I need some advice to give to a relative:

What would be a good computer (Windows) for a college freshman in the neighborhood of $500 ?

nothing spectacular, nothing high-end game-ctuff. Just a serviceable computer for college work.

I have a MacBook and no clue as to the PC world.

Thanks a bundle.

Dave (imported) wrote: Mon Dec 16, 2013 3:33 pm I need some advice to give to a relative:

What would be a good computer (Windows) for a college freshman in the neighborhood of $500 ?

nothing spectacular, nothing high-end game-ctuff. Just a serviceable computer for college work.

I have a MacBook and no clue as to the PC world.

Thanks a bundle.

Maybe the benefactor should ask the student. It seems to me that a Macbook is the preferred computer.

He doesn't want a MacBook. She already asked. He wants a PC.

I agree with you but I'm not the user and neither of us have the spare cash to buy a MacBook.

Might want to consider a refurbished machine. Can get some really nice ones for well under 500. Software is what is costly. If your college student must absolutely have Office that can add up. If Open Office/Open Libre will do all the better. Not recommending anyone but do know someone that gets stuff from here (http://blairtg.com/)

I can't suggest a refurbished computer as a Christmas gift.

It has to be a new computer.

The make of the PC is less important then whats inside.

Get a PC that has windows 7 not 8, home edition would work find for a student. You should add Open Office which can be down loaded very easy. This will give that student everything that is needed for doing school work.

As much as I hate Best Buy and never shop there they do have a good selection of PC's to pick from.

River

Dave, I have one basic line of advice for this type of question, where the person has a price point and wants to know what is 'best' to buy.

Here it is in point form for brevity. Hope it helps!

- Whatever brand one person recommends will be spat on by the next. Dell, Acer, etc. etc. all have raving fans and frothing detractors.

- Basically, 'most' brands are acceptable if you're not some hyper-user. Of course, avoid odd one-off brands you've never heard of.

- At any reasonably honest, mainstream computer shop, with a reasonably knowledgeable salesperson, you will get a reasonable machine for your money.

- So: the only real answer is to select two shops that have decent reputations, write down prices and parts, and buy the best deal, which is the most computer for the least money.

--Do NOT worry about brand/type of processor, ram, or video card; you are buying a basic workhorse for a student, not a gaming machine.

--Do NOT let the salesperson hype those things up beyond their basic values (cpu speed, ram amount).

I suggest you buy new, so you don't get screwed on bogus information re. what's inside the computer.

Computers are cheap enough now that 500 bucks will get you one decent machine ANYwhere.

Hope this is helpful!

I am quite fond of my Toshiba laptop.

In addition to being a blue mule of a computer, if not something of a laughing stock, it can also serve as a defensive weapon. You could kill someone with this brick!

Seriously, though, it may be old and slow and heavy, but it just won't quit. If the newer ones are half as good, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.

Thanks for the comments.

I promised the person I would tell them this morning since the shopping days grow short between now and CHristmas…