New computer!

[snipelfritz]

So Julius Gerald Macbook wont last much longer. He has served a sold 5 1/2 years. So I think its about time I get a new computer. I'm thinking in the $500-700 range.

First, I'm not sure if I want a laptop or a desktop. I won't be in school anymore so I'm not sure if I totally NEED a laptop, and I've always been convinced that I could get a better desktop for the same price as a laptop. Is that still true? Should I reconsider?

Otherwise, I'm thinking I want:
Intel i5 or better
8GB RAM
500GB Hard Drive or more, but even that seems like overkill.
I don't have a monitor, if I do go with a desktop (I do have speakers, for what that's worth), so I'd need that.

I've been ultra out-of-the-loop too long when it comes to computers, so any advice is appreciated.

[Joe Gress]

As mainstream and overrated as they are, my Dell 660 has been pretty fucking great to me so far. Graphics card sucks ass (and I plan on replacing it soon) but everything else about it runs pretty well.

[McSpunckle]

You can get a WAY more powerful desktop than a laptop for the same price, and it'll likely be more customizable/upgradable.

It looks like the laptop market is moving pretty quick right now... everyone's finally putting good quality screens in, they're trying the whole laptop/tablet hybrid thing. For that reason, I've been kinda waiting for it to level off a bit, and just do some maintenance on my current laptop instead of upgrading.

But, uhhh... most companies seem to be trying some awesome high-end sorta things. Lenovo has caught my eye more than anyone, but that's mostly because I dig the Thinkpad look.

[ryan summit]

im gonna go the ipad route
since i spend most of my cpu time
staring into my ipod touch
i love how easy the os is
"whoa i wish the screen was bigger"
well ask and ye shall recieve
once i figured out the os was exactly the same
i was sold
i know two people with desktops
and they dont like the decision they made
stuck in the corner like that
my gfs got a year old macbook pro
and its the shit
i have a regular macbook thats shitting the bed
its like 5 yrs old
the cpu and screen are stil fine
the beer soaked keyboard is shot
and the battery holds 0 charge
anyway go laptop
unless you put your desk in the bathroom

[snipelfritz]

So I think I'm going to build a desktop. That just seems like the most bang for the buck.

I'm still slightly clueless.

[the Life Aquatic]

im gonna go the ipad route
since i spend most of my cpu time
staring into my ipod touch
i love how easy the os is
"whoa i wish the screen was bigger"
well ask and ye shall recieve
once i figured out the os was exactly the same
i was sold
i know two people with desktops
and they dont like the decision they made
stuck in the corner like that
my gfs got a year old macbook pro
and its the shit
i have a regular macbook thats shitting the bed
its like 5 yrs old
the cpu and screen are stil fine
the beer soaked keyboard is shot
and the battery holds 0 charge
anyway go laptop
unless you put your desk in the bathroom

i using the ipad instead of a laptop. my dell inspirion literally fell apart. even though it was always on my desk, never moved it, the screen just started falling apart from being opened and closed i guess. or the les than five times i transported it between school and home. also the computer just sucked in general. i got an ipad case it was cheaper than a new laptop and i could use all the music apps. ive got a case with a keyboard, the ZAGG portfolio, i sometimes forget im not on a laptop.

[spacelordmother]

So I think I'm going to build a desktop. That just seems like the most bang for the buck.

I'm still slightly clueless.

Unless you're hellbent on building your own (which can be a really great experience) -- those online configurators at Dell or HP can build you a pretty great machine at comparable value. I got a HP desktop a few years ago and it's still killing it for everything I need to do!

:edit: of course, I am not a powergamer, so if you need something like that maybe there are better routes...

[Achtane]

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showth ... id=3458091
Give the first couple posts a read, yo.