What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

I have a lap top, but the problem is, I also have carpel tunnel. To get it down where it doesn't hurt my wrists, it really hurts my neck and back. I think if I had a desk top, I could adjust both better.

Dell is advertising a good price, but I don't know anything about Dell.

I also have to buy a printer. I bought one at Wall Mart about a year ago, for about $49.00. And when I got it home, I thought, my, this is the best printer I ever had, clear and fast. But the ink costs half of what the computer cost, and it drinks ink, like crazy. So they almost gave me the computer to sell me ink. And now it's not working.

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

Dell is a solid brand. Based on your post if you want to go with a desktop the best investments you can make is a ergonomic keyboard and a high quality LCD flat screen (monitor is where you DON'T want to scrimp. After all, the Lord only gives us one set of eyes). Microsoft has really good ergonomic keyboard that is reasonable and makes typing easy: http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en...-keyboard-4000
As far as neck pain/posture you have the right idea as being able to have the ability to control the height of the screen is key. You can even use phone books to adjust the level of the LCD screen (you want the middle of the screen to be at your eye level). As far as printers go if you are printing more than 25 pages a week you'd save more money in the long run going with a laser printer. You can get a reasonable black and white laser printer for $150-200 and a color laser for $250 (I recommend HP but that's just my personal preference). Check eBay and craigslist for the best deals.
So to sum up here is where you want to make your priorities as far as spending goes with technology:
1. Screen
2. Keyboard/Mouse
3. PC
4. Printer

Hope that helps....

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

Thank you Pilgrim. That sounds like good advice. I have HP now and have had them in the past, and they seem to be good.

I have a book almost finished, and yes, I will be doing a lot of printing. I'll look into the Lasers, but aren't the ink cartridges awfully expensive?

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

Laser printers use toner cartridges not ink so the cost per page (cpp) is around .03 cents versus the .12-.15 cents per page with ink printers. Matter of fact that is the key stat you want to look at when comparing laser printers - cost per page. Here's a basic primer on it:
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5899379_co...-printers.html

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

Nowadays desktops are nearly all the same. My friend recently got an All-in-one PC. Personally I would not get one if I need to open it up and replace a drive or upgrade.

As far as the printers go, dont forget to factor in whether you want color or not too.

I have a nice wireless inkjet (canon). Ink isnt cheap but the unit is small, prints awesome pictures, prints from two seperate trays and cant print on printable DVDs. It scans and copies. It was easy to connect to the network and change ink.

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

I have a Lenova desktop. Great price. And so far, so good with it. I use my computer for my business, so I have to have something dependable, which this one has been. I would recommend it.

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

Thank you all for the advice. I'll try to remember it all, when I go shopping.

Praxeas, I've often thought, that since Canon makes such good cameras, they might have a good printer. If you can go by that.

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

As far as ink price goes......Kodak is the cheapest, and they make some good inexpensive printers as well.

For large quantity printing though I agree with Pilgrim...... a laser printer will be best in the long run.

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

Even better!

http://oldcomputers.net/pics/Altair_8800.jpg

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

Timmy, is that a computer? Or a type writer?

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

Yes, Bishoph, I had a Kodak, before this one, and my son, this morning told me, that was the best one that I ever had.

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

My son, the computer geek, has always bought Dell when he did not have time to build himself. So, I have always owned a Dell laptop and desktop. I am still using HP laser jet 4p that I obtained in 1998. It's a workhorse and serves me well; it has never been serviced or repaired.

After 4 years of using iPhones, he is leaving Dell behind in favor of Apple. I have no idea what I will do. :) Good luck, Sis Renee!

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

A Radio Shack TRS-80 computer. I never had one, but it was probably the bee's knees, for the time. :)

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

Its a Trashy 80

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

I have a Lenovo Laptop. My Desktops are always self built.

BTW can't you just buy a keyboard and use it with the laptop?

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

Yes, I may do that. I was also thinking of buying a monitor and using my laptop as the keyboard, but then that wouldn't work, I'd be looking over the top of my screen on the laptop. Might be a little too much for my neck. Also I do believe that I need one of those ergonomic keyboards. I had one before I got my laptop, and then I sent it to Goodwill.

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

Well if you get a Desktop, it will probably be running Win 8 unless you get an Apple

If so, if it's an all in one then the screen will be touch screen probably

Many Desktops don't come with a monitor which makes the all in one attractive to some.

One problem though, If it comes with 4gigs of ram or less I would upgrade it and ask them to install as part of the deal to buy it (else they will charge an additional 80$ just to install the RAM. The RAM itself may cost 40 or so depending on the brand)

The reason I say that is I can see messing with a computer that is built into the Monitor case being tricky for some to mess with. In fact I've yet to really check them out. I only set up my friends but did not bother to check to see if there was easy access to the RAM (Many laptops make it easy to access the RAM)

Also as far as CPUs go, AMD is cheaper. Generally (and sadly) Intels are faster. Don't get a Celeron (Intel).

I3 is probably the lowest I'd go but I'd probably opt for at least an i5. My Laptop is an i7 with a solid state drive. It boots up in 6 seconds

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

I really don't think I'd like a touch screen. I had a hard time getting used to Win 7, and seems a lot of other people did also. I hope, if I buy one, that Win 8 is better.

What is AMD? Why is Celeron not good?

Did you mean, 13-15 and 17 inches? My laptop is 17 " not counting the frame.

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

Win 7 was great. Win 8 is a pain and is mostly made for touch screens.

Nobody really likes Win 8


AMD is a manufacturer of CPUs. Intel is the other (For PCs)

Celeron is a stripped down version.

i 3 not 13.

i 7 not 17.

i3 and i5 are two of Intel's CPUs.

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

That's why I mentioned eBay and Craigslist as you can still get desktop Win7 boxes for very little $$ compared to brand new pc's. If you want to have the latest and greatest - no worries - as any new machine that has Win 8 on it can be upgraded to Win 8.1 for free which has easier access to the settings to make the pc start in desktop mode rather than the standard Win 8 start screen with the large icons which are tough to navigate with a mouse. I just upgraded to Win 8.1 from Win 7 with a non-touchscreen and I am very happy I did so as Win 8.1 is much faster and more secure than Win 7.
If your running any resource intensive software for say video editing or Photoshop Intel is preferable but for any other uses AMD is adequate.

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

I work with computers all day long and I wear a magnetic bracelet to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome, it works for me.

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

Dear Timmy so it was you who took my first computer, please return it or else. :foottap

Harg! I used to program on that, I am having flashbacks.

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

I'm wearing a brace, that the Dr. put on me. it has helped. Where can I get a magnetic bracelet?

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

Just go to www.bing.com (Microsoft's search engine) and type magnetic bracelet for carpal tunnel syndrome in the search box and it will give you places you can get it.

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

Health food stores or the Internet

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

My computer recently crashed and I was not able to resurrect it from the blue screen as I've done several times before, so I had to get a new computer. After a Dell and a couple of Gateways I thought I'd make the leap into an Apple product. Got an iMac. Still learning the new operating system but I LOVE IT!!! Was a bit costly though…. It better last at least a decade :-/

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

Let us know if it fails so us Windows users can laugh at you :heeheehee

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

If you are happy with the performance of your laptop, there is no need to get rid of it. Like Prax said, get a monitor and keyboard and hook them into it. You should be able to set the laptop to run with the lid shut.

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

I read on the Net, that an ergonomic keyboard, didn't help. That it made you hold your elbows at an different angle, and also hurt your shoulders.

I also have shoulder problems, I certainly don't want to trade, hand problems for another set of problems.

Anyone experience this?

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

another tactic is to use voice recognition software, you speak and it translates your voice into text

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

What happens if your speaking in tongues??? :happydance

Re: What is the best Desk Top Computer?
 

I've thought of doing that also. Is Dragon, (I hate that name) the best one?