take your card" - I didn't press either but he might have I haven't ever seen these on-screen options before - I didn't enter any details The guy then disappeared I pressed the 'cancel' button on keypad - the physical keypad - same screen options remained - no card was returned Within 30 seconds of me realising card wasn't coming out I froze card on banking app and immediately had two txt msgs from bank saying transactions were being declined (but one for £251 had already gone though). The ref on bank statement for all three was: CARDTRONICS UK LTD BT KIOSK O/S 54 EA. Bank statement also said the date, time and that there was a £1.50 ATM withdrawl fee.  I checked to see if there's a cashpoint in newsagent next door, but there's not. The cashpoint at petrol station is free so no ATM fee there eiher.   
    • Indeed and I am sure many will go for the music, which I also like. But, for me, at least, none of that makes up for or justifies the wider impact on the park, on the flora and fauna, on the parks' regular users, and on those living near by that are distressed by the noise- the next three days will not be Lover's Rock. In terms of overall impact, we are also talking weeks and months, with the aftermath always problematic with the main area so damaged it has to be reseeded each year and is rendered unusable the rest of summer. My biggest fear is that they will start to grow and add to this event, each year.
    • Please help us find Yun LAU.  He was last seen on Dunstans Road at 12.30 today (23/5/25). He has dementia and is quite deaf. If found, please call police who have his details, or his daughter Jennie (07769666524)
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...