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OT Question for Computer Techs Experts

SweetFeet

SweetFeet

Well-known Member
Hello,

Need a new computer. 2 1/2 year old HP died.

Would just like an opinion from those of you who work with computers for a living (especially repair techs or programmers)...

What is the best/MOST RELIABLE computer in your opinion? HP, Gateway, Dell, MacIntosh...others?

Thanks if you can share some insights.
 

whatever laptop walmart has on sale with Intel and pentium processor...

wife's got an HP and I have Toshiba.....
Another plus for you and a laptop is you can skip that space heater and work on the couch where it's warm or in a rocking chair by the stove.....
 
Just about anything with at least a dual core processor. The Intel i3, i5, and i7s are all great processors. Computer brands aren't as important as tractor brands. hehe For the most part the innards are very similar brand to brand...
 
Your post says it all - 2 1/2 yo computer dies? Why?

I use PCs at work, but Macs at home when it's my dime.

My desktop Mac is about six years old, still going strong - although I did have one HD failure after a power outage. Probably because I never shut it off, it stays powered up all the time. Got a new MacBook Pro laptop 3 years ago, the one it replaced was 11 years old.

They're more expensive up front, but you get what you pay for, IMO.
 
Do you want a desktop or a laptop?
Although a few brands have had problems because of bad Chinese capacitors, the biggest part that now fails is the hard drive. Hard drives are also priced artificially high right now thanks to some weather problems that have occurred in the Orient. Are you positive that your computer is no longer under warranty?
If you are getting a desktop, don't fall for the line that your computer has to have an Intel processor. AMD processors are just fine for desktops where the main use is internet or light business.
 
What do you use it for? If it's a home computer, used for internet, home finances, writing letters, an E machine will do good. That is what I use now. If it is used for a business, then you need a more powerful one. At a minimum, you want 4 gb memory. If you are into gaming a lot, you need a good graphics intense one. HP, it died in 2 1/2 yrs. don't go there again. As said Macs are good, Gateway, Asus, Lenovo are all solid. Dell and HP are the same thing.
 
Dell 4600, 2003, still working, but about obsolete. Same for 2000 Panasonic laptop. A really old (~1998) Winbook still works, but so obsolete that it can't run anything newer than Win98 & very slow...just keep it around for harddrive contents. May be more important that it was made T/W/Th instead of M/F than the brand. :)
 
I have had gateway and Dell and this dell I am on is a dinosaur and is probably 8-10 years old. On my 2nd monitor and my 3rd mouse but other then that has been a good all be it slow computer. Back when I had the Gateway I did in fact prefer it because it was faster and Gateway has better follow up as for tec. help. Almost all PCs have pretty much the same hard ware as for such things as intel etc.
 
Sorry... here are more details.

Paid over $900 for my HP a little over 2 years ago. 6 Gb Ram - 1 Tb harddrive (unless I'm mixingthose two terms up). Windows 7.

Crashed a month ago... took it to STAPLES (hardware IS under warranty til spring of 2013)... they could find no problem. They backed up my stuff (tons of photos and music). Did a system restore (heck I could have done that- but could not even log into the thing).

Long story short - crashed again! Took to different place and they diagnosed at NO CHARGE that hard drive is no good and power supply is not the problem... so they are thinking it is the mother board - or that all components got fried when I had a power dip and my battery backup failed. (Staples made me pay $69 until I brought in my receipt to prove it was in warranty still - even though I bought it there).

I use the computer for lots of surfing on net, quite a bit of business work, LOADS and LOADS of photos and music files. Also do a lot of photo editing. (No gaming at all).

My work computer is over 8 years old (it was here when I was hired). Is a Gateway with XP and works very well. All that has ever been done to it is a new hard drive about a year ago.

I DO PLAN to make Staples repair it under warranty. But I have two administrative assistant jobs (do some work from home) and feel I could use a backup computer. Have a newsletter deadline looming and I prefer to work on them at home with no distractions/interuptions.
 
I think a big part of computer longevity is the owner and how much crap they allow to swarm over their computer by downloading stupid programs and scams.
That said

All 3 of my current computers are re-man units from Tiger Direct.com They are cheap and work fine. I then download firefox for a web browser, thunderbird for email and open office for excel and word processing tasks. all are free programs.

On a desktop I just keep a running stock of flat screen monitors, used mouses and keyboards (other peoples junk) so then all I need to buy is the tower so its really cheap that way.

I'm not buying a new one ever again if I can help it.
 
Dave2,
Thanks! Ya' always make me laugh!

Thanks also for the computer info! Am considering something other than HP this time. So may look into Toshiba, Gateway or something.
 
deereabhm,

Thanks for the info!
So pretty much... a hard drive is a hard drive is a hard drive? HMMMMM!

Yes, I do want a good processor and lots of memory.
 
Cold Beer,

Thanks for all the info. Did not know that HP and Dell are the same thing (I knew Compaq and HP were the same). Yes, leaning toward something different this time.

Uses for work: brochure design, newsletters, annual meeting report prep, etc.

Uses for home: kids use it for homework, we all do a lot of surfing, downloading music or videos, storing and editing photos (my junkyard art).
 
(quoted from post at 14:00:23 10/24/12) deereabhm,

Thanks for the info!
So pretty much... a hard drive is a hard drive is a hard drive? HMMMMM!

Yes, I do want a good processor and lots of memory.
Click to expand...

Been doing a little research myself on this issue myself and if I can get over the cost, I will get the i7 processor and a minimum 8g memory. Although I really think the i5 and 4g memory will be more than enough.

It's kind of like tractor shopping. If you can get an 80 horsepower tractor for about the same money as a 60 horsepower, it makes sense to go for the 80 horse tractor.
 
NEBeef,
Thanks. Will give a Mac some consideration. I hear good things about them.

Thinking a power outage is possibly what fried my computer.
 
Gambles,
Thank you for all the info. I did have the AMD Athalon 11 in the computer that just crashed and it did seem to work quickly enough. *Computer would get a bit hot and make the fans come on when I did a lot of photo processing or editing though.

Leaning toward a desktop. I have used laptops belonging to others... but just kind prefer my desk top. (Plus the teens cannot drag it off to who knows where...or drop it).
 
rustyfarmall,

Thanks. That's what I thought last time when I spent nearly a grand on my computer. Still kind of lean toward it - just really disappointed that it is fried so soon.

We recently got a new one at one of my jobs - it has the i5 processor and we love it. Very fast. And handles lots of powerpoint presentations, videos downloaded and shown, etc.
 
JMOR,

Funny you should mention the M/F production problem. LOL. Several people I know have brought that to my attention as well. :)
 
#1 I think you need to find someone who can tell you what really went wrong with it. Computers are just boxes with a bunch of assorted generic components inside. They don't go "bad." They just get failed components that can be changed. I've been using home computers since they first came out and I've never had one that could not be fixed cheaply (except for some early lap-tops). Mine get taken out of use when too slow to be useful or unable to be updated. My first 8086 home-computer with an internal hard-drive (10 MB) and Windows 2 still works. My kid likes to fool with it. To him it's an antique. Also still got an Adam that runs off of cassette tapes.

Some professional-type computers have components that are tested for longer service life then consumer stuff - but that costs more also.

One example is the HP Workstation xw4100. It's so heavy duty I'm surprised it doesn't have grease fittings. I've had two for many years with NO problems and I got them both used for $100 each. Both have XP Pro which in some ways is more useful then Windows 7. I still use them for all my video processing and DVD burning.

We have five laptops in the house. Three Toshibas, two HPs. Never paid more then $20 for any of them and one was $299. I've had to put new hard-drives in all but one. My wife's just got its 3rd hard-drive. Also had several DVD burners go bad also. NO big deal. Parts are cheap if you shop around. Last 500 Gig laptop HD I got was $45. I also just bought a half-dozen new DVD burners for $14 each.

I've got an el-cheapo ZT Affintity desktop computer at home and two I stuck in a friend's real estate office. Three years now and they've been flawless.

I've fixed a lot of high-end computers that had the same price-level components as computers 1/3 the cost. Subsequently I regard high priced computers as a waste of money unless you need some specialty unit. My 9 year old kid has an HP we got at Walmart for $299 three years ago. It's on all day, every day and has never skipped a beat. My wife's Toshiba Satellite laptop has been the hardest on hard-drives. Again no big deal. I've never lost data from a failed HD yet. When they first go - you can usually remove the HD and stick in the freezer. Get it cold and then reinstall. It has always worked for me. Freeze it, boot it up and get your data off of it.
 
cd1,

Thanks for the info. Will check out that website as well. Sometimes I feel like I spend way too much money on computers.

I don't download any games/freeware-programs, etc. BUT... hard to say what the kids may click on (even though I tell them never to click on pop-ups). So who knows?
 
(quoted from post at 14:18:58 10/24/12) rustyfarmall,

Thanks. That's what I thought last time when I spent nearly a grand on my computer. Still kind of lean toward it - just really disappointed that it is fried so soon.

We recently got a new one at one of my jobs - it has the i5 processor and we love it. Very fast. And handles lots of powerpoint presentations, videos downloaded and shown, etc.
Click to expand...

My first computer was a Gateway. Pretty much state of the art and as good as it gets at that time, and I was happy. Then I decided I needed a laptop also so I could take it with me, and I bought a Toshiba. The Toshiba was far from the top of the line, but still good enough that it ran circles around my Gateway desktop. Then the Gateway died, so I bought a Dell desktop with a few more goodies than I really needed, but still not top of the line, and guess what? The Dell will leave the Toshiba in the dirt.
 
Maybe Santa will bring the kids a iPad. You'd love it for photo editing although you might need a Bluetooth keyboard if you did a lot of typing. that darn onscreen keyboard makes it a pain for more than ten keystrokes or so. Just my opinion your mileage may vary.
 
LJD,

Thanks for the great info! Will copy/paste everyone's replies and print them so I can read them again.

Then will have to do some internet research as well.
 
sweetfeet,
I asked your exact question of the IT dept at one of my clients last month.
Their are some Dells that last forever and some newer models that they stopped buying because they kept failing.
When I get home later I will post the email of which models last the longest.
Pete
 
Computers these days are designed to last about two years. Partly because in two years computers will be twice as fast as they are today so why would you want an old one? Partly because Microsoft and Apple want you to buy a new one every couple of years.

The difference between business product lines and consumer lines is durability; heat, power spikes, and bumps destroy computers. When you buy a new one, also buy a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply - a battery backup). Then set it where there's good air circulation and try not to move it around.
 
Hi Sweetfeet, this topic comes up VERY often around my place because it's what I do for a living.

A couple of clarifications:
HP and Dell are not the same company. HP and Compaq are.

A hard drive is not just a hard drive. Depending on the age, there are several different interfaces for them to hook up. Liken it to putting a 3 pt hitch implement on a drawbar.

There are also different rotational speeds of the spinning disks in hard drives to make them faster. Different buffer sizes, access speeds and latency. That is, assuming you want a mechanical hard drive instead of the newer Solid State Drive. (SSD)

Memory is another gotcha. It is fairly cheap, and more is generally better, but if you buy a machine with a 32bit operating system, that OS will not use more than ~3.4GB of RAM even if you could put an infinite amount of ram in the box. Doesn't matter if it's Windows XP, Vista or 7 etc.
A 64 bit OS does not have the same limitation.

I'm not allowed to recommend one brand over another, but as someone else mentioned, there are specific models within each brand that perform better and last longer. They are usually the business class machines.

In Dell desktops for example, the homeowner version would be the Inspiron line where the business class would be the Optiplex or Precision line. Other companies are set up similarly. These business machines are not made for gaming, but you mentioned that's not what you're looking for anyway.

Step-son had a nearly top of the line consumer laptop for college that was dog slow and nothing but trouble. We replaced it with a Walmart special and have had zero issues since. The new one was geared more for what he was doing with it, instead of being purchased on "the specs" and "the numbers".

You might also want to check out the reviews on some reputable websites like Tom's Hardware or CNET and see what they have to say when comparing the new models.

Wish I was closer so I could look at it for you. Good luck! :)
 
pete,

That would be great if you could post the list or most/least reliable dells. Thanks!

I will also do some research... but a pain in the neck with no computer at home (either have to stay late at the office as I am now... or go visit someone and ask if I can use their computer).
SweetFeet
 
Tom,
Thanks for the info. I agree somewhat that it looks as if they are being designed to only work well for a couple years (so one has to continually upgrade).

I did buy a new battery backup/surge protector -after the crash one month ago. Had one then, but apparently the battery was weak and it did not light up to indicate it.

Also going to make sure I peridically bring in husband's air tank and blow the dust out of the computer. (I do know I should be on no-carpet flooring when I do it, and to touch the metal of the air tank first to discharge any static electricity... then also make darn sure I do not touch any computer parts with the nozzle of the air tank).
 
I don't believe that. 10 - 15 years ago, many major components in consumer-grade computers had an anticipated life of 100,000 - 250,000 hours. The new standard for consumer grade stuff is 400,000 to 600,000 hours. For prof-business machines it's 1,200,000 hours. Right now, the cheapest 2.5" laptop hard-drives have a rated service life of 30,000 hours. Note also that hours is not the only measure of expected life. Since some homeowner machines get shut off and on a lot, many hard-drives are also rated in cycles of "ons" and "offs. " Cheap ones are usually rated for 50,000 cycles.

Optical drives are getting better also. I burn a lot of DVDs. I used to get maybe 500 burns to a drive and then it would start having intermittent problems. The service life seems to have almost doubled and I'm only paying around $14 each for brand new drives.

I find the newer components lasting a lot longer then they did not too long ago. If anyone is scrapping their supposedly failed 2 year-old computers - send them to my way.
 
Royse,
Thank so much for the detailed info - this will help me out alot. I wish you were closer too - because heck, I would hire you.

I do feel good that the second place I took it is not charging me anything for diagnosis - that is the company's policy. But I am going to give the tech enough cash to go out for a decent dinner out. But he had said plugging in a new hard drive did not fix it, nor did a new power supply (?not sure what that is)... so he figures it is the mother board OR possibly ALL fried when our power blipped off that day.

Again, thank you so much for the info!
SweetFeet
 
James Babcock,

If Santa brings anyone an iPad... it better be for ME. LOL.

I'm sure not though since I am Santa and have no plans buy one for any of us.
 
Jde. A good question for you to give us a solution to our Dell that we ordered with all the bells and whistles. Last year it froze up,won't open for any reason. Power is on but nothin can be brought to the screen. I' Know. LOTSOLUCK LOU> . Thanks for reading and hope you can figure out what we should do with out ordering a new Hard drive. Regards LOU.
 
I would advise you to get one put together at your local computer shop. It shouldn't cost any more than buying an HP or gateway, and you get non-propietary components that can be replaced if anything fails at a very resonable price. You can get exactly the conponents you want and upgrade or downgrade anything. The last computer I got cost around $650 CAD custom built. All the parts are generic parts that I could replace at anytime for a very reasonable cost. Also get a disc with the OS loaded on it. You might also try to wipe the harddrive and reload Windows and start over. Your computer will be like new if it was just some corrupted os files that is causing this problem and not the motherboard.
 
sweetfeet,

This is what I bought as a used PC to have another one available. (There are 5 of us including the 3 boys)

IT tech sent me this list of used Dells to buy.
They were having loads of issues with new Dells.
Over a 50% fail rate within first month on brand new PC's.

BUY
Dell 755,760,980,990,390
DO NOT BUY
Dell GX620 SFF Desktop Computer,

I paid 225 including shipping for a 755.

Personally I have a Lenovo Think Centre for my own use. Biz class PC, NO ONE is allowed on it as it has my work on it. Kids will kill a PC one way or another. Best to get them their own used PC.
Chev has a Samsung Galaxy II tablet that is great for all the web surfing and watching TV (Netflix, Hulu.) We dropped cable TV.
I actually found Barbarella on Netflix under foriegn films this weekend! LOL. 1967, Peace, Love and Understanding.
Pete
Fast, cheap used Dell
 
I use the open-source programs like I listed above because you can save a ton of money not buying microsoft office and they are really good programs.
 
Pete, can't argue with what your tech guy sent you.
I might add a few, as there are other good ones too.

The one GX model he listed as a SFF is the one that got my attention.
They made the GX as a normal size tower also, and they weren't as bad.

The SFF (small form factor) computers have some problems circulating air, so things
like power supplies get hot and burn out. (common in GX models)

Power supply for a standard tower, about $50, 4 screws, half a dozen plug in wires.

SFF double or triple the cost to replace depending on model because they
were custom built for the little case and normally only fit one model.

PS - Sweetfeet, since you asked, the power supply converts the household
power (120 volts ac here) into the 5 and 12v DC that the computer actually runs on.
Obviously without the correct voltage it doesn't work.
 
I am a Mac guy. They have a very good operating system, if you get a laptop the batteries last forever, and they have amazing customer service if you need anything. Just my opinion.
 
Sweetfeet, you need to get on a forum that deals in computer related stuff. Not all components are created equal. Find out who makes the best parts and then shop by whats inside.

Heck us guys on here can't agree on whats a good tractor!

Rick
 
(quoted from post at 23:25:46 10/24/12) Sweetfeet, you need to get on a forum that deals in computer related stuff. Not all components are created equal. Find out who makes the best parts and then shop by whats inside.

Heck us guys on here can't agree on whats a good tractor!

Rick
Click to expand...
LOL True Rick.
Unfortunately, that would happen on the computer forums too.
If they knew what a tractor was! :shock:
 
I think it has more how you run the computer than what brand it is(The exception is Emachine). I have never had a computer die but I don't run my computer 24/7. If I am working I turn it on when I get home. If I am not working I turn it on when I get up in the morning. I also blow them out twice a year. I am using a HP(5 Years Old) & an Acer(3 Years Old)at the moment. The new small computers seem to run hotter than the standard size desktop and that may shorten their life. The only computer that I have had die was because of lightning coming in on the phone line. My first computer was a Commodore 64.
 
You dont need a better computer you need better protection. Get a monster protector and plug everything into it. When power took flip-flop my monster was totally fried but one thing plugged in was hurt.
Walt
 
I do not buy assembled computers. I purchase the components from an outfit like newegg.com and assemble my own. Then I just upgrade individual components as they fail or become obsolete. The initial upfront cost is about the same, but the cost over time is significantly less. I only have to start from scratch about every ten years, when the form factor changes and I can no longer get upgraded components for the old form factor.

The problem with off-the-shelf computers is they are not designed to be upgraded. They typically use the cheapest possible components and often have proprietary designs that don't work with standard parts. Still, you can often fix or upgrade them for less than buying new.
 
(quoted from post at 17:38:45 10/24/12) sweetfeet,

This is what I bought as a used PC to have another one available. (There are 5 of us including the 3 boys)

IT tech sent me this list of used Dells to buy.
They were having loads of issues with new Dells.
Over a 50% fail rate within first month on brand new PC's.

BUY
Dell 755,760,980,990,390
DO NOT BUY
Dell GX620 SFF Desktop Computer,

I paid 225 including shipping for a 755.

Personally I have a Lenovo Think Centre for my own use. Biz class PC, NO ONE is allowed on it as it has my work on it. Kids will kill a PC one way or another. Best to get them their own used PC.
Chev has a Samsung Galaxy II tablet that is great for all the web surfing and watching TV (Netflix, Hulu.) We dropped cable TV.
I actually found Barbarella on Netflix under foriegn films this weekend! LOL. 1967, Peace, Love and Understanding.
Pete
Fast, cheap used Dell
Click to expand...

[color=darkblue:3da69e61d1]Pete, good site, I bookmarked it!! currently i get my used equipment from a local guy. he doesn't always have a big selection though. His inventory is from leased contracts from big corporations. He cleans them up (internally and externally) then sells them off on CL. BTW, I saw Barbarella when I was 14. Me and my friend watched it at the drive in.....from over the back fence!!! LOL!!!.
Definetly have to keep the kids off of them!!!! I don't even let my 27 &29 YO on mine.... learned that 15 years ago. Besides they use/like their smart phones.[/color:3da69e61d1]
 
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