looking a new build for female user

[from416]

her laptop is dying,(i3 cpu,8gm ram) so looking for a desktop replacement,

small size form,can do heavy internet browsing,watch HD video for sure.

I am thinking to diy with amd kaveri, seems cpu power is kinda low.

she usually open chrome browser with 10+ tabs all day along for online store,

also with skype video call,facebook etc.

since bestbuy accepts paypal, she is considering to get one from bestbuy,

here is the link, please advice for the best value,thanks

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product...spx?path=83650528e60c32435c42744f8899eb8cen02

 

[Charlie98]

The PC you linked is absurd overkill for the given purpose... she doesn't need anything near an i7.

If she was getting by with an i3 laptop, an i3 desktop would work well... even a Pentium desktop would probably work, too.

It will be a trade-off... getting a prebuilt vs building one, at least in that price range. For that matter, Newegg takes PayPal...

 

[from416]

sorry, I mean this one

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product...spx?path=83650528e60c32435c42744f8899eb8cen02

 

[Charlie98]

That's better... the only downside to that one is the 5400RPM HDD in it. Depending on her storage requirements, I would swap an SSD in there, it would really help her day-to-day use.

 

[from416]

I just found out they are out of stock at bestbuy.ca

this one is $50 cheaper with I3 cpu, should be good deal?

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-ca/prod...spx?path=e538649bc6be62c5902242731dd38c0fen02

 

[from416]

and by the way, how much different with windows 7 and 8?

she only knows 7

 

[piasabird]

That is not a bad price but I would never buy any Acer Computer. I built mine myself. Don't exactly know what a final price was. Don't forget about shipping costs!

Case - Cooler Master 130 Elite M-ITX $49
MB - GA-Z87N-WIFI 802.11ac $129
CPU - i3 4330 3.5 GHZ, HD4600, 4MEG CACHE $124
RAM - GSkill 8Gig (2X4) $67
HD - 1 Gig WD BLU $69
Optical Drive - Used DVD
Keyboard/Mouse - Logistics K400 Wireless $39
OS - Win 7 Home Premium $99

I prefer Win7. The reason is that I may want to play DVD's or Blu Rays. Win 7 also has better multimedia software without paying $99 more for it. I use mine for watching TV and Video on the Internet with my HDTV.

You can get a Motherboard with a cheaper Chipset for a little less. It costs more because I also wanted the Wireless Centrino Card.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

I prefer Win7. The reason is that I may want to play DVD's or Blu Rays. Win 7 also has better multimedia software without paying $99 more for it. I use mine for watching TV and Video on the Internet with my HDTV.

I just want to point out that you'll not be playing commercial blurays without 3rd party software anyway on either 7 or 8(.1)...

(Intel's drivers also do not support commercial bluray playback on either Vista or XP)

Also for DVD's there the free choice between MPC-HC or VLC. So lack of DVD support is not a big deal in my book... ()

 

[piasabird]

I don't think you are right. I just put in a DVD and Microsoft Media Player started playing it right away. It was not a Blu Ray though. Might need a player for that. I don't have a blu ray player, but probably would come with Blu Ray Software. You could be partially right.

 

[ViRGE]

I don't think you are right. I just put in a DVD and Microsoft Media Player started playing it right away. It was not a Blu Ray though. Might need a player for that. I don't have a blu ray player, but probably would come with Blu Ray Software. You could be partially right.

Yeah, you need a 3rd party player (i.e. PowerDVD) for Blu-Rays. Windows does not have native BD playback.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

I don't think you are right. I just put in a DVD and Microsoft Media Player started playing it right away. It was not a Blu Ray though. Might need a player for that. I don't have a blu ray player, but probably would come with Blu Ray Software. You could be partially right.

Windows XP/Vista/7 supports DVD playback directly in Windows Media Player. Windows 8(.1) does not, because MS removed the feature, due to licensing cost. But as I wrote, when two (and more) freeware players can do DVD playback, its not an issue...

I think you're mixing a few things. DVD support does not have to be built-in to the OS for it to work. A 3rd party player can always handle playback, no matter which version of windows you're using.

Blurays are another matter entirely, as you need OS (Protected Video/Audio Path) and driver support. You also need a HDCP compliant monitor, and licensed (e.g. certified by the Bluray Disc Association) bluray playback software.

 

[Charlie98]

and by the way, how much different with windows 7 and 8?

she only knows 7

8's interface is much different than 7... up front. There are solutions to W8's GUI if you don't like it (many don't.) From what I understand, W8 is a better OS by design, even over 7. Is it that much different? Only the user can determine that....

I went kicking and screaming to W7 2 years ago... and all for nothing, W7 is solid. Don't be afraid of W8 or W8.1

As far as building a PC over buying one... it's a wash at that price point ($400-500) when you have to include the OS (fully 20% of the build cost.) My personal preference is to build (in fact, I'm gathering parts for my next build as we speak...) but it really depends on the end user and what support is expected.

 

[Steltek]

If you are worried about the Win8/8.1 interface, just pay an extra $3 for a copy of StartisBack. It will return the desktop to a familiar enough state that she shouldn't have any problems with it.

 

[Torn Mind]

Win8/8.1 is mostly a matter of "where my start menu links went?" Control Panel and Shut Down have been moved to the Charms Bar under Settings or the "power menu" in the new Start area; Shut down is not in the power menu on 8.0 but is on 8.1. "Type to search" remains. The All Apps screen is the replacement for the Programs folder and the initial Start Screen replaces the pinned apps portion of the Start Menu. The rest is a matter of navigation. The "all apps" screen should have focused more on readability; as there is not an immediate distinction between a folder and an app link.

 

[blueberryjudy]

her laptop is dying,(i3 cpu,8gm ram) so looking for a desktop replacement,

small size form,can do heavy internet browsing,watch HD video for sure.

I am thinking to diy with amd kaveri, seems cpu power is kinda low.

she usually open chrome browser with 10+ tabs all day along for online store,

also with skype video call,facebook etc.

since bestbuy accepts paypal, she is considering to get one from bestbuy,

here is the link, please advice for the best value,thanks

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product...spx?path=83650528e60c32435c42744f8899eb8cen02

Have you considered Intel NUC? It's small, quiet, relatively fast, power efficient and looks pretty sexy too.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Windows XP/Vista/7 supports DVD playback directly in Windows Media Player.

Maybe XP MCE plays DVDs, but the stock versions of XP require a 3rd-party DVD codec to be installed into the OS, in order for Media Player to play DVDs. Many OEM branded versions of XP came with CyberLink or WinDVD pre-installed, but the MS retail XP copies did not do DVD playback.

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Maybe XP MCE plays DVDs, but the stock versions of XP require a 3rd-party DVD codec to be installed into the OS, in order for Media Player to play DVDs. Many OEM branded versions of XP came with CyberLink or WinDVD pre-installed, but the MS retail XP copies did not do DVD playback.

Forgot that bit. Its been a very long time since I've played DVDs on XP...

 

[OBLAMA2009]

all in ones are really cheap these days, you can get a decent one for 450. a lot of them had newer cpus that are clocked really low, and i dont know how they compare to say, an older 3 ghz dual core cpu, but they are probably ok

 

[VirtualLarry]

all in ones are really cheap these days, you can get a decent one for 450. a lot of them had newer cpus that are clocked really low, and i dont know how they compare to say, an older 3 ghz dual core cpu, but they are probably ok

They build most of them with the absolute-slowest netbook-class chips that they can find.

Hold out for a Pentium or an i3 CPU, if you want to preserve your sanity using it.

Btw, what are you doing, recommending an all-in-one on an enthusiast forum. Very poor value for money.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

They build most of them with the absolute-slowest netbook-class chips that they can find.

Hold out for a Pentium or an i3 CPU, if you want to preserve your sanity using it.

Btw, what are you doing, recommending an all-in-one on an enthusiast forum. Very poor value for money.

yeah that doesnt surprise me. i saw a celeron one for 399 at walmart but i guess celys and pentiums can be atoms these days so it may well be garbage. gotta be careful these days, now that theyve reset the lower end pcs have actually goteen slower

 

[crashtech]

Compared to my brief browsing of online prices Canada, that Acer with the Haswell i3 doesn't look too bad.

 

[from416]

already bought it during the weekend,

when browsing web with chrome, it is fast but still feel kinda slow,

adding a video card can make it smooth and faster?

 

[Gunbuster]

Does someone make a pintrest and etsy benchmark for "Female users"?

 

[crashtech]

already bought it during the weekend,

when browsing web with chrome, it is fast but still feel kinda slow,

adding a video card can make it smooth and faster?

You need to take a look at which processes are stealing CPU cycles. I'm sure it's loaded with plenty of bloatware. Removing excess software will help. A graphics card will not help, but an SSD probably will.