cruzmisl Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 HI All, Been out of the game for a while and my Dad needs a new PC. I don't want to build anything I just need to get him something that will run out of the box, will be reasonably quick for the near future and fits within his low budget. I was considering this http://www.jr.com/gateway/pe/GTW_SX280003/ or this, http://www.jr.com/gateway/pe/GTW_DX420009/ any ideas on which is the better value? No games just a standard computer for surfing the net, odd movie etc. Thanks! Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryan Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 At 72 I rather like a laptop. I am able to move from room to room or even out to the porch. There are some nice ones here. http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/Laptops/(,400),/price,/133/subcat.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanny Posted October 10, 2009 Report Share Posted October 10, 2009 A few years ago, I bought my dad (in his 70s) a basic Dell laptop. It's still doing fine, and he loves it. Nothing fancy. But does what he likes it to do. I just bought him an ipod touch, and he LOVES it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffB Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 If I were buying a computer for a family member, especially one that I would have play tech support for, I would buy them a Mac. PCs are simply too much trouble and require too much maintenance to keep them running virus/trojan/malware free. A Mac might be outside your budget but when you take into consideration total cost of ownership and resale value, Macs end up up being a better deal. Both of the computers you linked to have more than enough power for web browsing and movie watching so I would just pick one based on budget. The first machine has better processor specs and it is a better looking machine IMHO but only you can say whether that is worth $90. If you are going to go the PC route I would wait a little longer to buy a machine. Windows 7 is due out at the end of the month and everything I have read indicates it is much better than Vista. Good luck with whatever you decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mguerra Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 Once you go Mac... The day I switched to Mac, I never looked back! Consider, you spent somewhere between 2000 to 4000 for a "grill" because you wanted the best. Well, apply that thinking to your computer purchase, it's worth a few extra bucks to go Mac. They are so much easier to use and hassle free than a PC, those TV ads are actually accurate! I keep one pos PC around the house, and NEVER use it. What I'm talking about is regular consumer use, surfing, email, music, photos and so on. Perhaps there are some specific applications where PC is superior, but I'm unaware. Go to an Apple store and they will show you. Mac is where it's at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanny Posted October 11, 2009 Report Share Posted October 11, 2009 Well, yah... when I bought myself a laptop, I bought a Mac. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitman Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 I have a Sony Vaio laptop with a 17" high-def (1020p) screen, and a Blue-Ray DVD player. I enjoy watching DVDs more on the laptop than on my 42" LCD TV. Does MAC make a high-def laptop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffB Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 Does MAC make a high-def laptop? Since nearly every laptop has enough display resolution to handle HD I am going to assume your question refers to the aspect ratio of the display. If that is the case then yes, every Apple laptop (that I am aware of) has a display in the widescreen format. Does that answer the question? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syzygies Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 I'm a Mac person, but I've been buying various youngsters in our extended family Dell netbooks. Awesome value for $300, size is nice too. They make a regular laptop look like a 1970's cell phone. The definition of full monty hi def is 1920 x 1080, a 16 by 9 aspect ratio. For work I always buy Dell monitors that go 1920 x 1200, which is a 16 by 10 aspect ratio. The extra height is nice for documents. This will "letterbox" nicely to 1080 for hi def video. I don't have a TV signal in my NY apartment, and I recently replaced my old tube TV with a $200 Dell 1920 x 1080 monitor, which goes with a $40 up-sampling DVD player, my stereo system, and my Netflix subscription. A vast improvement; anyone who hasn't done so already should get every tube out of their life. A MacBook is 1280 by 800 native resolution; The MacBook Pro resolutions are 1280 by 800 (13"), 1440 by 900 (15"), and 1920 by 1200 (17"). These are 16 by 10 aspect ratios, which all will "letterbox" to a 16 by 9 aspect ratio. However, only the 17" has the full pixels for hi def as it is defined. What complicates this is that Macs as of now don't read Blu-Ray disks, which is the only way to deliver this many pixels to a laptop, so any DVD is up-sampling to any of these screen sizes. They all have the horsepower to do this much better than a $40 up-sampling DVD player. Similarly, anyone considering an Apple TV that has the money to fly KK class just ups the ante and buys a Mac mini instead. Over twice the horsepower, and fewer restrictions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzmisl Posted October 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 I told Pops that he should get a Mac, then he asked how much so I told him. He laughed and told me to beat it Need to remember this is a guy that has a tough time checking his email. Anyway, I got him the Intel unit. For $430 its pretty tough to beat regardless of the make. Its WAAAY more than he will ever need. I was looking at the Mac's though and they are hyooge loot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syzygies Posted October 13, 2009 Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 was looking at the Mac's though and they are hyooge loot. Hey, people say the same thing about the KK. You can get halfway there for less than half the money if you're tone deaf. Same with Macs. As a mathematician I am stunned at my good fortune to be alive in the first century of the computer revolution, and I would need to be institutionalized if I dwelled too long on the degree to which Microsoft has ruined that experience for the masses. They're the frozen ground patties of the meat market; the only difference is that the E. Coli don't arrive till you hook up to the net. Macs are rib eye steaks. Linux is brisket, takes work, or great if ground into burgers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzmisl Posted October 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2009 Haha, I like the analogy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidS Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 I am looking at mac. Have had it with minisoft and all the problems. It seems like every update the windows system turns into a POS. After the first of the year I think I will have Mac. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisLinkletter Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 Refurbished/reconditioned Macs. I usually purchase refurbished/reconditioned Macs. For myself I get them directly from Apple with full warranty. These are usually computers that have been returned and refitted with new parts. Great VALUE.. http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac For my business, a bit more used, one model back saves you a ton. http://www.macofalltrades.com/Apple_Notebooks_s/5.htm I just bought a 30" display from directly from Apple for $1,299 and saved $500 It was indistinguishable from new.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisLinkletter Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 Here's a home run! 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo $499 http://www.macofalltrades.com/Apple_Intel_Core_Duo_1_83GHz_17_iMac_1_0_160GB_p/icd183im171.htm System configuration: 17" LCD Widescreen Display 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo 1.0GB RAM 160GB Hard Drive DVD-RW/CD-RW SuperDrive-DL X1600 video card (128MB) Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR Airport Extreme card 2- FireWire ports 3- USB 2.0 ports Ethernet port Built-in iSight Remote control NOT included Tested and reconditioned with a 30-day hardware warranty. Ships with OS 10.4 (Tiger) preloaded on hard drive. No additional software has been installed i.e. iLife, iWork, Microsoft Office, Adobe CS. OS disks not included. The first Macintosh to feature an Intel processor instead of a PowerPC, this Intel iMac operates at higher operating speeds than its previous incarnations and is capable of running both Mac and PC applications. All of this hardware power is merged into the monitor, creating a single all-in-one Intel iMac that promotes creativity for all trades, including art design, media editing, and software programming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mguerra Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 mini Don't forget Mac Mini. It's a little box about the size of two packs of playing cards. Hook it up to your keyboard, display and mouse, and you are in to Mac for a value price! Check it out: http://www.apple.com/macmini/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maherussell Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 Computer Help You could buy an inexpensive machine that does not have to be the latest and greatest and have Linux OS installed. Similar operating system to Mac with no cost for software as it is free for the most part. I was going to buy a Mac to get away from Microsoft and all the problems, but changed to Linux and have not had any problems since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidS Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 My days with Vista are about over, AT LAST. I just ordered an iMac 21.5. should have it in a before month end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syzygies Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 swamped at work Nice! You'll love it. One of the new ones they just announced today? (A water main broke in my office ceiling, and my iMac survived the experience, power on.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffB Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 My days with Vista are about over, AT LAST. I just ordered an iMac 21.5. should have it in a before month end. Good timing on your part. For anyone else interested in a Mac (or any other Apple product really), be sure to check out the Mac Buyer's Guide before purchasing so you don't get caught buying just before new products are released. Apple has a habit of giving you more for the same price or less that previous products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
