Upgrade or New?

[Jackie Olsen]

I know it's personal preference, but does anyone have an opinion at what point is it better to purchase a new PC than upgrade an old one? Any rule of thumbs to follow?

Thanks ... Jackie

[Allen M.]

Money and "Do I really want a shining new PC" are oftem prime considerations.

Then, depends how old your pc is. Is it fast Enough? does it have enough memory? Enough disk space? Are you happy with it?

Finally deciding to get a new one is the first step. Which one to purchase is a biggie. Want state of the art so it can last a few years? Just want to get by with something? Wanna make a CD? Watch DVDs?

Everyone's need/desire is different. you can forget one little item and you've spent money for the wrong thing, or will end up spending more $$$ to get what you really wanted.

I just convinced a cousin to spring for $1200 for a new PC several weeks ago. After spending several Saturdays teaching his wife how to do webpages, I knew exactly what he needed, although he doesn't realize it yet.

Shopping for, and selecting a new PC today is like walking over a path of broken glass.

I raised more questions for you, and didn't provide specific answers, Jackie, but I hope it helps.

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Allen, New website http://www.ury2k.com/pulse/index.htm mirror: http://home.ici.net/~uechi/

[Scott Danziger]

I think one of the most important things you have to think about is What do you want to do? Second, determine what you have and CAN it be upgraded. ie: some computer bios's will not allow hard drives over 8 gigs. Do you have the expansion room for more periphials? A USB port? What software do you want to run and is it cost effective to buy a faster cpu and/or more memory?

If you want more speed and memory only, price a cpu upgrade and memory modules. If you can install it yourself you can probably save a lot depending who is putting it in. (Friends or the guy at the store)

If you want to upgrade everything, memory, cpu, hard drive, DVD, etc... you'd be better off buying a new one. You'll have a warranty and tech support should something go wrong.

Hope that helps.

Scott

[Allen M.]

Hi Scott.

What I surmise is that unless you are really into it, and know what and when to upgrade, it is often better to pick out a new one and try to get a couplea hundred bux for the old one.

Right now pcs are relatively cheap. If you have a real older one, say a pentium II with 32 meg memory, a 1 gig hard drive and a 233 MHz clock speed, it most likely is better to get a new one.

Comp USA has some good deals --their prices for the pavillion are marginally ok and once in a great while they do have a good deal, but DELL and Gateway seem to be having a price war with each other right about now, which means real good prices can be had if one selects one of those two excellent computers.

If Jackie is interested in building her own, better buys can be had even.


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Allen, New website http://www.ury2k.com/pulse/index.htm mirror: http://home.ici.net/~uechi/

[Jackie Olsen]

Allen: Questions are always good. When you're not as proficient in the "way of the cpu" as some of you guys, it's hard to know what to even consider. HEY ... do you know my computer!? You described it perfectly!

Scott & Anthony: <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote

. You'll have a warranty and tech support should something go wrong.

HAH!! I would love some tech support. I'm on my 3rd computer since the 80s (I know, takes me a while to make a change). My first was a Packard Bell from ABC Warehouse ... no tech support offered. My second & third were from companies that built their own. Of course I purchased the warranties, but they both went out of business within six months of my purchase. I depended on the kindness of strangers and my own 'hit or miss' abilities to figure out problems. I've learned a lot but have no desire to be a "tekkie".

Looks like a new one is in the offering... I want more speed, MS Word 2000 runs TOOOOOO SLOOOOWWWWW. Plus, I sure would like a faster modem, so I can watch those cool clips of Evan, Tony, and others! My job is sending me to school (24 hours of classes) to learn website design, so I'd probably like to do that at home too. Boy, am I spoiled having a souped-up model at work!

Thanks, everyone, for all your input. Guess I'd better start saving!

Jackie

[Dakkon]

Jackie,
Allen,Tony and Scott raised valid points.
Now a days it's cheaper to buy a machine then upgrade one per say.
Easier to deal with a machine that has a warrenty from Gateway/Dell/? whoever you chose.
Gateway has some nice leases and they throw a years internet access in for free!
Tony can atest to Gateways service.
Cheers,
Chuck

[Scott Danziger]

For what it's worth, PC World always rates Dell the best. For PC Quality and tech support.

As for me, I had an IBM 486DX. It still works. My wife plays her wheel of Fortune on it. It never needed support. My current Sony also never needed support. (Just a reformat of the HD but I was able to do that myself) OH GOD!! I hope I didn't jinx anything.

Scott

[BILLY B]

Guys,

Since your up...

Let talk KARATE! Any subject, I'm Desperate!

[Allen M.]

Talk karate in a computer technical session? Woah! What a concept.

Sounds to me like you are ready to buy, Jackie.

I work, on an average over the past 21 years, at two places per year, most places -- upon my request if need be -- issue me a brand new one, plus I go through quite a few at home.

With that said, The PCs I use at work are mostly Gateway, a good sprinkling of DELL, some Microns, and, well IBM.

Based on that demographics, the two most popular ones are Gateway and Dell. Microns are top-of-the-line PCs, but less known and more expensive so not as popular.

That leaves, Gateway and DELL. Two years ago, I purchased a DELL for home use, only because I was looking at Gateways all day long and wanted something different, and haven't put the covers on it since I purchased it. It seems that every week I am trying something new with it or just juggling hard drives around; really abused that poor little pc. The bottom line is that it "takes a licking and keeps on ticking."

I seem to be tearing into brand new gateways as soon as I get them at work, because the IS (IS stands for Information Systems, the group responsible for prepping new pc and managing the network of most companies) department never gets it right, and I frequently rebuild the software in the new PC from scratch, over and above the yells and complaints of those guys. Bottom line with Gateway, is that it is also a superior machine.

Quality and price are so close between those two, that it is often a matter of whichever one catches your eye best in their catalogues (Send away for catalogs from them if you don't have the catalogues already.)

Both of them also have websites in which you can build a cyber-computer, select and change the components around to your heart's content, and when done, press the "go" button and it calculates the price for you while-u-wait without human intervention. You can do this again and again until you either decide on a selection, you get tired of playing around, or your boss taps you on the shoulder.


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Allen, New website http://www.ury2k.com/pulse/index.htm mirror: http://home.ici.net/~uechi/

[Jackie Olsen]

Tony, Allen, Scott, Dakkon:

With all your expertise, perhaps GEM should consider about offering a COMPUTER CLASS at Summer Camp! Thanks again for all the pointers. They have sure helped broaden my options.

Guess I have to get used to the idea that, unlike a toaster, you get a new computer before the old one breaks down.

Jackie

[Allen M.]

My world says that by the time you buy it and set it up, it already has figuratively broken down.

I'm completely out of any PC at camp activity.

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Allen, New website http://www.ury2k.com/pulse/index.htm mirror: http://home.ici.net/~uechi/