Woops. Below is the link mentioned above.

Here is a link that might be useful: Previous Message

Glad to see you bit the bullet.

Solid State Drives are a newer technology, so, while they make sense, they are very expensive. They can go in either a desktop or a laptop. A 1 TB SSD would run $3000-$4000, whereas a similar size regular hard drive would cost less than $100. The only drive I know of that is large size, reasonably priced, and has a form of SSD is a hybrid drive, which is a standard drive with a solid state cache of maybe 8 GB. Since you are looking for a large hard drive in a reasonably priced computer, I suggest you give up the idea of having an SSD. (I have included a link below that explains SSD technology; although the info is a couple of years old, it is still helpful.)

One other thought. All-in-one computers are pretty neat and have space-saving advantages. However, you can get more computer for the money in a standard desktop than an all-in-one. Also, because the enclosure is very compact, it is quite difficult to do upgrades or to replace defective components. Further, if the screen goes, you have a very expensive repair on your hands compared to simply going and buying another monitor for a couple of hundred bucks. Just so you don't think I'm being sour grapes on this idea, I should tell you that my main computer is a Sony all-in-one that I really like. However, when the hard drive crapped out on me, I had to have a technician do the complex disassembly to get at the hard drive and reinstall it.

Good luck on your shopping. Let us know what you finally decide on.

Here is a link that might be useful: SSD info

I would second the advice given by Kudzu, but glad you are considering a new computer. You'll be amazed how much faster and better a new one is than the one your're now using. Unless you have Office and use Outlook for your e-mail, you'll either have to use an online mail program or get used to Windows Live Mail or Thunderbird or some other mail program, since Windows 7 does not have a desktop mail program. Enjoy your new computer; you have made the right decision.

Thanks, Kudzu and Grandms.

Kudzo, you are so right, I had not even thought about necessary repairs - will have to re-think the all-in-one even though I love the space saving. I still think I want to go wireless (I'm guessing you can get a wireless with a tower)and definitely forget about an SSD. Thanks for the link about SSD - will check it out.

Grandms, I do use Office and Outlook, so thank goodness I have Office which I can install in the new computer.

Intending to spend for a good computer I would have to get 8 gigs of RAM or more, assuming you are going with a 64 bit computer of course. Right now memory is almost at give away prices. 8 gigs of budget RAM at Tigerdirect is under $40

If speed is partially in your thinking for a solid state drive drive then rather than the huge expensive you might consider 2 good SATA drives and have them set up in a RAID array

My computer is a desktop and it is wireless. Stupid me I didn't know what I was buying when I bought it.

I tend to buy high end when it is electronics, but there is a limit and I think $3,000. or $4,000 is way past it. I would rather spend the money on a couple of computers for family or friends.

walnutcreek-
You should expect to find wireless capability (a network card) included as a standard feature of any new computer you will buy. It would be hard to find a new one without it.

Solid state drives (SSD) are nice and you'll see a performance boost but as you may have noticed, they are a bit pricey. What you can do is use an SSD for your operating system and critical applications. Then use a traditional hard drive for data storage and less critical applications. That will give you a good balance of price and performance.

Typically you will get less bang for you buck with an "all-in-one" computer and certainly less choice in specifications.

While wireless networking eliminates one cable, generally wired is faster and less problematic. For a desktop, I'd prefer to use a wired connection.

Okay. Spent all day Googling and researching and reviewing. This is what I ended up purchasing (not at all-in-one: HP with an Intel Core i7-2600 Processor, a 1TB (Terabyte) 7200RPM Serial ATA hard drive, and Windows7 Home Premium 64-bit, with 8GB of RAM memory. And this is nearly unbelievable - the least amount of money I have ever spent on a computer. Cannot believe how prices are so inexpensive compared to the last two computers I purchased. Hope I will be pleased.

Again, thanks all for your great advice.

walnutcreek-
Congrats...those sound like really good specs. You'll be leaving many of us in the dust!

Sounds like a winner! Hope you'll be very happy with it.