[poobah88]

I can't afford to make a mistake buying a new reliable PC. I know that you very experienced techs know which desktop in the lower cost range is the best combination of performance, price, problem free operation and speed. I am used to XP but willing to try Vista even tho I've heard of problems. Please let me know what you think is the best one. Thanks.
Jim.

[Noyb]

Vista is obsolete ... Can you wait awhile ???
In a few months, you should be able to get a Vista Computer with a free upgrade to the next system ... Windows 7.

I personally like to custom order what I want from HP ...
http://www.shopping.hp.com/desktops;...p/psg/desktops

Looks like there's also some new processors and hardware showing up.
I'm thinking it would be better to wait awhile.

[poobah88]

That's good info. I'll wait to see what's coming. Thanks very much. Jim

[Noyb]

Here's the one that just showed up with the next generation Processors ... And faster RAM ...
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/sh...=m9600t_series

Is this in the neighborhood of what you were looking for ???

[poobah88]

It looks like a great machine but I'm looking for fewer bells and whistles at a lower cost. I'm interested in speed and reliability more than features.
Maybe 4 gigs of RAM a 500 GB HD and the Windows 7 OS upgrade you mentioned. I can limp along with my poor old Sony Viao for awhile.
Jim

[Noyb]

There should be hardware updates arriving on the other models soon.
Since you mentioned reliability ...
HP's are great for adding a second HD .. Then making it a bootable backup.

HPs are reliable ... I can't say the same for the windows that's in them.

[poobah88]

Yes. I have that setup too. C drive with an internal D backup. I'll want that on my new PC. I'm glad you think HP is reliable. That's what I needed to know. Hopefully Windows 7 will be better than XP or Vista. It's amazing to me that we put up with all the problems. I guess computing is such a great basic idea that we'll tolerate bad OS performance. A bit like having a beach house in Malibu and hoping for no mudslide.
Jim.

[Noyb]

My first 98 computer is still running ... with XP in it.
Or it was .. When I gave it to the Gkid ... His mom is his worst virus
Thank heavens for Acronis backups ... and an External Hard Drive.

Of my last 6 HP's ... I've only lost a fan on a video card .. due to Noise.
Once I convinced HP that I knew what I was doing ... a new Video card arrived at my front door two days later.

I did loose a DVD reader when I did a HP firmware update .. the replacement also arrived arrived very quickly.
Nowadays ... If it ain't broke .. I don't try to fix it

Windows 7 Beta (a.k.a. Fixta) does seem to run a little faster ...
but they haven't put back in the good tools they removed from XP yet.

I'm waiting on the Public Trial of the Release candidate version.
Here's my Newer HP ... it's Trilingual

[poobah88]

Looks like a nice setup. I wonder if the PC sales slump will speed up the release of the new OS to stimulate new purchases? We'll see. Jim.

[Noyb]

Soon .. It is expected that the manufacturers will offer a free upgrade to W7 for the existing Vista computers ... When W7 is released.

I'm not sure .. But I think you'll loose the OEM supplied applications if you go this upgrade route.

On the other hand .. If you wait on a W7 computer ...
Do you really want anything new from M$ ????
Their track record isn't too good nowadays

It's a tough decision .. and a gamble.