Solved Getting a new computer $800-$1000

[essenbe]

Anything you buy from Dell will cost you considerably more than you could buy it off the shelf for. However, anything you don't buy from Dell, they will not provide support for, which I have rarely found useful anyway. It just depends on how much you want to spend on an item. You can get better support here on Seven Forums than Dell typically provides. Of course, the same can be said about most pre manufactured computer companies.

 

[mjf]

It's academic taking about purpose built systems because you are clearly risk averse and there is nothing wrong with that. Mind you some of the big name brand OEMs don't have a great support record and they will typically use budget components.

Well if i go with a custom pc, i would not have any support other than SF. I have noticed too that they use budget components. The Nvidia GeForce 645 is supposed to have 3D Vision but on the dell website, it says it doesn't.

Building your own PC isn't for everyone. If you get a reputable PC shop to build one for you then you need to do some homework on the key elements and purpose you need (we have the Internet + this forum & others). If this is all too difficult and you will have sleepness nights at the thought - just buy an OEM PC.

 

[Britton30]

Ok for now, I will leave my choice at XPS 8700. I will mark this solved but will still be open to suggestions. I might start a thread for laptop suggestions since I will be replacing my laptop too. But one last question: Is it better to order from dell.com or does it not matter to order from a website like amazon?

1. Should get office with the computer in the config or get office separately? 2. Should I get Office 365 or Office 2013? 3. Why am I still asking questions after marking solved?

I think it was your idea.

Anything you buy from Dell will cost you considerably more than you could buy it off the shelf for. However, anything you don't buy from Dell, they will not provide support for, which I have rarely found useful anyway. It just depends on how much you want to spend on an item. You can get better support here on Seven Forums than Dell typically provides. Of course, the same can be said about most pre manufactured computer companies.

Except we won't replace anything for you.

 

[bigmck]

Ok for now, I will leave my choice at XPS 8700. I will mark this solved but will still be open to suggestions. I might start a thread for laptop suggestions since I will be replacing my laptop too. But one last question: Is it better to order from dell.com or does it not matter to order from a website like amazon?

You have to be careful on Amazon or Ebay. You don't know who you are dealing with all of the time. I would make sure I did business with an established company that would stand behind their guarantee.

 

[Computer0304]

Anything you buy from Dell will cost you considerably more than you could buy it off the shelf for. However, anything you don't buy from Dell, they will not provide support for, which I have rarely found useful anyway. It just depends on how much you want to spend on an item. You can get better support here on Seven Forums than Dell typically provides. Of course, the same can be said about most pre manufactured computer companies.

Ive checked the prices and they are the same. But for some reason, they just removed the subscription version of Office 365. I think I'll go with 365 because I might get another laptop too

 

[whs]

1. Should get office with the computer in the config or get office separately? 2. Should I get Office 365 or Office 2013? 3. Why am I still asking questions after marking solved?

It depends on the price. Neweeg sometimes offers Office 2013 for a discounted price - also the brick and mortar stores or Walmart and Sams club. Dell probably charges full retail. In no case would I get Office 365. There you have to dish out money every year.

I have my Offce 2007 already since 2007 and it still works very well. At the time I bought it in Sams club for a good price (3 systems version). I also have an Office 2010 (3 systems) that I got for cheap at Newegg. Have not yet installed it because my 2007 is still going strong. On my Transformer that I bought last month, Office 2013 came with it - full version not trial version. That is a bit different, but not much.

 

[Computer0304]

Also, I have noticed that Dell has Acrobat XI for $50 but the adobe website has it $139. Could I trust dell with this price?

 

[whs]

Also, I have noticed that Dell has Acrobat XI for $50 but the adobe website has it $139. Could I trust dell with this price?

What do you want that for. In Office, you can file anything as PDF - even a PowerPoint presentation. And there are many free programs to convert to PDF.

 

[Computer0304]

Just wanted to know if I could trust that price.

 

[whs]

Just wanted to know if I could trust that price.

Why not, if that is in their price list.

 

[Computer0304]

I meant if I could trust it or if it is a scam.

 

[bigmck]

I meant if I could trust it or if it is a scam.

If it is a well known company, it won't be a scam. Ebay and Amazon are a collection of many people and just because you know the Amazon name does not mean all of the people selling on Amazon are reliable.

 

[Computer0304]

Then how come they have it so cheap? Do they have some kind of agreement with Adobe for cheaper prices?

 

[whs]

As an alternative, I would also check at the local stores. They often have good offerings in the Sunday ads. Here is an Office Depot example.

Dell XPS 8700 X8700 3646BLK Desktop Computer With 4th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor by Office Depot

They may also put the SSD in for you.

 

[Computer0304]

I think ssds are just not for me. I will just order online since i could make my own config.

 

[whs]

As you like. You are just missing a great opportunity to really, really speed up your system. Any $400 system with an SSD will be faster than an XPS 8700 without an SSD. I have 7 PCs and all have SSDs. Would not live without them.

 

[Computer0304]

Ok Ill think about it. But I really don't think it would be worth the price and risk. (For me)

 

[whs]

What price - you can get a good 128GB SSD for $80. And what risk - I have done it many times and I had no clue when I did my first one. That was 7 years ago when nobody knew anything about SSDs. Now you have all the helpers you can possibly need. Most senior people here know everything about SSDs.

Have a look at this thread which has 150 pages only about SSDs. http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/213193-show-us-your-ssd-performance-2-a.html

And that is a continuation of this thread with 263 pages. http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/18229-show-us-your-ssd-performance.html

 

[Computer0304]

Ok i might do it later on. But if I were to, what brand should i get? Samsung or OCZ?

 

[whs]

Samsung is good. I like Mushkin. OCZ - some are good, some are not. I have 3 OCZs. But that changes all the time. So check again when you are ready.