Which Computer for a Home Office

[rcurley55]

Here's the deal, my boss wants to expand his home office. He currently has an old 1GHz desktop from Dell. He also has a Toshiba Laptop, but is a total POS and is going to his daughter.

Basically, he wants to be able to edit some old home movies currently on Super8, and also be a solid performer on business applications. He also needs a new laptop so that he can travel to clients.

So, either he needs a desktop and a laptop. The laptop would be a small, low powered model, just strong enough for MS Office, etc.

OR

A robust laptop with a docking station.

Please don't tell me to build him anything...it's simply not an option. I don't want to be responsible for any problems. For some particular reason, he's hell bent against getting either a Thinkpad or a Dell (my suggestions for the laptop and desktop respectively). He'd like a DVD writer

Suggestions please? Budget is around 3k for one computer (either the desktop or laptop).

 

[human2k]

Get him a Latitude from dell with a 4 year warranty so he can b!tch at dell customer support if he has probs.

 

[rcurley55]

Like I said, he doesn't like Dell's....that's what I would have recommended along with the Thinkpad

How are Sony computers (both laptop and desktop)?

 

[techfuzz]

Originally posted by: rcurley55
How are Sony computers (both laptop and desktop)?

Customer service sucks just like Gateway's.

Tell the dude to get a Dell.

techfuzz

 

[Dijay]

I can't believe people on here are recomending dells....

just get some white box thats already built. I get mine here
www.hdnw.com
or
www.computerstop.com


but you'll need to find something close to where you live

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Why shouldn't we reccomend Dells? Good computers, great support, etc. If people have the money there should be no reason not to get one. Anyways, Sonys seem pretty good but I haven't ever really experienced their support or anything. How about an Alienware? Those should come within his price range.

 

[Dijay]

where I work we have a bunch of dell computers (which we aren't buying anymore) model numbers GX1, GX110, and GX240. Quality......just sucks. Half of the GX240s have been replaced (if not more).

Also, I had one of their laptops I got for 4k and out of the 2 years I had it....it only worked for about 10months.

You can see why I don't like dell and I might have just been unlucky but still.....a white box would be much better.

 

[Macro2]

A compaq business computer w/nforce mb. You can get a fast Athlon XP with it for around $700 after increasing the HD and RAM and adding a CDRW or you can increase the ram and add a burner yourself and save money. Comes with 3 year warranty. Go to compaq.com
Text

 

[Dijay]

"Go to compaq.com"

lol...funny

 

[Dijay]

the $300 computer

the about $500 computer

and if you want to kick it up a notch.....about $1k



I don't know about you guys but I prefer these pre-built white boxes. but whatever, if you like dell, compaq, hp, ect....have fun.

 

[rcurley55]

Originally posted by: Dijay
the $300 computer

the about $500 computer

and if you want to kick it up a notch.....about $1k



I don't know about you guys but I prefer these pre-built white boxes. but whatever, if you like dell, compaq, hp, ect....have fun.

These kinds of computers are great for people who are willing to work on them. My boss is not very computer saavy...this means he wants a reliable name. He's had bad luck with Dell in the past....hence no Dell. While Alienware machines are good for some people, I don't think that he wants a computer in neon green, nor does he want to try a company he doens't know about....keep in mind who I'm getting it for...it's a tough sell trust me.

I'm trying to talk him into the thinkpad from IBM, I think that they are the most solid laptops around.

Comments?

 

[CurtCold]

Originally posted by: rcurley55

Originally posted by: Dijay
the $300 computer

the about $500 computer

and if you want to kick it up a notch.....about $1k



I don't know about you guys but I prefer these pre-built white boxes. but whatever, if you like dell, compaq, hp, ect....have fun.

These kinds of computers are great for people who are willing to work on them. My boss is not very computer saavy...this means he wants a reliable name. He's had bad luck with Dell in the past....hence no Dell. While Alienware machines are good for some people, I don't think that he wants a computer in neon green, nor does he want to try a company he doens't know about....keep in mind who I'm getting it for...it's a tough sell trust me.

I'm trying to talk him into the thinkpad from IBM, I think that they are the most solid laptops around.

Comments?

Your exactly right. If you build it yourself and save a few bucks etc. Then when something goes wrong, the finger is pointed at you. If you let him buy from a Co. Then when something goes wrong you can point the finger at them.
Never build a system for office use, unless you are instructed to do so.

 

[Dijay]

"These kinds of computers are great for people who are willing to work on them. "

ok well I did by mine from a place just like that. For myself I built my own system and only work I had to do was....well....building it. For my mom I got her a pre-built one very similar to those. And well, the only thing that went wrong with the computer is the HD started to go bad....(after a couple years)....and we replaced it. Other then that....no work needed to be done.

I guess the issue with the HD going bad could be a problem cause after 2 years or so they woudlnt' cover it and it had to go through the manufacturer warrante....which ment shipping it to them.....then waiting for them to ship a new one back. So we just bought a new one and 2 months later we got an extra HD.

anyway....thats the only downside

 

[everman]

He doesn't want a Dell desktop either? For the laptop I'd look at IBM and Toshiba. I suppose you could look at companies like voodoo and alienware for a desktop but a Dell should be fine too.

 

[Macro2]

Dijay,
The compaq I mentioned uses nforce and an Athlon XP200+ or greater with DDR and comes with a 3 year warranty. I dunno why you think that is SO funny. The ones you mention come with what warranty? Two of them come with SDRAM.
The guy wanted service.

Mac

 

[rcurley55]

Originally posted by: everman
He doesn't want a Dell desktop either? For the laptop I'd look at IBM and Toshiba. I suppose you could look at companies like voodoo and alienware for a desktop but a Dell should be fine too.

Yeah, he has a problem with Dell...that's what I would buy....

The toshiba...NEVER AGAIN. THe one he has constantly has problems with the CD-R - randomly freeszes, and the laptop randomly shuts down, even with it plugged into the wall.

Like I said, it's not that the White Box style computers are not reliable, but they don't portray the image of reliablity...I know that's a bunch of marketing mumbo jumbo, but you get the point.

Anyone have anything bad to say about Sony?

I'll look into the Compaq route, but have they gotten any better in the last 3-4 years....I had a few friends with them, and they were absolute garbage....

comments?!?!? Thanks for the help.

Like I said, building one, buying a Dell, Toshiba, or a white box is out (don't ask about this guy's logic...)...thanks again!!

 

[Dijay]

why would a white box be out? you can still get a warentee. just go to the right place.

 

[Dijay]

Originally posted by: Macro2
Dijay,
The compaq I mentioned uses nforce and an Athlon XP200+ or greater with DDR and comes with a 3 year warranty. I dunno why you think that is SO funny. The ones you mention come with what warranty? Two of them come with SDRAM.
The guy wanted service.

Mac

ok, its not like computerstop doesn't have that stuff to. I just gave some random examples of the computers they have. If you want DDR memory.. they have it!

look,
$700 system and has a warranty



I'm not even saying get a computer from here. Just a place like it that sells white box's with warrantys and non of that other crap with propietery (sp?) hardware and who knows what software loaded on to it. Just a no BS computer that works for less money. And if you have a problem (assuming you have a store like this around) you can just take it there and they'll fix it. I find that much better then sitting on the phone, sending stuff throught the mail, waiting for someone to come to your house between a 8AM and 10PM window.....you get the idea.

 

[rcurley55]

Originally posted by: Dijay
why would a white box be out? you can still get a warentee. just go to the right place.

When you are dealing with a skeptic who knows next to nothing about computers, it's not an option. The computer needs to have a name on it that is from a reputable source...this may seem really stupid, but that's the way it has to be....

Thanks for trying to help me guys, but can we please keep it to NAME BRAND computers....

keep 'em coming...

 

[rcurley55]

Originally posted by: Dijay

Originally posted by: Macro2
Dijay,
The compaq I mentioned uses nforce and an Athlon XP200+ or greater with DDR and comes with a 3 year warranty. I dunno why you think that is SO funny. The ones you mention come with what warranty? Two of them come with SDRAM.
The guy wanted service.

Mac

ok, its not like computerstop doesn't have that stuff to. I just gave some random examples of the computers they have. If you want DDR memory.. they have it!

look,
$700 system and has a warranty



I'm not even saying get a computer from here. Just a place like it that sells white box's with warrantys and non of that other crap with propietery (sp?) hardware and who knows what software loaded on to it. Just a no BS computer that works for less money. And if you have a problem (assuming you have a store like this around) you can just take it there and they'll fix it. I find that much better then sitting on the phone, sending stuff throught the mail, waiting for someone to come to your house between a 8AM and 10PM window.....you get the idea.

I totally understand what you are getting at, it's just not an option for this purchase...

 

[rcurley55]

No one has really answered the question either....

What the hell would you guys do. Get the desktop + lappy, or just hit up a great laptop that can do it all?