what desktop would you buy? (laptop, hard drive, high end, monitor)

[ellemint]

My 6-year old Vaio laptop is losing screen brightness and apparently replacing the bulb and inverter will cost me about $360.

So I'm thinking of buying a new computer. I hardly ever took my laptop anywhere so I was thinking of a desktop. I'm not into gaming, so just need a computer for internet, word processing, maybe some occasional photoshop, I watch a lot of movies on my computer and want to make sure I can watch TV on it etc. I'm hoping to spend less than $1000.

Any recommendations?

[EscapeCalifornia]

Literally ANY PC you buy will do all of that better than your current laptop for half your budget. When you say "watch TV" do you mean actually receiving over-the-air or cable/satellite broadcasts, or do you watch TV episodes on Netflix, Hulu, etc?

Unless you get an all-in-one model, desktop PCs have a lot of wires. I recommend getting a wireless mouse and keyboard to eliminate two of them. If you don't need great bass from your speakers, I recommend a Dell Ultrasharp monitor with their sound bar. The sound bar draws power from the monitor and eliminates a few more wires compared to traditional speaker systems.

[ellemint]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Literally ANY PC you buy will do all of that better than your current laptop for half your budget. When you say "watch TV" do you mean actually receiving over-the-air or cable/satellite broadcasts, or do you watch TV episodes on Netflix, Hulu, etc?

Unless you get an all-in-one model, desktop PCs have a lot of wires. I recommend getting a wireless mouse and keyboard to eliminate two of them. If you don't need great bass from your speakers, I recommend a Dell Ultrasharp monitor with their sound bar. The sound bar draws power from the monitor and eliminates a few more wires compared to traditional speaker systems.

Thanks for replying. I meant be able to watch a movie that I've downloaded on my TV screen instead of my computer, via an HDMI connection as well as Hulu etc. Right now I only have a VGA connection since the VAIO lacks HDMI output, so the resolution is limited and the movies are not sharp on the TV.

I do own a wireless mouse and keyboard.

I do want great bass. Right now my laptop is hooked up to 3 VAIO speakers including a separate subwoofer. My computer is the main way I listen to music. I'm assuming those speakers would work with any system, not just a VAIO. I also have an external hard drive, a MajicJack, my computer is also hooked up to my TV, printer etc. I have a TON of wires as a result, so I'm used to them.

Aside from the monitor though, if I were to get an all-in-one, would you go with a Dell, and any particular one? What about Acer?

[davebarnes]

This Apple iMac Desktop Computer - Buy iMac, the Ultimate All-in-One - Apple Store (U.S.) is slightly more than $1k

And, yes, I am an Apple fanboy.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Most desktops today have two outputs. VGA and HDMI are a common combination on models with video on the motherboard. For models with a separate video card, dual DVI is common. DVI can be converted to either HDMI or VGA. So you won't have trouble getting a machine that you can connect both a computer monitor and a TV to.

Your speakers will work with any PC.

Acer makes Gateway and eMachines so I consider those to be all the same.

I don't really have a strong brand preference on PCs. They're all more or less the same for any price point. I've seen ever brand. They all work until they don't. The downside to an all-in-one is that its basically a big laptop. When it breaks, you wind up buying a whole new one. With a traditional tower, something like a dead monitor means you simply plug in a new one.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by davebarnes

This Apple iMac Desktop Computer - Buy iMac, the Ultimate All-in-One - Apple Store (U.S.) is slightly more than $1k

Hey look everybody! Its Rev. Dave here to preach the word of Lord Jobs!

[Chadd1014]

I can't imagine wanting a desktop as opposed to a laptop.

I never take mine out of the house either but all over the house.I also watch DL movies on TV through the HDMI port on a number of different TV's I lay my laptop on the floor beside the TV plug in the HDMI cable and watch...how can you do this with a desktop?

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Chadd1014

how can you do this with a desktop?

Same way you do with a laptop. My wife's computer happens to be near our TV. I ran an HDMI cable to it for the occasional streaming movie.

[thecoalman]

delete

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by davebarnes

This Apple iMac Desktop Computer - Buy iMac, the Ultimate All-in-One - Apple Store (U.S.) is slightly more than $1k

And, yes, I am an Apple fanboy.

You'd have to be for that price.

Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40 GHz LGA1155 CPU
EVGA GeForce GTX 550 Ti 2GB PCIe 2.0 SLI
Gigabyte Intel Z77 SLI/CrossFireX ATX MB
Corsair High Perform Vengeance 8GB DDR3 1600Mhz2x4
CRUCIAL M4 64GB 2.5 SATA 6GB/S SOLID-STATE DRIVE
Corsair SP120 Quiet Edition 120mm Fan Twin Pk
ULTRA XBLASTER MID-TOWER CASE V2
ULTRA 550W PSU (LIMITED EDITION) BLK

Throw in two large HDD's and it's still less than $1K..... Mobo specs 14 USB ports including 6 external USB3 ports, 2 internal SATA3 ports, 2 external SATA3 ports, 4 internal SATA2 ports, yada,yada,yada. I even have a display port. Even the high end Macs aren't in the same ball park.