computer

[Bounce]

Home PC's let you use large monitors, something a laptop can't do.

That,s not the case for me, one of my Laptop's (dell 1TB SSD 32GB) is running a 32" 4k, and a 27" 4K. and doing cad work on it.. Of course it has a low end quadro card, JSNS. Many gaming cards word work well, and many are embedded now adays.

2nd lower priced HP also 1tb and 16GB drives 2 27's very well, embedded graphic on this one.

Ditto. I had already commented on how my Macbook has been working double duty as a desktop with external mouse, keyboard, track pad, and 27" 5k UHD monitor (Dell Ultrasharp). But with a tablet and phone and no work-case, I have less need for that form of mobility so I sold my late 2013 Macbook Pro and got a Mac Mini.

20 years and more ago we were using crappy Dell laptops (which were tons better than the even more crappy anything else other than Lenovo Wintel laptops) with docking stations and external monitors/peripherals.

My brother's a true computer luddite. After years of WinTel, he switched to an iMac and has been very happy he did.

 

[BanjoBoy]

KISS iz good, stick with what you know; a desktop (DT) PC w/ Windows 10. (Win 7 is about to expire.)

DT is good cuz you can have a big ass monitor right in front of yer face, and better keyboard/mouse options than a laptop. ( LT.)

As a retired redneck tech dude that worked a big ass school district, I've found that Dell Latitude, LTs, and Optiplex DTs are very good 'n reliable. Here's a nice, refurbished rig for $190, https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-OptiPlex-9010-MT-i5-3570-3-4GHz-256GB-SSD-8GB-Ram-Windows-10/333213212424?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item4d950e1f08:g8oAAOSwEwVcwJ-Q:sc:FedExHomeDelivery!95401!US!-1&enc=AQADAAAB0KX%2FKt4E1xf3SDqEdBclaYbyI6IFQkxScuUGqtMCApYBClvRwLmpVXDjTlNcfqRO2zBntzOXwcRkc3FEjsm%2F%2FXCm0YgHBzaJkS2yDVLCbR5TU9J8ElGWHVEfhZtFSHzrlS8LAogGaCo%2F%2FIEYSlfXv4c6wlEhEyeROF02JtqTbFGAH4%2FsnpX3KWnG8%2BpcQ1J4n9qbnY7lAzoVFjuDa5%2BftZKzD0Le3XEgm4sTp3%2BUzE5R7NeoW6RQLbLgc8O3b%2BklvPTHzSkQEZoazjlgiOrt1w03ipOvb%2Ffs%2BTbzkIAX8UWBZBhkGe7pXuL8E2HhRbpTb64KtNvHQrioxDAduERDrKq4R29hJXaVVAB1YEo9PgP0Z3RRLyyarBLhAV9r64FJ5IGNDMvLeGNPTkF%2FzEF09hhXDQHBQDE3q2rop2OOQCZwUSLxLMsfZSFWn%2FrMMppVFikCZYFQQmdeu8hKwLv8TGDwOmRTw0gzcZwfhLsV0iJMWB%2FuecEeYel1ka%2FYsTdJ2d9d%2Fi%2BfntMl06hUKvOu9M2kXUkTlQDLeo3DlAuJxbsk%2FAOvtOPGcMcq71Yi1bpqWN8Pnej%2BaqOT7Ap7sYgxtNLggyoHxixbVDcyXA7lln8y&checksum=33321321242411952a00c91a44978d2b60f520016f0e&frcectupt=true

And the beauty of this is that that you can just plug your old drive in, and have all yer stuff backed up; KISS!

Had a high roll'in client last week that spent $800 on a new Optiplex, (To replace his 12 yr old Optiplex.) and we backed up his bookmarks from Firefox, plugged his old drive in, ran a Malwarebytes scan on it, (which found 'n cleaned out the malware.) and copied his user profile over to the new drive, 'n restored his backed up bookmarks. His new 'puter, looks just like his old 'puter only a lot faster now.

 

[Knifemaker]

Well glad to hear you can plug into your TV or a larger monitor with a lap top. (Shows you how far behind I am with new technology)

I myself did have my PC connected to a 43" Flatscreen. Wireless keyboard and mouse. Only problem was I couldn't watch TV and be online at the same time. The "picture in picture" option didn't work for the PC, and even if it did the image would have been too small to read.

Nowadays I don't even have a computer. Everything I do online is done via my IPhone and my home WiFi. Don't really see a need for one.

I think the important question here for the OP here is .. what do you need a computer for? If you don't need to take it with you when traveling a laptop doesn't have an advantage. If you do hook one up to a larger monitor, what's the point in paying for the screen on the laptop?

You can buy a home PC without monitors, keyboards,etc ..for a lot less than a similar equipped laptop. You can take the hard drive out of your old one and put it inside thus saving all your files and data.

If however the portability of a laptop appeals to you, good deals can be found at Newegg too....

 

[Bounce]

KISS iz good, stick with what you know; a desktop (DT) PC w/ Windows 10. (Win 7 is about to expire.)DT is good cuz you can have a big ass monitor right in front of yer face, and better keyboard/mouse options than a laptop. ( LT.)

As a retired redneck tech dude that worked a big ass school district, I've found that Dell Latitude, LTs, and Optiplex DTs are very good 'n reliable. Here's a nice, refurbished rig for $190, https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-OptiPlex-9010-MT-i5-3570-3-4GHz-256GB-SSD-8GB-Ram-Windows-10/333213212424?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item4d950e1f08:g8oAAOSwEwVcwJ-Q:sc:FedExHomeDelivery!95401!US!-1&enc=AQADAAAB0KX%2FKt4E1xf3SDqEdBclaYbyI6IFQkxScuUGqtMCApYBClvRwLmpVXDjTlNcfqRO2zBntzOXwcRkc3FEjsm%2F%2FXCm0YgHBzaJkS2yDVLCbR5TU9J8ElGWHVEfhZtFSHzrlS8LAogGaCo%2F%2FIEYSlfXv4c6wlEhEyeROF02JtqTbFGAH4%2FsnpX3KWnG8%2BpcQ1J4n9qbnY7lAzoVFjuDa5%2BftZKzD0Le3XEgm4sTp3%2BUzE5R7NeoW6RQLbLgc8O3b%2BklvPTHzSkQEZoazjlgiOrt1w03ipOvb%2Ffs%2BTbzkIAX8UWBZBhkGe7pXuL8E2HhRbpTb64KtNvHQrioxDAduERDrKq4R29hJXaVVAB1YEo9PgP0Z3RRLyyarBLhAV9r64FJ5IGNDMvLeGNPTkF%2FzEF09hhXDQHBQDE3q2rop2OOQCZwUSLxLMsfZSFWn%2FrMMppVFikCZYFQQmdeu8hKwLv8TGDwOmRTw0gzcZwfhLsV0iJMWB%2FuecEeYel1ka%2FYsTdJ2d9d%2Fi%2BfntMl06hUKvOu9M2kXUkTlQDLeo3DlAuJxbsk%2FAOvtOPGcMcq71Yi1bpqWN8Pnej%2BaqOT7Ap7sYgxtNLggyoHxixbVDcyXA7lln8y&checksum=33321321242411952a00c91a44978d2b60f520016f0e&frcectupt=true

And the beauty of this is that that you can just plug your old drive in, and have all yer stuff backed up; KISS!

Had a high roll'in client last week that spent $800 on a new Optiplex, (To replace his 12 yr old Optiplex.) and we backed up his bookmarks from Firefox, plugged his old drive in, ran a Malwarebytes scan on it, (which found 'n cleaned out the malware.) and copied his user profile over to the new drive, 'n restored his backed up bookmarks. His new 'puter, looks just like his old 'puter only a lot faster now.

Nice when a plan comes together.

When adding a new Mac to your stable, power it up, it will ask a couple of questions, see other Macs on the network and ask if you want the new one set up like any of the others. After a couple of security validation questions (PIN numbers), it says something along the lines of, "Thank you. I'll let you know when I'm done". When it is done ALL your apps and data on the new computer is exactly like the other computer (old email, bookmarks, logins, even down to wallpaper if you want). I was in enterprise IT support for 40 years and there's a reason corporate IT sticks with WinTel; going to Macs would put us out of a job.

 

[RichDoyle]

"Nowadays I don't even have a computer. Everything I do online is done via my IPhone and my home WiFi. Don't really see a need for one."

Even in retirement I still find myself constantly working with SW applications that are simply not available or ludicrously difficult to use on the teeny-tiny touch screen of a phone. Not true for everyone, of course. It's also the central point for managing backups of our phones and iPads and the most convenient way to update SW on things like the GPS's and Senas.

"I think the important question here for the OP here is .. what do you need a computer for?"

Absolutely correct. This is the critical question Ray hasn't specifically answered, though others have stepped in for him.

"If you don't need to take it with you when traveling a laptop doesn't have an advantage."

I've used nothing but laptops for something like 15 years. And has been stated above, I can work with it at my desk or take it outside or garage or "man-cave" and work there. This requires WiFi, of course. But I use WiFi for all sorts of things, including to limit my hit of data against my plan for my phone. Right now there are 9 devices scattered around the house that use the WiFi all the time. And when we have guests they use it also.

"If you do hook one up to a larger monitor, what's the point in paying for the screen on the laptop?"

Because you can use both screens at the same time, having the desktop span across them. I've found there is no such thing as enough screen space.

 

[dcarver]

I think we should start a group-wise bet..

What will FjRay purchase?

 

[BanjoBoy]

KISS iz good, stick with what you know; a desktop (DT) PC w/ Windows 10. (Win 7 is about to expire.)DT is good cuz you can have a big ass monitor right in front of yer face, and better keyboard/mouse options than a laptop. ( LT.)

As a retired redneck tech dude that worked a big ass school district, I've found that Dell Latitude, LTs, and Optiplex DTs are very good 'n reliable. Here's a nice, refurbished rig for $190, https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-OptiPlex-9010-MT-i5-3570-3-4GHz-256GB-SSD-8GB-Ram-Windows-10/333213212424?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item4d950e1f08:g8oAAOSwEwVcwJ-Q:sc:FedExHomeDelivery!95401!US!-1&enc=AQADAAAB0KX%2FKt4E1xf3SDqEdBclaYbyI6IFQkxScuUGqtMCApYBClvRwLmpVXDjTlNcfqRO2zBntzOXwcRkc3FEjsm%2F%2FXCm0YgHBzaJkS2yDVLCbR5TU9J8ElGWHVEfhZtFSHzrlS8LAogGaCo%2F%2FIEYSlfXv4c6wlEhEyeROF02JtqTbFGAH4%2FsnpX3KWnG8%2BpcQ1J4n9qbnY7lAzoVFjuDa5%2BftZKzD0Le3XEgm4sTp3%2BUzE5R7NeoW6RQLbLgc8O3b%2BklvPTHzSkQEZoazjlgiOrt1w03ipOvb%2Ffs%2BTbzkIAX8UWBZBhkGe7pXuL8E2HhRbpTb64KtNvHQrioxDAduERDrKq4R29hJXaVVAB1YEo9PgP0Z3RRLyyarBLhAV9r64FJ5IGNDMvLeGNPTkF%2FzEF09hhXDQHBQDE3q2rop2OOQCZwUSLxLMsfZSFWn%2FrMMppVFikCZYFQQmdeu8hKwLv8TGDwOmRTw0gzcZwfhLsV0iJMWB%2FuecEeYel1ka%2FYsTdJ2d9d%2Fi%2BfntMl06hUKvOu9M2kXUkTlQDLeo3DlAuJxbsk%2FAOvtOPGcMcq71Yi1bpqWN8Pnej%2BaqOT7Ap7sYgxtNLggyoHxixbVDcyXA7lln8y&checksum=33321321242411952a00c91a44978d2b60f520016f0e&frcectupt=true

And the beauty of this is that that you can just plug your old drive in, and have all yer stuff backed up; KISS!

Had a high roll'in client last week that spent $800 on a new Optiplex, (To replace his 12 yr old Optiplex.) and we backed up his bookmarks from Firefox, plugged his old drive in, ran a Malwarebytes scan on it, (which found 'n cleaned out the malware.) and copied his user profile over to the new drive, 'n restored his backed up bookmarks. His new 'puter, looks just like his old 'puter only a lot faster now.

Nice when a plan comes together.

When adding a new Mac to your stable, power it up, it will ask a couple of questions, see other Macs on the network and ask if you want the new one set up like any of the others. After a couple of security validation questions (PIN numbers), it says something along the lines of, "Thank you. I'll let you know when I'm done". When it is done ALL your apps and data on the new computer is exactly like the other computer (old email, bookmarks, logins, even down to wallpaper if you want). I was in enterprise IT support for 40 years and there's a reason corporate IT sticks with WinTel; going to Macs would put us out of a job.

Yeah, I work on Macs too, (They are the best hardware.

) butt, see'in Ray is used to PCs, that's what I'd recommend in his case.

Thread hijack - in the old days PCs were much better for networking, controlling 'n group policy stuff, n AD, butt in the last few years the Mac Management delio gotten much better; better than Windows BS. We could control just 'bout every aspect of iphones, ipads, and computers, all through AD. If an ipad goes missing we could "brick" it, then miraculously it'd come back!

We could limit how porn each student could view too!

Yes, cloning 'em is easy, and setting them up for each user, once they gotta profile.

Macs won't put IT peeps outta business, they'll just be do'in something else; there's always very important stuff ta do in the IT wold!

 

[FJRay]

I think we should start a group-wise bet..
What will FjRay purchase?

Not sure but it will probably be soon. Got some good advice from my son in law that has me leaning toward a refurb box. I can get one that will suit my meager needs for a couple hundred bucks. Any thoughts on brand??

 

[Pterodactyl]

Ray, there is no need for a new computer. If you need advice you can find it here; if you need technical information you can find it here; if you need general information you can find it here. Here resides a font of knowledge that cannot be found at any other place in the universe... except, do not ask for advice on oils, filters, tires, sex, investments or anything important.

 

[FJRay]

When Barry was around he was the sex therapist as long as you had a four leg partner.

 

[BanjoBoy]

I think we should start a group-wise bet..

What will FjRay purchase?

Not sure but it will probably be soon. Got some good advice from my son in law that has me leaning toward a refurb box. I can get one that will suit my meager needs for a couple hundred bucks. Any thoughts on brand??

Dood, I put the fleabay link above; Dell optiplex is a good robust, reliable line. It's a refurb for under $200, has Win 10, USB3, Solid state drive, (As opposed to them old spinning disks.) and 8 gigs of RAM. It's a full size box so you can plug yer old drive in it.

Yer welcome.

 

[Geezer]

I think we should start a group-wise bet..

What will FjRay purchase?

Not sure but it will probably be soon. Got some good advice from my son in law that has me leaning toward a refurb box. I can get one that will suit my meager needs for a couple hundred bucks. Any thoughts on brand??

Dood, I put the fleabay link above; Dell optiplex is a good robust, reliable line. It's a refurb for under $200, has Win 10, USB3, Solid state drive, (As opposed to them old spinning disks.) and 8 gigs of RAM. It's a full size box so you can plug yer old drive in it.

Yer welcome.

I never owned a Dell, but that looks like a great deal. I have bought many refurbed IBM/Lenovo machines for my kids over the years, always ThinkPads, and the only issue I ever had is with the batteries being old. You won't have to worry about that with the tombstone (desktop) machine.

 

[Bounce]

Bottom line is that OS wars never end and everyone has something they prefer. My point of bringing up Mac issues was to inform that there are options out there that, given the hardware used, it no more costly than a similarly appointed PC while including many things that have to be bought as extras for Windows.

Learning Mac after indoctrination in Windows isn't impossible (it's actually not very hard). As my brother pointed out from his experience, the Mac only seemed unintuitive because he'd already gone through the highly unintuitive learning curve of Windows. F2 to rename a file? How about highlight the name, press enter, then enter the new name? The later is clearly more intuitive unless you've been forced to learn the other and gotten conditioned to it.

As has always been the case, determine the need and buy to that. If you don't connect things to it to update firmware (EFI maps, GPSs, or any number of other things) then even a Chromebook will work.

Even as a fan of Macs, I recently got a cheapo Dell Optiplex refurb for setting up as a media server for my kids. Why? Because it was cheep, I was the one setting it up (so they didn't have to pull teeth trying to figure out how), and I would support it after-the-fact. Which, just so happened that it died about 2 months later because the HDD that came with it was a Seagate (ugh) that probably came from their "recovered" parts bin as part of the "certification" process. As a headless server that they RD into to manage, it does it's job and isn't something they have to actually use on any regular basis (just using the client that works with the server that I manage). 256Gb SSD are super-affordable now (and more resilient) so I went that way on the fix. Did they save money? Only because labor for repairs are free instead of having to turn to a for-fee repair option.

 

[Brodie]

Ray, Just for kicks you really should visit your local Apple Store and see what has changed in the 13 some odd years since your last purchase. You may find something unexpected which piques your interest.

And properly configured a Macintosh is an excellent way to run Windows natively.

Brodie

 

[Bounce]

And their customer focus is something that shocks most people during "first contact". My daughter spent years in customer service for things and even her company's internal process to her (fellow employee) was far behind her experience with Apple; at least enough to comment about her experience.

 

[FJRay]

ordered the refurb Dell on eBay. will see if I can outsmart it next week.

 

[harper]

Ray, people our age can't even outsmart furniture anymore.

 

[FJRay]

Ray, people our age can't even outsmart furniture anymore.

Not true. I just installed new toilets and shit goes in the top and out the bottom. Kinda like myself although sometimes the shit comes out of my mouth.

 

[BanjoBoy]

Ray, people our age can't even outsmart furniture anymore.

Not true. I just installed new toilets and shit goes in the top and out the bottom. Kinda like myself although sometimes the shit comes out of my mouth.

Excellent! Butt, I think it's clogged...

 

[PhatAir4Me]

I think we should start a group-wise bet..

What will FjRay purchase?

Not sure but it will probably be soon. Got some good advice from my son in law that has me leaning toward a refurb box. I can get one that will suit my meager needs for a couple hundred bucks. Any thoughts on brand??

Dood, I put the fleabay link above; Dell optiplex is a good robust, reliable line. It's a refurb for under $200, has Win 10, USB3, Solid state drive, (As opposed to them old spinning disks.) and 8 gigs of RAM. It's a full size box so you can plug yer old drive in it.

Yer welcome.

Ray,

for your needs this is the most solid advice so far, the Optiplex platform is a solid work horse that you will be gumming about replacing in 15 years. Till then you want KISS then get the Optiplex and if you are not comfortable swapping drives I will run down and while we throw my bike on the stand and take a look at my headset I will drop your old drive in the new box, transfer your bookmarks and set you up with LAST PASS.

I remember when I used to be "I aint putting my credit card on the internet" then is was "I aint linking my bank account or credit card to pay bills, they will siphon all twelve of my bucks" "I aint gonna use no stinkin password manager for the effin commies to steal all my shit" with last pass I remember ONE password and shit opens faster than you can say open seasame... but I digress - get the Optiplex and give me a call.