Suggestions for a decent, inexpensive, new computer?

[Tobin S.]

Last edited Thu Nov 26, 2015, 08:29 PM - Edit history (2)

I've got a friend who doesn't have much money and is currently on disability. He had an older computer that recently took a crap on him and he needs a new one. I was thinking about getting him one for Christmas.

However, I don't have much money, either. But I think I could possibly afford a new base model type deal. Do you have any suggestions?

[Tripper11]

1. Laptop or desktop?

Desktops are almost always much cheaper than laptops.

And very nice of you to want to help your friend. Good karma on you!

[Tobin S.]

2. Either one.

[handmade34]

3. we bought my dad

an HP Stream... seems to be a nice small basic laptop about $200+

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015CQ8SGE/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687622&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00X5X2NXQ&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0A4QKGFK166WMJ8ZV5QA

[FLPanhandle]

4. If you are up to it, you can build one cheaper than buy a ready made one.

Many parts stores only. It's fun too if you are into that.

[valerief]

5. If he just wants it to surf the web, a Chromebook is cheap. Doesn't even need

security software (unless you get certain apps to run on it, which might require it). Comes with Google versions for word processing, spreadsheet, and slides. Also has camera and an app like Skype. Check out the features on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Chromebooks/b?ie=UTF8&node=2858603011

I love mine as a second computer. (On my other computer, I use a lot of different applications offline.)

[SwissTony]

6. I recently bought my wife a refurbished W7 computer.

She doesn't use it for any high powered stuff (just Facebook, email etc). I bought it from Amazon UK and it looked absolutely great when it arrived. We're really pleased with it. It had a couple of ports I hadn't seen for a few years but it has USB.

I haven't investigated Amazon US, but I'd be surprised if someone isn't offering a similar service.

[NV Whino]

7. Mac Mini with a Staples' monitor.

I got a 27" monitor for less than half what a Mac monitor would cost, but I have the good Mac computer. Also, look into refurbished whatever the brand.

[bhikkhu]

8. I would go to a computer repair shop

They usually have plenty of older models on hand that they've gone through, and they're usually priced better then retail. I've found shopping for new computers to be fairly miserable myself, and the salespeople generally don't know or care as much about the hardware they're selling as about upselling warranties and software packages. Its usually a whole different story at a computer repair shop, especially if they're locally owned or family run (there are two in my small town).

[eppur_se_muova]

9. I haven't bought a new computer in ages -- only refurbs.

I bought a refurbed Sony Vaio minitower at a local thrift shop -- I think $115 ? Later, I upgraded the CPU for a few dollars and it's lasted me a few years. Of course, YMMV, but it's a way to go cheap, especially if you go with Linux instead of Windows (but the OS should be your friend's choice). Be aware that the thing likely to go first on any used computer is the HD (unless you use the CD drive very heavily) -- that's why it's a good idea to invest in a small USB HD or DVD-RW (very cheap on eBay) even if you only own one computer. Back up to the USB drive regularly, and don't use it otherwise. Then when your internal drive fails you have a backup available immediately. Remember that almost any drive you might consider -- floppy, HD, CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RW, SSD -- is available as a USB device, which is easily moved from one computer to another.

A refurbed computer with a new, modest size HD might be a reasonable compromise, if your friend understands that you're both trying to save money.

One of my oldest computers is a Dell refurb -- bought in 2001 and still running (I think with the original HD).