I've had good luck with my last two Dells, but that is not necessarily a recommendation. If the $ was available, I'd rather have a local computer dealer build a desktop for me using the pieces/parts of my choice. If you choose to consider a Dell, you should look at DealCatcher.com...sometimes decent discounts are available. I normally would not consider something from a retailer (Best Buy-Office Max-Office Depot and the like) unless there was an urgent immediate need.

I have had very bad experience with locals who build and repair. I would buy a boxed one before I would have one built unless you have done business with the person before. Even then he could go out of business. I have always bought at Circuit City, but they have gone out of business. The only option I have is to buy from BB, the other places have very limit choices.

Lenovo is the replacement for IBM and they are a good product.
I have had good luck with HP but I understand your hesitancy.
I have an acer netbook and my husband has an acer laptop both have been fine so far.
My daily use machine is a custom built unit that was built to specification and with the components I wanted. I much prefer going that route and then if you have someone local build it you can always have someone nearby to work on it.

A local build is excellent - if you are Azinoh or Raven. These 2 people know computers and are able to decide which components should be put in to create a computer they want. I too had one custom built many many years ago and named the make and model for all the parts except one. The store, even though they understood I was buying more expensive parts never queried that one piece but used a low end component. After that I have built every computer myself, I will not be abused or used again.

That said you had the very bad luck to select a cutting edge design that seems to have turned out as popular and reliable as the Edsel but you need to forget that and move on. Most manufacturers today have smartened up and are creating pretty good computers for the money in my opinion.

That's a tough one because there are a number of issues to consider. My biggest gripe with "name brand" relates to the tendency towards proprietary components in some instances and the bundled software bloat that accompanies them. I'm not impressed with what I'm seeing lately (a noisy power supply fan in one unit less than a year old for example). A carefully spec'ed clone assembled by a local reputable vendor generally offers more bang for the buck and provides an avenue for easier upgrades in the future. If you're just looking for an "appliance", then I'd say go for the best price and warranty.

If you know what you want in your computer, ie, motherboard, processor, video, RAM, HDD, power supply, cooling, and so on, by all means look for a local shop to build one for you, but if you don't know anything about components, you could certainly be ripped off going that route, as owbist pointed out. I have had two HP desktops, one Dell laptop, and two HP laptops. The Dell never worked well because it did not have enough RAM, and it was impossible to upgrade that. I have upgraded the RAM in both my HP desktops and one of the laptops with no problem. The present desktop runs XP, but I may just upgrade several components (power supply and video) and install Windows 7 on it. I already have the peripherals I want, monitor, speakers, wireless keyboard and mouse, scanner and printer, so the tower is the only thing I need to upgrade when the time comes.

Now, if you are not sure of your components, then do some research on several manufacturer's websites and make your decision. I have made my choices, but then found almost the exact machine for a lesser cost at a retailer such as Staples, Circuit City, or even Amazon.

another option is to order custom designed pc online at a place like
CyberPowerPC.com
you can do an awful lot of customizing and picking and choosing exactly what you want and still have a decent price point.

I definitely don't know enough about components to have a machine built. I can barely understand the information given about the PC's on the web sites. I am kind of interested in the Lenevo web site as I can order just a tower, which is all I really need. Could I ask for your all's help in shopping? I know that I want 200 - 500 GB Hard drive and what a minimum of 3GB memory? I don't understand about processors; do they have a speed? I want a DVD burner. I am not sure if I want the new Windows 7 because of the issues with the e-mail. I really could use some help!! Sorry to be so dumb.
Thanks

When they say "what do you want on it", they lost me right there. I like the boxed computers, I like all the bells and whistles that come on it. I can do a reformat for the whole computer and not have to install it all individually. My cousin had a local build her one, when he moved away no one else wanted to touch it because they had not built it. As far as the bloat goes, I delete all the stuff I don't want.

My wife has a Dell desktop and an Acer laptop and is happy with both. I bought a Micro Express 66B in 2006 and have been very happy with it. Don't know about service after the sale because it has never needed anything so far. I bought it after reading a review on the PC World site. You can do a search of PCW's site for Micro Express or go to ME's site directly to see what they offer.

Here is a link that might be useful: Micro Express

My spouse who supervises some IT people needed a personal and work-from-home-sometimes computer.

After consulting with other users and doing some shopping she decided upon an HP from WalâMart.

Casi, not less than 500 gigs of space on your hard drive. Today the difference between a tiny drive and one with a terabyte is only a few dollars so hard drive size will not affect the overall price.

3 gigs of RAM is good.

The problem with Windows 7 and email is that MS does not include Windows Live Mail or any other email program. You can download the Live suite of programs - or just the parts that interest you - free of charge.

Unless you are into heavy duty computing like high intensity games or video editing things almost any current processor will suffice. Almost all mass produced computers with everything built in the motherboard so there are no separate cards unless you wish to have a higher end video card, for normal use that too is not needed.

What will happen with the old computer? Do not give it away, you should consider removing the hard drive (ask your teacher friend again) Then you can either install it as a second drive or buy a cheap enclosure to use as an external drive to back your data up to.

Thanks all. I have been on the Lenovo site, trying to sift thru. My problem is now I want it NOW! lol My current back up computer is getting slower and slower! Appreciate the suggestion about keeping the hard drive. As I get more into it, I may have some more questions. Thanks.

I spent all day researching. I ordered last night and just got notification that it has been shipped. I ordered an HP Pavilion p6310f from HP. I got a couple of rebates which was nice and free 2 day shipping. It has Windows 7, 6GB memory, 1T hard drive, DVD writer, media card reader, quad core processor so I think I'm gonna be in good shape for awhile. I was leary of going HP, but I was more leary of some of the others! I already know that HP support is terrible, but I was doing good for 2 years with that last lemon. I hope I'm not sorry. Owbist, could you explain about the "live suite" that I can download for free? What is it and where?

With that much memory it must be Windows7 64 bit. When asking for help in the future let the forum know that it is 64 bit and include the version of windows 7. Home, professional, Ultimate. Hopefully we will not see you here with issues.

Good luck, Casi. Sounds like a "screamer". LOL!

The Windows Live link is below Casi. Take a look and mid screen on the right side are the various parts you can download.

Seems like a very nice computer you have purchased. HP has improved over the years, your last computer was of course a disaster for them but the new one should be excellent. Here is a great site for Windows 7 tutorials, tricks and tips and some very nice wallpapers. That can wait a couple of days of course as you enjoy the new machine.

Here is a link that might be useful: Windows Live dowload site

I would have no other then an HP or HP product, have had NP's with mine, and you can't beat FREE tech support 24/7 for life!!

I agree with you ladies about buying HP, no complaints at all. I don't have any problems with tech support either. But the key to that is I am polite and patient with them and I am not saying that you all are not either. I do not have a chip on my shoulder and have often been told I am a pleasure to help. I may buy a new computer sooner than I had planned on, I am anxious to try windows 7. I hated to loose my XP and have heard 7 is a lot like it. The only thing about this computer I don't like is the search/files and folders, but I think that is a vista problem not HP.

Oh good, one with a tower. I suspect it was your inverter that went with the last one.

I don't know what went out. You would think that since so many folks had that kind of a problem that they would have come up with a fix for it. I guess they fixed it in the newer models. Thanks Owbist for all your help. I'll check out the link. I was reading another posting related to the Windows mail and it sounds like it isn't too popular. I may check out Thunderbird.
I have called on the HP support quite a bit recently. Didn't have any major issues with them except for not being able to get the chat-support to work and them saying there wasn't anything wrong with the site.
Susie, what do you mean tech support 24/7 for life?

What I mean is HP tech. support is there for you FREE 24/7 for life of your HP PC... I like the online chat support feature, and yes, they have been very nice to me, chatting about other things infact, but when I got my PC new, I needed a driver, and chat support sent the download to me in e-mail, had it in about 3 mins.. now how kewl is that?

Susie are you sure about the 24/7 help free forever with HP? I thought it was for a fixed time (A year?) unless you paid a subscription but I do not own an HP machine so not really sure. Sounds great if that is the case.

I think the chat is available as I have used it for questions regarding an out of warranty machine, but as far as I know, there is no 24/7 help free forever. I have had several HP machines, and this is the way it has worked for me.

Well I have my HP/ Compaq 5+ years and never pay for tech support, and have asked them, will I always have this and they said yes, so I believe them, plus it's in the adverts, has been for years...I have used the chat medthod, which is my preference, but have also called by phone... so yes it is 24/7 for life! have friends who have newer HP's and they aslo have and use the Free tech support!!!

My last contact with them was with chat and I just finished up with MS on chat. They didn't solve my problem, but are suppose to call me back.

Thanks for the responses. Wow, definitely one up for the good guys in that case, a very nice feature.

Well that's nice to know. My last experience with them 4.5 years ago was a LOT different. Basically, it was HP's straw that broke my PC back. That's when I switched to Mac. Maybe they're starting a new trend? PC's that don't break along with decent support? That would be wonderful!!!

Well, they have had a new CEO for several years now, and he has really emphasized quality and personal service.