Fan of Don Lapre
larisa@larisajoyreilly.com

Also, buy a UPS if you don’t have one. In any local big box computer or office store is fine; Dell will charge you too much, even before shipping (they’re heavy).

Back to Dell, I still don’t dismiss them entirely. Some of the “Dell Hell” stories are computer users being supremely stupid and then sounding all righteous about it. Some are for real, but Dell’s a big company and stuff happens. A former client firm has five nice Dell workstations that are just humming along – and the one that needed it got superb support and service – and a modest server that’s been great. My big client gets whitebox computers through me, but we just ordered over $18,000 worth of new servers and server software (which sounds like a lot but is 2 machines) from Dell, and they have multiple existing Dell servers, most in continuous service since 1998 and 1999. Their original server was a Dell, too, circa 1995, which finally died less than 2 years ago… and that was due to death of a non-original hard drive that had been jury-rigged by a hack computer person in probably 96 or 97, before my time.

The thing I don’t like about a Dell desktop computer is non-standard parts. They use their own power supplies with distinct connectors for their own motherboards. A whitebox will be a standard motherboard and a standard power supply, replacements for which can be readily purchased anywhere if needed. With power supplies the single most likely point of failure, and easily replaced by anybody in modern computers, I hate the idea of being restricted. OTOH, you’re presumably going to get at least three years warranty from Dell, and if it dies after 3 years you’re as likely to want to replace as fix anyway.

I’ve never heard anything but good from Gateway owners I have known, amazingly enough, though they are traditionally higher than Dell in cost. I like the Gateway laptop I have dealt with far better than all the Dell laptops I have dealt with, on a look and feel basis.

Best bet is generally to get a locally made “whitebox” computer, or otherwise lesser name or generic. Won’t always be perfect, but the vendors will be smaller and less faceless, and less likely to cut corners to lure you with impossibly low prices. You start configuring a Dell system to be “right” and you find it’s comparable to – likely even more than – a generic system with the equivalent specs.

If I were local I’d help you build your own. That’s a fun and educational experience, and easier than you might ever imagine.

The only way he’s going to put any of your advice to use is if someone takes a handgun and puts down his current PC.

When that happens, here is my advice. Jim, identify your budget for a new computer. Then spend it. All of it.

Just for fun, spend some more – for example, get yourself an UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) and an external USB-connected harddrive (with which you can perform very fast backups of your data, and which aren’t expensive at all anymore). When you tire of the craptastic touch-pad built into the laptop, you will be thankful that you purchased a separate mouse. Now may be also time to consider purchase of a new printer.

-mike-

PS – I apologize, I probably should be, but I am not very, very drunk right now.

Jim at Parkway Rest Stop is finally moving off his Win98 machine. Give him some buying advice, please.

……

I’ve dropped the thing, dropped things on top of the thing, and once swept the thing off my desk in a passionate moment in which I forgot the cost of the things on my desk. It’s all good. The laptop still works.

Most recently, on this summer’s family vacation, my 6-year-old spilled one of those oddly-colored soft drinks on it and clogged up the keyboard yet again so it wouldn’t work. I was camping in Yellowstone at the time. I called Dell from my cell phone, gave them the details and the name of the KOA I’d be staying in 2 days afterwards. The replacement keyboard was waiting for me when I arrived.

Point is: don’t write off Dell just yet. Configure what you want online and be sure you set up a customer account. They’re more bent on customer satisfaction than any computer company out there, but they’re BEST at taking care of those they know are certified customers.

As for the PC – you will get horror stories no matter what type you want to buy. I have learned this the hard way – like trying to research the best computer to buy… GRRR. You could go with a bottom line of either Dell, HP or some other computer that Michele and LW find. Because you don’t need a super duper top of the line processor – at all! This is what you will need to keep it going for about the next 5 years without issues.

Hardware:
First get 2GB RAM. That should be plenty to keep things moving easily.

Second – 80Gig is about the smallest hard drive they’re selling – get 2 of either 80 or 160 Gig. The OS goes on the main drive and your other stuff on the second drive to keep things neat. Since you don’t do heavy duty pictures or gaming – this should last you forever (unless a drive decides to crash which couldn’t be helped anyhow)

A video card with at least 128Meg memory. This will be plenty to move things along without issues. nVidia makes a decent one that you can get in most HP, Dell, or other special build.

Even low end computers have USB ports in the front now – so you can plug in your cameras or iPods or what have you – so that’s good to go.

That’s about all you really need to keep things flowing smoothly. Really.

Operating System – if you have the option – get Windows XP Professional. It’s more robust than the “home” edition. But even the home edition will be a VAST improvement over 98 – trust me on this one.

Good luck with the buying.

Ok, with that out of the way: I buy computers for my company and family besides, and here is my opinion.

Buy it online unless you really feel the need for ongoing face to face support. You will save about 20%.

Macs are great. I’ve only bought PCs for work and personal use, but I bought my wife an i-Book and it’s wonderful. You cannot go wrong with a Mac, although you will need to do a little learning because the interface is a little different.

Consider getting a laptop. Consider this very seriously. This is the direction everything is going, and before long it’s all anyone will use who is not using a palm thingy. You can get a nice Dell Inspiron for $1000 which will kick butt. I am using one right now. I will never go back to a “desktop” except for my video editing stuff.

Specs: If you are not doing video or major math or graphics, you can get by with a Celeron processor. This will save you a bunch. You need at least 1 gig of RAM, 40 gig hard drive, and a DVD +-R write-read drive. Any laptop you get will have built in wireless modem and USB 2.0. You want Windows XP professional if you need to connect to a network (like at work), otherwise XP home or media center will work. The above with XP professional is the exact configuration I have on my Dell Inspiron 1300 and it is wonderful, and the total cost including shipping was under $1000.

I bought MS Office and some other software separately for around $300. Contact me directly for info on how this is done (and it is NOT by responding to e-mail solicitations).

If you want to ramp up to a better processor, or better anything, I can tell you that if you are willing to lay down $1500 on the Inspiron you will be a happy camper for many years.

Regarding your concern: ” a big, badass, super-fast computer that will not become obsolete two minutes after I open the box.”

Forget about it. It will be obsolete no matter what. The day after you get it you’ll find a MUCH better deal. You have better things to do with your life than agonize over such matters.

As you may have guessed, I recommend dell.com very strongly because I rarely have needed tech support from them (knock on wood) and their machines just run like the wheel of life itself.

Unless you are going to get a Mac. If the latter, plan to pay at least 15% more for the same configuration – but also plan to LOVE IT.

Note: I bought my wife’s i-Book at MicroCenter and got a very good deal. It’s the only computer I have not bought online in almost 7 years. MicroCenter’s are not all that common, though, so if you don’t have one I don’t know where to tell you to go to buy a Mac.

But regardless of everything: Buy a laptop, Jim, it is your destiny. You can blog from all kinds of places. You can sit anywhere in the house. You can have your whole desk almost empty. You will not believe how much better these little buggers are in terms of quality of life, and the price is now completely accessible.