Tech Talk, Need a Computer for my Dad

Titus · 06-15-2008, 05:45 PM

This should be common knowledge, but I'll say it again I know nothing really computers, I did when I was in Jr. High, but that was when windows 95 first came out.

Anyway

My dad, God bless him, is a loving man, great guy. And for Fathers day he didn't want anything. He wants to go down to the bar for a beer and call it a day.

But he just called me and tells me that his computer died again. And it's from one of those Johns Computer store places that popped up and then went out of business. I think he bought the pos for $400 less than 2 years ago.

I've been looking at Dells and want opinions before I go and buy one. He has dial up internet sadly and I'd like to upgrade him as I'm sick of that busy signal every time I call.

Can someone build me a computer here cheaper than Dell? It just needs to work and not crash every other month.

Thanks for the help guys.

T

melkson · 06-15-2008, 05:48 PM

i'm sure anyone with computer experience can help ya. I have a piles of nice parts, and am willing to trade a working system for PB stuff. only cash i'd ask is shipping costs.

got a 3ghz board/cpu + 1gb ddr2 533 + 160gb HD + dvdrw in pieces available. oh, and a nice video card (i forget the specs of it)

Titus · 06-15-2008, 05:51 PM

Ummmm, awesome lol

I think I could turn that on?

Tech stuff I don't know. I'm pretty good at putting things together and such.

melkson · 06-15-2008, 06:01 PM

oh, i'd assemble and ship a working system. Basic ugly tan case, but working well.

Jaan · 06-15-2008, 11:40 PM

If his computer is less than 2 years old you can probably fix it and he'd be happy.

If you still want to buy him a new computer, just look at the sales in the Sunday paper. You can usually get a decent computer only (I'm assuming he has the rest) for $300 with warranty. It would be hard to build a computer for that price with the same parts. Go there, pick it up, take it out of the box, hook it up.

melkson · 06-15-2008, 11:58 PM

or just trade some spare PB stuff to me....

Modokun · 06-16-2008, 12:13 AM

Nowadays it's hard to build a computer for cheaper than a prebuilt one, especially with lower end computers. If you want to get him a used computer the hardware that Melkson has would be more than sufficient for what it sounds like he uses the computer for. (Word processing, email, Interwebs, etc.) But you might have to get him an operating system. The best choice, in my opinion, is Leopard. Apple did an amazing job with the GUI (Graphical User Interface). That and the lack of viruses for Macs would help your old man avoid quite a few hassles. (All of this is assuming he's not very tech savvy) An easier route would be to just take hime to Best Buy and have one of their employees help you pick a computer out (You'll probably want to get rid of all of the extra crap companies load onto the computers...

)

But take my ideas/opinions with a grain of salt. My thoughts are muddled as I took the ACT yesterday and have turned off my brain for the next week or two...

melkson · 06-16-2008, 12:20 AM

must-not-flame-crApple.... ARRG!

seriously, if you are looking to drop a few hundred, get a new system. Thats why I asked for no $$ aside from shipping. But people do have parts, and unless he's trying to run state-of-the-art games, a parts built system (READ PC) should do great. Hades, I have older systems that will most likley do MORE than what he needs, but I was hoping to offer something that won't need an upgrade for a few years for a basic user.

It's all about what (if anything) you want to spend.

f1zz · 06-16-2008, 11:31 AM

I'm with Modokun with the Leopard suggestion. Each computer and OS has its downsides, but if you got your dad a Mac Mini, there would be less over all hassle with the computer. I abuse my mini and work it very hard and it has been nothing but good to me. Its a solid out of the box experience. You can build a PC much cheaper, but time spent installing anti spyware and running virus checks, general maintenance stuff and updates, thats going to cost you work for the dollars saved.

incynr8 · 06-16-2008, 11:35 AM

you should antivirus on mac also, they are not impervious.

06-15-2008, 05:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Titus Sunstar Paramedics Slave Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: The Group W Bench Posts: 6,969	Tech Talk, Need a Computer for my Dad This should be common knowledge, but I'll say it again I know nothing really computers, I did when I was in Jr. High, but that was when windows 95 first came out. Anyway My dad, God bless him, is a loving man, great guy. And for Fathers day he didn't want anything. He wants to go down to the bar for a beer and call it a day. But he just called me and tells me that his computer died again. And it's from one of those Johns Computer store places that popped up and then went out of business. I think he bought the pos for $400 less than 2 years ago. I've been looking at Dells and want opinions before I go and buy one. He has dial up internet sadly and I'd like to upgrade him as I'm sick of that busy signal every time I call. Can someone build me a computer here cheaper than Dell? It just needs to work and not crash every other month. Thanks for the help guys. T __________________ Celani's Paintball Dealer for APP, CCI, Tippmann, JCS, etc Feedback Willing to be a 3rd party for shipments to Canada and outside of the US, just PM me.

06-15-2008, 05:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
melkson Seasoned Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 531	i'm sure anyone with computer experience can help ya. I have a piles of nice parts, and am willing to trade a working system for PB stuff. only cash i'd ask is shipping costs. got a 3ghz board/cpu + 1gb ddr2 533 + 160gb HD + dvdrw in pieces available. oh, and a nice video card (i forget the specs of it) __________________ Raptor Guru Merchant marine salvage engineer, Preemptive salvage specialist

06-15-2008, 05:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
Titus Sunstar Paramedics Slave Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: The Group W Bench Posts: 6,969	Ummmm, awesome lol I think I could turn that on? Tech stuff I don't know. I'm pretty good at putting things together and such. __________________ Celani's Paintball Dealer for APP, CCI, Tippmann, JCS, etc Feedback Willing to be a 3rd party for shipments to Canada and outside of the US, just PM me.

06-15-2008, 06:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
melkson Seasoned Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 531	oh, i'd assemble and ship a working system. Basic ugly tan case, but working well. __________________ Raptor Guru Merchant marine salvage engineer, Preemptive salvage specialist

06-15-2008, 11:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jaan MCB Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: People's Republic of Massachusetts Posts: 1,841	If his computer is less than 2 years old you can probably fix it and he'd be happy. If you still want to buy him a new computer, just look at the sales in the Sunday paper. You can usually get a decent computer only (I'm assuming he has the rest) for $300 with warranty. It would be hard to build a computer for that price with the same parts. Go there, pick it up, take it out of the box, hook it up. __________________ "If the world had had to depend on the inventive and constructive ability of women, we should still be sleeping on the plains." ~A. B. See To find out a girl's faults, praise her to her girl friends. -- Benjamin Franklin

06-15-2008, 11:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
melkson Seasoned Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 531	or just trade some spare PB stuff to me.... __________________ Raptor Guru Merchant marine salvage engineer, Preemptive salvage specialist

06-16-2008, 12:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
Modokun Rec Poster Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 69	Nowadays it's hard to build a computer for cheaper than a prebuilt one, especially with lower end computers. If you want to get him a used computer the hardware that Melkson has would be more than sufficient for what it sounds like he uses the computer for. (Word processing, email, Interwebs, etc.) But you might have to get him an operating system. The best choice, in my opinion, is Leopard. Apple did an amazing job with the GUI (Graphical User Interface). That and the lack of viruses for Macs would help your old man avoid quite a few hassles. (All of this is assuming he's not very tech savvy) An easier route would be to just take hime to Best Buy and have one of their employees help you pick a computer out (You'll probably want to get rid of all of the extra crap companies load onto the computers... ) But take my ideas/opinions with a grain of salt. My thoughts are muddled as I took the ACT yesterday and have turned off my brain for the next week or two... __________________ Stephen - Feedback: +2/-0

06-16-2008, 12:20 AM	#8 (permalink)
melkson Seasoned Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 531	must-not-flame-crApple.... ARRG! seriously, if you are looking to drop a few hundred, get a new system. Thats why I asked for no $$ aside from shipping. But people do have parts, and unless he's trying to run state-of-the-art games, a parts built system (READ PC) should do great. Hades, I have older systems that will most likley do MORE than what he needs, but I was hoping to offer something that won't need an upgrade for a few years for a basic user. It's all about what (if anything) you want to spend. __________________ Raptor Guru Merchant marine salvage engineer, Preemptive salvage specialist

06-16-2008, 11:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
f1zz Herald of Unicron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dorchester, MA Posts: 126	I'm with Modokun with the Leopard suggestion. Each computer and OS has its downsides, but if you got your dad a Mac Mini, there would be less over all hassle with the computer. I abuse my mini and work it very hard and it has been nothing but good to me. Its a solid out of the box experience. You can build a PC much cheaper, but time spent installing anti spyware and running virus checks, general maintenance stuff and updates, thats going to cost you work for the dollars saved.