wherein Liz asks people for computer shopping advice

[edenfalling]

Today my parents visited me. We went to two wineries/vineyards up the east shore of Cayuga, had a nice picnic lunch, did some speculative computer shopping, and ate dinner at Moosewood.

Dad had the Sicilian cod, Mom had Tortino di Verdure (which is like a casserole with pretensions and eggplant), and I had mushroom ragout ("Portabello, cremini, and white button mushrooms and more simmered with Marsala wine; accompanied by rosemary-pumpkin polenta cutlets and Romano beans; topped with parmesan [opt.]").

Then I had a fudge brownie a la mode for dessert. Mmm, chocolate...

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Anyway, back to computers.

See, my current computer is a Dell Optiplex something-or-other, bought back in 2000. It runs either Windows '98 or Windows 2000; I'm not sure which, since it's never mattered to me.

A few years ago, I had a problem most likely related to switching from a constant ethernet hookup to a non-internet-connected setup, and the computer refused to work normally. It would only operate in safe mode. I thought I'd fixed that, and for a few weeks it worked right, but then it switched back to only running in safe mode while insisting it's still running normally.

Eh. Electronics, not my thing.

Anyway, I need a new computer. The thing is, I don't really have any basis for comparison shopping. I don't care about most bells and whistles. All I need my new computer to do is:

A) word process
B) allow me to transfer data to public computers for internet access
C) play DVDs
D) play my rather outdated collection of mp3s
E) have potential for internet access (should I get another two raises in quick succession and thus be able to afford it)
F) probably have a printer that can double as a photocopier

I do not want a laptop; they bug me, their keyboards and touch pads suck like sucking things and make my wrists ache, and their screens are always at the wrong height relative to my eyes. I do not want a screen with any sort of glare; those ultra-shiny things from HP, for example, are right out. Beyond that, I have no preference whatsoever.

Does anybody out there have any advice? Brand names, model names, anything?

(On a related note, I've been told that I can insert my old hard drive into a new computer as a slave drive and thus be able to access my files without having to laboriously transfer them one by one. Is this true, and if so, is it at all complicated? I'm good with non-electronic mechanical things, but wires and plugs often flummox me.)

Comments

[firedawn.livejournal.com]

Um, yes, and yes. It's complicated if your case sucks, but depending in your current computer, you can do it. Dell is pretty good about it.

If you want a really basic laptop, the new Dells will do fine. Just make sure you have a good CPU/motherboard and that's all that really matters---the rest are all just bells and whistles and upgradeable. It's really worth it to buy a decent motherboard so you don't have to get another computer soon, because these things become outdated and stuff so damn fast.

I know that buying a computer at Dell often gets you a free printer, but doubtful as to photocopier. That stuff will cost you over 70 dollars. But Internet access isn't hard---most modern made computers come with an Ethernet card and stuff, and you can always get DSL and stuff, and buy a wireless card to go with it if that's your thing. There's a lot of ways to customize your computer at Dell.

Generally I don't recommend Dells but it really doesn't sound like you're doing much with it, so yeah.

[edenfalling]

I think many printers these days can double as photocopiers, in the same way that most fax machines can double as photocopiers. The reproduction quality may be low, but at least it's there. At least, this is what people tell me...