Need help with choosing a PC for myself

[TracyK]

Have always used dh work laptop - but pia as I can't add any software etc due to the security on it.
Really want to buy each other computer for Xmas. Was going to buy one from Dell when boss buys some more for work - but are the business options any good for home use?
I use it for surfing and Word, Excel etc. But would like to get into photo editing and printing etc a bit more.
Any recommendations? Don't want to get too cheap a one to regret it in a years time iykwim.

ps - am very computer literate - so don't need telephone support lines etc.

bump

I have a Dell Dimension 9100 bought at a bargain price from Dell Outlet (their cheap section ) and although i had a big grizzle about the initial customer service because the smart card slot was deficient once it was sorted I've had no problems and the computer is stunning (but a bit wasted on me)

I wouldnt touch Dell with a barge pole. If you buy a Dell pc then a Dell service engineer will have to come and upgrade/repair it as Dell use a special key to lock the back of their machines.

If I were u Id look at PC World online as they have a clearance section and the machines are very good for the price, although u would have to buy a monitor seperate. Their customer sevice is a little lax but if u dont need them then the pc for £699 is a bargin.

The only other alternative to buying a complete machine from a shop is to self build and then you can have exactly what u want at a fraction of the price. I built my own pc 2 years ago and it would have cost me approx £1200 to buy, but it only cost me £450 to build it. And as I can upgrade as and when I need its still a good machine today.

Also Id recommend that you dont get a TFT monitor (flat panel/LCD) and get a CRT (the bigger ones looks like a portable tv) as they give the best image quality as you said you were interested in image editing. CRT monitors are the only ones which show true black. TFT monitors use a very dark blue instead of black and make produce "blocks" at the edges of shadows.

Sorry its so long

Thanks girls.
I shall have a look at PC World - their surcharge on credit cards bugs me though.
Unfortunatley I already have a TFT screen - so unless I can get shot of it - I can't justify a new one!

Noo, not pc world. If you know what you are looking for then stay away from pc world. I found their pcs overpriced, and their staff didn't have a clue. I don't know about that special key business with dell neither. We have a dell and I recently recomended a friend to buy a dell laptop and hers wasn't locked.

I recently bought an ASUS laptop. I got a lot more than what I would have got in PC world for the money, and it is a really good all round laptop. The software is really good too.

my Dell computer was £850 would be over 1100.00 for an equivalent from pc world and it has a three year on site warranty included

sorry I got the price wrong it was 705.00 so an even better dealincluding VAT

if you don't need/take the warranty then dell are even cheaper. Defo good pcs. Ours is four years old and still respectable specs.

I've foudn an asus desktop here . You 'build' it yourself, to the specs you want, and it is very reasonably priced.

the independent engineer who came and fixed the screw back in in the computer loved it, he called it a beast and he was sub contract not a Dell employee..he thought it was one of the best computers he had seen

Go to savastore You can go for ready-made, customise (v good deals)or configure from scratch.
Gets you what you want/need.
My PC decided to internally combust on Friday night so i'm looking..... there's so much choice tho. Dell are reliable but pricey - i have had these savastore ones recommended by someone who has had one with no issues for 4 years now.

Dell outlet is good value compared with dell store, I picked one and had it within 4 days
customer service is rubbish though but hopefully the computers are so good you won't need it

TracyK, if you've got a TFT, and want to play with photos, a Mac Mini might be just right.

we have over 200 dell pcs at work and all are locked with a key. also you have to use dell approved parts for upgrade, RAM etc.

Normally i would also stay away from PC World but thespecs of the clearance machines are very good and the price is good also. If you dont need the customer service and warranty then the clearance machines are alot better than a Dell machine any day. PCs that are built to spec in any shop will cost more than a standard machine. TBH if i were you id have a go at building your own. it is sooooo easy. you can got wrong, nothing plugs into anything that it shouldnt and most are colour coded and/or labelled, all parts come with instructions just incase and you can truely have whatever you want. God, i could teach my DW to build a pc in about an hour and she knows nothing about the hardwear side of computers. whatever you decide to do deff stick with the CRT monitor tho. if u are using it for photo manipulation then you will regret buy a TFT monitor

Munzies dh are the ones locked with a key to stop you tampering with them, because i don't think mine is..in fact they wanted to talk me through fixing the card reader back in myself so it can't be

well the IT guys can open them with careful use of a pair of needle nose pliers.

they are not locked to stop tampering because when we got them they came with keys, the only part that is locked to stop tampering is the hard drive but they are secret so cant be removed without a key