please answer a few computer purchase questions

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

I ***nt too buy a computer today,a nd came away with loads of questions.
When I bought my last two computers, you bought them, took them home, and put them together, got an ISP and started.
At Bet Buy, they tell us when you buy a computer you need to have them set it up, for a $69 fee. Are they doing something complicated or is this an unneccesary fee.
I saw a Gateway, just the tower, with 1T at a good price, and I have all the Gateway peripherals, but my friend says I will need to install drivers to get all my things to work: ie: monitor, speakers, keyboard, mouse, printer. I liked it because it was a very small tower, and I could take it back and forth when I go north easily. Would my peripherals work without much hassle or not?

I also consider a laptop, which is easier to transport, has wireless built in, but I do have problems when I type on them and also a bit of trouble using the cursor. My son is telling me get a laptop. I know they don't have as much memory as a desktop. Best Buy told me that Comcast or the phone company won't help me install wireless, I would have to tether it.
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I use a computer for internet, Itunes, photos, a little bit of word processing. (and I realize I will have to buy a new Microsoft office.

So please give me some suggestions.

To top it off, I haven't got an ISP right now, can't get on line with dial up for some reason. I wanted to wait to call Comcast because I figured if I had to have a service call, I wanted to have it on the new computer. But it is awfully hard to go to the library every time I want to go online.

[vacation_family99 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vacation_family99]

My opinion - I wouldn't pay the fee to Best Buy. You can easily do what they do.

I'd go with your son's advice -- get a laptop and then buy a wireless keyboard and mouse. If you are mostly surfing the web and using a wordprocessor, spreadsheet, even the lower end laptops (2 GB of RAM, 180 GB hard drive) will meet your needs. Yes, it won't have as much memory or as big of a hard drive as a desktop machine -- but do you really need it? You can buy an external hard drive for around $100 for 1 TB to store any pictures that you are taking.

My two cents!
Amy

[fishingguy Member Find all posts View Profile Close fishingguy]

If you are using Win7, most of the setup is done for you automatically. Sure, you'll need to supply personal info, but for the most part Win7 goes out on the internet and gets the appropriate driver automatically. I was really surpised at this, since I didn't use a single disk that came with any of my previous periphals.

Now, if you are moving data from an old to a new computer (email, contacts, documents, pics, mp3's, etc.) it is a bit more complicated, but there is a wizard that will guide you through the process. You can even get a cable that allows you to connect the 2 computers together through the USB port and move them that way.

All in all, if you are a 'moderate' computer user you won't have much problem setting the new computers up. I'd say the greatest potential for a problem arises when you are trying to use software that is not Win7 compatable, but some versions of Win7 have an XP mode.... I suspect most of the service BB gets is with Novice users.

[janej Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close janej]

You should not have to install mouse or keyboard. You can just plug them to USB port. Speakers and Monitors never needs to be installed either. All you have to do is install your printer driver. If you have a popular brand printer, the driver might be installed already. If not, just google your printer name + windows driver, you should be able to find it.

[Nancy Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy]

I wasn't sure I would like a laptop as my main computer, but have had it nearly 2 years, and I do. I like the simplicity moving in North and South.

Nancy

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

You can also drop the Microsoft Office and use Open source byJava instead. The latest office versions have turned off many former version users.

[davhu1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close davhu1]

I do not know what service Best Buy provide. I have bought several computers and never have to had it set up by anyone. Most of the time every thing worked without any problems. Sometimes you any need a new driver if you connect old equipment, like a printer or scanner. If they are usb, you should not have any problems with drivers (plug and play). Also I would not buy a Gateway - not reliable.

If you want portability, definitely consider a laptop. Use an external keyboard and mouse, and even a larger screen. Try Open Office if you do not want to buy.

If you do not need wireless at home, you can hardwire to your laptop like the desktop. If you need wireless, it not hard to set up. I do not know about Camcast but I have Cox and they can set the internet for you for a fee. They can also diagnose and guide you through the set up free to the modem and sometime to the router & computer. I use a Lynsys router for wireless and customer service is very good. Will guide you thru set up and trouble shooting if needed.

[Kay H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kay H]

I have always set up my own computer by following the instructions that came with the computer and I am electronically challenged.

However, when I went from modum to cable, comcast did it for a fee and my son set up my wireless, both done several yrs after I purchased the computer.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

That was BS when BB said that Comcast won't install wireless. Many of the cable modems are set up for wireless. You can buy a wireless modem, or have comcast install one of their rental wireless modems.

I am pretty sure they will help out to a point of connecting the computer to the modem, but certainly they can install wireless.

[davhu1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close davhu1]

I can not remember when the last time I walked into a Best Buy store. Must years and years. I find most people there are clueless once they pass the very basic. One time, no one in the store knew what "firewire" was when I was looking for a pc with firewire capability.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

thanks, very helpful, I guess too much exposure to timeshare salesmen stories made me leery of the $69 set up fee.

Is this open source software that you purchase or is it available on the internet? I really only need to compose word documents. I did use excel spreadsheet to set up pairing for golf tournaments, but have decided to not do that anymore. When i purchased my former computers, they all came with that stuff. My firend is saying oh you have to count on spending an additional 400 to 600 on setting up the computer and gtting what you want. I just want a computer that is realiable and i won't have to replace too soon. It is going to take quite some time to get everything transferred tht I want to still use (ITunes, pictures, bookmorks or favorites, word documents, tax returns)

I am starting to lean toward the laptop as i like my daughter's and i want to get skype so I can see my grandson.

I would say I am low moderate in knowledge, mostly learned from fellow timeshareforums users. This is really where I am missing Conchman, who would have helped me out.

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

So many people are going to laptops nowdays that Dell Shutdown one of their Desktop plants in TN.

If you do go with a laptop, might consider getting an USB Powered Cooler Pad with Built-in fans. A big cause of laptop computer failures is mother board overheating.

I use mine at home, when I have my laptop on a lot.

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

Don't be scared by the wireless connection. the last laptops we have brought home found the network immediately and by entering the Secret Password, we were online in no time. Our printer is attached to a desktop and the laptops found it easily also.

If you need a wireless modem, head to OfficeMax or whatever and get one. Very easy to deal with, I promise. So long as you report the message you get or problem you are having, we can help you. DO NOT pony up to Geek Squad unless you are in deep doo doo with no other recourse. I would also report to management "the requirement" that you buy their setup. That is false and misleading.

Either burn cds/dvds for your old files or use a flash drive. easy easy easy, Yes You Can!

Agree on getting external keyboard, mouse. Or, make sure the keyboard on your new laptop suits you. I like Toshibas and they often have "full size" keyboards.

I have problems typing with the touchpad "mouse" on, so I turn it off and use external mouse. Finally found a netbook that doesn't cause my wrists to interfere with the touchpad.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

A year ago, but bought an HP and even though I call it a laptop, it is really too big to be a laptop. It has a 17" screen, full size keyboard with the number pad on the side. I use a wireless mouse (which I won't live without) and like the unit very much. It is big for my traveling on the plane, but I still do it. I went to a stock trading seminar in Vegas in early Oct and saw several similar units like mine. I like the size for pretty much everything except for sticking into the overhead. It still fits, but it is big.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

stopped at Staples last night and it is half price for all there tech services. so transferring everything would cost me $35, probably worth it. they had a nice HP desktop with 20 inch monitor and lots of memory, so I am swaying back and forth again (I do hae an older laptop that I currently use when traveling, but don't have pictures, Itunes, any saved documents on it).