New computer suggestions? JOHN R??

[Ed]

Can any of you techno wizards recommend a decent, stable computer for me?? My Toshiba laptop crapped out yesterday and I need a new computer, preferably a desktop.

Dell.com has a 4600 desktop with a Pentium 4 processor and a standard monitor for $699.Is this thing any good? I really dont have the funds to spends a heck of a lot more than that.

I basically use the computer to email, surf the web and chat on classicseacraft, and of course to look for a new job.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks, Ed

[Mark]

iMac on the budget end of the scale, G5 on the other end [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

If you are intent on staying PC, you'll have to get that info from someone else - I'm a Mac believer.

[ScottM]

Ed,
No computer suggestions for you, but how was Nantucket? I didn't hear from you that first Saturday/Sunday, but it's just as well. The water was too rough to head beyond Nomans, so we stuck between there and Squibnocket on Saturday and fished CC Bay on Sunday. The wife and I did a day trip to ACK for the first time last week, very nice place. I spotted a few SC's too [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] . One was a really nice red 23 CC for sale along Straight Wharf.

[barnacle]

Stay away from dell!!!

[TUGBOAT]

Having one built as We speak.I've never bought a desk computer from a store,Well, My first Computer -"1" speed cd player . Whew! how time flys.I'm havin this one built, that way I can replace ,upgrade at will.It'll run Me bout $450.(less) or so.I'm using My old monitor. Bought a Gateway laptop (Last Year) No Problems.
Scream'n Reels' [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[JohnS]

Personally, I use Dell. I know some people blast them but, I have MANY of their machines and they work and work and work. If you do nothing more then email and surf, you really don't need much of a machine but, if you plan to use it for other things in the future, then get more now. A Celeron processor will work just fine for you if you do nothing more than surf and web related stuff. If you want to do some games of design stuff, then the Pentium would be the way to go. You should plan on NO LESS then 256 RAM. 128 is nowhere near enough for today's operating systems. 512 would be great if you run multiple tasks at the same time.

Everyone has their own personal opinion on brands so do what you think is right. I have 37 Dell machines I take care of and they do not keep me busy all the time. Used to have IBM's that kept me busy all the time..