Comments | missprinty: I need techy help for buying a new PC

missprinty

I need techy help for buying a new PC

Oct 27, 2006 02:33

The time has come to replace this behemoth with something a bit more snazzy, speedy and less prone to BSODs, as that can only mean one thing to this PC, immanent death. We're on HDD four or five, and we know the signs. This is a MESH PC, and it's been a bit of a problem to us, but I know some folk love them, so for the right price, we might ( Read more... )

Comments 9

kniblet October 27 2006, 02:23:08 UTC

Ooh, shopping! And such fun shopping too.

I can see why you didn't include me in your high hopes. You might want to cast your eye at the lovely Ms _generica_, though. :)

missprinty October 27 2006, 02:56:31 UTC

Oh noes! I completely forgot Jen was here on LJ. Yes, Jen, HELP!

_generica_ October 27 2006, 08:46:25 UTC

You rang? :o)

You first need to decide if you want a notebook or a desktop, I think. Notebooks, while convenient, will give you about half the performance of a desktop for the same price.

The second thing is, do you really need an external hard drive? Are the BSODs caused by a disk error, or by internal electronics? Because if your HDD is okay, then that can be removed from the old pooter and installed in the new pooter as an additional drive. That only applies to desktops, of course.

Have a look online at Dell. We got our latest desktop from there and it's spiffy. In particular, I was looking at this one: Pooter!

It looks like it would meet your requirements. The only problem is that it comes with monitor, mouse and keyboard, which you don't really need.

Hmmm.

dakegra October 27 2006, 10:57:40 UTC

replacing the old HD would depend on the size of box you had though - my Dell at my old place was *tiny* and barely had room for the HD in it already. So, if you're thinking of doing that, it's probably worth specifying it when you order

that said, you can pick up an external HD enclosure fairly cheaply, I understand. But for £65, go for the WD MyBook. Plugs in via USB so you can shift it around between 'puters if and when you change them.

Thread 5

dibsy October 27 2006, 02:26:44 UTC

Unfortunately my love of the shiny extends pretty much to Macs at the moment, and I'm not really sure what to get in the UK nowadays.

i failed you. i weep.

missprinty October 28 2006, 00:07:58 UTC

Pfft, Macs! Pretty, but pricey. Though H is going to get to grips with them as the PC labs are always full whereas the Mac labs are always empty. As she ahs the patience of a thirsty cat, this might actually be a good idea. Can you see her queueing for a still warm PC? No, me neither.

dakegra October 27 2006, 08:51:05 UTC

I bought an external drive shiny from amazon for £65 (free shipping). I'll dig out a link. It's very nice, plugs in via USB and holds 250Gb of Stuff. Western Digital MyBook.

Check out Dell.com, they seem to have some pretty good deals for the computer boxes

missprinty October 27 2006, 23:59:14 UTC

Thanks Dave, all suggestions gratefully received as I am so hopeless at these sort of things. Also, if we tell Dad we broke the shiny (which he bought for us) without having a good back-up plan, he's liable to froth at the mouth. I think I may have enough to present him with a good case for us buying the big box, and him maybe giving H a notebook at some later date.

The external wassname is a good idea if we do get a notebook, beef it up a little and extend it's useful life.