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Inexpensive Desktops

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Vince

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Folks, I have posted my "Cheap Laptops" series on several forums, and it was well-received by small audiences everywhere. Some of that knowledge applies to desktops as well.

If you want to play high-tech games or do high-tech video work, or if you insist on multi-tasking, this series is not for you. But if you only wish to go on the web, play a few simple games, watch YouTube videos, and write documents, you might be better off buying a cheap desktop that you can throw away after a few years.

I'll be posting once a day, and courteous comments, pro and con, are appreciated.
 
Part 2

There are two important principles you must consider if buying a cheap desktop. The first is: Why are you doing this?

Loosely speaking, computers double in power every 18 months (That is not an exact or consistent number, but it's close enough for what I'm trying to explain.) If you buy an expensive computer, after 18 months, it will be middle-of-the road. After three years it will be in the bottom 1/3. If you are not a high-tech game player, you never used most of the power you paid for.

Your cheap desktop will be able to surf the web, play simple games, and write documents long after it is obsolete. Years later, when you start having problems watching videos, a new video card might be all you need. When you eventually buy another cheap desktop, you will have the new technology that an older, expensive desktop does not have.

When your hard drive eventually fails on a $250 machine, you can afford to walk away. Unless you have a lot of money, it is difficult to walk away from an expensive machine.

So why not buy a cheap laptop? Because the insides of a desktop are six times bigger, allowing cooler air, making your desktop last longer. Also, a desktop is easier to upgrade and repair.
 
I've been scouting a cheap replacement desktop for awhile now. That's all I do too, YouTube, email, documents and forums.

I'm not big on games. This cheap laptop idea intrigues me. Can you give me some info on what brands or features I should look for in a laptop?
 
Part 2

There are two important principles you must consider if buying a cheap desktop. The first is: Why are you doing this?

Loosely speaking, computers double in power every 18 months (That is not an exact or consistent number, but it's close enough for what I'm trying to explain.) If you buy an expensive computer, after 18 months, it will be middle-of-the road. After three years it will be in the bottom 1/3. If you are not a high-tech game player, you never used most of the power you paid for.

Your cheap desktop will be able to surf the web, play simple games, and write documents long after it is obsolete. Years later, when you start having problems watching videos, a new video card might be all you need. When you eventually buy another cheap desktop, you will have the new technology that an older, expensive desktop does not have.

When your hard drive eventually fails on a $250 machine, you can afford to walk away. Unless you have a lot of money, it is difficult to walk away from an expensive machine.

So why not buy a cheap laptop? Because the insides of a desktop are six times bigger, allowing cooler air, making your desktop last longer. Also, a desktop is easier to upgrade and repair.

I like your thinking. I've always looked for the less expensive desktops, with just a little more capability than I needed at the time.

But, what a change we've seen over the years. I remember the first actually useful computer I bought (because the company I worked for at the time made it a little more affordable) was a Leading Edge Model D, which cost me a about $1,000 in 1984. Two floppy disc drives, an 8088 processor, and 256K of RAM. Pretty basic, but it was actually useful.
 
At this point, this will be my next desktop, a Mintbox Mini. These little computer boxes are merely take-offs of mobile computers, i.e. smart phones and tablets, which unbeknownst to most people are full computers. The only difference between "boxes" and say a tablet or smart phone is that you hook up your own monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc and printers are often done using bluetooth. (JFYI you can dock an iphone and have a fully functional "Mac Desk top" only limited by the SSD size). This mintbox, at only $295, is a FULL DESKTOP computer running Linux mint. It has a SSD of 64GB which is 4x most device memory size and like the rest of the device world out there, you can also store big stuff on the cloud. So this can do more than a lot of the tablets can do, including gaming (which I'm not really into anyway). Right now my "desktop" is a Cubox, the size of a child's toy block, running Android. But Android is not the best OS for a desktop. It's not cut out for that.

So now for the price and functionality, I hope folks here go more with this type of computer and stop clogging up the tech forum here with "more Microsoft virus issues". If you struggle with that, it's your own fault not getting something this cheap that won't have those issues. Viruses are so primitive and so yesteryear when technology was clunky.

https://www.amazon.com/MintBox-FITL...qid=1465661351&sr=8-2&keywords=linux+mint+box
 
I've been scouting a cheap replacement desktop for awhile now. That's all I do too, YouTube, email, documents and forums.

I'm not big on games. This cheap laptop idea intrigues me. Can you give me some info on what brands or features I should look for in a laptop?
Edward, I have a Cheap Laptop thread here in the Technology section. I haven't been following particular brands lately, but the thread will give you some general principles.
 
At this point, this will be my next desktop, a Mintbox Mini. These little computer boxes are merely take-offs of mobile computers, i.e. smart phones and tablets, which unbeknownst to most people are full computers. The only difference between "boxes" and say a tablet or smart phone is that you hook up your own monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc and printers are often done using bluetooth. (JFYI you can dock an iphone and have a fully functional "Mac Desk top" only limited by the SSD size). This mintbox, at only $295, is a FULL DESKTOP computer running Linux mint. It has a SSD of 64GB which is 4x most device memory size and like the rest of the device world out there, you can also store big stuff on the cloud. So this can do more than a lot of the tablets can do, including gaming (which I'm not really into anyway). Right now my "desktop" is a Cubox, the size of a child's toy block, running Android. But Android is not the best OS for a desktop. It's not cut out for that.

So now for the price and functionality, I hope folks here go more with this type of computer and stop clogging up the tech forum here with "more Microsoft virus issues". If you struggle with that, it's your own fault not getting something this cheap that won't have those issues. Viruses are so primitive and so yesteryear when technology was clunky.

https://www.amazon.com/MintBox-FITL...qid=1465661351&sr=8-2&keywords=linux+mint+box

That looks really cool. I like desktops better than tablets, (and hate phones). Do you know if you can add a card to it to run two monitors?

That's how I had my last one set up. One monitor was normal and the 2nd was my big screen tv.
 
Part 3

There's a second principle you must understand when buying a cheap desktop. In order to keep the price low, parts have to be cheapened. If a cheap desktop excels in one area, it has cheapened the parts in another area to keep the price down.

Years ago, Acer put out a computer that amazed reviewers with how much it could do at such a low price. But the Acer forums were full of angry complaints from owners who couldn't get a good Wi-Fi signal. The solution? They had to buy a good Wi-Fi card for their machine, because the cheap, low-powered one that was installed was not up to the job.

To be fair, people who have finally upgraded from older computers to new ones have found that a new cheap desktop is far more powerful than the middle-of-the-road rig that they had been using. But remember that a cheap desktop does have cheap parts.
 
And I, like Tim run Operating systems that cost nothing and that drops the cost considerably. And systems without the registry are so much safer from Virus', Trojans, Worms and do not come with a Root Kit preinstalled in them. On top of that your MS Software, such as MS Office and those games will run under Wine and if all the free software fails, Crossover costs sixty dollars or Virtual box is free and you can install windoze inside it, and isolate it from the Internet by turning the virtual connection off and there is ot even a need for an antivirus beyond the nagging of the system when one is not installed.

And you beg, "But how do I do work on the Internet?" Download what you need to do with Firefox or Chrome into a folder, I named "share" and give it the properties to be accessed by both systems. All described by the, available, documentation and in PDFs and youtube videos.
 
Part 4 The Monitor

Usually, the cheapest way to buy a desktop is to buy a "set" that includes the monitor and a keyboard.

You need to understand the difference between a low-quality and a high-quality monitor. Most people can't tell the difference. High-quality monitors have more pixels (lights). The black letters are a little blacker, and the white background is a little whiter. No big deal, unless you're into high-quality graphics.

But a cheap monitor cannot show a high-quality picture, no matter how powerful your computer is. And a cheap desktop cannot broadcast a high-quality picture no matter how expensive the monitor is. Yes, you can buy a powerful monitor with its own video card, but it will only receive a low-quality signal from a cheap desktop.

If you want to spend extra money on the monitor, get one with a larger screen.
 
Part 4 The Monitor

Usually, the cheapest way to buy a desktop is to buy a "set" that includes the monitor and a keyboard.

You need to understand the difference between a low-quality and a high-quality monitor. Most people can't tell the difference. High-quality monitors have more pixels (lights). The black letters are a little blacker, and the white background is a little whiter. No big deal, unless you're into high-quality graphics.

But a cheap monitor cannot show a high-quality picture, no matter how powerful your computer is. And a cheap desktop cannot broadcast a high-quality picture no matter how expensive the monitor is. Yes, you can buy a powerful monitor with its own video card, but it will only receive a low-quality signal from a cheap desktop.

If you want to spend extra money on the monitor, get one with a larger screen.
LOLL! LOL! Touche! I love it! I have tried so many times to explain that to people I was building a set for and I have never seen it explained any better! it drives me crazy when people stick a thirty dollar card into the unit but purchase a 400 dollar monitor and then do not understand the output.
 
LOLL! LOL! Touche! I love it! I have tried so many times to explain that to people I was building a set for and I have never seen it explained any better! it drives me crazy when people stick a thirty dollar card into the unit but purchase a 400 dollar monitor and then do not understand the output.


What's with you today, Bill, you're too nice and agreeable. Maybe I can wind you up by recommending Intel processors over AMD :)
 
Part 5 Store-bought or shop-built?

There's no one true answer, because different models are on sale at different times, and computer shops vary in quality. But here's some good advice. If you have it made at a shop, spend a little extra to get a better power supply block. For about $20 more, you can buy a power block (sometimes called a voltage regulator) that will make your rig last about two years longer.

The big killer of many computers is heat. For about another $20, you can get an extra fan put in. My wife and I are heavy users, and we have an extra fan in both our rigs, and they are still running well after more than three years.

If you buy it in a store, check the return policy. If it doesn't work, forget the warranty--take it back. Obviously, you need to hold onto your receipt.

Never buy an off-brand. And buy from large stores with a reputation to maintain.
 
Part 6 What Operating System Should You Chose?

At this point in time, you'll probably have to choose between Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. As of today, there are no desktops built from the ground up for Windows 10--new Win 10 computers are actually Win 8 computers with 10 installed at the factory.

I have successfully upgraded my Windows 7 desktop and three Windows 8 laptops to Windows 10, and it works well. There is a learning curve, but it isn't that difficult. Until July 29, computers with 7 or 8 can upgrade to 10 for free. You then have thirty days to revert.

Since Win 10 works well on computers designed for 8, I would go with 10.

Almost half the computers in the world currently use Windows 7, an excellent system that is now obsolete. If you have Windows 8, as time goes by, you will find that there are steadily less programs available to you. Windows 10, however, has already become the second most popular operating system, it is automatically upgraded for free, and about 1/4 of all Windows users in the US use it.

Although Windows runs well on 2 gigs of RAM (as long as you avoid high-tech programs), they usually come with 4 gigs, which is a good idea in light of future upgrades.

And yes, you can install Linux for free on a Windows computer without deleting Windows.
 
Part 6 What Operating System Should You Chose?

At this point in time, you'll probably have to choose between Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. As of today, there are no desktops built from the ground up for Windows 10--new Win 10 computers are actually Win 8 computers with 10 installed at the factory.

I have successfully upgraded my Windows 7 desktop and three Windows 8 laptops to Windows 10, and it works well. There is a learning curve, but it isn't that difficult. Until July 29, computers with 7 or 8 can upgrade to 10 for free. You then have thirty days to revert.

Since Win 10 works well on computers designed for 8, I would go with 10.

Almost half the computers in the world currently use Windows 7, an excellent system that is now obsolete. If you have Windows 8, as time goes by, you will find that there are steadily less programs available to you. Windows 10, however, has already become the second most popular operating system, it is automatically upgraded for free, and about 1/4 of all Windows users in the US use it.

Although Windows runs well on 2 gigs of RAM (as long as you avoid high-tech programs), they usually come with 4 gigs, which is a good idea in light of future upgrades.

And yes, you can install Linux for free on a Windows computer without deleting Windows.
Vince, you are the first, honest Windows Tech I have met and that includes me. I admit it, when I was Only Windows I towed the Microsoft Line and thought I was stuffing it down the throat of alI Nix Users.

Today, my efforts are Nix centered but my first suggestion is always to test by installing Virtual Box or one of the other free Virtual Machines and to load it with one of the better than one thousand floavors of Linux or BSD and to test from there.

I find that no matter how simple dual booting is, it scares the average Computer User to death. And as stiff a user of Nix as I am, my desk-top is dual booted for "if I need it."
You are an honest teacher.;
 
Probably the reason it scares ordinary people is that so much is often assumed, and we are almost always led only partially into any sort of "different" thing, and then broadsided with a comment such as, "Now, install the such-and-such".... and then the instructor breezes right along as though it was a "given" that everyone and his dog knows how to do that. (And this can be the example with just about ANYTHING)

Microsoft, itself, is notorious for this kind of partial instruction.
 
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