Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2017 6:39:53 GMT
It is several years since I replaced our home desktop PC. I bought a fast Packard Bell machine which has lasted well but it's starting to malfunction.
I have wandered the web but am getting confused. Recommendations please for a PC which will permit the usual basis functions of email, browsing and Word/Excel. Budget say £300-£400?
Similarly , I need a couple of laptops for work; same basic functions. The last one I bought was a Samsung from Argos which was to slow out of the box and to heavy but I needed one in a rush. Similar budget I suppose. Screen size 14" - 15.6".
Too much choice and want some items with a bit of power for future proofing. Help?
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Apr 23, 2017 10:26:48 GMT
You've got a teenage son, haven't you? Why are you wasting your time on us?
🤔
For home, I'd seriously consider separating processing from storage and spending a few hundred quid on a capable NAS. Store your files on that and buy a bare bones PC (that's what they call them), either on a stick or in a case the size of a CD box set. You probably already have a screen and keyboard with life left in them.
Laptops are more personal, as feel matters, especially the keyboard. I have an old (2011) HP Pavilion laptop here whose keyboard is simply terrible, but I've played with modern Pavilions and been impressed - much more like the Elitebook G2 that I use for work. Asus laptops feel nice too; Lenovos don't. Your fingers may vary, of course.
I'd go to Currys or John Lewis, find a brand and style I liked - look at screens too, especially if you need to work outdoors - then shop on price and spec. I'd want an i5 or m5 processor for work stuff. I want that for home now too, because editing photos is too much work for an old, slow machine.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2017 11:57:54 GMT
You've got a teenage son, haven't you? Why are you wasting your time on us? 🤔 For home, I'd seriously consider separating processing from storage and spending a few hundred quid on a capable NAS. Store your files on that and buy a bare bones PC (that's what they call them), either on a stick or in a case the size of a CD box set. You probably already have a screen and keyboard with life left in them. Laptops are more personal, as feel matters, especially the keyboard. I have an old (2011) HP Pavilion laptop here whose keyboard is simply terrible, but I've played with modern Pavilions and been impressed - much more like the Elitebook G2 that I use for work. Asus laptops feel nice too; Lenovos don't. Your fingers may vary, of course. I'd go to Currys or John Lewis, find a brand and style I liked - look at screens too, especially if you need to work outdoors - then shop on price and spec. I'd want an i5 or m5 processor for work stuff. I want that for home now too, because editing photos is too much work for an old, slow machine. Thanks. Posting this from North London on my way to Wembley.... I saw these small modem router size boxes being offered as PCs. Don't know how you set them up but I do have all the peripherals. Found a specialist laptop shop near Huddersfield so might go there for feel. I could end up buying four, my son is going to university and my father and my mother-in-law could do with new machines....hoping for discount for quantity. |
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Post by Hofmeister on Apr 23, 2017 16:47:32 GMT
Setting up and managing a separate NAS is far too much agro for non nerdy people.
Laptop? any midrange Intel I5 based HP or Lenovo.
Desktop? ditto.
Tho really for laptop you need a macbook, but thats over twice your budget.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2017 17:25:55 GMT
Setting up and managing a separate NAS is far too much agro for non nerdy people. Laptop? any midrange Intel I5 based HP or Lenovo. Desktop? ditto. Tho really for laptop you need a macbook, but thats over twice your budget. MacBook - don't want Apple. In my business all the apps we use are not available on Mac OS. My teenage boys thankfully have little technical knowledge of computers, spending more time doing homework, playing sport and real face to face socialising. However at times like this, a little bit of nerdism wouldn't go amiss. In the meantime your advice gratefully received. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2017 17:42:22 GMT
Well, a staff member rang around for me and found an HP laptop with i5 processor, 8Gb RAM & 256Gb SSD. A good deal especially if we bought a few, so we bought five and also Office. However on looking at the Office supplied it is Home and Student so comes without Outlook. Not impressed by the underhanded selling process even if the main bits were a decent price (under £475 each inc VAT ).
So whilst I will have to stomach the additional cost of getting Outlook, the others who will use these items do not need all the functionality of Office and could cope with a clone if I decide to return these versions to the shop. I have used OpenOffice in the past and would be happy to use it again. But is there anything that mirrors Outlook; I. e. Move seamlessly between email and diary functions in one app?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2017 17:48:09 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2017 17:52:59 GMT
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Rob
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Post by Rob on May 5, 2017 21:32:32 GMT
Return all copies of Office Home and Student because you are not permitted to use it in a business.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2017 22:04:40 GMT
The people who will use the laptops other than me are not in the business, but family members so they will not be breaking any rules. I need Outlook so I will return one.
I don't want Office 365 as I do not wish to pay an annual license for Office.. Our files are stored on our own server so do not need that facility and I am not always in contact with the Internet to use it.
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