If you needed a new monitor and a computer, What would you get?

The HP all-in-one should work just fine with a Dell computer. I have a Powerbook (Apple) and had an HP all-on-one, which worked fine til the HP died.

For $800 you should be able to score a decent Dell laptop. Check their website, they have deals periodically.

I’d get an iMac, but they’re a tiny bit more than 800. Like 1100, I think. You pay a premium, but there’s probably not a nicer consumer computer on the market. Also, computer + mouse + keyboard + gorgeous monitor.

Spend a bit more an go with anything Apple

Id build my own

I agree with rawpixels. I’ve had a few different computers…thus far Apple is the only one that has proven to be worth the money spent.

An Apple iMac has the display and computer all together in a really appealing, slim package.

I’d check out the Apple Store’s refurbished items for a great deal – they’re reconditioned at the factory and sold with the full-year warranty. Many people can’t even tell the difference. Units there willg et you closer to your budget.

You say in your question that you want a Dell, and you have $800 to spend. Why not just go to the Dell website and look at the under-$800 computers until you see one you want?

(I myself, if I were in your situation, would stick the money in the bank until I had enough for an iMac, Mac mini, or MacBook. But that’s not really compatible with wanting a Dell.)

I know the iMac or Mac are good computers and yes I saw one the other day that had the capability of being a pc and a mac. But I prefer a PC myself and it took me too long to save the amount I do have saved. It would be another year or more for a mac, beside not having a computer at all since we do have to either buy a computer or a monitor.

I have not kept up on the ‘computer lingo’ as far as the latest terminology on the ‘parts’ inside the computers to know or tell what is ‘fast’, med, or slow, etc. So that is why I asked the question. In other words, I don’t understand the ‘descriptions’ given when I look at different places selling computers to know which is the one to get or not.

@Triiiple, I have had one too many of the ‘build your own’ by someone that didn’t do the right thing doing it. So now I am against the idea of doing that. I want something I can be able ‘register’ properly and deal with myself when it needs something than to have to deal with someone that ‘makes due’ with parts to make a computer! Sorry too many bad experiences right now to do that, but I did years ago think that was the way to go.

In order to get the best answer, perhaps you should describe what you use a computer for.

AS Barbara Streisand said when she won the Oscar, “Hullo, gorgeous.”

I just got a “20 iMac with 10.5.6 last week. Two days ago Apple lowered the price by $200. I had the name and extention of my salesman; I called and he credited my card with $300 since I have been buying Apple products since forever. That paid for the guru who set things up.

It is breathtaking beautiful and extremely easy to use. Milo, I and the iMac may just have a threesome.

@Gailcalled! my virgin eyes!

I bought a 15” MacBook Pro 18 days before they released them with new, faster processors. Apple’s limit is 14 days, even though I’ve been buying Apple stuff for years. (And it’s not quite the same as a price drop – I can’t just get a credit, I’d have to move all my stuff.)

I should have warned you all; Apple waits until I have bought something, and then improves it or lowers the price.

@AlfredaPrufrock We use the computer to go online, do word processing some, play a few games, and for my daughters (5yr old) software, photos, email, and I am looking for a software for recipes to put on my computer to hold them all. Also, would like to get some other software that I don’t have now. Applications.

Would like the capability to do work from home if I come up with a viable resource for that. Also, want decent speakers to listen to emails, etc. w/o any kind of feedback noise when doing so from my cell phone or other interference.

Those are some examples of what we would use it for…

I would definitely look at the latest version of the mac that just came out. The small one. I think it’s $800. It’s pretty idiot proof (speaking from personal experience there, not inferring anything about you) and the only problems I get into is when I try to treat it as a PC. You take it out of the box and turn it on. It does everything else. The small MacBook is not much bigger than a netbook.

Buying a mac is like buying a Honda…choices are minimal, quality is built in.

I think you should just check Newegg for a laptop in your price range. Most of those laptops are fine for what you need and i personally would stay away from Asus, Lenovo,eMachines and Gateway. Check the bundles they have too for a deal.

check out this site, they have decent computers at cut to the bone prices.

@evelyns_pet_zebra im going to assume your link was supposed to take us to TigerDirect.

Thanks for the suggestions but I am still trying to figure out the ‘lingo’ that is used in the descriptions when you go to the sites selling the computers. For example, the terms used for the processor, ram, etc….I haven’t bought a brand new computer myself for at least 10 years and have not kept up with all the changes so that is what I have a hard time with when I go to look at different ones. Being able to get a decent processor, ram, are two of the more important aspects not the hard drive size… I think.

I also agree about staying away from Gateway, that is the one I bought and had trouble the whole time I have had it!

You don’t really have to worry about the graphics card because as you said you dont play games constantly, but make sure it says Nvidia or ATI. Make sure it has at LEAST 2 Gb of ram. 250gb hard drive should be fine and last you a while. The processor should be at least an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz and if its AMD go for anything with more than 1 processor(usually those are the best). The different versions of vista is your own choice check here to see the main differences. The rest is pretty easy to to understand.

@popo7676 Thanks for all the ‘definitions’ of the different things. I appreciate it. I will have to do some more research now.

@popo7676 yeah, it was. Seems I screwed it up somehow. Thanks for the correction.

I would assemble one myself. You know what you get, and it is cheaper than opting for a prebuilt mainstream computer. Warranty then is for each part, whereas with the complete system from Dell and cohorts you’d have to send in the whole machine.

@ragingloli Thanks for your suggestion, but unfortunately I am living with someone that ‘thinks’ they know how to ‘build a computer’ and won’t do it the ‘proper way’ so I have had to deal with messed up computers now for too many years, and yes IF I do get one from a major company and something goes wrong at least they will fix it an be quicker than what I have had to deal with currently.

If I was able to do the work myself, then I would definitely build my own but I have not kept up on all the ‘technology’ an ‘lingo’ so I would be lost and not know what to do. I am also ‘homebound’ so that restricts a lot of what I can an can not do myself also.

I have a Dell XPS and it is compatible with my HP printer! I think in all honesty I would have to recommend calling Dell and seeing what you can get! They have some real easy payment plans too!

Once you go Mac youll never go back.

Samsung. overall, its the best. period.

@Noel_S_Leitmotiv
Mac: Hey PC, what are you doing?
PC: Playing games.
Mac: Which games?
PC: All of them.

OK, I had others, and I am a MAC convert! Make an appointment with a Personal Shopper, at an Apple Store. That way you have an extremely knowledgeable person waiting to spend time helping you. You don’t have to struggle with this on your own. ..Just present your scenario ($). I was just like you. When a term was used that I didn’t know, I’d just ask to have it put in terms I could understand. They are so great, they just translate it for you. When talking about capacity (that’s the term I use) to decide which to get, I’d just ask for an example of what I WOULDN’T be able to do. . .made it easy. Apple IS REALLY INTO CUSTOMER SERVICE! They treat you just how you want to be treated. Did I say I’m a convert? The construction is GREEN, and such good quality, it will save you money and headaches from others-like no tray to break or cord to snap off, leaving part inside. They took the frustrations of people who had problems with others and designed the MAC so the potential for those problems was eliminated. They have free tech help to get you started, workshops to explain use of a MAC and all sorts of online tutorials. They will help convert all your info from your old one to the new MAC. (Deep Breath), just can’t say enough good stuff about them.

Look at the Fluther question, “What’s so special about a Mac”

+1 for the strong trend already in most answers for an all-in-one of some kind.
The premium you will pay for an iMac will get you a superior screen, they really are nice, and better, and the Apple hardware has always been top notch with the exception of some foibles with bleeding edge things like the hinges on the original air laptop or the antenna on the phone (LOL oops!).
But if you need a utility machine what the heck try some win7 box from a major brand their screens are not bad, esp those Dell hi-reso models.
Personally I don’t like HP computer products much (their medical instrumentation, o-scopes, and components are world class) for two reasons, their support is atrocious and always has been and there is always something “unfinished” about their computer designs.
Go with a brand with a good support reputation if you don’t know how to fix the critters (apple, dell…).
Full disclosure I worked for HP for a while 25 yrs ago and I follow electronics in detail out of curiosity. Here at Chez Dabbler we have in active service: three macs including a lovely iMac on my wife’s desk, two windoze boxes and three linux machines. Typing on the redhat linux box now.

I got an awesome Lenovo E420s laptop for $770. It weighs 4 lb and the battery lasts 5 hours.