Decent PC for work

[jpa66]

I need a pc for my work. A laptop, specifically. I actually have one form my office already, but I hate it. It's extremely user-unfriendly ( and a bit old ).

Without getting into PC v. Mac debates, I'm stating upfront that I am a Mac user, and I hate PC's. I just need to use one for work. And I don't want to get a Mac laptop. I need to get a new Mac soon ( moer like a year or two ago, actually ), but I'm going to most likely go with an iMac. The Mac laptops are waaay too expensive for what I need, so NO Mac laptops! PC suggestions only.

That said, I'd like to get a PC that behaves as much as a Mac as possible. And did I mention that I'd like it to be cheap? I did see a Lenovo for around 400 bucks, and thought that that might be the ticket, but I'm just not too familiar with PC's other than Lenovo ( my wife has one ).

Any input is welcomed.

Jan

 

[Steve M.]

Well, I just bought a Dell Optiplex (small form factor) off the auction site, loaded w/ Windows XP Pro, 160 gig HD, nearly 3.0 processor, CD/DVD drive-burner, 2 gig memory, etc for $60 incl CONUS shipping. Works perfectly too. Prices on good PC's have gone way down. I wouldn't pay over $100, and it's silly and ecologically wasteful to buy a new one w/ so many great used ones around.

 

[Chuck Albertson]

I've had a Lenovo laptop (an X61) for over 4 years, and it runs like a champ. It's lightweight (even with a higher-capacity batt), has a great keyboard, and about 5 hours of battery life. About the only thing I've changed on it was to upgrade the OS to Win7. If I ever have to replace it, I'll likely get another Lenovo.

 

[Field]

Lenono Thinkpad T series. DO NOT PURCHASE ANYTHING ELSE BY LENOVO THAT IS NOT A "T", "X", OR "W" SERIES. Seriously people buy their other laptops that are junk and end up hating them. The L series I am skeptical about, but it may be ok too.

Digital Storm makes "gaming" laptops but their customer service and quality is fantastic.

 

[jpa66]

I had heard that Dell was OK, and I am leaning towards Lenovo.

Field - just wondering why you feel this way about the Lenovo models? What are your reasons? As I said, I'm very PC-ignorant.

 

[jpa66]

Also, I just really need the computer to run Windows and it's associated programs, and to connect to the internet ( fast wireless connection is a plus ). I won't be running anything that takes up a lot of space, otherwise ( no Photoshop/digital files/etc. ).

 

[hipsterdufus]

Do not buy a used PC. PCs are meant to be disposable, so at a point, you're living on borrowed time with older hardware. Get something with a warranty and Windows 7. Windows 7 has the most mac-like interface of any Microsoft OS. This seems like a good deal:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834215107

The only disadvantage I see with this PC is that it's got Windows 7 Home on it, which means that it can not be joined to a domain controller. I don't know about how your business operates, but almost every Windows shop has a domain controller. You would need to upgrade to Win 7 professional ($90 through windows anytime upgrade program) to join this laptop to a domain. Still, it seems like a good deal.

 

[shadowfox]

Lenono Thinkpad T series. DO NOT PURCHASE ANYTHING ELSE BY LENOVO THAT IS NOT A "T", "X", OR "W" SERIES. Seriously people buy their other laptops that are junk and end up hating them. The L series I am skeptical about, but it may be ok too.
.

Listen to the above advice. Buy one good laptop and it'll serve you for a long time, buy junk ones, and you end up buying more than one.

If you value screen real-estate highly like I do, get a Thinkpad W500 (either 1600 or 1920 pixels wide versions). In the used market that's about as much value + quality as you can get nowadays.

 

[Field]

I had heard that Dell was OK, and I am leaning towards Lenovo.

Field - just wondering why you feel this way about the Lenovo models? What are your reasons? As I said, I'm very PC-ignorant.

The ones I recommend are the business class models. They are the ones that large serious businesses and corporations that consider down time as unacceptable to have, purchase for their employees and selfs.

The cheaper ones are for the market of competing with sales of other manufacturers offering cheap crap. They are only to try and take advantage of a market, not to provide contracts with large institutions for long working machines.

Dell has the most marketing of anyone... they out did everyone in the mass-market game. They have business class stuff that is better but... still coming from a company that sold thousands of computers to government agencies, all of which failed due to cheap rip-off capacitors inside. I don't trust Dell and I hate the shape and function of even their higher end models. I don't believe in weird-ass "ergo" slick shapes of laptops with bulbs and lips all over. They should be boxy and rugged (portable), yet easy to use.

 

[jpa66]

Thanks for all the info, gentlemen.

My company is relatively small and uses Skydrive ( which I always seem to refer to as "Skynet" ). However, I just found out today that they're in the process of creating ( actually, having someone else create ) their own domain controller, so that content and users will only be in-company. I asked which OS it will be using, but my boss wasn't sure, except for the fact that it wasn't going to be a Windows platform.

Please keep in mind that I'm pretty much a Luddite when it comes to computers. I know the basic ins and outs of a Mac system, but that's about it.

 

[shadowfox]

Thanks for all the info, gentlemen.

My company is relatively small and uses Skydrive ( which I always seem to refer to as "Skynet" ). However, I just found out today that they're in the process of creating ( actually, having someone else create ) their own domain controller, so that content and users will only be in-company. I asked which OS it will be using, but my boss wasn't sure, except for the fact that it wasn't going to be a Windows platform.

Please keep in mind that I'm pretty much a Luddite when it comes to computers. I know the basic ins and outs of a Mac system, but that's about it.

I bet it's some flavor of Linux.
Ubuntu maybe?

 

[it'sawhat?]

I've had good luck with my acer laptop. I'd suggest linux for the os but not sure if that would work for you, it depends what windows programs you need. As an example ifyou need to use MS office instead of say open office or need quickbook then linux just won't cut it