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From: MotherInLaw
Date: 10-12-2006, 11:06 PM (1 of 24)
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I am getting a new computer tomorrow. Anyone have any advice on one brand. I was looking today at the Hulette Packard 1640 I think is the # of the darn thing. I left my glasses home and my hubby didn't have his either and we went on the spur of the moment. I've been complaining about this one and today I was so depressed I finally told him how I felt after hiding it from him about missing home. He loves it here and I do too but it's not home. Sad thing is home is not there anymore, by home I mean community. There is nothing I can do except to go on and make the best of life as it is now. It's just hard. But anyway, he took me out to eat tonight and told me he was buying me a new computer. So we went to best buy on the way home and looked as best we could. I found a computer with 250 G Hard drive, and 2 G of ram I think for 839.00 for the computer and 230.00 for the flat screen monitor. Does this sound like a good price. The little guy who helped me told me he makes no commission off the sale and this would be his pick for what I want it for. Any help would be appreciated.
I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118 
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From: Chrysantha
Date: 10-13-2006, 12:35 AM (2 of 24)
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We're Dell people here because we have such good luck with them. (we have 3 and one is 7 yrs old.) My sister uses a Dell and gets Dell's for all her 'bosses" (she's the comp tech and buyer for her job). Hewlett Packard is in a lot of trouble right now, losing their CEO and they're in money trouble too. The price may be good, but you may NOT get the support you need. Most people are going with Mac's now...Now that they use the same MicroSoft stuff most of us are used to. For laptops you can't beat a Toshiba... Gateway has had touble with their monitors for yrs. (ask me how I know this..3 monitors in 3 yrs for the same computer...so we never went back to Gateway.) My husband the geek, likes his Dells. ( I must say I LOVE mine)... My father-in-law likes his Toshiba laptop. One of my brothers-in-law LOVES his Mac. My neighbors across the street own a (nothing but trouble from day one), Compac. It's been in the shop 5 times that -I- know of... Kath (not good advice...but something to think about..) Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: Magot
Date: 10-13-2006, 12:52 AM (3 of 24)
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I love my Mac We had a compac - it went back. We have RM's at work and they are forever laying down and whimpering. What about software Susie? Macs come ready toplug in and go - can you move stuff to the new one or do you need to buy microsoft office or something? Well done on telling Ray how you feel - that couldn't have been easy love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 10-13-2006, 12:55 AM (4 of 24)
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I've had a couple Gateway laptops. The first one was a hand-me-down from my husband and the battery didn't last as long as I needed it and the poor thing seemed to be crashing a lot so I gave it to my daughter. They completely cleaned out all the programs and reloaded windows. They got a wireless card and she loves it. My new one is a wireless Gateway laptop with enough battery to last a good three hours -- maybe a little more. I like it a lot. I mostly use mine for work -- word processing and editing sound bites. I guess I don't really do enough with them to notice much difference except when they start getting old and tired and they all do that too soon for my taste. It is the soft ware that is important to me -- My Lotus word processing and Cool Edit Pro that the radio station loaded for sound work fine in this. Oh and my M8 Clipboard. I couldn't do without my big fancy clipboard. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 10-13-2006, 03:12 AM (5 of 24)
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I thought about a Dell but I helped a good friend of mine set her Dell up and had trouble with the tech speaking broken English. They are in India you know. (smiling) I was more frustrated when I got off the phone as when I got on the phone. He didn't resolve the problem either. I know the deal with the Gateway that's what I have now, it's been a good one except for the Monitor I've had two gateways and this one was donated to me I'm using now off an EMachine. I also had a HP before and it was a good one too. That's why I'm so mixed up to what to get. The guy at Best Buy told me Best Buy services their computers you don't have to call tech support. They have in store Geeks. I guess I'll have to keep researching until I'm satisfied with the one I feel comfortable with. Jan I wouldn't know the first things about a Mac. I have some software, Word Perfect I got when I got my last computer and this one I looked at today comes with Microsoft Works Suite. I was going to buy the Word Program if the Word Perfect is out of date now which i think it is. Raymond is good with making me feel good when I sit down and pour my heart out to him but he's not very receptive to it unless flat out tell him. I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118
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From: Sancin
Date: 10-13-2006, 05:45 AM (6 of 24)
I have a HP that is 5 years old, having the CD replaced tomorrow and the only problem I have ever had. The price sounds good to me from a Canadian perspective, tho the monitor sounds a bit pricey - as long as you can see it so much the better. I don't think the upper eschelons of HP are going to filter down to the average consumer. They have been in the computer business for a very long time and most service is at the local level, with service people who work with machines knowing them. I have heard good things about Dell. They don't have sales people locally but do have service people available. Parts, if needed, may take several days to obtain, but how often does one really ever need parts for a computer? Most problems seem to be software problems. ....... of course then there is the story of one of my computers that was switched when it when in for repair and I didn't find out till the company went out of business    FYI: I purchased my HP from big box Future Shop here in PG. I purchased extended warrenty (based on the crazy switch). The support was thro HP and via phone. I was really impressed with any support I needed (it helps to tell them you are little old lady - but know a few things), with only once getting a young man who was obviously not happy with his job. As the warrenty is now up I hire a local geek who comes to the house and cleans up for me and repairs from time to time. Worth every penny - trying to get that machine into a bag I can carry (can't my arms around it) and into the car is a nightmare. I have had local store techs available for past computers and they worked well. As long as you can get assistance of some sort and not have to depend on the 12 yr old neighbour boy who talks too fast and does things you have never heard of. Depending on how old your old computer is you probably need new programs as the speed and memory seems to overwhelm old programs. I always negotiate inclusion of the lastest operating system (not a beta version - been stung with those) on a separate disk and a good word processing program, but it depends on what you are going to do with a computer. It seems to me when I got this HP it came with 3 disks that included the operating system and lots of freeby junk. Problem was that they were all integrated and when I wanted to change my Windows none of the other programs work. However, as I was working when I purchased it I got MS Office at education price. I have found since I retired I do not use the majority of the Office programs, even word processing as I used to. The other thing I think about when purchasing costly technical equipment, be it sewing or computer is how long am I going to be using it at all. Susy, I can imagine how you feel about home - you have had the most incredible year. Personally, I don't worry too much about the world as long as I can come home, regroup and go out again into the world. Hug to you. *~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 10-13-2006, 08:42 AM (7 of 24)
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I think it is a little like sewing machines -- you really need to buy the features you need and the service rather than concentrate on a brand. Now you all know I'm no fan of big box stores but we've bought a lot from Best Buy and I've always found the nice young people there very helpful and the service -- especially the extended warranty -- well worth the money. And the selection is usually big enough that you can find something you like. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: MaryW
Date: 10-13-2006, 10:46 AM (8 of 24)
We have had Dell for years with no problems to speak of. Heaven knows I work mine everyday. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: Sewhappie
Date: 10-13-2006, 10:49 AM (9 of 24)
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Susie, DS has a Apple laptop and loves it. They are great with not having to worry about Virus's and crashes. Some of the newer ones are pretty reasonable in price. My new system is a Compaq ( made by HP ) so far so good, The only problem I have had since owning it is my IP provider screwed up and blew out my Router and tripped something on my system. They fixed it and I know what to watch for in the future. Guess this is the price you pay for having a IP provider who is to busy buying out other Companies and rushing to get everyone switched over. My old computer is a EMachine which was bought out by Gateway. Have had LOTS of trouble with it inthe past. Now that it's retired to the sewing room, it seems to be doing okay for now. DD has a Dell, I have had to work on it, but they have a great support system, I had all my help vis the Internet. Plus on the back of her tower is a "lighting code" which tells me if her system is working right or not. If I see all 4 green lights it's okay, if it's green and orange then I know DD or SIL have done something and it needs to be fixed. I did have to replace her "C" drive a while back and her "floppy drive" has bit the dust, but they never use that. Their biggest problem is turning off the firewall and Anti-virus programs. They have since learned not to do that since they messed itup big time and I refused to fix it. They had to pay someone to clean up their mess!!!!! Neither one of them should be allowed near a COMPUTER!!!! |
User: Sewhappie
Member since: 10-27-2001 Total posts: 1427 |
From: Magot
Date: 10-13-2006, 10:51 AM (10 of 24)
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Thinking about it Susie - as I am sure you have - whayever you get has got to support your embroidery machines or whatever it is you do with these things.
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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From: DorothyL
Date: 10-13-2006, 11:06 AM (11 of 24)
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My husband's Apples go down as much as my PCs -- which isn't a lot anymore. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: pretnichols
Date: 10-13-2006, 12:10 PM (12 of 24)
Just my 2 cents..... I bought a laptop this summer, a Gateway. I love it! I've never owned a laptop before, and previous history with them....not that great. I've also owned a Gateway (workhorse), 2 off-brand built to suit, and 2 E-machines. The first e-machine died exactly 1 month after the warranty expired. It was a nightmare and took a neighbor a year to finally get it working again, after putting everything into a brand new tower. I did buy a second one, and have absolutely no problems with it. It's 2.5 years old, has an extended warranty which I've never used. Go with your "gut" feeling. Get one that you can use to do what you need/want. When I was buying my last e-machine, they wanted me to upgrade it for gaming. At the time my kids were 3 & 6 and only (still) played kid games. Good luck with your shopping! Peggy
So little time, sew much to do........... |
User: pretnichols
Member since: 10-16-2005 Total posts: 342 |
From: lendube
Date: 10-13-2006, 01:14 PM (13 of 24)
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I've got a Toshiba laptop in my sewing/computer room. It's been great (and it's portable - nice feature.) My dh has loved Dell's and uses them exclusively at his fire station for himself, secretary, ambulance crew, etc. They all love them. We just bought one for my Mom and it was only a little over $500. for a complete desktop set up with flat screen. Perfect for her and basic computing. In the past I had Hewlett Packards and they were fine too. Good luck. Try some of the consumer sites if you can for real comparison shopping. Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 10-14-2006, 12:57 AM (14 of 24)
Well Ladies I'm typing this post from my new HP 1640 which has a DVD-RW and CD-RW with a 19 in flat screen panel monitor. I have hooked it all up by myself and installed everything except the sewing machine but it won't be bad to do I had to get an adapter because my box for the sewing machine has a serial port and they don't come with those anymore so I had to get a usb to serial adapter. I configed everything myself in just under three hours from walking in the door with the thing. I didn't get home until after 7 this evening and with the help of my grandson crawled under the desk and unplugged the old one and hooked up the new one. I think I'm satisfied with it so far. it is taking some time to hook up the modem for the fast access and configing my email but I did it and now I'm ready to rock and roll. YEaHHHHHH I purchased the Samsung monitor instead of the HP. I'll keep you all posted on how it works out as time goes on. Hugs and thanks to all of you for the 
I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118
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From: Magot
Date: 10-14-2006, 02:01 AM (15 of 24)
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Go you Susie! Many happy days playing be yours.
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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From: DorothyL
Date: 10-14-2006, 11:52 AM (16 of 24)
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The biggest pain is configuring everything inside the way you want it and reinstalling programs and files. I'm still working on that and it has been months. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 10-14-2006, 08:23 PM (17 of 24)
Tell me about it Dorothy. I didn't get into bed until 3:30AM last night and didn't play with it until tonight but now I'm starting to get some messages I don't like. I guess it's some conflict issues I'll have to work out but I didn't want them to happen this soon. The config went better than I expected. The Geek Squad at Best Buys took all the extra things off like all the trial things I didn't want. They installed my spyware and virus protection also so that was on here when I got it. They also made me some back up disk and restore disk. I love the bigger screen. I had a flat screen before Katrina but lost it and had to go back to a smaller curved screen so this is wonderful now. Also I love the new keyboard. This computer also has all the ports for the different memory cards for cameras and such. I'm feeling very cocky about right now. I just need to learn how to get in bed earlier tonight. I have company coming my son is coming with his new girlfriend. He's coming up to look at houses tomorrow. gotta run
I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118
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From: Chrysantha
Date: 10-14-2006, 09:31 PM (18 of 24)
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Congrats on the new electronic baby.... !!! Since I have my own geek...(except when he's gone, then I get my sister the geek to help me...hee hee..) I don't do anything but sit here and type, read, fill the computer with junk and make it hate me...  
Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414
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From: DorothyL
Date: 10-15-2006, 10:24 AM (19 of 24)
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Susie -- I love a big screen too. I have a laptop with a screen wide enough that I can divide it in half with two files up when I am writing -- one side with my notes and the other with what I am writing so I'm not flipping back and forth. I know you don't have to do that kind of thing but with a wide screen you can do two things at once and see them both at the same time. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Magot
Date: 10-15-2006, 10:52 AM (20 of 24)
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My 20" screen on my imac lets me have a web page and a word document open side by side too Dorothy - it is SOOOO nice. Enjoy your new toy Susie. And Go to bed at a reasonable hour! love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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From: lara m
Date: 10-15-2006, 05:01 PM (21 of 24)
| Enjoy your new toy! I still don't know everything about my computer and I have had for awhile. Don't wear yourself out trying to figure everything out. Take your time and relax. I was going to tell you to stay away from Dell's too. Their customer service bites. My DH is a computer tech and we get lots of them in our shop. Then DH has to deal with people with accents hard to understand etc. HP has very good printers too. Samsung too. |
User: lara m
Member since: 05-06-2003 Total posts: 65 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 10-15-2006, 10:30 PM (22 of 24)
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Dorothy my screen is nice. I hate clicking back and forth between screens too so this will be great. It's a 19in it will be plenty of big to do what I have to do. Jan, Now I can work on my designs and watch the www.qnntv.com all at the same time. I lose track of time is the reason I'm up all night. Night time is the only time I can really be by myself. Lara, I have a HP printer all in one. I like it a lot. It saves space and it's user friendly. So far I really like my computer. When I can get on it, my grandson has been here all evening typing a report for school. He doesn't know how to type poor feller and of all times for him to learn. 
I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 10-16-2006, 07:08 PM (23 of 24)
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I have a Gateway.. it is 5 years old.. It is the only computer I have ever had.. I got it because my sister and brother have Gateways also.. We all love them.. No trouble ever with any of them..(except user caused with DB) LOL.. I have a plain HP printer to go with it, and a scanner (simple)... I love mine..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: carman
Date: 10-16-2006, 09:46 PM (24 of 24)
i have a Dell and its not the customer service issues, i was given a direct line to the guys in,hmmmm, Tennessee? some state  after i was on the phone with them for so long at times, if there was to strong of and accent i would ask to speak to someone else and i was always transferred, my issue was that i went through THREE hard drives on my NEW dell in 11 months and the RAGE that occurred in my body was felt from here to India lol. the speed of having a new one was fast , usually the next day, it was the next 24 hours of having to reload EVERYTHING all over again, i hung up the phone so may time lol on the service guys that i ended up with a local Dell rep calling me asking how they could change things, and i said, tell your employers to quit sounding like everything is OK when it is NOT,as that tone would set anyone over the edge, and when something dies 3 times in 11 months the product is faulty, or its me and they didn't seem to know how to respond to that statement, it was quite amusing actually. knock on wood, i have had 2 years of no hard drive issues, but i do have and external one and Nortons ghost which backs up all the programs even the codes you need as as the next time, and i am sure there will be, my hard drive dies, i will have to deal with Dell AND Microsoft as i have had my 3 activations already because of my non faulty hard drives, other than that i LOVE my DEll
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User: carman
Member since: 04-17-2000 Total posts: 692 
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