Okay so i have the slowest most annoying computer everrrrr and my parents FINALLY aggreed that we could get a new one...
any suggestions??
i want a laptop but my mom wants a desktop...
were thinking an hp desktop from bestbuy but anyone have any suggestions?

I'd suggest the HP Pavilion dv2000 or the dv2500 series. Judging from the one my Sister has, it works really well on a lot of stuff.

buy it from costco. Whatever you buy, its cheapest there.
HP desktops are pretty good, hp in general is good, only thing i can think of that might be a problem is i heard a story about someone who brought an hp into an hp repair shop and it was returned in worse condition than before (ever heard jason tell that story?)
All the hp pavilion laptops are good, the 6000 or 6500 series work well too (this is what jason has and i'm getting), and are bigger (and therefore generally cheaper and can handle more upgrades)
If your looking for an HP desktop (oh ya my dad generally reccomends HP or Dell for customer service reasons) then you probably want to get it customized: do this on the costco website, not the HP website... its the exact same thing but cheaper (i saved about 50 dollars on my laptop because i bought it from costco). They might send it from some weird place like Shanghai and it takes a while to get but its worth having all the exact specs you want. Like lots of RAM. (i can help you pick stuff out, im sure anyone here would be willing to help cause more expensive doesnt always equal best).
Also because its a shared computer id recomend a desktop just cause its probably easier to share than a laptop (which is more personal).

It depends on what you'll be using the computer for. The most common ways to distinguish what you want are if you will use the computer for business or for gaming. But for an overview, I suggest the Apple MacBook Pro, Sony VAIO, or IBM (not Lenovo) ThinkPad. The Apples and Sonys are great for both gaming and business applications, while ThinkPads are targeted at business users.

However, if you are buying a desktop, definitely go for power, since the value is so much better that you might as well pay a bit more. As you've pointed out, there's some interest in purchasing a Hewlett-Packard desktop. Might I suggest the TouchSmart PC. It's an all-in-one desktop with a touchscreen interface and wireless keyboard and mouse, of which the former can be stored inside the computer when not in use. Personally, I think that HP has recently had great values, and the TouchSmart is the first computer in their product revision of computers, so it's worth a look.

At around the same price range as the TouchSmart though, is the Sony VAIO LS series. Like the TouchSmart, the LS is also an all-in-one computer. Amenities include wireless mouse and keyboard, as well as Motion Eye webcam. However, the LS is much slimmer than the TouchSmart, being no larger than a television of the same screen size.

I know someone with a sony VAIO laptop that he detests... the battery life is low and the computer is slow and acts up regularily.

lmao, might I ask how old this notebook is? Cuz any notebook used for more than five years will show those symptoms.

um pretty new. From my understanding it came with Vista.

It was a replacement for another sony vaio that broke

From personal experience, Sony VAIOs have always been very reliable. Perhaps his was one of those entry-level models MADE IN CHINA. If you want the real deal, you have to get Made in Japan, like the TX, UX, et cetera.

-EDIT-

Dude, am I the only one who realized this is from last year?

-EDIT-

nvm, I made a really stupid mistake.

Whether it's from China or Japan, I think factory labor generally doesn't have that much room for improvement. Especially now that so much of a computer is made robotically.

Another day at work in the factory. Yay. I get to screw bottom covers onto laptops all day, the same way I do it every day I come to work. Let's see... which way does the screw go in again?

Trust me, the ones made in Japan are always better. They use superior fabrication processes. And since Sony makes more profit from selling higher-end computers, they can afford to use better labour for those made in Japan. But since the entry-level computers get them very little profit, they don't have much money to spare.

hm... screw bottom covers... interesting...
yeah that makes sense america outsources cheap labor to china...
but does that mean that my laptop (HP) will be bad cause it was made in shanghai?

It just means that it's not as good as it could have been if it had been Made in Japan.

it was custom made...
back to (wait what's her name again?) FireLily's comp:
Shes going general purpose i'd guess, it would make most sense.

HP doesn't make custom computers. If you mean like you configured it yourself, pretty much everone except Apple does that online.

Anyways, if Firelily is going for the general purpose stuff, I suggest the Sony VAIO. Usually, the Apples are a bit expensive, and ThinkPads are limited to business use. But first of all, we also need to decide if she wants a notebook or desktop, and what her price range is for the respective form factors. But we're going to assume that she wants a notebook under $2,000.

I felt that one of the mistakes I made when purchasing my computer was getting a thin-and-light instead of a full-fledged ultraportable, but that's cuz I carry my computer around a lot. However, I'm assuming if it's general purpose, the computer will be used around the house. In that case, Firelily will want something with a screen size of 14-15.4 inches, pretty standard for a notebook, if a bit heavy. If you want general purpose value, the Sony VAIO N series is very good, starting at less than $900. However, hardware features are a bit lacking, and the design is simple. Also, it's made in China. If you want to step it up a notch, the FZ series is an entry-level entertainment computer, also with a 15.4" screen, and starting at just over $1,200. The FZ series is also very slim, so it's fairly light given the scren size. And of course, all VAIOs have the XBRITE high-contrast coating for deeper blacks and brighter whites.

If you hate Sony, like SOME PEOPLE, then Dell has recently been doing product revisions of the Inspiron and XPS line, and the Inspirons start at very low prices. But go for custom-configurations, and it can get pricy. My dad has a 17" Inspiron, and it works great, but gets incredibly hot. I'm no Dell man myself (I use an IBM ThinkPad), but Dell is all about the great value. HP Pavilions are also pretty nice, but the only pretty good feature that sets it apart from others is the DVD playback. Although since HP has acquired VoodooPC, you can check those out. Voodoo makes computers of superb quality.

ya, custom configured....
i think they're getting a desktop. What mom says goes.

Nice, well, if it's a desktop, Dell is fairly good. As far as I know HP desktops are pretty nice, I've had two. But if you're into desktops, Apple and Sony make the best. The Mac Pro and the VAIO LS. The Mac Pro is extremely expensive and high performance, so probably not great for general purpose. But the LS is a great choice, very inexpensive at around $1,800. Like I said, the HP TouchSmart is also in that range, and offers a touchscreen interface. However, after trying out the TouchSmart, it was really slow transitioning from the custom interface back to the main Windows desktop, no doubt cuz they used AMD, which is total shit. So I suggest the VAIO LS, with the proven Intel CPU.

Thanks guys for the help!!
what i think i have decided on is a HP dv6000t which is costomized
with
– FREE Upgrade from Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic (32-bit) to Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium!
– Intel® Pentium® dual core processor T2130 (1.86 GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB)
– 15.4" WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
– 2GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
– Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
– HP Imprint Finish + Webcam + Microphone
– Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
– FREE Upgrade from 80GB 5400RPM to 160GB 5400RPM!!
– DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
– No TV Tuner w/remote control
– 12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
– Norton Internet Security™ 2007 - 15 Month Subscription
– Microsoft® Works 8.0
– HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope


does that sound alright?

Damn, nice. Vista too.

Sounds pretty good. CPU is a bit on the low-end side, integrated graphics, and no TV tuner. But apart from that, pretty good. At least the CPU isn't an AMD. AMD is shit. I believe the Pentium Dual-Core is basically a stripped-down Intel Core. As long as you don't do gaming, the computer should be alright (integrated graphics are shit!). And with that Intel technology and 12 cell battery, it should last a long time.

Okay thats good to hear....
so intel duel? yes or no?

If you mean the battle between Intel and AMD, Intel is technologically the superior one.

I think she means should she get an intel dual or not, because (i think) there is a choice between the Intel Dual Core or just Core...

Nope, not really. Well, there is the outdated Core Solo, but that is only for laptops, and you won't find it on today's computers either. Core 2 Duo is the current-gen Intel processor standard. There's also Core 2 Quad, but that's for high-performance gaming and the such.

Well, she said "duel". But anyways, get Intel Core if you can. But Pentium Dual-Core is almost as good and way cheaper.

lmao, Core Solo. The only thing that's good for is ultraportables and handheld computers (eg. Sony VAIO UX). Core 2 Quad is also reaching the consumer-level now, with huge price cuts. So industry-standard is like Intel Core 2.

ok i was probably just remembering the customizations wrong...

Nice.

Umm... just my opinion but... you might regret that widescreen monitor since 15" is a little small... and when the letter "u" get a widescreen they seem even smaller than they should be O.o' just my opinion though... im fine with my 19" widescreen LCD

Hmm... I can't quite understand how a letter can have the ability to possess. Can you elaborate?

Actually the widescreen monitor is really nice... im using it right now actually...
remember that 15 inch widescreen is a laptop, can the letter "u" imagine having a 19 inch laptop?

but ya djbob i agree i dont think the letter "u" can possess... or imagine for that matter

LOL sorry.. I'm used to having to type extremely quickly during games so I don't get killed while talking D: cuz thats no fun and someone edited my post... I did not type "the letter the letter "u"" .... -____- Whatever I meant YOU

ya thers a filter, so if you type the letter 'yew' you get "the letter "u""

Rofl who chose to set that up?

D:
the letter "u"
lol.


Excuse off topic post

shall i start flaming HP and their stupid computers that are poorely made? it said it had a cd bruner, nope its a dvd reader...

please no. I only happen to be using one right now. Maybe it was just... an error?