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What computer should I get?

I tried to create a poll and failed so here goes. I have a 3 year old dell laptop and have already replaced the battery cord and it needs a new cd drive since it no longer reads CD's and NOW I'm getting a warning about my battery about to die completely so do I replace the battery (150$$) or do I start looking for a new computer and use my work computer, if needed?

If a new computer, what do you suggest?

TIA ladies!

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Re: What computer should I get?

  • I'd probably get a new computer. I had a Dell desktop that had the same CD issue and when I researched it online the consensus was that it just dies and there is nothing you can do to fix/replace it.

    They're a bit more expensive but I'm a huge fan of HP stuff. I had a slimline HP desktop at my old job and then an HP laptop and I really liked them both. 

  • Here comes the computer geek...I work in IT.

    So, are you sure it's the CD ROM hardware and not the drivers that are the problem? I'd say depending on what size your hard drive is and how often you play CD's, etc...it might be worth it to replace the parts and also cheaper than getting another laptop. 

    I'd personally replace the laptop.  If you have the money I'd get a new one. HP's are good machines. I've also used Dell's and IBM's in the past and didn't have any major issues with them. I mean over time the hardware is going to start to fail but if you take care of it it should last you more than 3 years. I've had the same laptop since 2001. It still runs and is my "back up" machine if I need to download stuff, etc. It really depends on what you are looking to do - I would buy a mid-grade laptop if you aren't a gamer and then get an external hard drive for your music, pictures, etc.

    Good luck!

    Alison and Tom 9~11~10
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  • get a mac pro book!!!!!  that is what we are getting on black friday :)
  • I had a Dell when I went to college (got it summer 2002). I have replaced the power cord once already (needs it again), it takes FOREVER to boot up (like at least 15 min), and the battery is crap. I was SO tired of it b/c I couldn't get anything done with it. It has also been completely wiped twice. I keep it around as an emergency machine, but got a new one HP for Christmas last year.

     It is SO much better and I haven't had any problems with it as of yet.

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  • if you're going to replace ALWAYS ALWAYS go mac. i swear to you, it's worth it. i had a PC for years and always had problems. ive had my mac book for almost 3 years and i can honestly say ive never even had an error message that i didnt understand. ive never had it freeze. it is the greatest.

     switching to mac seems scary at first if you've only been on a PC but it is all intuitive, it'll take you no time to learn. and it will last you forever. my bff has a mac book pro she has had for almost 10 years! still kickin'!

     you will be much happier! i promise! GL

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  • imagearosem23:

    Here comes the computer geek...I work in IT.

    So, are you sure it's the CD ROM hardware and not the drivers that are the problem? I'd say depending on what size your hard drive is and how often you play CD's, etc...it might be worth it to replace the parts and also cheaper than getting another laptop. 

    Yeah I have no idea if it's the hardware or the driver. I just know that it won't read a CD. I don't use them often so it's not a huge deal...just annoying when I do need it. I have an external hard drive for all my pics and music. I may just take it to my ex and see what he can do with it since he's an IT guy and won't charge me.  

    Shauni - I've thought about getting a mac but I've always been a PC girl and mac's are confusing! ha But I do know they are awesome computers too.

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  • I honestly think that if you can swing it, now is the time to switch to a Mac.

    However, if you're set on using a PC, here is my input:  Dells suck a$$.  I have had experience with at least 10 of them and they were all utter crap, with a very short life.  They're cheaper, but it's just not worth it in the long run.  HPs are pretty decent; the issues we've had with them at work have been minor and their customer service was quick to fix it.  My H and I both have Lenovo Thinkpads (IBM) and they have been great so far, which is three or four years.

    If you get a new PC, you might want to consider 32-bit vs 64-bit.  Two people at work just got HPs with 64-bit processors, and while it's the latest thing in technology, it seems like a bit too new for now - they're having difficulty running a lot of software.  Some things aren't even compatible, and the other stuff is so new that it's still very buggy.  They had to but Office 2010, and there are a lot of glitches and very little support is out there.  Just something to think about!

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  • As for the Mac thing - it is a tough transition, to be sure, and it's why we didn't go Mac when we got our latest laptops.  But I use them for work and it took less than two weeks for me to have it down.  I'm much better on a Mac now than a PC, despite having used PCs for so much longer, because Macs are just a lot more user-friendly and intuitive, IMO.  If you know someone with a Macbook, I'd ask them if you can test it out and get a feel for it.  You have to really give it a chance, though, because the first five minutes will be extremely frustrating!
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  • imageLauraT25:
    As for the Mac thing - it is a tough transition, to be sure, and it's why we didn't go Mac when we got our latest laptops.  But I use them for work and it took less than two weeks for me to have it down.  I'm much better on a Mac now than a PC, despite having used PCs for so much longer, because Macs are just a lot more user-friendly and intuitive, IMO.  If you know someone with a Macbook, I'd ask them if you can test it out and get a feel for it.  You have to really give it a chance, though, because the first five minutes will be extremely frustrating!

    THIS!!!  do it!  convert!  (worth the extra money IMO) 

  • Macbook Pro for sure.  I looooooooooooooooooove mine so, so, so much.  I was adamantly against Macs for a long time, and when my last Dell crashed I'd had enough.  I made the switch over a year ago, and I will never, ever own another PC.  Ever.  The transition wasn't that hard either.
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  • imageLauraT25:
    As for the Mac thing - it is a tough transition, to be sure, and it's why we didn't go Mac when we got our latest laptops.  But I use them for work and it took less than two weeks for me to have it down.  I'm much better on a Mac now than a PC, despite having used PCs for so much longer, because Macs are just a lot more user-friendly and intuitive, IMO.  If you know someone with a Macbook, I'd ask them if you can test it out and get a feel for it.  You have to really give it a chance, though, because the first five minutes will be extremely frustrating!

    And this.  The Mac is so intuitive.  One of the things I love is that when you drag a program (or anything for that matter) to the trash, it deletes it from your computer completely.  It's not like a PC where it nests hidden files in your computer somewhere where you can never find them.  And you don't have to "uninstall" anything.  You just drag and gone.  Presto!

    I've also never had my Mac crash or freeze unless I'm using MS Office on there.  MS Excel is the only thing that will consistently freeze my Mac.  And it still runs just as fast as the day I bought it.  No lag after more than a year.

    It's easier to navigate and find things.  The picture is so much better than a PC.  I could go on and on.  

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  • You ladies REALLY have me wanting a Mac now...will hopefully convince J to wait and hopefully we can hit up the mac store on black friday and get a good deal.

     I have played around on mac's before. My old roommate had one and I would use it some but never enough to really know what I was doing.

    Thanks for all the great info ladies!

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  • imagesunshine_day_dreams:

    I've also never had my Mac crash or freeze unless I'm using MS Office on there.  MS Excel is the only thing that will consistently freeze my Mac.  And it still runs just as fast as the day I bought it.  No lag after more than a year.

     

    my excel is frozen on mine right now and i forgot to save the document!  the wheel of death has been spinning for 25 minutes now!  all my formulas and hard work are going to be lost, i know it! 

  • imageshauni27:
    imagesunshine_day_dreams:

    I've also never had my Mac crash or freeze unless I'm using MS Office on there.  MS Excel is the only thing that will consistently freeze my Mac.  And it still runs just as fast as the day I bought it.  No lag after more than a year.

     

    my excel is frozen on mine right now and i forgot to save the document!  the wheel of death has been spinning for 25 minutes now!  all my formulas and hard work are going to be lost, i know it! 

    Nooooo!! I'll say a little prayer for you that it all will be recovered. Stick out tongue  That would piss me off like none other when I was working on all my wedding spreadsheets and hadn't saved in a while and all of a sudden it was just done.   Eff you, Microsoft!

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  • Yeah the Office products aren't super awesome, but since so many people still use PCs it's really not worth it to use the Mac equivalents (I don't even remember what they're called) even though they're better.  I have a PC at work that's basically just for Office.
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