Suggest a computer...
 

I will be in need of a computer to replace my current laptop soon. I'm currently working with a Compaq Presario CQ57, WalMart special. It works fine, and took an upgrade from Win7 to Win8 without issue. The only reason why I need to replace this one is because I plan on moving it to the gun shop soon since it has all my gun files, electronic books, catalogs, etc.

I'd like to stick with something in the same line, perhaps another Walmart special.

What's your thoughts...my main requirements are that it be under $400, laptop, Win7 or higher, 3+ USB ports, card reader, and decent enough to last about 4 or so years.

Are you planning on using engineering software, like CNC stuff or Solidworks?

What is the critical thing you need to do?

Aside from buying a Mac, what is the critical thing?

man anythings better than a compaq. imo stay away from compaq and hp. asus has some pretty badass machines for not too much

Basically, I need it to be able to play online videos, serve as a music server over wireless network, internet surfing, and be able to remotely operate the one in the gunshop when needed.

Lots of refurbs on the Best Buy website.

Asus are indeed tempting when you look at the specifications vs price at the moment but they don't feel like they'll last long - acer seem to me to be a better budget buy

if their laptops are anything like their mobos , they have me sold. acer ..... well i guess they have made a comeback. havent really tried any of their new stuff

I've recently bought an Aspire v3-771 that agreed doesn't feel like a Toshiba of old or an IBM toughbook but feels a bit better than my old Dell D610 (and that had lots of Toshiba stuff in it). The irritating thing with it is that the USB ports are all on the side, none on the back so a wired mouse is really irritating to use. I bought a wireless thing with a little blob that sticks in the USB port as a solution.

I've also just bought an acer smart phone to take advantage of the free navigation software you can get (I'm trying nav free first). This was dirt cheap for a SIM lock free machine (90 euros) and also this has the feeling of quality {for these disposable electronic items}.

I'd like to think I'll get 10 maybe 15 years out of my purchases but these days past about 4 years and you are skating on thin ice. Things just aren't made to last anymore - just look at Renaults and Citroens.

Ditto :)

I just handed this Walmart refurb $258 Gateway laptop off to my daughter.

Gateway Refurbished Black 15.6" NE56R41u Laptop PC with Intel Dual-Core B960 Processor and Windows 8 Operating System: Computers : Walmart.com

This one is out of stock now, but they have similar HPs for under $300 that are slightly better. (click on refurbs under laptops on their site)

It is as new. Not a mark on it and will do her business just fine. I used an Amex credit card so I think I will have 180 day warranty on it, but once confirmed working I don't think failure is likely. Nice thing about WM is you can toss it back to them if you don't like it.

My last HP would get so hot I could heat my room in the winter.

He's a busy man, he doesn't have all day to stand around and wait on his computer.

I've had great luck with the "dell outlet" where dell sells "scratch&dent" computers. My last 3 have been from there,they were all flawless, and are still in use today.

Dell Factory Outlet

No matter what brand/model you get, before you buy look up the service info for the particular machine. When you get it you want to replace the stock thermal grease/thermal pad on the CPU, GPU, bridge, etc. with "artic silver 5" or "ICD 7" thermal compound. That is the secret to getting long life and low temps from a computer.

From the factory, manufacturers use thermal tape that is "good enough" to last maybe 6mos->2 years, and is constantly letting the CPU get hot. Switching to one of the aformentioned compounds can drop your temps 5°F-15°F, increasing your speed, battery life, and CPU life. I have brought 4-5 laptops "back from the dead" by re-applying thermal compound

If you can handle disassembling the fine internals of a firearm, then you can easily handle a computer-just watch out for static, and make sure it's unplugged when you open it up :p

This. (Oh, and in reply to the other post, Asus has not been widely known, but they've been selling laptops since at least 2006. They're not a new fly-by-nighter, especially since they make components for other manufacturers' machines as well.)

I've been using Asus products for years - also bought a net book when I was in college. It's hideously outperformed now but it still trucks along after 5-6 years of daily use. It even survived a 32" tube tv falling straight on it (although the battey is dented) just replaced the screen. If I didn't have newer/faster/lighter stuff via my job I would still be using it. Good stuff.

Let it go. He's not going to find a Mac for 400 dollars unless it's 6 or 8 years old. Pee See's have crap resale and are cheap to begin with. That's what he's looking for and what he needs. The Asus machines I've seen were quality. Asus produced PowerBooks for Apple under contract for years until Apple set up their own shop.
My son got a very nicely equipped Dell given to him as part of a college grant. We looked it up and it retailed for 650. He didn't want it. He had a tough time getting 400 for it new in the box and unregistered.

I still have an Eee PC that I use pretty frequently and carry when I travel. Bought it used for $100 or so in 2010, if it gets stolen then it's beer money.

IMO, when you can but a basically "new" one (manufacturer refurb, which , in my mind means some poor slob consumer had a chance to provide quality control) for under $300, why bother with used? You know a used battery is likely crap. People tend to want to sell their stuff for some percentage on the price they paid new. That doesn't work well for technology that is constantly getting faster , better and cheaper.

Last laptop I bought off ebay that I thought was a decent deal wasn't after I bought a $50 battery.

Thanks for the input, folks. Many of the suggestions were along the lines of what I was thinking.

No matter what you get, don't forget the artic silver 5. It is totally worth the $10 and hour or two. If you don't want to order it online ratshack sells it at a markup.

Because you can buy for $100 or $150, or even get for free, and it keeps money out of the Chinese pockets.

This thread is slightly timely for me now, bottle of soda leaked on my laptop bag and now my macbook is an expensive doorstop (for the time being at least, its in a bag of rice). Word of warning for the mac-lovers. Better prepare your anus should anything go wrong, I'm looking at least $700 for a new "logic board" since of course everything is proprietary. Also in most laptops you can pop the HD out and hook it up in an encllosure to get all your data. Not on a macbook!

I've done that with older macs and fairly recently with my son's older 08 macbook when we converted it to a SSD. When did the change happen and why?

Look under the counter at Walmart for the red price tags. Some computers get marked down significantly. Strong processors and big screens are worth a little extra. Brand names translate to "made in china". I spent $420 last time around and would have had to have spent $700 for the same power next door.

Look at wireless mice, worth it.

My guess is that they couldn't fit a regular SSD into the tiny chassis. Mine is actually an air (unbelievably thin, right now I feel like I'm typing on a dinosaur) but of course they use a proprietary connector (which is actually just PCI-E repurposed) so you have to buy the more expensive licensed mac-approved SSDs.

Mine dates to mid-2012 btw, I think that's when they started it.

I have absolutely no intention of ever getting an Apple product. I know PC, and will stick with what I know.

Do you have any idea just how irritating you can be about this?? Jesus H. Christ, I'd rather be in a relationship with my ex-wife than to have you jumping in and posting "Buy a MAC!!" Both are extremely irritating...

Watch out, he's going to get your ex wife to call you trying to sell you a mac :P :D

After owning a combined 5 macs between my family and I can honestly say, I will never own another. Next time ill buy two pc's. I grew up on windows and plan to stay with them.