Desktop Computer Packages

Computer Rookie - need help deciding on a desktop? Help !!!?

I'm ready to buy a new desktop computer for home use. It will be used mainly for normal things like excel, word, powerpoint, internet research for the kids....but I also will be storing and editing a lot of photos. I'll be buying from Officedepot but don't know where to begin. I need an entire package - hard drive, monitor, printer - need it all. I don't want to be limited on space / speed for future upgrades. Any suggestions? Links to specific items would be greatly appreciated.

Public Comments

1. http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?level=SK&id=320108&N=265489&An=browse Cant go wrong with that for just really basic stuff
2. Most anything you get now-a-days will be just fine. The only thing I would be on the lookout for is MS Windows Vista. It still has alot of compatibility issues. Microsoft has been and still is working on this problem. and has made little progress, So, If it's at all an option. See if you can get a computer that Has Windows XP on it. If not, you should still be ok. Depending on what kind of Hardware and software you're using.
3. Since you'll be storing and editing a lot of photos, make sure the computer has a reasonably large hard drive and plenty of RAM. I would say the absolute minimum for a hard drive would be 80 gigabytes. I haven't looked at computers lately but I would think by now a standard hard drive would be 100-150gb for most computers so you shouldn't have any trouble finding one with that much storage. As for RAM, since you're working with images, go for a computer that has at least 2 gigabytes of RAM and make sure you can upgrade the ram further if you should need it. You probably wont but it's good to know you can. Also, since you're working with images, get the largest monitor you can. 19+ inches would be ideal though you can get by with a 17 inch monitor without too much trouble. Flat panel would also be better than a standard monitor so that there wont be any image distortion from the curve of a standard monitor screen. Good luck!
4. http://www.techdepot.com/pro/btoconfig.asp?ss=1210&s=BTO6599553&v=&u=1 I customized this desktop for you online except for the software just check it out and on the left there are all the things you can change. I added a moniter, speakers, printer, and upgraded the components you'll need. I just don't know what typing programs you want and that's what the link is to.
5. For lots of storage 2cnd internal SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $119.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152052 or External USB2.0 Fantom Titanium-II TFD500U16 500GB 7200 RPM External Hard Drive - 94.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822204034 Computer Vista Home Premium or Vista Ultimate; Vista Basic is garbage Memory 2GB Processor dual core type processor Hard drive: 160 GB+ DVD+/-R with dual layer burner ========================== Dell Outlet http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineSales/topics/global.aspx/arb/online/en/InventorySearch?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh System Price: $419.00 Dimension E521 Small Mini-Tower: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4000+ (2.1 GHz) 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 677MHz (2 DIMMs) Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium 250 GB EIDE SATA II Hard Drive (7200 RPM) 16X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capability 56K DataFax Modem 10/100 Ethernet Port Standard USB Keyboard USB 2 Button Mouse Microsoft Works 8.5 Integrated video and Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio Has PCI x16 slot for future video upgrade No monitor or speakers. Speakers Logitech X-530 70 watts RMS 5.1 Black Speaker System $59.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121119 Monitor ViewSonic Optiquest Series Q20WB Black 20" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 $179.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824116075 Printers Laserjet (monochrome) or Inkjet (color) HP LaserJet 1020 Q5911A 15 ppm Laser Personal Monochrome Printer $100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828104354 HP Photosmart C4180 Q8110A Up to 30 ppm Up to 4800 x 1200 optimized dpi Thermal Inkjet MFC / All-In-One Color Printer - $119 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828104495 EPSON Stylus Photo R380 C11C658011 Up to 30 ppm 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi InkJet Photo Color Printer - $105 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828103072 EPSON Stylus Photo R380 C11C658011 Up to 30 ppm 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi InkJet Photo Color Printer - $105.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828103072 Canon PIXMA iP4300 1438B002 Up to 30 ppm 9600 x 2400 dpi InkJet Photo Color Printer $99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828102038
6. Most of the name brand computers are not upgrade or expandable friendly the vga and nic cards, scsi are integrated on the mainboard so if one goes bad you will have to replace the mainboard. Brand name computers are what you see is what you get most will have 2 or 3 pci slots which limits your expansion you cannot upgrade your video card since it is built into the mainboard. Most mainboards have two ide controllers which supports two hard drives per controller for maxium of four hard drives some do not. You might look in to building your own computer its not that hard and you learn alot. By building you own you can controll the quality of the devices that you put in the computer also watch the size of the hard drive get the largest one that you can afford If all you going to do is graphics and video work get a MAC its best for this.