I need to buy a new computer. What should I buy under $600?

Question

I need to buy a new computer but I am not that computer savy when it comes to what I should purchase. I am using it in the home basically just for inernet. I like to keep a lot of music and pictures on it too. I don't want to spend more than $600, Any suggestions welcome

I was thinking about the Acer Aspire T180 w/17"monitor Amd Athlon 64 Processor 3800+ It's $498 at walmart

Answer 1

Go for a desktop. Go for a bigger hard drive. Save by compromising on CPU power.

Answer 2

That is a pretty good budget for any kind of computer these days. They are coming down in price all the time, and with the holidays approaching, there will be plenty of stuff on sale. Can you wait til the big Christmas sales come up? That and rebates will give you a good deal.

You can compare the cost of building your computer from scratch and looking at the pre loaded ones. It kind of depends on how much software you really need. If you are just using it for entertainment, you want storage (a second hard drive is essential so your C: drive doesn't get bogged up), security when downloading, a browser, and good sound and graphics. You don't need office software and all that. So it may be good for you to get an empty computer and get ONLY the software you want. On the other hand, this is a custom machine, even if it has less on it, and buying one of a million with a huge assortment of programs may actually be cheaper because they are all the same.

I would also go with a LAPTOP, even for home use. For one thing, they are very minimalist in design, and take up a lot less space, making your desk area look better in the context of the rest of your decor. And set up a wireless internet hub in the middle of your house, central to anywhere you can think to use your computer. That way anywhere you have a place to sit, you can mess around on the computer. I never thought I would like a laptop but now I cannot sit still at a desktop for more than a few minutes. I can take my computer anywhere.

Another essential to modern computing, esp if you use your machine for some work and some play...is flash drives. The little handheld keychain USB drives that you plug in from machine to machine, making it simple to store stuff outside any machine, but accessible to all.

Even if you get a laptop, get a mouse. I don't use it absolutely all the time, but most times I do. It beats the built in thingy underneath the keyboard. Get a digital mouse that doesn't have a ball inside, because using it around different places, you will be mousing in places that may pick up lots of gunk and get inside your mouse causing it to skip. Get one that has a USB cord, instead of a mouse that plugs into a port. Some of them are retractable so they aren't clumsy to use.

You should be able to get everything you need for well under 600 bucks if you catch a sale and an instant rebate.

Answer 3

Make sure it has an Athlon processor with X2 in the name, or an Intel Core 2 Duo or Dual Core processor, and at least 1 GB (gigabyte) RAM. For around $600 you can probably get 2GB RAM.

Avoid the Celeron processor.

Do you need the monitor and keyboard also? I noticed the Walmart computer comes with them. It's an OK computer, but I don't highly recommend it. If you need the monitor and keyboard, you could probably get the overall best deal with a laptop. I will also recommend some laptops below.

Answer 4

Buy a Packard Bell with 512 to 1 G of memory, a 20 Liteon DVD/CD-R/W and at least 2.6 G processor.
Pentium makes a reasonably priced model for your music recording needs and it is fast and dependable enough to keep up.
It is the Pentium IV, 3G processor on a 775 motherboard.
Affordable, dependable and fast enough to do what you want as long as you don't get into very fast games that take large video cards!
I would also order the board with the surround sound installed on the motherboard so you can add a total of 6 speakers later on if you want great digital surround sound later on.

Answer 5

like the 1st guy suggested, i3 each and every of ways, incredibly for laptops in the cheap placing. I even have PASSMARK benchmark gadget downloaded and that i will call up any score from platforms international, "genuine Peoples gadget scores. The i3 330 is getting 2100 CPU factors, vs. the T9600's 2300 factors... The T9600 is nearly a $365 processor on newegg for laptops, yet extra importantly a $450 addon at Dell... so as you will see a similar factors from a computer that for the period of undemanding terms expenditures $six hundred vs. $1800. the enormous distinction that i will see from a $1800 computer with the T9600 is they incorporate a quadro pics card, no longer for gaming yet heavy accountability CAD and softwares like that, the place the undemanding joe could no longer even use that platforms skill, simply by fact the pics card is geared for artwork, no longer any video games. In turn you pair a i3 330 with a quadro and you will possibly nonetheless have a workhorse, for $4 hundred much less... incredibly Quadro enjoying cards start up at $250 and variety to $2000 and previous...

Answer 6

You can try Dell Vostro 400, it is Intel Core2 Duo Proc E4500 2.20GHz, 2GB 250GB 20 inch. I find that a recent deal for it is only $599.
http://dealstudio.com/searchdeals.php?deal_id=67660

Answer 7

Dell has some nice ones starting at 300, for 6 you should be able to get some nice addons....

check them out on the web at dell.com

Answer 8

desktops are cheaper. dells start under 400 i think. i have a dell that i got last year for 500 with a free printer, but i talked to them on the phone. it's good!

Answer 9

walmart has a few great computers unter 600. my brother has one and he has hundreads of songs plus movies downloaded. and still uses the internet fine with no problems. plus has a warranty with it. comes with flat screen moniter and all. check it out.

Answer 10

well i think you should wait until after thanksgiving, cause dont they always have a sale on the next day,
well if they do buy a hp laptop i got one, and i think it is great!
i got mine last november.
well ask to make sure