What will your *next* computer purchase likely be?

My Win 7 laptop is only 2 years old so I hope I don't need anything new for a few years. But I'm leaning towards a Win Tablet with keyboard accessory.

 

over 40% of email I read on iPhone, and 50% or more on iPad if there's attachment. Over 50% of email reading in details or read again on iPad. However, long replies on emails and cleaning up of them on a desktop (Mac now and PC in the past). Maps and navigation on iPhone, iPad more and desktop browsers less.

In addition, I use iPhone, iPad and dual-screen Macbook Air/Pro, and even an Apple TV on over 50" screen together sometimes to achieve larger and better functionality desktop area. I am not using a smartphone as a pc because I don't use smartphone and I don't use pc anymore. Instead, I use iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV.

To me, iPhone and iPad have substantially substituted a desktop, and even a notebook. But be fair, I'm still using Microsoft Office 2011, especially Word, on Mac. The Notebook Layout View is beautiful on Microsoft Word for Mac and not available on Microsoft Word for PC yet.

 

Being that I've had a strong desire to build my next PC, that's the way I'm going. No crapware to deal with.

Probably will grab the i5 3770, 16GB DDR3 1600 RAM & another 180GB Intel 330 SSD & install Windows 7 Pro, will dual boot with the current Linux Mint.

Unless MS makes drastic changes to keep it's customers satisfied, Windows 7 is the end of the road for me & MS. Have two Windows 8 OS's installed, one great, one not so great. Certainly not worth $200.

Linux is going to see strong growth, provided the current atmosphere doesn't change soon, one advantage being that it runs great on Intel hardware w/o having to manually install drivers. Another, it's a 100% free OS, not only in cost, but also to fix anything that may need it & freely distribute it to anyone w/o question or penalty.

It also has LibreOffice, a near drop in replacement for MS Office, & can also be ran on Windows OS's. It's also free of charge.

If one knows how to run any other browser besides IE (Firefox, Chrome or Opera), one is well on their way to running Linux. Users from the old school will feel right at home behind the powerful terminal (command line), being able to run the terminal is having more control over one's computer.

This will be a fun build indeed.

Cat

 

I know that you can get Windows emulated on a Mac, but that never really made sense, and probably not Win 8. To take a Mac with an Intel chip and a load of RAM, and slow things down with an emulator ... why not just get Windows on a PC? You spend less for the PC type boxes than for Mac. Mac's have always been overpriced for equivalent hardware anyway.

As for Linux, the saying (for me) is, "I'm getting too old for this spit!" Truly, while I've never played with Linux, it always sounds like DOS on Steroids. I loved DOS and used BAT/Command files to automate everything I could think of automating. So Linux must be just as much fun.

Thanks to Arie, I only paid $35.00 for a pair of DVDs, one with Win 8 Pro 32-bit, the other 64-bit and still upgraded from a download. I don't think I ever would have gone to Win 8 Pro if it cost even $100.

Thanks for the pointer on LibreOffice - I have to check it out.

Cheers!

 

I paid a total of $55 for my two Windows 8 Pro upgrades, one was only $15 because I bought my granddaughter a notebook for school.

Didn't want anyone here to think that I was that crazy to pay $200, that's what the upgrade costs today. And still have to fork over an additional $10 for a watered down WMC. I say watered down because MS stripped my favorite part of the app last summer w/o announcement (to my knowledge), Free Streaming Internet TV. Why????? My guess is so that they could sell Netflix at the Windows Store for Windows 8 users.

Yes, LibreOffice really good, many considers it as good as MS Office, it all depends on what it's used for. What little that I do with it, it works fine.

Linux of today is quite different from just five years ago, Mint being the top distro, behind Ubuntu. Both are good, Mint is more refined & uses less resources. What caused Mint to pull in front of Ubuntu was their insistence on GNOME 3, many users including myself doesn't like it.

Clem at Mint runs a fantastic operation & has climbed the charts fast, considering Mint was founded in 2006.

Actually one can save the money & go solely with Linux, if desired. If all one does on the computer is web browse, send/receive emails, use Skype/Google Talk, make transactions, everything needed is there. I use the OS daily, probably more than Windows 7 & certainly more than Windows 8. The more it's used, the faster it gets (unlike Windows).

However, please don't take my contribution to this thread as a Windows bashing one, because I do use Windows 7 & likely will until support is gone in 2020. It's a great OS also, & probably will be still be quite popular then, just as XP still is in it's dying days, quite a run for what was once considered garbage by many until SP2 was released.

Hopefully, I'll get that new PC built in late November/early December, there are killer deals on components during that time. I have worked on many, but have never built one. Most likely I can build for $800 what would cost nearly twice that at many retailers.

Cat

 

I selected a Windows laptop, but that won't be for a while. I have a 2 yo laptop that is doing just fine right now. I don't imagine needing to replace for another 2-3 years. We also have an HP desktop that is 3 yo, but most likely won't need replacing before then, either.

At this point there's no way I'd buy myself another desktop. I've got a 15.4" laptop that gives me a big enough screen so that I don't miss desktops, but the portability (I take it to work) is just too much to pass on.

I wasn't thinking about this, but its highly possible that my next computer purchase would be a Mac laptop. My daughter's school has one of these "laptop classroom" initiatives where at one grade level, everyone pays $1600 for a Mac laptop and tells themselves what a great deal it is, and how their children's education is worth it. If I can get away with using a Windows laptop of course I will, but its not likely.

 

No it doesn't! W8 upgrades can be found for $80. Even Microsoft does not charge full retail MSRP for Windows upgrades.

 

Microsoft.com > Windows 8 Pro upgrade - $199.99 USD ERP

MicrosoftStore.com > Windows 8 Pro Upgrade - $199.99

 

Windows 8 Pro Upgrade under $100 - all over the Internet.

 

Unless you're counting that one penny discount.

 

Okay - got me there, but note MS has had promotion prices much less too, and Microsoft provides significant discount options through many organizations and education packages.

In any case, who pays full retail suggested prices through the manufacturer for anything?

 

Thanks, Big Time, to Arie!

Arie pointed me towards the $15 upgrade to 8 Pro from 7 Home Premium, and I downloaded and installed. A few weeks later, I received two DVDs, one for 32-bit 8 Pro, the other for 64-bit 8 Pro. I guess they're both upgrades, not fresh installs.

But it was "such a deal," that I couldn't resist, then paid the price in angst and problems until I did a Win 8 Refresh. Now, with minor exceptions, it runs pretty well.

And again, thanks to Arie, our fearless (fearsome?) leader.

cheers.

 

I've been forced into it. My faithful Desktop has fried the ATX connector on the Motherboard and I'm lucky it's my birthday on Saturday.

My son has given me his 3 year old Asus AM3 M4A785TD-V EVO motherboard and other goodies, so it's build time!

I don't think there's much likelihood of PC's of Desktop size being stolen as easily as Laptops, notebooks, Ipads etc.
But it is amazing when you go to the Retail shops how few Desktop PC's are available! Cheers Neil.

 

Sorry you've been forced into it. I got a new/refurb a couple of years ago and will never buy that brand again.

Meanwhile, my HP Pavilion needs a new motherboard and if I can find the right size, which will take the CPU and memory I have for it, I'll do it in a heartbeat, as it's much better than the dual core desktop I did get.

Not dual core, but a good, solid P4 at 2.2 GHz.

Have fun, Neil!

Cheers.

 

I believe that most contents created are now on smartphones, not on computers.

 

As an example, it would be difficult to create things such as blueprints for bridges, buildings and homes, design automobiles, furniture and clothes, create and maintain ecommerce websites, etc., all on a smartphone.

 

I don't want to bring 2 notebooks (a Mac & an PC)in my hand carry luggage. Thy all Intel i7 anyway. Win 8 can be native on Mac via Dual boot (boot camp). Mac has apps with only a few bucks, while some other apps may priced same expensively on Windows. Windows 8 on Mac a bit slower, needs more RAM, under virtualization, but same speed if run under BootCamp, not using "Emulation ", just no need. Overpriced? What about SONY? Besides, a $799 Mac Mini is the best desktop for everyone and a $99 Airport Express WiFi Dual Band Router is the final one after getting rid of a D-Link, NetComm, NetGear and a Belkin high end home use models.

 

Whoo Hoo, Arie! That's good pricing even for a Sony!

Thanks.

Cheers!

-a.

 

Arie,

Sony is plastic; MacBook Air is Aluminum.

So, get a Chromebook for less than $400. All Windows based notebooks are over-priced too.

Having said that, Chromebook is also an overpriced toy for ToysRus to sell.