To buy a desktop computer/Related Q's

[Amethyst]

It's that time again - to replace an aging desktop computer. Mine is a Dell Inspiron 3650, 6 or 7 years old, and has slowed down to the point that I've just purchased an external SSD, to offload my data before it's too late.

Last year I bought an Asus laptop, and while it's OK...there's something about a desktop computer, with big screen, good speakers, and power that suits me.

I'll happily entertain serious suggestions for a replacement under $2000.00.

In addition, here are some random questions I'd like to throw out there:

• I really like the looks of the Mini MACs. Is it difficult for a lifelong PC user to switch to a MAC? I'd still have an Android phone and a PC laptop.
  
• What are the downsides to an all-in-one desktop?
  
• Are there advantages to buying locally (e.g. Best Buy) rather than ordering from Amazon?
  
• Can my external SSD accept applications, as well as data?

 

[Ian S]

Frankly, I wouldn't consider a switch to a Mac unless I was going all the way with Apple. I too prefer a desktop when I'm at home. I like to have an SSD for my OS and programs and a regular old hard drive for all the data. Then an external or portable hard drive for backups. And maybe keep that in a different location. Cloud options are also a possibility. External hard drives are still considerably cheaper for data than ssd's but otherwise ssd's are fine too and and are probably more robust. That said I've found hard drives over the years to be pretty reliable.

 

[eytonxav]

I have no regrets when I switched to a mac from many prior HP and Dell desktop PCs. The mac is pretty intuitive and a better user experience in my opinion.

 

[Ian S]

HP has some attractive all in one PCs.

 

[SnowballCamper]

I've had this Mac mini since 2012, and a different mini before that. I switched to Mac from PC back in about 2007 when Mac started using intel processors. I've been very satisfied with the Mac operating systems and reliability. The laptops I previously had needed hard drive replacements after just a few years.

So I'm not familiar with the current reliability of windows PCs, but the Mac was an extraordinary improvement when I switched back in 2007. I can't remember the last time I needed to restart the computer, if ever. The AirPort Extreme I still use is from about 2008.

There is a premium to pay for the Apple computer, but in my experience you get much better reliability. I think the mini is the best value to get the reliability and the freedom to choose you own peripherals, for much less money than an all in one iMAC.

 

[Midpack]

I was also a lifelong PC user, from the early 80's to 2021, it was the only option a Megacorp so it only made sense at home. But once I retired, and based on stellar experiences with iPod, iPad and iPhone (and how seamlessly they work with each other), and frustration with how Windows evolved, I started looking at iMac desktops. I bought my M1 iMac 24" in Jul 2021 and DW bought a M1 Max MacBook Pro 16" in Oct 2021 - and we have been thrilled with both. Mac OS file structure is different than Windows, and it took a couple days to get everything transferred to my liking, but zero issues since. Apple support is head and shoulders above most other tech companies. We will never go back to Win PCs. we didn't know how much better computing could be...

She insisted we continue with MS Office, so we have a Microsoft Office 365 subscription, and that is an easy transition if you care - though Pages, Numbers & Presentation are just fine for free and all a non power user would likely need.

That said, part of the appeal of Apple products is how well they work with each other, so if you're set on Android and a PC laptop - I would not recommend buying a Mac desktop...

Sounds like a moot point, but I transferred all my data from an external HDD formatted for Windows no problem. Macs use a different native HDD format, but they can read from a Windows HDD files. I have a backup external SSD connected to my iMac.

Our last PCs were an XPS Desktop and a Latitude laptop, both were 5-7 years old when we happily recycled them.

 

[Jerry1]

https://silentpc.com/fanless-pcs/

I have an older version of the computer listed for $1,510. There are smaller ones but they’re a bit more. I’ve been very happy with this computer and this company. It’s the third computer I’ve had them build and all were great. My current one is over 10 years old and still doing quite well. When Windows 11 came out I had a few questions. Sent an email and got my answers - from the same person who I worked with on the original build.

I like the computer because it is fanless and therefore absolutely quiet. Also, they use good parts and their computers last. I did get one with fans for DW and even that one is very quiet. It’s bigger and has more equipment in the box so I couldn’t go fanless.

 

[SnowballCamper]

That said, part of the appeal of Apple products is how well they work with each other, so if you're set on Android and a PC laptop - I would not recommend buying a Mac...

This is an excellent point to consider. I switched to iPhone a couple years after the switch to Mac. The interoperability with Apple products is the best. Initially, I ran a dual boot system to have windows available to work at home, and then ran a virtual machine for a while.

While you'll find lots of people that switch to Mac, much fewer switch to windows (in my observations).

It's probably worth the time to find someone to show you the Mac OS... or I'm sure there is a Youtube video that does a good job...

 

[Midpack]

While you'll find lots of people that switch to Mac, much fewer switch to windows (in my observations).

It's probably worth the time to find someone to show you the Mac OS... or I'm sure there is a Youtube video that does a good job...

Not a bad idea, but I would also go to an Apple Store (or Best Buy) and spend some time actually using and exploring any desktop or laptop you're considering buying. I played with Apple computers at least a half dozen times before I was comfortable buying. There is no way I'd buy without first hand experience. YMMV

 

[Sunset]

Op - got to ask, your old PC is it running an SSD or regular HD inside ?
I ask as cloning a regular HD to an SSD will result in a much faster computer.

 

[Sunset]

Here is my view

Regarding desktop downsides:

Room for too many SSD's inside.
Too large to steal.
Only paying for a new box , as old screen probably still good.
Can upgrade the screen to a larger one at any time.
Easy to upgrade memory.
New keyboard costs $12 when wear off the letters of the old one.

Advantage of laptop:
Can take it when traveling so it can be stolen in foreign countries.
Get to replace laptop when screen breaks.

 

[RetMD21]

I've been thinking about video editing and have been looking at HP Envy desktops. Currently I am suffering from an old processor and video card. I have nice monitors so I am not seeing an advantage to an all in one.

 

[Amethyst]

I am pretty sure it is not solid state inside. I don't know anything about cloning.

Op - got to ask, your old PC is it running an SSD or regular HD inside ?
I ask as cloning a regular HD to an SSD will result in a much faster computer.

 

[Amethyst]

Here is my view


Room for too many SSD's inside.
.

I feel a little dumb, but what is meant by this?

 

[statsman]

I feel a little dumb, but what is meant by this?

My sarcasm meter went off on the comment you are referring too, but maybe I'm not understanding. I thought the desktop "downsides" were actually pluses, and the laptop "advantages" were actually minuses.

 

[donheff]

Got me thinking about this. My all-in-one desktop is a bit old, underpowered, and under memory for the astrophotography processing I have gotten into. I want to stick with an all-in-one because of the form factor. The envy sounds nice if a bit pricey. The default model has 32 G of Ram which is more than double my current PC. Is that sufficient? Is Windows 11 a hog?

 

[steelyman]

I wouldn’t worry too much about your Android and PC. These things can be moved out if/when you are ready. Instead, try to focus on the desktop system you’re comfortable with, keeping in mind that transitioning to a Mac OS will be a bit of a learning curve (but not impossible).

 

[Sunset]

My sarcasm meter went off on the comment you are referring too, but maybe I'm not understanding. I thought the desktop "downsides" were actually pluses, and the laptop "advantages" were actually minuses.

YES - that is what the meant to convey, I was being sarcastic.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

Get a laptop.

 

[Sunset]

I feel a little dumb, but what is meant by this?

You are not dumb, I was being sarcastic.

What is true, is a desktop has lots of room inside.

I just gave a large desktop to a relative, and inside is 1 single SSD about the size of a cell phone. I could add 10 more easily to that computer.

The one in there is 512 Gigs, much more than will be needed.

 

[Jerry1]

You are not dumb, I was being sarcastic.

What is true, is a desktop has lots of room inside.

I just gave a large desktop to a relative, and inside is 1 single SSD about the size of a cell phone. I could add 10 more easily to that computer.

The one in there is 512 Gigs, much more than will be needed.

The fanless PC’s I linked to have very little room inside. They are a very small form factor. The mini’s can even be mounted to the back of a monitor and not take up any room or make any noise.

 

[Sunset]

I am pretty sure it is not solid state inside. I don't know anything about cloning.

Simple cloning is where you plug the SSD into the USB port of a computer and run software that makes a copy of the existing HD to the new SSD.
The you open the computer, take out the old one, and plug in the new SSD and the computer doesn't know any different (because the new and old are exact copies).
But the computer now runs much faster.

When cloning a Windows machine, the SSD (at least from crucial.com ) come with a download of cloning software that can increase the size of disk proportionally, so if your disk is ~256 Gigs, you can buy a new 1 TB SSD and make use of all of it.

The most important thing in cloning is first backup your data in case a mistake happens. Also be sure you know which drive is the source and which is the new target drive so you don't blank out your data.

It all sounds scary, but remember similar warnings for walking around your neighborhood would be "Be on the alert because if you cross the street at the wrong time a car will kill you".

 

[Exchme]

I have an Android phone and a Mac, there's nothing wrong with that configuration, you just don't get the full integration experience that an all-Apple setup would give you. Apple gives you 1TB of cloud space and Microsoft 365 gives another 1TB, so I save things in one of those places and when we go on vacation, the MacBook I travel with can see any files I stored.

 

[Sunset]

The fanless PC’s I linked to have very little room inside. They are a very small form factor. The mini’s can even be mounted to the back of a monitor and not take up any room or make any noise.

They are interesting, I've used them at previous work locations.

The one I gave to a relative was an old one I had as a server, so she got a much better computer and I got rid of a box and screen I didn't need anymore.

 

[OldShooter]

... there's something about a desktop computer, with big screen, good speakers, and power that suits me. ...

It's been at least 30 years since I had a desktop box. But I have big screens, good speakers, and all the computing power I need simply by plugging my tablet (Currently a Microsoft Surface) into a dock in my home office and another dock setup at our lake home. Peripherals include a hi-res page/film scanner, a document scanner with automatic feed, a monitor as big as I want, ability to add a second monitor which I don't need, a full-size keyboard, full size mouse, a Wacom tablet, and a few more USB gadgets that I don't remember right now.

I can go offsite with the Surface, power supply, keyboard and mouse. This is useful for presentations in the Adult-Ed investing classes I teach and for the occasional offsite meeting places I volunteer. And of course it travels with me between the city home and the lake home. This way I always have my "stuff." What it does not do, is to travel with me on pleasure trips -- too much risk of getting lost, damaged, or stolen. For those trips I carry a smaller Android tablet with the minimum "stuff" I want. No financial information or apps, for example. A subset of my documents are shared using DropBox. This is particularly useful for travel documents like hotel and transportation documents and backup copies of passports, vaccination records, etc.

So I don't think I am giving up anything by using a docked tablet in my two home offices and doing so adds a wealth of portable capabilities that a desktop can't possibly compete with. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.