Today’s question is from Shannon:
I’m looking to buy a new computer that will be dependable for homeschooling and other uses, but not cost an arm and a leg. Any suggestions?
I’m so out of touch with the latest technology that I really don’t know what to look for in a new machine. I’m not a “techie” and I generally use things until they die! -Shannon
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I’m a PC and Mac user and a bit of computer geek. Don’t get me wrong, I like Macs! But if you don’t need one, you can get a lot more PC for the money. By the way, Macs can and do get viruses. That’s a myth. As far as brands of PCs go I have had had great success with Acer and Dell. My first computer almost 20 years ago was an Acer and my most recent computer purchase was an Acer ($600 Costco – great place to buy a computer BTW). In between I had a Dell for 10 years and the only reason I decommissioned it is I could not upgrade the hard drive (other than external but I wanted internal), otherwise I’d still be using it. I’ve also got an HP laptop and another HP desktop and all I’ve had is trouble with them. I will never purchase another HP computer. You can’t go wrong with a Mac, but if you are looking at PCs, I’d suggest taking a look at Acer or Dell. And if it’s Acer, go through Costco – good price, warranty, tech support.
My 2 cents: I do not recommend Macs for people who don’t need them for design purposes. My husband is a designer and made me get one 5 years ago b/c he didn’t want to be tech support for a Windows machine, which I understand. Also, you may have fewer issues with Macs. However, I generally don’t think it’s worth the price tag, especially considering how cheap you can get some Windows machines. But I’m going on 5 years with my Mac.
I have nothing negative to say against Macs. If your budget allows it and the OS is your preference then go for it. Personnally, I have been way too cheap to fork out the additional amount for a Mac. FYI, though, our HP desktop finally crashed on us after 10+ years and it ran everything current plus more (even with a 6 & 2 year old as sole users). We also have two toshiba laptops (1 is 7+yrs and the other is 6+yrs) and both are still going strong with no issues. I personally use a Dell laptop for most of my work and have had it for over 4+ years. If you maintain it according to the manufaturers suggestions plus common sense, I think most computers can last 10+ years. The question is preferences and knowing the difference between the needs and wants you want from your computer. After you have this figured out, the next thing would be setting a budget that is aligned to you and your family’s. Good luck!
Dell Desktop computer. If you are getting a laptop, anything other than HP is fine. HP doesn’t make very good quality laptops.
Get a Mac. You can even purchase a Mac Mini and just attach it to your existing desktop monitor. It will be cheaper but faster. If you use wireless, look into getting the best and fastest router from apple also. you will not regret it.
I’ve never used a Mac and dont care too! I bought a Toshiba Satellite laptop last Nov for around $300 and have been very happy with it.
I would get a Mac. They have a refurbished site that all machines have the full warranty but you pay less than full retail for them.
ASUS is a great quality but very affordable computer brand. We have a laptop that we really like.
My Dell Laptop is less than 3 years old. The key for the number six is gone. I have to press hard and sometimes it will work and sometimes not. The screen has three areas with black streaks. They will not go away. The laptop also gets very warm when it’s been on for a long time. I will never buy another Dell.
I just purchased a refurbished Gateway from Amazon and I love it! It came and looked perfect I would have never known it wasn’t brand new. I just ordered my husband one because he keeps stealing mine because he loves it too. Good Luck!
We bought a refurbished laptop from Dell’s website. It allowed us to get more computer for our money! It came with a warranty and looked and performed completely brand new. We couldn’t be happier. The trick with refurbished is to know exactly what you want and then buy when they have one available. I am sure there are refurb Macs out there too if that is the way you are leaning. Just make sure it comes with a warranty!
After a lot of research, we replaced our dying PC with a Mac and we couldn’t be more happy with our choice. They DO offer a homeschooling discount and every little bit helps. We have Word and Excel installed on our Mac. You can also check Craigslist – my teen son got his at a really good price. It’s 2 years old and has an “older” operation system (Lion), but it works for what he needs. We have started doing college visits and decided to take note of the computers/laptops we see on our college visits. 4 out of 5 laptops (carried by both students and profs) are Macs and many of the colleges we visited have Apple products.
Lion is the newest Mac OS. 🙂
Oh, ok! I was told Mountain Lion is the newest and Lion preceded Mountain Lion. Either way, both systems work fast, efficient and logically!
Oh I may be behind. Surprised I haven’t heard about it from my hubby. I don’t even have anything as new as Lion, so I think you’re on top of the game!
I happened across this article today… it links to a free ebook that details the latest things to look for in shopping for a laptop. It breaks it down into really easy terms! http://www.makeuseof.com/pages/buying-laptop-computers-your-2012-guide-to-finding-laptop-deals
I agree with many here – go with a Mac or Macbook. And buy a used or refurbished one. They last forever, the don’t get viruses, they rarely have a software issue and (did I say this already?) they last forever. I have had a Macbook since 2007. My daughter dumped a 24 ounce glass of ice water on it, I shook the water out, let it dry, and not a problem since. I’ve never had an issue with it except occasionally running out of storage space. It has a 250G hard drive and I have a teenaged girl who has built up our itunes files to be really, really big. A TB external drive for under $100 from Target solved the storage problem though. Yes, an Apple machine costs more up front but I have never had a PC that I didn’t have to replace after three years.
I agree with many of you….definitely a Mac. It may cost more to buy, but it will last through all the upgrades longer. It nearly never gets viruses. We bought a reburb from the apple website.
I worked in the data center for a school district that was strictly PC. I bought a mac iBook on eBay used as an email/web surfing machine at home. On a lark. SIX YEARS LATER it could load and run the most current, up-to-date operating system with no additional upgrades. Never a repair. This was unheard of on a PC. At work, we would have rotated a machine that old out of service as unserviceable – parts and upgrades too expensive.
I bought a new mac desktop for myself and gave the ancient iBook to my grandson. He could play kid games, surf the web and watch DVDs (way ahead of the curve in it’s day) on it.
My new laptop is going to be Apple brand no matter new or used.
Also a Mac girl here! After having countless crappy PC’s I bought a refurbished Mac Book 4 years ago and it is still going strong, not 1 SINGLE problem. And it is so user friendly!
I’m a Mac girl as well. I love my MacBook. My husband (a Computer Science student) LOVES his Sony Vaio. He’s owned 2 in the past 12 years and I have a feeling he’ll purchase another one once he needs to replace his current laptop.
Make sure you check out discounts the company your family works for. I sell Pampered Chef and we get a discount on Apple and Dell products. When I worked at a local hospital, they had a computer deal through a local computer company.
Also, if you don’t care if things don’t “match,” consider a computer student building a computer for you. My husband has built a few computers and each of them cost about $300 for a good quality desktop. You’ll have to purchase the monitor as well, but I’ve seen larger monitors at Goodwill for $10-$15. Plus you know who to call if your computer needs repaired!
I’d go with a refurbished Mac is you can’t afford a new one. No problems with mine for 3 years now! None! No viruses! No stalls. No crashes. Don’t even have to have virus protection software! Everything works fine! I had Dell for 20 years….would not buy another one now that I’ve had a Mac. Although they cost more, they are worth it. Also, ask about the discounts for teachers and students. I got mine on a sale with $100 discount and a free iPod, plus discounted printer and extra software.
I bought a Mac desktop two years ago and it is takes about 5 minutes to turn on and is constantly freezing on me. I am afraid to take it to get fixed though because the repair might cost as much as buying a new PC.. haha… Does anyone have any tips on how to get it repaired at a low cost? Or even how to clean it up? I know I’m the oddball here being the one with a Mac that gives her problems…
Have you tried reinstalling your OS? It should have come with a disk to do that.
Do you download updates on a regular basis? That makes a huge difference – and you can get low cost/free programs that help you clean up memory, etc. I dropped my mac book pro (many times, as did my toddler) and I had to get something fixed on it, and it didn’t cost me much! You can have the Apple store figure out what’s wrong before getting it fixed – they will tell you upfront how much that fix would be – can’t hurt to ask! They might be able to tell you why its running slow by just describing it too?
Only a Mac. It’s the only computer worth getting. Save longer if you need to , to be able to get one.
I think a refurbished Dell on their website is the best way to go.
My husband is a Mac guy and I’m a PC girl. Honestly, if you aren’t running anything crazy, it’s not worth it to get a Mac. They are very good for graphics and creating videos, but if you’re running basic programs a PC works just fine. Yes, you won’t get viruses with a Mac but you won’t get many viruses with a PC either if you’re careful about what you click on. Even if you got a cheap pc that you had to replace every 3 years, it wouldn’t cost as much as a Mac. And if something does go wrong with a Mac, it costs an arm and a leg to fix. It mostly depends on what you’ll use it for. And if you can, get a desktop instead of a laptop. They usually last longer.
I agree with everything you said!
We have both Mac and PC, and I use both at work. We have free virus software on the PC and no problems with it or the last PC we had (over the last 8 years). I even switched to using the PC for videos because our home Mac is old and now very slow. Mac is great for video making & music recording – especially when you want easy programs kids can learn quickly. But with good software, our PC does just as well (and is faster because we can afford to replace it much more often than a Mac)! Our current desktop PC cost 1/3 the price of the cheapest Mac at the time, and at almost 3 years old, it’s still fast and perfect for our video making, music recording, and small amount of graphic work.
For us, saving up for a Mac isn’t worth it. If you’re saving money so fast that it just means waiting another three months, it might be different. I’d only seriously consider it if a child or elderly person in my household needed easier to understand software.
I wasn’t completely clear – all I wrote above only refers to DESKTOPS!
Our PC laptop experience is not nearly as good, and I could see a MacBook being worth waiting / saving much longer! Obviously desktops are cheaper, but with space and portability are higher concerns, then kindly ignore my PC recommendations. 🙂
Get a Mac, it’s worth every penny. It will last forever and it comes with excellent support.
I would love to have a new computer ! When my nephew or brother in law upgrades they share the newer “used” one with me and that makes me really thankful. What they always get are HP,Im a QVC Shopper and dont have any idea if you like it or not but there is a computer which I believe is an HP and it has several terra bytes of memory ,a jillion extras,and five years of free virus protection. I think If I were buying a computer I would check out what they have and see all the extras you get with each brand and it will also tell you when they will have them on a show again to show all the bells and whistles,they always give all the information about all the extras they throw in for much less than you would find if you bought at any store. No I dont work for Qvc and Im no expert but I would take on of these in a heart beat.
We have been very, very happy with our Mac after making the “big switch” 3 years ago. Its still going strong!
we bought a gateway from best buy 6 years ago… yes its very very slow now, but for a kindergartner and first grader just right, we usually don’t buy any expensive computers, and i think the most we spend on one was like 700 dollars.
We had been PC people until about 1.5 years ago when we bought our first Mac. In our 13 married years, we’ve replaced like 4 PCs (HPs and Dells) and got tired of them failing us after life expectancies of 2-3yrs. We talked to a lot of people that owned Apples and many had their Macs still working after 7-10 yrs. We were also intrigued to learn that Macs don’t have the virus problems that PCs are prone to. I think we were sold on Apples when our then 3, 5, and 7 yr olds took to the demo Macs in a Best Buy when we went to see them close up. Our children just picked it all up so easily in just a few minutes w/o any help. And at that time they had had limited PC access, so they are not computer “geeks.” We still own a Dell laptop that we bought for homeschool purposes but we have agreed that when it fails, we will purchase another Apple. There is just such an amazing difference. There are so many applications for Apple that are free or inexpensive that we use for educational purposes and that has been such a score for us. While the upfront purchase of a Mac was more expensive, we figured in the long run it would be worth it instead of having to replace HPs or Dells every 2-4yrs; as had been our experience. You can buy a refurb Mac from Apple and it will come with the same warranty as a new one and save some $$ there. You may also look at Mac Mall for savings. We bought an iPad through them and they are an authorized Apple dealer (so same warranty applies).
They may cost more, but I’m an Apple girl all the way. After losing three non-mac computers in less than a year (our old one, my husband’s laptop, and the replacement that was a hand me down from my grandfather) we bit the bullet and got a Mac desktop. They are definitely more up front, but they last a lot longer and are way more durable. After three years, mine is still going strong!
Go with a Mac. We’ve had them constantly since the early ’80s. We’ve had a PC at one time as a supplemental computer (and use PCs at work) and Macs are far better. Macs hold up, the screen/visual is superior (and eye saver), they don’t get viruses like PCs, and have FANTASTIC customer service. They will cost a bit more upfront but will be more cost effective in the long run with less frustration. Look at getting a refurbished one through Apple and save some money. That’s where we’ve purchased all of the laptops for our college kids. When I say Macs are durable, my kids have proven it!
Get a Mac… it’s well worth it. No viruses, work faster, better, etc.
Get an Apple (MAC) computer. You will have less issues and it will work with out problems. It will cost you more but last longer 🙂
Hey. I would never recommend anything other than a mac. Truthfully, it will save you money in the long run, and the ease that comes with having not only something that works well but such a competent customer service that desires to help you can not be underestimated.
Most people freak out because of the price, but if you’re fine with a desktop and aren’t planning to do any heavy computing (think web development/design/video editing), you can get away with a mac mini (http://www.apple.com/macmini/ $599) and a non-mac monitor (http://www.amazon.com/HP-S2031-20-Inch-Diagonal-Monitor/dp/B003FMUL7M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1338416644&sr=8-2 $99). It takes up very little space as well.
I had a Mac Book and adored it, but when it broke we simply couldn’t afford to replace it.
I got an HP laptop from the Pavilion g series, and so far (knock on wood) it’s done just fine.
I’m a huge Macbook fan, I bought mine 4 years ago and it’s held up through everything. I love it!
We really, really like Dell laptops. We’ve had very few issues (replaced power cords and batteries — some were probably user issues!) I agree that you need to assess your needs first. We usually buy ours at about the middle specs offered. Not the cheapest, not the most expensive. I use free anti-virus and anti-malware software and keep my software updated. Laptops also make it easy to take the computer with you if needed, work outside, or wherever.
We always buy Dell desktops- if you go on Dell outlet they usually have refurbished machines that are less expensive but still under warranty
I would look into getting an Apple Computer. To be honest – they just plain hold up better. If you are going to use it until it dies, then I would spend the few extra dollars. You will have a lot less problems in the long wrong. Plus, I like to buy my computer on Ebay. If you buy an Apple computer that is only 1 or 2 years old, then you can get a really good deal. When they are only 1 or 2 years old, they are still under the warranty.
Computers get rated annually for reliability.
http://ctwatchdog.com/finance/2012-computer-reliability-report-lenovo-most-reliable-acer-least-reliable-apple-declined
I think the biggest question you need to ask yourself is how much do I need. If you’re just going to use the computer for checking email and writing papers using Word, any old computer will work fine. If however you have quite a few homeschool programs that you need to run or if one of your children is interested in graphics, music, programming, or gaming you will need to be somewhat careful to make sure you get enough memory to run everything.
I’ve been quite happy with my HP desktop. 🙂
I definitely agree with everyone who said to get a Mac. I bought a Mac used 1o years ago from a co worker and we just replaced it in February 2012. In those 10 years we never had a problem-no viruses, and just some minor problems toward the end (speaker went out, discs didn’t always play). We knew it would be worth it to buy a new Mac knowing it will last, and we are like Dave Ramsey with cars-we won’t buy a new computer unless we really, really, need it (except we will buy new for a computer, unlike cars, where we will buy used like Dave suggests). So, we know we’ll be happy with this purchase for a long time. Oh, and we paid cash for it!
http://store.apple.com/us_edu_21023?&cid=AOS-US-EdMkting-090126
That is a link to the actual apple store for homeschool. Good Luck!
We have a seven year old Dell and just keep upgrading the memory so it still works wonderfully. We are not huge gamers and don’t tend to stream on the PC so we are quite happy with the performance.
We saved up and waited for a great deal on a laptop at Walmart last year at the Black Friday sale. $188 for a Compaq Presario. Its not the fastest computer on the block, but we have wireless so I don’t see too much difference. I use it for surfing the web, watching Netflix, emails, Facebook, bill paying and homeschooling. We hope to get another one this year to replace our other laptop. I particularly like having a laptop that I can bring into our schoolroom when needed for my son to research on, but not having to have another piece of furniture dedicated to it.
I’ve been using the $300 Compaq laptop that you can get at WalMart (the cheapest non-netbook that they sell) for almost two years and it is going strong. I generally only do light-duty computing, so I don’t need anything fancy. Many computers now come with WAY more hard drive and RAM than general users will ever need. Bigger isn’t always better- just more expensive. My husband’s HP laptop is a fancier version, but he needs it for running engineering software.
The only computer that I would NOT recommend is a Dell. I have many, many friends who have had Dells crash and lose everything- laptop and desktop versions. The computers I teach with are all Dell laptops that are horribly buggy and falling apart. They are made in such mass quantity (for businesses and schools) that they just don’t seem to hold up. The repairs on them seem to be generally simple, but if you’re not wanting to call a repairman (or learn to BE the repairman!), I would stay away from Dell. Just my two cents!
With a husband who deals with computers for a living-I would branch out and see if there is someone in your area who would build you one-you can tell them what you want to use it for and they can build you one to suit your needs-my husband has built us two computers and they were around $400 and $600-they last longer and fewer problems that any other computer I have EVER used. It is a great route to go!
Toshiba with a wipeable keyboard here, need I say more;)
This sounds exactly like our situation. We asked every IT person we knew when purchasing a laptop a few months ago. Long story short, they almost all agreed that a Mac simply wasn’t worth the money unless you have specific needs. (We didn’t and it sounds as though you don’t either. We pretty much use it for internet, email, and MS Office programs.) When you can purchase 3-4 cheap laptops for the price of a basic Mac, the money didn’t pan out for us. We’d rather use it for 3-4 years, and get a new one as needed than shell out for a Mac. We chose a Toshiba (by far my favorite in terms of keyboard and functionality), but were also told upper end Lenovo for durability.
I know Mac users love them but I have never (personally) been a fan of them. Macs are wonderful but depending on what you are doing there are less programs for them. TigerDirect is an awesome website. You can find great prices. I bought my desktop P.C. there three years ago and she is still trucking and havin a good old time. I would also suggest a desktop to a laptop for smaller children. You might also get anti-virus software through your internet company.
We are an IBM Thinkpad family because hubby works for IBM and can buy refurbished models that come back from corporate lease. We love our Thinkpads. There are refurbished computers available if you do a search on the web and they do come with a warranty amd can save a ton of money.
Since you already have a computer, first you should look at the different types of software you already have. The packaging will tell you what kind of systems you can use it on. If you already invested in PC based software, to switch to a Mac is going to cost you the additional expense of updating any of your specialized programs. Some software will run on both types of systems, but may not operate on OSX Lion. Many older software programs are currently not compatible. We are a Mac household and have been for some time, however expense in not only updating your computer, but all of your software may not be worth it.
Determine your budget and then buy the best, most up-to-date computer you can afford. The discounted last-year’s models are not for you unless they have the same processing power as something new. These things will go a long way towards keeping your computer useful as it ages. Right now my non-intel G5 Mac is 8 years old. When it was 5 years old I replaced it with my laptop for work and moved it to the playroom for surfing and streaming. It’s only been in the last year or two that the G5 has become less useful. Gradually more and more sites have stopped working on that computer due to it’s age and the technologies it can support. In that time I’ve replaced 1 hard drive and upgraded the RAM. Not bad for 8 years. Save some of your budgeted money for an external hard drive or some sort of remote back-up subscription. Check the software and services you plan to use and look at their platforms and recommendations. If for some reason your favorite curriculum works only on a PC then buying a mac won’t work for you.
A mac would probably be easier for a non-techie to use. I really like the Missing manual series of help books and would recommend buying one for whatever operating system you get. If you have an Apple store near you I’d recommend signing up for their training program. The cost is about $100 and the support is great. If you already have a monitor and a keyboard then a Mac Mini at $900 might be the way to go. Otherwise the iMacs are a nice machine.
I have a Sony laptop running Windows Vista that is right at 2 years old and it’s still working wonderfully. I also have an older HP desktop that is 7 years old, probably paid around $500 for it new, and it still works fine for all basic needs, although I rarely use it. I have always been a Windows person due to the compatibility issues that can be encountered when using a Mac. When deciding between a laptop and desktop, also factor in the space that will be required to house the system and whether you need the portability of a laptop.
My Sony has Windows 7. 🙂 Apparently I don’t use it much either!
We used to build our own machines from parts, but have gone with Dell desktops and been very happy. Apples are really cool, but I get frustrated with the fact that you can’t do anything to them – I get tired of the planned obsolescence with their hardware. We got my MIL a desktop with no peripherals (keyboard, mouse) from dell.com for $350 at Christmas time last year. That included a 1 year warranty and a 1 tb hardrive (which she wanted for her mp3s). Been having good luck with dell.com, and I would suggest you give them a look while you shop around. Also check deal a day sites like http://www.slickdeals.net – they have a deal listed almost daily on desktops and laptops, once you decide what you want. Great idea to ask here, btw!
I think it depends on the age of your kids. If they’re high school age and getting close to college then a laptop would be good because then they can take it to college. Otherwise a desktop works just fine and is much cheaper. We got my daughter an e-Machines desktop several years ago and it has never had problem. We had another for her earlier but it fried due to a lightning strike power surge (our fault).
My old Dell desktop is going. I wouldn’t recommend a Dell laptop. We had one for my daughter about 4 years ago and while she did abuse it it never worked properly either – but then it had Vista on it. I would go with an HP or something else. Macs are always great too but expensive.
My husband put me in charge of purchasing our latest computer. Since we decided to skip cable television, we needed a machine that could handle large quantities of streaming media from both Netflix and Hulu, as well as heavy music downloads. I opted for a gaming PC – it has 1TB of HD space, 3.2GHz and 4 gigs of RAM. I plan on updating the RAM to 8 gigs in the near future. The entire package was a tower, mouse and keyboard for $548 + tax. I had the machine shipped to store so I could forgo the expensive shipping cost.
We did not purchase a monitor because we hooked up the tower to our HDTV with an HDMI cable.
Someone mentioned “ridiculous/expensive” virus software… You don’t need multiple programs. Even if you have a Mac, you need a firewall. Just opt for a firewall that has a build-in anti-virus program. Like Comodo. There are plenty of FREE programs listed on Cnet.com.
Haha, silly me… I thought my previous comment did not go through. So here I am, writing another one :p
Laptops are neat, but they are very expensive to upgrade, the batteries die and are expensive to replace. Kids + Laptops = Damage at some point.
Desktops – Less expensive overall, both in start up costs and in upgrades down the road. Stay away from Celeron (or the AMD equivalent) processors. Try to get the fastest processor you can for your money, same with memory. Try and keep away from integrated graphics and audio cards, especially if you plan on using graphic intense programs and games.
We buy Dells, from their outlet center when they have their sales (coupon codes). We have bought both the refurbished and scratch and dents and have no problems with either. I do, however, stick with the business packages as they have less software garbage on them and come with a better warranty (in home repair vs. sending it in). We still use our Dell computer from 12 years ago for printing coupons!!!
I would listen to the Mac people. They always seem happy. Just bought a Toshiba a few months ago, and I have tons of problems already, and the customer service has been confusing. Next time we are saving for a Mac.
P.S. I also like to use techbargains.com for tech deals.
Their site with desktop computer’s section deals – http://www.techbargains.com/catsearch.cfm/0_12_0
Last thing what ever you get, be sure you can upgrade it later if needed as technology advances.
My husband put me in charge of buying our latest desktop computer. I love my laptop, but it’s not as dependable. Desktops usually last longer, and have a better “package” – as in the hard drive space, RAM, GHz, etc. Since the demand for desktops is less than the demand for laptops, the price is usually lower, too. When looking for a PC I compare those three numbers (HD space, RAM, GHz) to the price. I ended up buying a gaming desktop that had 1 TB of hard drive space, 3.2 GHz and 4 gigs of RAM for $548. I bought the desktop from Walmart and had it shipped to store, so I could bypass the high shipping cost. It usually costs around $30 to ship a computer.
The desktop came with a keyboard and mouse. It did not come with a monitor, but that’s okay because my husband and I planned on connecting the tower to our HD TV so we could stream Netflix and Hulu on a larger screen.
I bought a gaming desktop because they are built to handle large quantities of media. They usually come with better graphics and sound cards since they are, after all, built for people who play graphics-heavy computer games on a regular basis. My husband and I did not want cable television, so we opted for a desktop that could act as both a computer and television.
If you don’t know much about computers, your best bet is to NOT ask a store employee to help you find a computer. Take the time to find a friend or co-worker (or a husband’s friend or co-worker) who can help you find something best suited for your needs. If a store employee realizes that you do not know much about computers, they will try to sell you extra add-ons and software. My husband’s aunt paid over $1,000 for a mid-range Dell computer that probably should have cost her $600 to $700 tops.
My mom has an iPad 2 and LOVES it. She connects it to the tv and uses one of the apps to convert our tv into a white board. She is able to do diagram sentences for grammar and it turns our living room into a classroom. She downloads audio books and hooks it through our speaker system so they have read-alouds while she does things like fold laundry, brush the dog, etc. It adds to the homeschool experience really well, and acts as a regular computer. Now that the iPad3 is out, you should be able to get a good deal on the iPad 2.
Most computers are good, it is normally the user not knowing enough to take care of it that causes a lot of computer problems. You should first understand the maintenance of a computer and follow it. I would recommend that no matter what brand you buy, get a Windows 7, none of the earlier Windows operating systems are worth much in my opinion. I like Sony Vaio.
I have a little emachine desktop that I bought from walmart for under $300 three years ago. It didn’t come with a monitor, but I picked one up at Goodwill (a flatscreen) for $25. I’ve gotten a lot of use out of it. I do some graphic design and I routinely have multiple screens open. The only time I have problems is when I have multiple graphics programs open at the same time. Occasionally (rarely) it will lock up when I do that. I will be upgrading this year sometime, but will pass this one off to someone else in my family. If it makes it to the end of the year, we will have gotten four years of use out of it. That boils down to just over 20 cents a day. Btw, it came with 250G hard drive and 2G Ram. So, it is getting time to upgrade, but we have been very happy with our purchase.
I have an Acer Aspire.
I personally use newegg.com or Amazon.com to buy a pc or laptop.
I found this deal $499.98 with monitor & PC on newegg.com.
Link to see or buy this bundle – http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.951342
Detail’s on the bundle, “1 x Dell E2011H 20 inch (Dimensions for monitor 18.96″ x 5.97″ x 14.27″, or 20″) 5ms LED BackLight Widescreen LCD Monitor – $139.99” AND “1 x DELL Vostro 260 MT (469-1599) Desktop PC Intel Core i3 2120(3.30GHz) 2GB DDR3 250GB HDD Capacity Intel HD Graphics 2000 Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit – $439.99”
“Combined Total: $579.98 Combo Discounts: -$80.00
Combo Price: $499.98” You’d save: $80.00 with this bundle.
I have seen PC’s on newegg.com in combo’s or deal’s section that can handle playing high tech video game’s for as low as $250 without monitor or $350 with monitor. Amazon has a gold box deal section where you can find these kind of item’s for close to the same cost as they do not charge tax. Newegg.com does charge tax, but offer’s free shipping. I just got a usb wireless adapter for a friend on newegg for about 1/2 the in store or amazon price. I received it in less then 48 hr’s from placing my order too which was much faster then they had said it would take, about the same with amazon prime 2 day shipping (amazon prime is something you buy). There is a site I bought a membership for free 2 day shipping from a coupon blog a few month’s back I think it was $1 for a year of membership? It’s called http://www.shoprunner.com/, they offer free 2 day shipping with newegg.com too. That is if the item does not already receive that promotion.
I have had a Toshiba laptop for five years now and it is still working very well! My brother works for geek squad at bestbuy and says that he sees Toshiba computers the least because they don’t often need to be fixed! He told me that five years ago when I bought my laptop and I totally stand by the Toshiba brand now because of my great experience with my laptop!
I would NOT recommend purchasing a Lenovo computer. I’ve worked on them and with them for over six years at 2 different companies and they are just a problematic computer. Your money would be better spent on any one of the computers mentioned in the above posts.
This is really a “you get what you pay for” situation. If you get a “cheap” laptop (in the $400-$600 range) it just won’t last with daily use. I found this out the hard way when I started grad school last year on a cheap laptop. It bit the dust after 6 months of what I didn’t consider to be too intense use: internet research, writing papers and some light video editing. The laptop was 18 months old when it met its untimely demise. It just wasn’t built for the rigors of school work.
I’m not going to name the company because 86 of you will say “I’ve had my xyz laptop for 6 years and I edit pictures on it 16 hours a day with no problems.”
When my laptop unexpectedly died midsemester, I replaced it with a MacBook Pro. I’m getting my masters in education with a focus in technology and couldn’t really afford to go a day without a laptop. There’s definitely a learning curve with Mac and my new laptop cost almost double what my former one did, but it can handle what I need it to do for school.
I see a lot of suggestions for laptops; if this is for home use only I’d go with a desktop system. They last longer than a laptop typically and they are easier to repair as the pats aren’t minuscule like they are on a laptop.
A desktop is also going to be sturdier for your kids to use and potentially have a larger screen so more than one child has a better view of what’s on the screen.
I realize this doesn’t address the question of name brand but maybe it’ll help narrow down the field!
First you need to determine your needs. If they are fairly minimal, as most home schoolers should be, then any decent machine will do. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on all kinds of products to protect your computer. Actually, you don’t have to spend any. All you need to do is take care of your machine, be careful with it, and it helps to know someone who knows what they’re doing as well. We have a Dell that is now about 3 years old and I’m sure it will last us another 5. I know Dells are cheap, but it’s more about your maintenance than the brand really. You can always do simple repairs like adding memory yourself as you go along if you need to. There is absolutely no need to spend tons of money on a Mac just because they look pretty. Sorry Mac folks, but I’ve just never had issues w/ a pc…knowing how to care for it is what is really necessary, and a big price tag doesn’t make much difference in the end.
I agree. We have had our dell desktop and my dell laptop for over three years and no problems with either one. Also Dell offers phone support if you do need help at any point.
Both my laptop and our desktop were purchased through the dell outlet. You can save quite a bit of money by buying computers that someone else ordered and did not end up buying.
I personally think that desktops are key, if you want them to be affordable and long-lasting. Forget about the laptops!
Ditto! The number one rule of thumb w/ a pc is: Don’t move it!
If you give it a place to live and leave it there, you’ll save yourself a host of problems.
I see that some have said this above but I am going to mention it again because we have done this before. If you have a University in your area, chances are they have a computer tec. office that has a supply of turned in lap tops from students. I think we pay $25o for ours (we had 2) They did only last a short while 2 or 3 years I think it was, but by the time they got buggy and hard to get going again with our limited computer skills we had had the time to save up for new models. I also heard from a friend, that I could have brought them back to the computer tec. office and they would have exchanged them for me, but considering we use them daily I thought 2 to 3 years was good our small investment.
Are you looking for a laptop or computer desktop? My parents have bought E-machines for the last two computers they have had( we bought the first one when I was in sixth grade so in 1996-7? and then it didn’t crash until about 2 years ago and my sisters and I bought them another one!) I’m not sure on the price- maybe $400? As for a laptop- I am on a HP Pavilion dv900 and it’s awesome! I’m not too sure on the price for this either, as my FIL owns his own computer shop out of his home so he bought his wife a newer laptop and I got this one- a 2009 🙂
I’ve had a lot of experience with computers, and let me tell you, Macs are the best, hand down. I know they cost a lot more than your normal PC, but they will save you SO much money and frustration in the end. I used many different PC’s for years, even the newest kind, and they still failed me! Apple knows how to make quality products that will last you for years and years to come, and they usually don’t need a whole lot of maintenance in their life time. I homeschool my kids and we use the computer and an iPad. They’re really simple to use and you wouldn’t believe how many apps there are to use for school and for your own use as well. Ok I could go on and on so I’ll stop now! 🙂 Hope you find what you’re looking for!
The downside to laptops (and Macs) is the higher repair costs. You can’t get generic parts as easily, and can’t replace as many things yourself.
If you are just using your computer for browsing, typing, and the like, I’d suggest checking Craigslist (or other sources) for a used desktop PC. Even a ten-year-old machine is capable of doing word processing, internet, spreadsheets, etc. If something does break, you can order a new part online for fairly cheap and replace it yourself – there are tutorials online for nearly everything, and you can save several hundred dollars doing it this way! Look for a computer that runs one of the more recent Windows versions so you know you’re not stuck with something from 1995, but if you’re not doing fancy new games you should be fine.
Software is the other big expense. I do recommend Windows, because almost everything runs on it, but you can skip the other high-priced programs. Some free suggestions:
– for browsing, you can get Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome
– for word processing and spreadsheets, get Open Office (I actually prefer it to Word)
– for drawing and art, get the Gimp (comparable to Photoshop)
– if you do want games, check out Good Old Games (gog.com) – it’s got tons of older computer games, all fixed to make sure they run on more modern machines, and they’re all legal and cheap. If you don’t care about the newest, fanciest graphics, you can get some good stuff here!
Repairs are expensive if you use apple for the repairs but if you can find and independent computer person it’s often much cheaper. I had an issue with my wireless internet connection not working. After looking inside my computer Apple told me they could not cover it because there was proof of liquid indside the computer (yes, I accidentally dumped an entire mug of tea right onto the keyboard!!!) But the Apple employee suggested I try a certain repair shop down the street and they replaced the part for free – under warantee!!
Get a mac. For years I resisted and protested that I could get a $500 dell that worked just as well…blah blah…problem was that by the time that laptop was a year and a half old I was ready to throw it out the window, and by two years it was toast. I bought a 13″ macbook pro two years ago and it’s still going strong and I love as much as the day I bought it! MUCH better value in my book!
Seconded.
Had my macbook for 6 years and I am just now starting to think about replacing it in the next year. But I could easily update the operating system and get a few more years out of it!
Love my HP g42-230US laptop.
I would suggest Apple it is amazing nowdays everything has to do with Apple we have had ours for 7 years and have not had problems.
just food for thought…macs refurbished start at around $900 – and my husband went through 2 PC laptops in one year, totally over $1000, meantime my mac is still going strong 2.5 years later!
I’m a big fan of Macs. I have a MacBook Pro. There is a learning curve but once you get adjusted, it’s very easy. I’m not a techie person and I can download my pics, process them, etc on this machine b/c it’s very intuitive.
My husband is a computer guy (programmer, app developer), so we’ve talked about computer choices a lot. Right now, we have his big server computer which is old, and I $300 emachines laptop that work for us. Are you running fancy games on your computer like World of Warcraft? If so, then your video card and memory cards matter. Are you doing graphic design or something with an audio studio? Then you probably need a Mac. Otherwise, it’s kind of like cars. If you are just doing the basic things, you just need a basic model. Just like most cheap/mid range cars will get you where you need to go, most cheap-mid range computers will do what you need them to do. If you are just using word processors, the internet, and a few basic programs, get a basic computer within your budget. Since it will need to be replaced in around 5 years anyway regardless of type, it’s not worth going top end. Bottom line, if you are just doing the basic things and not running anything high end, the computer at Walmart will do the job, and you won’t be out the $2000 price tag of a Mac (sorry Mac lovers).
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Apple%26%23174%3B+-+13.3%26%2334%3B+MacBook%26%23174%3B+Pro+-+4GB+Memory+-+500GB+Hard+Drive/3107695.p?id=1218379464801&skuId=3107695&st=mac%20book%20pro&cp=1&lp=1
The 13 inch Mac Book Pro is a fantastic little machine and clocks in around $1200
So you could get 4 PC laptops for the price of one Mac Book Pro? Still seems expensive.
Mac has discounts for education and are completely user-friendly. We are slowly moving all of our household systems to Mac after we had the chance to learn on DH’s work computer. I switched my work computer to Mac and our next desktop will be a Mac. As far as I know they don’t become “outdated” nearly as quickly as other systems. I almost bought a Mac laptop when I was in college and I changed my mind at the last minute to “save money”. By the time I paid for virus software and all that jazz, it was just as expensive as the Mac and it is not nearly as efficient – plus I didn’t get the free ipod I would have gotten with the Mac!!
~Kristen @ http://trialanderrorhomemaking.blogspot.com
I just bought myself a new Dell a few months ago. HP and Dell is basically the same thing, just different designs. Honestly a $500 laptop is the way to go, they can go way up in price but if you are doing just basic things like internet and microsoft office then there is no need to get all fancy.
Plus I look at it this way, if you buy a $1500 one and it lasts 2 years versus buying a $500 and it lasts 1 year or more then you are still ahead of the game.
Fortunately, I have a techie husband. I use an apple laptop and I really like it. Apple stores have great support for all of their products. If you have a question you can go to the store and they will help you. I think they also have classes to learn specific things, not sure how much $, but having support is priceless!
Their classes are always free!
I had Gateways for years but now have switched over to HP. My current laptop is an HP pavilion dv4. It cost about $500 and has plenty of power for a casual user such as myself. I’m able to watch hulu, etc.
We only buy Dells. They are the best as far as durability. I love my laptop and would recommend going that route because you have so much more flexibility.
If you are buying it for educational purposes you might be able to get a Mac at a discount too. Apple typically give teachers/students a discount on the mac and the software, and if I remember correctly they also have a “student” package every year that includes a printer, ipod touch and the Mac – I’m not sure how you would go about getting the discount as a homeschooler, but it would only seem fair that the discount be extended to you as well.
We got this deal 2 years ago. All we had to do was tell them we homeschooled.
I got a new dell computer last year and I really like it. I also got a dell laptop. I like them both. My laptop however the battery is dead after using it for 2 years. I can still use it but only if it’s plugged in. I have no idea if this is typical or not. Just wanted to let you know that. My sister and sister in law both love their dells. I don’t know much about computers either. We went to best buy and the employees were helpful and didn’t make me feel like an idiot with my questions.
We had that same problem with our Dell. It is not convenient to keep a laptop plugged in. Our next computer was a MacBook Pro. We LOVE it and won’t buy anything but Mac again!
I agree it is not convienent to keep it plugged in all the time. I just need to start saving up for a battery. 🙂
This is typical for batteries. All batteries whether laptop or car or just rechargeable AA will degrade over time and eventually not hold a charge anymore. Dell predicts replacement for most batteries after 18-24 months while apple says “1000 charge-discharge cycles.” (which works out about the same)
So expect with ANY laptop you buy to have to replace the battery after 2-3 years if you want to use it without it being plugged in.
It’s not hard to replace the battery in most laptops – you just snap the old one out and the new one in. The exception are laptops like the Macbook Air – those you may have to take to the vendor (apple store, etc) to be replaced. Not that you can’t do it yourself, but it’s a bit more complicated.
Thank you so much for the info Rachel. I did not know that about the batteries. This is my first laptop. I feel better knowing that this is probably “normal” battery life. Now I just need to save up for a battery. I do miss it when we have power outages.
I would not say that is “normal” for batteries. My batteries have never died that quickly. In fact, I typically sell the computer after 4-5 years and the battery is still working well. Like others above, however, I only buy Macs.
I just bought a new dell laptop battery on ebay for like $15-20. I had been told that it’s really not necessary to buy straight from Dell or an electronics store. Mine is working fine:)
I buy my dell laptop batteries on ebay as well. You spend significantly less on new batteries and they work perfectly fine. I have been doing this for 3+ years.
Checkout any colleges in your area. Some schools issue laptops to all students, but when those students graduate or transfer, the schools sell their laptops.
We just bought a laptop for $300 that retails for $1000 regularly. And it still is covered by warranty for another year. It’s not exactly new, but it works for us.
I don’t know much about computers either. We bought a new laptop last year and it’s worked out well for the most part – it’s a Gateway. We use it lightly for basic web browsing and photos and music. I’m sure most computers can provide that. I am a fan of my Macbook but I know it isn’t cheap! One major piece of advice — test your speakers for sound quality before you buy the laptop! Our Gateway one is pretty pathetic for sound – it just doesn’t get very loud.
If you need good sound you can always plug in a pair of satellite speakers, that’s what we do. Plug them into the headphones jack.
A Mac. Hands down. A 13″ MacBook Pro would be fine, but go up in size if you want a bigger screen. You can even order refurbished models at a discount online. I know you said it can’t cost an arm and a leg, but pay the higher up front cost for the Mac and you’ll be set for 5+ years, as opposed to low cost up front and a lot of repairs down the road. And don’t be afraid of Apple OS. It’s easy to get used to and much smoother and better than Windows.
Once you go Mac, you never go back! 🙂
And you CAN run Microsoft Word, Excel, etc…….AND there’s no need for all the ridiculous/expensive virus software……..AND you don’t get the “blue screen of death” (just shutting down for no apparent reason)…….
Macs are more expensive, but you get what you pay for! My husband and I only use Macs, while my in-laws only buy cheap Windows-based machines…..and they will go through 2-3 computers before we replace one of our Macs (with much more frustration in the meantime)!
Ditto this . Go Mac. You won’t regret it.
I Should say, get an iMac. It’s a desktop, works better for kids. And definitely check into apples educational pricing.
Also, if you happen to have a monitor that is still in decent condition (or know someone with an extra one lying around – people often do), you can consider buying a MAC MINI. It’s just the “tower” (but it’s only about the size of a salad plate) that you hook up to an existing monitor, and it runs $599. Educational pricing may make that lower for you. This would give you the ease, quality and long-life of a mac for much less money. Especially if you don’t need anything too terribly “techie” in your computers, just good functionality.
Yikes! I get the blue screen of death on my only two-year-old Mac EVERYDAY!! What am I doing wrong?? I need advice the the “mac ladies” here on how to get it repaired without paying a lot of money. Thanks!!
I agree. Our Mac has lasted more then twice as long as any other computer we have owned. It’s more expensive up front, but well worth the investment.
Also agree, my last Mac laptop I had for 6 years, and the only reason I got a new one is because my work demanded a newer computer with newer technology. The old one still works and I never had any issues with it. Plus Apple has amazing technical support, so if you do have issues they will basically fix it without question.
There will probably be a lot of different answers based on each person’s preference and experience. I’d do some research at cnet.com or similar, and determine the minimum amount of ram/memory, etc. that you’ll need and go from there determining the brand you’d want to have. If you wait a month or so, there will probably be amazing deals on all types of computers with back to school specials. Good luck!
Ps.- I’m on an inexpensive Lenovo laptop and I love it.
Both my son’s cyber school and the university where my husband works supply Lenovo Think Pads. I don’t know how much they cost, but they’re sturdy and my son’s hasn’t needed anything done to it in the three years we’ve had it.