Need to buy a new cheap computer

[wyeaster]

Any recs? Mine just died. I'm looking at Costco for a cheap one close to $300. I need internet, word processing, and the ability to work with pictures. I've had HP for the past 9 years. The first one was a workhorse. The second wasn't close. Shitty experience with dell prior to that. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[digitaldeath]

talk to the guy at best buy

[Viva]

Check out Fry's. Been shopping there a lot recently, and have seen some sick deals- e.g., $199 for an ASUS i3 Core lappy. Bet they have some sweet Memorial Day sales coming up.

[Rokjoxx]

Goodwill. Boy scout troops. Little second hand stores and computer shops that cater to gamers. Gamers got crazy stupid expensive gear they swap out all the time. Computer hackers in little used crap second hand warehouses, flea markets.

Havn't paid over 100.00 for a computer in decades.

[Garth Bimble]

Desktop or laptop?

[wyeaster]

sorry laptop. don't care at all about touchscreen. i need a keyboard to pound

[Flyoverland Captive]

If you're on a budget, get a Raspberry Pi for $40.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Chromebook?

[riser4]

I often buy the deal of the week at Staples if I want a cheap computer. Costco doesn't usually have ones that cheap. Good deals on more expensive ones, but not cheap ones.

[MontuckyFried]

First off, skip Costco. They're (typically) a ripoff when it comes to computers. One of the lines of products that they carry that are NOT a good deal.

Now that we have that out of the way, for a good cheap computer check into the Asus brand. Wife's had hers for 5 years now, and it was a budget sub-$300 model I picked up at BB. If it can survive her total abuse of electronics, then it should be fine for you. Been very pleased with the build quality and longevity. Just go with mediocre specs (all you need) and you should be able to pick one up for a reasonable price. Whatever you pick up, since it'll be a cheap computer, plan on tons of bloatware that will slow it down. So the first thing you should do is just run "PC Decrapifier" and voila. Your mediocre, cheap-o computer will run speedily and should be mostly free of crapware. A great way to turn a cheap, budget computer into something that's actually pretty good.

[riser4]

Chromebook?

His specs contraindicate a Chromebook. However, I like mine a lot. Personally, I hate laptops. I prefer to have a Chromebook and a cheap desktop. You get slightly more specs for the same price in the bargain desktops vs a bargain laptop. And don't get too wrapped up in brand. You're buying something that I consider disposable.

[wyeaster]

if i could do a cheap desktop and something else that allowed me to type 70wpm portably with a keyboard and do internet i would do that if the prices were comparable. i have a super nice monitor and a keyboard. i don't care for anything but portability in a laptop and they're too big and bulky. i have an asus nexus tablet that is several years old and slow as hell. if i could get that running better i could probably do with a cheap desktop and my phone.

[wyeaster]

anybody ever use woot?

[iceman]

Somebody weigh in on this one: http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=15596

monoprice has a few others for under $200., mostly Chromebooks it appears though

[MagnificentUnicorn]

I need internet, word processing, and the ability to work with pictures.

His specs contraindicate a Chromebook. However, I like mine a lot. Personally, I hate laptops. I prefer to have a Chromebook and a cheap desktop. You get slightly more specs for the same price in the bargain desktops vs a bargain laptop. And don't get too wrapped up in brand. You're buying something that I consider disposable.

You can do word processing, work with pictures and browse the internet with a chromebook.

[wyeaster]

i don't need photoshop or anything extensive. most resize and crop.

[shroom]

I was gunna say chromebook as well. I want to say I saw a web based editor on Flickr last time I logged in.

snoop around slickdeals.net for a few days/weeks as well as newegg

[MagnificentUnicorn]

i don't need photoshop or anything extensive. most resize and crop.

Chromebook. My girlfriend is a freelance writer and she works on her chromebook. Photo editing is easy too. The plus is you're not bogged down with the bloatware that comes with MS or Apple operating systems.

[nickwm21]

Just browse Woot, monoprice, newegg, etc... find the right combo of cheap chromebook and high reviews.... purchase, succeed

[The AD]

I think a Chromebook is solid advice. You aren't going to get anywhere near the performance at the same price point for a Windows PC. If you want to do photo editing be sure to get one with a full-HD (1920x1080) screen resolution. The downside is it's effectively a brick without an internet connection. If that's a concern I wouldn't get one.

[wyeaster]

why is it a brick without internet? as long as i can still type it shouls work. so they not have much storage?

[wyeaster]

thanks for all the suggestions. i really need to be able to walk in somewhere and buy one tomorrow because i have a lot of deadlines looming. if it will save me a ton to buy it online or that is the only option then i guess i have to decide. i have a shitload of writing to do by saturday and it's not really the stuff i want to work on at the library.

[The AD]

Probably easier just to post a link to an article about Chromebooks, so here you go:
http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/ch...-buying-advice

[wyeaster]

thanks. i've been googling. i'm just not really well versed in computers.

[wyeaster]

that article makes me a little nervous. i didn't realize that even the apps are online based. i've never used the cloud or been dependent on wifi to access things.