Need a new desktop - can anyone recommend what to go for?

[themsthebreaks]

So, having had a laptop only for the last 5 years I can stand no more of the battering it gets from the children! I work from home more now, and desperately need a proper desktop - in a fixed place! - to work from. Would also like the kids (oldest is 6) to have access to a proper PC with mouse etc.

So what to go for? We don't want to spend lots of money, would love an Apple Mac thing, but a) too much money and b) I need it for work, so Word / Excel etc needed (which I think rules this out, but I may be totally wrong!)

We have had a Dell in the past and always thought they were best value for money...is that right? Other than work, would use it for storing photos, and Internet, and for children doing things. Bt don't need anything majorly fancy.

Any thoughts on what to go for or any deals etc?

Thanks v much for any advice...

What's your budget? There's such a variation that it's difficult to advise without knowing what you have in mind to spend.

Well we don't want to spend much but would spend what we needed to! Was hoping we might get something for £600 - 700?

Misco.co.uk have got a HP Core i5 with 4GB RAM and 500GB hard drive, Windows 7 and a 3-year next business day onsite warranty for £400 including VAT.

You won't be able to play high-end games on it but it's a sturdy machine at a good price and with a decent warranty.

If you absolutely have to have Microsoft Office you can get the education licence of Office 2013 for £95. If you don't need MS Office, then LibreOffice or OpenOffice are both free, and both do a solid job of wordprocessing and spreadsheeting.

Thanks so much - I'll have a look at that now.

I think I do need MS office because I'll have a lot of docs going back and forward between me at home and work, and with colleagues too - and we all use word and excel in the office...unless those others re compatible?

Personally I would use Kingsoft Office. The reason being is that this product looks and feels exactly like an older version of MS Office. OpenOffice & LibreOffice are compatible but do feel different.

I use this all the time and love it. The free version is enough for me and it's actually a bonus to me that it doesn't have that stupid ribbon bar which MS Office 2007 & onwards use.

Thanks niceguy - will have a look at that.

The Apple is outside your budget but just in case anyone is interested, the Word, Excel and the other Office products are available for the Apple

sorry to hijack but MTS, is this still true? When I was in Apple store a few months back, asst said apple was moving to a subscription based word system. All sounded a little odd but she was adamant this was going to happen

I use a Mac and have office for macs 2011, and there is a newer 2013 version too.
www.microsoft.com/mac

I was lucky enough to buy a secondhand iMac with MS Office installed. I spent around 1000 pounds last year (on 5 yes 5 iMac systems, so have 3x 20" and 2x 17", with one of each size running the Intel CPU).

They're definitely old (1 to2 inches thick compared with the slim (but very expensive) newer models, but someting else to cosider, is that if you (OP) are expected to work on documents at home then the business ought to be able to make a contribution if not buy the software for you.

OK, it's more of a long shot if it is a charity or very small business but I bet the owner doesn't pull the cash from his/her own pocket for their copy of MS Office... and if the business buys a 3 user licence it covers more than just one system, and all legally...

Rats - wish I could edit a post to correct typos!
Anyway, it's Office 2011 on this iMac.

As for Windows desktops, I'd certainly (for now) go for something running Windows 7, perhaps with HDMI (TV) output as you could use a smaller flat-screen TV (19", 22") which these days are perhaps 90 to 120 pounds and double as a TV rather than spending a similar amount for a flat screen display (perhaps bundled into cost of a desktop though less likely these days) which cannot be used on Freeview or with many satellite boxes... it just means you have a spare TV in the event of a problem and at no extra cost.

HotUKdeals.com may be worth a look for any special deals on desktops - do be aware there will be some geeky / gamer types suggesting much higher spec systems at much larger prices, but every now and then you can find a bargain someone else has spotted, eg when a store like Asda or Tesco is clearing an old range and drop 100-200 off the price, before they get new stock on the shelves...