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Buying a computer.

11 years ago

How do I know if I need to buy a computer? Mine is 7 or 8 years old & my tech said I need a new one.

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Comments (5)

User
11 years ago
What was the reason for taking your computer to you Tech?

Basically, are you satisfied with how your computer is currently operating?

Does your PC Do everything you need it to do?

Is your PC Running well (do you hear any strange noises)?

I'm sure a New computer would serve you well with yours being 7-8 years old, but it's not always necessary if the computer operates okay and it does everything you need it to do.
aputernut
11 years ago
What OS is your old one? support runs out on or has run out on a few, and other software will opt out of support as well, and then things will just not run right after a awhile. Also it may be very slow as in not much RAM even HD may be small?
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I am back with an update. I did talk to an independent computer tech person who immediately told me it was not worth fixing my machine. She felt that the problem I was having with it not turning on maybe the motherboard. I am also seeing the case suddenly deteriorating faster and faster. Opening the computer, moving it from my lap to a table, keeping the screen upright, are now something I have to think about and fool with every time I pick it up. So, thank you Sue for the suggestion but I've decided I am ready to get a new machine. I am especially anxious to get it done before it goes kapoot and I can't get my files off of it to a new machine. I do hope you enjoy your machine as long as you can though, Sue!! :-) I have enjoyed my Dell and would have been just as happy to stick with it. secsteve....the 'trackball' I refer to is the one that is part of the keyboard of my Dell. It is in the middle between the G and H keys and very small movements with the index finger make it very easy to place it right where you want it easily. The button to select once the pointer is where you want it is right under the space bar and I can reach it with my thumb without even taking my hand out of typing position. Very convenient and easy to use. On the Apple it is instead the pad which you swipe your finger across to move the pointer. The key to select it is below the pad, no where near the keyboard, so you are always having to change position and taking your hands out of typing position. I just don't know what they were thinking to let go of the arrangement that works so well with the keyboard, to adopt this style. We went in to the Apple Store last night and even the salesperson who demonstrated using the pad, didn't seem to have any more mastery over it than I was getting. Slow and awkward. They have NO computers that offer the trackball as part of the keyboard. He suggested a wireless mouse, which I think they offer, but didn't have in the store. From what I can see of it online, I am not sure how easily it will work. It does appear to be one that you don't actually move the mouse around so much as you move the tracking ball on the mouse. So that is one option. According to him, there are no manufacturers that are making the keyboard w the tracking ball any more. Hmmm...will have to check that out. I asked him, what about people who have Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, which is a pretty common problem for people who type. He looked at me like I was speaking Greek. [g] Most salespeople in computer stores are young people it seems to me..lol. Of course, makes sense. He did show me some sort of contraption that holds the computer on it, with front support to rest your wrists on and that elevates the computer for air circulation. But if you are using it that way, the ergonomics are just not right for both the keyboard and the tracking pad and buttons. And if you use the pad to raise the computer, now your arms and shoulders are in a much more awkward and unsupported position. Very strange that for a company that put so much thought into ease of use and common sense applications that they seem to have spent no time on ergonomics. So disappointing! It is a little frustrating because if it were not for that issue, I may have already bought an Apple. It is just an issue that I cannot ignore. I was very impressed with everything I read on their website about their machines. Another thing I like is that they will transfer everything from your old computer to the new one for you. There is a store close by too. So, this afternoon, I am going to call Dell and see what their story is. Not what I expected to be doing this week. :-( Anyone else who has some Apple or Dell experience, I pretty much have it narrowed down to these two. Thanks pm2
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Check out local governments for their auction web sites or how they dispose of them. This includes local, state, police, school boards. All of them need to dispose of computers when upgrading. I included the link below purely as an example, I don't expect you to come racing up the the Great White North any time soon ;-) Fruitjar is right about the local small computer guy. There are thousands of ex office machine out there that need a good home. Be sure to have all the major components listed on the bill of sale. Check out your local Value Village, Goodwill or other charity store for a mouse and keyboard for peanuts then this cannot muddy your deal. Be very wary of your local craigslist or Kiijii because many of those advertisers make a business out of it. Not suggesting they are all crooks at all but caution before can avoid a headache later. Here is a link that might be useful: Auction site for southern Ontario gov depts
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I am running an AMD 5 core processor and not had any issues with it, Its really a 4 core chip with a video processor included. I prefer the Intel processors, but my new Acer Desktop came with the AMD chip. I suppose that cost was the reason. I hung on to XP sp3 as long as i could and then changed to Win 7 Professional in the new computer. There was a learning curve, but Win 7 has proven to be a good operating system. The main issue, in crossing the boundary from the X86 architecture to the upgraded system, was that I lost the use of several old favorite programs. One of these was a sketching/drafting program. Since I have retired, I can not justify the cost of updating the old programs. I kept my old computer to run those.
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User
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Depending upon what your computer has for it's Hardware and What Operating System you're running there may be a couple of Upgrades you could do to get more life from your current computer.

The First is adding more RAM to the system (Usually very easy to Upgrade).

Then the Second is a New Hard Drive (possibly a Hybrid SSHD Drive or a possibly a SSD Hard Drive if compatible).

Either Hard Drive would increase your computers Performance.

The RAM will help lots in the Long Run too!

If you could tell us a little more about your computer we could help more in this department.

What's the Operating System (Windows Version, etc...)?

Brand Name and Model Number of Computer?

Desktop or Laptop?

Any Information you can give us would be helpful, Motherboard, how much RAM, Hard Drive Size, etc...

BTW, I have an AMD Phenom II 3.0GHz Quad Core Computer I built about 6-7 years ago. This computer is running great and will run almost every computer program available today. When I built this computer Windows Vista was available, so I built it with Windows Vista Ultimate. About a year ago I upgraded this computer to Windows 7 Pro (Clean Install of Win7). I have since Upgraded Windows 7 Desktop computer to Windows 10 Pro. This computer runs Windows 10 even better then it ran Windows 7!

The Laptop I currently use is an Acer Aspire 5742z-4601, it's about 5 years old. It's a Intel Pentium 2.0GHz Dual Core, it came with a 320gb 5400rpm hard drive and 3gb RAM (Windows 7 Home Premium installed). Many years back I upgraded this laptop to a 500GB Seagate SSHD Hybrid Hard Drive at 7200rmp and upped the RAM to 8GB. This computer too, will run it all, no lagging on any programs used! Recently Upgraded from Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 10 Home.

My wife's Lenovo Laptop has about the same specs as my laptop had originally. Hers doesn't have the Hardware upgrades, but is running Windows 10 Home without any problems.

I posted these just to show you an older computer can be effective in todays world with the right upgrades, hardware and software. One of the biggest things is to make sure you're not hearing strange noises from the computer like the whining of a Fan going out!

Just an FYI; I did recently purchase two new laptops, one for me and one for my wife. I picked them up as Refurbished, 1 on Ebay and one at Amazon (both from the same dealer for (delivered) $349 each). They are Acer Aspire V5 573P-6896 (Intel i5 Processors (1.6GHz - 2.6GHz Quad Core), 4gb RAM, 500gb 5400rpm Hard Drive, UltraThin, Touchscreen, Lighted Keyboard, Surround Sound 4 speaker system, mSATA SSD Slot (empty) (for an SSD Hard Drive), HDMI, LAN, WiFi. These are very nice Laptops for only $350 each! I have these computer put up and we won't get these laptops until November 27th, my wife's Birthday. I do have Windows 10 Home installed on both! They are all set and ready to go!
Elmer J Fudd
11 years ago
adding new hardware or software to an old PC isn't the best choice.

You've gotten 7 or 8 years of good service, time for a new one (but buy it from a mainstream retailer or distributor, not from a tech)
aputernut
11 years ago
Do not buy a refurb. check the Sunday adverts all office/tech stores even Walmart carry name brands and the sales right now are awesome! back to school etc. For $300 you can get brand new all the bells and whistles even. If you only need a tower even better. You can browse the stores online, read customer reviews etc.

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