wayne905
join:2004-12-30
Toronto, ON
| Looking for a computer for web surfing/email
Looking to get a computer for my kitchen desk. Doesn't need to have all the bells and whistles. It'll really be used for web surfing and email. I have a computer in my home office that I use for everything else (including gaming) I have it down to these 2 choices - which would you guys recommend? I like the second one since it has a faster processor and wireless keyboard/mouse and touchscreen - but really not sure I need to spend the extra $ for these features.
»www.futureshop.ca/catalog/prodde···8&catid=
»www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetai···id=26199
Thanks! |
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srr2
join:2001-12-20
Bethlehem, PA
 ·RCN CABLE
| Holy cow. Expensive.
You might want to think about building something around an Atom board ( »www.jetwaycomputer.com/Atom-GM.html ) in a micro ATX case if it's only for nondemanding applications as you say. It'll be very small, very low power, and perfectly capable of doing everything you want, well. You can get that board (with processor) at the Egg for under $100. It includes wired networking and 945 video. All you have to add is a disk. |
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asdfdfdfdfdf
@Level3.net
| reply to wayne905
I certainly wouldn't spend all the extra money for the touchsmart.
Since you already have a pretty powerful desktop have you considered a netbook instead, something in the 10" range? It would be cheaper, would be powerful enough for the uses you specified and would provide the family with a very portable small computer option. If you want a bigger monitor get a netbook with a vga connector and buy the monitor you like. This will give you more flexibility at lower cost than buying another desktop and paying the premium for the all in one models. |
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Smoove910
Premium
join:2005-08-01
Nampa, ID
| reply to wayne905
Why not get a Netbook? If all you are doing is surfing the net and checking e-mail, you should weigh the Netbook option. You can pick one up for around $300.
I picked up a couple refurbs for the kids for x-mas (yea, I know I'm wayyyy early), and they were only $129 ea. |
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wayne905
join:2004-12-30
Toronto, ON
| reply to wayne905
Great ideas...thanks everyone. I'll take a look at netbooks. I really just want something that's an all in one (i.e. netbook or all-in-one pc) as I don't want to drill holes in my granite to run wires through (which is what I'd have to do if I had a tower and separate monitor). Thanks again! |
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asdfdfdfdfdf
@Level3.net | If you don't have experience with netbooks I would look at local stores first. The 10" plus screens have near full size keyboards but it is best to at least have a look in person to make sure you find them acceptable. |
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hortnut
Its been a hard road.
join:2005-09-25
All Over
·BCTelco
 ·Qwest.net
 ·Skype
·Comcast
1 edit | reply to wayne905
My main machine, the one I spend the most time on is a Dell Latitude Laptop, though I do have a nice Desktop. In the last year I have probably spent a total of 8 hours at the Desktop. I have gotten to the point that I hate to sit at the Desktop. I have had to replace some parts, but repair manuals from dell are easy to find and parts are cheap and found on e-bay and other sites.
It has wireless built in, DVD burner and all that I need. It is an Off Lease Model but I have had no problems with it. Might want to check these out: »www.dfsdirectsales.com/dell/note···1869/cl1 from Dell Financial Services. I still have 2 older models for backup that I bought from them.
Last one I got still had 1 year of Dell warranty on it, so it had hardly been used. Click on the 'details link', as every machine is unique and inventory is always changing. Plus the two times I had to call tech support I spoke with someone in Canada and US and problems resolved quickly.
Of course you can find off-lease elsewhere for dell and other machines.
And as others said you can always have a seperate monitor and a wireless keyboard and mouse on the laptop.
my .o2
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Darn, its gettin that time to go to Wallymart to gits me picture taken agin.
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wayne905
join:2004-12-30
Toronto, ON | reply to wayne905
I like the portability of a netbook. I know they don't come with DVD drives, and new ones come with Windows 7 basic. Can you watch videos on these using itunes (or are the video cards really basic on netbooks and show choppy video)? |
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Chrno
join:2003-12-11
1 edit | reply to wayne905
Here's what I recommend:
»www.ncix.com/products/?sku=41924···ure=Acer
or if you don't mind the bulkiness:
»www.canadacomputers.com/index.ph···=DPC.405
and (obviously you can pick something a lot cheaper)
»accessories.dell.com/sna/product···320-7825 |
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pnjunction
Teksavvy Premium
Premium
join:2008-01-24
Toronto, ON
·TekSavvy Solutions..
3 edits | reply to wayne905
For a netbook I'd be looking at the new 11.6" ones with 1366x768 screens, like the Acer 751 or Asus 1101. The 1024x600 on the smaller ones is too small IMO. I guess things on those screens might be too small for some though...
You were looking at 18" all-in-one desktops, so maybe you should check out 15" laptops? That's where the best value is, you don't need anything fancy for just surfing and e-mail.
I guess the downside of a laptop in your kitchen environment is spills though. Spill into laptop and it's done, compared to just replacing the keyboard on a desktop machine. |
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asdfdfdfdfdf
@Level3.net
| reply to wayne905
To answer your video question many of these machines have the very mediocre intel 9xx series chipsets but the overwhelming consensus of users, and sites that have done testing, is that they are capable of standard definition video but will choke on high definition 720p and up.
If you need high definition video then I would either wait for more ion based systems or move to a laptop. If you just want to watch a bit of standard definition stuff then they should be fine. |
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Kilroy
Premium,MVM
join:2002-11-21
Ann Arbor, MI
·WOW Internet and C..
| reply to wayne905
I can watch a DVD using wireless that is stored on the hard drive of my main computer on my Asus EeePC 900 Netbook with Windows XP 8.9" Netbook - Celeron 900MHz, 1GB DDR2, 16GB SSD, Webcam, 802.11b/g, Windows XP.
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When will the people realize that with DRM they aren't purchasing anything? |
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wayne905
join:2004-12-30
Toronto, ON
| said by Kilroy  :I can watch a DVD using wireless that is stored on the hard drive of my main computer on my Asus EeePC 900 Netbook with Windows XP 8.9" Netbook - Celeron 900MHz, 1GB DDR2, 16GB SSD, Webcam, 802.11b/g, Windows XP. I was thinking more of being able to sync my itunes to a netbook and take it on a plane to watch movies that I have on it (or decide to rent thru itunes). I'm curious if anyone does that with their netbook (and if the video card in netbooks is good enough to play movies thru itunes) |
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wayne905
join:2004-12-30
Toronto, ON
| reply to wayne905
I have it narrowed down to 2 netbooks:
»www.futureshop.ca/catalog/prodde···id=28357
»www.futureshop.ca/catalog/prodde···id=28357
Looks like the only difference is 3 cell vs 6 cell. It doesn't tell me approximate battery life on either one. I assume the 6 cell will be a bulkier battery and may raise the back of the keyboard (not sure if that's correct). Which one would you choose? I like the portability of a small netbook and being able to take it outside or on a plane to watch a movie thru itunes when travelling. |
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Kilroy
Premium,MVM
join:2002-11-21
Ann Arbor, MI
·WOW Internet and C..
| According to all of the stats the battery doesn't change the dimensions or weight, something I find a little hard to believe. The six cell should give you longer battery times, if it is worth $30 to you, go with that one.
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When will the people realize that with DRM they aren't purchasing anything? |
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asdfdfdfdfdf
@Level3.net | reply to wayne905
For $30 I would get the 6 cell. |
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Roundel
Blau Und Weiss
Premium
join:2002-03-24
Westport, CT
clubs:
·Optimum Online
| reply to wayne905
Honestly... If you don't need portability
If you don't feel like squinting at a tiny screen or worry about breaking tiny keyboards and dealing with batteries, you can get a nettop such as this
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···-Product
You can come out as the same price (or even cheaper) with a regular sized monitor. |
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Jahntassa
What, I can have feathers
Premium
join:2006-04-14
Conway, SC | There's also the Shuttle All-in-one for $400.
»www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···56101086 |
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HarryH3
join:2005-02-21
Georgetown, TX
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to wayne905
You could also keep watching the sales for a deal on a laptop. I picked up a pretty decent HP laptop at the Walmart early black Friday sale this weekend for $298. It's got a 2.2 GHz, 64-bit Celeron, 3GB of RAM, 250 GB drive, DVD burner, 15.1 inch widescreen display and 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium. Not smokin' fast, but it's awesome for surfing the web, email, etc. and has decent drive space.
And right now I'm typing on it at the kitchen desk.  We had a desktop here, but it just took up too much space. |
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