Where to buy a new computer.

upnover

upnover

Grumpy, decrepit Old Man
Moderator
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Morganton NC
My daughter is looking for a new computer. She wants a new one. One suitable for a 8 year old and a 13 yr old to do their home schooling work on, and one suitable for her as she is planning on going back to school at the community college.
Other that Walmart, who else sells them. She wants one that is going to be dependable. She has not had good luck with used units at all, unlike myself, I have had nothing but used ones with pretty good luck.
Other than how and who it will be used, she wants a larger flat screen for sure.
So, we are in Morganton, where should she shop for one?
TIA
 
If you want a Windows machine that's a desktop, look at the current generation of desktops that are really tiny (about the size of a cable modem, etc). They can't really be upgraded other than hard drive and memory (sometimes the wireless NIC), but they're basically the guts of a laptop in a small box that uses an external monitor. Cheap and awesome for everything except gaming, where you would need more GPU horsepower.

If the kids were going to public school, I'd suggest a Chromebox because that would be a very familiar feel if they used Chromebooks in school. ChromeOS has some limitations though, so don't do that without some research first. We've got 2 Chromeboxes and 1 Chromebook at home, so I'm well versed in what they're good at. I have a Win10 machine for my general needs.
 
I have ordered from Newegg before and had great luck. Pick and choose your options and it’s quick delivery with very fair prices. I have my oldest laptop that still powers up and runs fine after a handful of deployments and PCS moves as well. I have pretty much stopped using a computer except for my desktop at work but if I were to buy one again I’d go to them in a heartbeat. Pay attention and they have flash deals and “egg-breakers” or mobile only sale deals too.
 
If she's planning to go back to school, I'd start by asking if they have any recommendations/requirements for the program she plans to do, and if they have any student discounts on computers or software.

Beyond that, I'd watch the sales papers for the office supply stores and pick one. I got my wife a decent dell laptop about a year ago from office depot with a comprehensive 2 year replacement policy (because my son pulled the last one off the couch and killed it) for not much over $400 if I remember correctly.
 
If you are willing to do the research and take the time, Amazon is a really good place to get a good price.

My dad has had a lot of luck with Intrex computers as well.
 
The only way I can tolerate a laptop is with a separate mouse. Anything else and I want to smash it to smithereens for being to tiny for my manly hands.

I'm a big fan of a desktop with TWO monitors.(Or laptop with a dock station)

Seriously - once you rock a computer with dual monitors, you'll never go back. Life is so easy with two screens open at the same time.
 
Atla said:
Seriously - once you rock a computer with dual monitors, you'll never go back. Life is so easy with two screens open at the same time.
Click to expand...

Or three screens, when I have my work laptop in the docking station with 2 monitors hooked up to it. The third (laptop) screen is where all the tertiary bullshit lives, like music players and Skype stuff that I need visible but not right in my primary field of view.
 
Ebay
 
Whats wrong with Walmart?
Same computers as everyone else. Usually at a very hard to beat price.
Get the extended warranty thingy they offer, it's legit.(replaced a laptop my youngest dumped a cuppa Starbucks on)

Matt
 
Fabrik8 said:
If the kids were going to public school, I'd suggest a Chromebox because that would be a very familiar feel if they used Chromebooks in school.
Click to expand...

X2 on this. They will know how to run them and probably already have google docs accounts. As cheap as chromebooks are, I would get one AND a laptop. Thats what we have at the house and it works out well.
 
Fabrik8 said:
Or three screens, when I have my work laptop in the docking station with 2 monitors hooked up to it. The third (laptop) screen is where all the tertiary bullshit lives, like music players and Skype stuff that I need visible but not right in my primary field of view.
Click to expand...
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IMG_20180719_095630.jpg
 
IMG_3168.JPG
Triple 27's for the win. Way too big. Didn't realize it at the time.

But never the less building a computer is not very difficult and (if you're careful) can get more bang for the buck. Forever upgradeable
 
I use 2 monitors with my new laptop ( from Wally World) internettin' on the laptop with radio and random stuff parked on the other.

very convenient.

Matt
 
Lizooki said:
Whats wrong with Walmart?
Same computers as everyone else. Usually at a very hard to beat price.
Get the extended warranty thingy they offer, it's legit.(replaced a laptop my youngest dumped a cuppa Starbucks on)

Matt
Click to expand...
I was wondering this too. My $800 Lenovo laptop that I had bought from Best Buy crapped out a little over 3 years ago. I didn't have much money to replace it with so I went to Walmart for a replacement. Bought the chealest laptop they had, was on sale for $209. I'm typing on it right now.
 
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