I'd like to know what you are using now that you think is not fast enough (which version of Windows-make/model of the computer-how much memory is in it)? Also, are you using dial-up Internet or broadband? If broadband, how fast is your connection? If we don't know what you have how can we determine what is needed for "fast"?

Hey, whats with this "would like it to be my last"? Who says you are going anywhere any time soon?

You have Black Friday coming soon I believe so there just might be some good deals there for you. Some American contributors will likely update us on that date.

Even then with the economy in the doldrums there might well be some very good deals coming along for the Christmas rush. You never stated whether you were after a laptop or desktop. HP/Compaq have some good models out there.

I think you mean Compaq, which is now made by HP, but may have been a separate company when you owned yours, if it was your first computer.

Anyway, I've always owned HPs, except for one Dell laptop (which was a piece of junk) and have been happy with them. You didn't say, but I'm assuming you want a desktop computer since you get more bang for your buck than with a laptop.
Your operating system will probably be Windows 7. Get the 64bit version of Home Premium, which will probably run all the programs you now use in XP. You want a large Hard Drive, especially if you have lots of pictures and/or music. I'd go for a minimum of 320 GB, preferably more. Lots of memory, since you want a fast machine. Four GB is plenty, but you can get more. If you are happy with your present monitor, you don't need a new one----same for printer. Just get the tower. You should be able to find a good machine for your purposes for $500+. Unless you are a gamer, the onboard video and sound is adequate.

Others will probably mention things I have overlooked. Just shop around and compare. Look at HP's website and compare with prices at Staples or Best Buy or some other store. You can usually find either the same and very similar machines at better prices already built than if you ordered direct from HP.

Good luck!

Thanks you all have been so helpful.

I helped my dad buy a much beefier computer than he would normally have chosen because he wanted it to be his last. He was 70 at the time.

He donated that computer. I've got the one he used to replace it. I suspect that the one he has now will last a few years.

I just bought an HPE 410y with windows 7 X64. There are changes that I had rather not have, but am adjusting to everything except the Windows Live Email. I will probably adjust to that eventually, cataract surgery will help. LOL I had to buy it at Best Buy, no other choice in our city.

I cleaned up a friends Dell laptop and I will never by a dell.

I recently bought 2 new HP/PC's a laptop 17" it's great! and a big boy HP desktop..quad core, 6GB RAM expandable up to 16GB and 750 G/HD W7 and it is Awesome! got great deals on both check your local Sunday adds..

Setting price aside for a moment. why am I getting the impression in this and several other threads that users are back to the over-buying cycle. We have been seen it before, and I am certain we will be going through it again.

Unless a user is drastically into gaming, real-time multimedia, heavy-duty graphic applications, or a demand which requires heavy-duty multi-tasking I can't envision a general user requiring a TB H/D or a quad core processor. A H/D is not for permanent storage so that can't be it. Unused power is wasted power.

I would guess, and strictly guess, that a appreciable percentage of our members just use their system for the Internet, e-mail, word processing, and lite applications such as personal finance, photos, scrapbooking, and music. I for one can do that on my Win98 out in the garage. Admittedly not as fast.

I personally feel the quality of the sound card, the video card, available USB ports, etc. are more of importance than mega H/D and mega speed.

If a user is trying to get ahead of the curve you really can't Take HDTV for example; 1G plasma begot LCD, which begot LED, which begot 2G plama, which begot 3D. And I am not even going to reference dpi and refresh rate.

As always please purchase as you wish, and enjoy.

DA

My advice below is based on experience and not favoritism. To qualify my advice I have to give a little rundown on what I did. I really hope it helps those looking to buy a new computer. I think the advice from damccoy is good solid advice.

I'll share my information with you and try to keep it as short as possible. For several years I was an IT Manager for a portion of AT&T and had about 50-60 thousand users in that area. We went through a phase where we would give the users several different computers to choose from, depending on their usage. The choices were any of Gateway, Dell, HP, Sony, IBM, Compaq (pre-HP). The population of users were very heavy users and were in Sales, Engineering, Customer Service, Warehousing and a small Com. Arts group. They had to be up and running and productive each and every day. We had a contract with IBM to do our desk top support. Over time and from the complaints I was receiving from the IBM personnel I realized Dell, Compaq(pre-HP units) and Gateway were too proprietary to effectively keep everyone in production and minimize the number of desk top support personnel. The real work horses with the least amount of hardware problems turned out to be the HP, hands down. The majority of problems with these were cockpit problems where the user screwed up some settings. A close second was IBM and Sony, third was Compaq (now HP). The junk pile was full of Dell, Gateway. Since all of these groups were networked and many of the applications were grid based, super powerful computers with tons of memory, super large hard drives and fancy video just were not necessary. However, there is still a perception that if folks didn't have those things, they were working in the dark ages. I opted to disregard the "choice" issue and only provided 1 type computer with ample memory, fast processors, variety of video acceleration complimented with LCD monitors. If anyone needed something more, we would review the use and determine what was needed and procure anything determined essential. This of course minimized the variety of spare parts and made desk top support much more efficient to the tune of a savings of 4 million per month which is small change to a big company but was a savings non the less. Since they were already in the door, IBM came in quickly with an offer we couldn't refuse so we ended up going with their offer.
So with that experience and being responsible for the budget and keeping people productive and allowing for future growth innovations that don't require getting all new equipment, I recommend an HP mid range computer line for the home and light business user. If you might be interested in Internet TV, you may want to go with the series that offer TV cards. If you are into gaming, you petty much already know what you want and what you need.

Just an FYI..the computer I am using right now and for all my web based stuff is an HP Omnibook XE2 laptop that is almost 10 years old..448 MHZ 256 Meg RAM. It originally came with Windows 98 and along the way I upgraded it once with Windows 2000 and then again later with XP. Networking is via USB wireless. I have an IBM laptop about 8 years old and 2 Toshiba laptops about the same age. As for laptops, any of these 3 are fantastic and are more than a home or light business user would need. So consider that if you are looking for laptops.

Yes, I sure do have the latest and greatest desk top computer with all the bells and whistles...HP of course.

MARYLANDIRMAN I would like to thankyou for takeing out the time for answering my request in such detail.You have been quite helpful.Funny thing I had already settle on Hp because my grandaughter has one but you really gave me the answers to the rest of my doubts.

Maryland, thank you for the interesting post. In 1996 I started out with a Compaq back when it was Compaq, then a Sony and now HP's. I found nothing wrong with any of them. I had a little problem with the Compaq, but realized later it was user inexperience.

I have recommended Sony's and I do like their computers. The problem I have with Sony is customer service issues in the past couple of years. With HP, if you should get first tier support from India, Mexico, Porto Rico and others and you cannot understand them, you merely request to speak to someone in America and they will transfer you or someone will get back to you.

From the preference angle I've been an HP user, system and peripherals, since Noah landed.

DA

As I stated before, mine, except for one laptop, have all been HPs. I have been able to update them by adding more RAM and changing out the HDD myself, and I'm certainly no spring chicken as some here surely know. I even, with some help from one person here, took apart an HP laptop and replaced a ribbon that had gone bad, causing me to lose the sound in my speakers. I was able to buy the parts wherever I chose, including e-bay. Nothing proprietary here.