Mac user groveling for help with buying a PC

[eeyore]

I have been a Mac user since the early 80s, but now find myself in need of a PC. I run a small (and growing) business, and need to use the PC version of Quickbooks to do all of my accounting. The Mac version of Quickbooks is a total piece of shit, and I am going to need all of the PC version's features. I have been running Virtual PC on my Mac for a while, but I think it's time to get real.

So, can anyone give me advice about low-cost PCs? Literally all I will do on this machine is accounting. I may get online here and there, but I will only use it a couple of times a week.

Can you help me?

Thx!

[northzax]

1. have you considered buying a Mac?

sorry, can't have a computer post without one.

Also, you should really switch to Linux, I have a PhD. in Computer Science and it's really easy to use!

buy a freakin' Dell, entry level, couple of hundred bucks.

[eeyore]

3. I'm totally open to Linux

I'm a PC novice. I would consider myself an expert Mac user, but I'm completely worthless when it comes to configuring PCs.

I had another person tell me to get an entry level Dell.

Thx.

[northzax]

5. linux is just setting yourself up for headaches

unless you have either good tech support or really want to learn to use it.

this is really all you need:

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/dimen_1100?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

[eeyore]

9. I was looking at that one earlier

Do I need XP Pro, or could I get away with XP Home?

What about getting on to my network? I can either go wireless or via ethernet.

Thanks for the help!

[no name no slogan]

11. XP Home should be enough

You'd only need XP Pro if you have more than one network you access on a regular basis. Otherwise they're just about the same.

PCs are all the same under the hood. The major manufacturers all use the same parts and components. The only thing you pay for with a PC is the brand name and tech support. If you think you'll need a lot of support, go with a brand name like Dell. Otherwise, go to your local mom-n-pop computer store and have them custom-build a machine to your specs. You'll save yourself a lot of money and get a machine that's just as good as anything from Dell, HP, etc.

[northzax]

13. eh, how much money are you going to save

on a $250 machine? it's totally a loss leader for Dell, I'd think.

[Feron]

27. Linux is only as hard as you make it..

yes some reading is required, but it isn't something that requires a geek to run. As long as you choose a newbie-friendly distro like Mandriva or Ubuntu (sp?), you should be fine.

And there is plenty of documentation and help forums if you run into trouble. I'm not a super-geek by any stretch and had no problems setting up and running my Linux box.

My problem with OEM computers is that they come pre-installed with a lot of junk programs and there is no Windows-only CD to start over fresh with. Some people don't mind that, but I do.

I second the build your own suggestion. Pricewatch and Newegg are good sites for parts.

[LeftyMom]

6. If you get a Dell try to get it through Costco

Costco has a 6 month return policy including computer stuff. I'm not entirely sure that applies to Dell stuff ordered through them, but I know it works for computer stuff bought in-store.

Also Dell is a republican contributor, but Costco is very blue so they'd balance that out. :)

[eeyore]

8. Oh, wow...I hadn't thought about Costco

I'll definitely check that out. I didn't know you could buy Dells anywhere other than through their website.

Thanks LeftyMom :hi:

[LeftyMom]

10. You're welcome

PS: If you don't have the executive membership yet, it may pay to upgrade before buying a computer from them, since you get a % back on your purchases.

[NMDemDist2]

21. costco has a lease return site. the units in the stores are usually

the high end ones, but they have a deal with a company who refurbishes lease returns. My last two laptops have been lease return units and I have been very happy with both and both are still running great! (the oldest one I've had for over 4 years and it's still fine, just with a slow processor from 6 years ago-hence the upgrade)

http://www.costco.com/Common/Category.aspx?cat=4365&eCat=BC|84|4365&whse=BC&topnav=

[Deja Q]

32. SuSE (the pay-for version) is recommended:

The pay-for versions include Java and Flash (and other) technologies installed. No need to manually tinker and pinker with it.

You still need to learn a little, but it's easier down the road and you won't be a slave to mircosoft's whims or otherwise base indolence.

[LynneSin]

16. Wait - you're Dr. Northrax?

Damn, I'm impressed!! I did not know that

[northzax]

17. neither did I!

now I'm really impressed!

[LynneSin]

19. Smartass and btw Dell is a major bushbot corporation

I have Sony, which is rated very blue :D

[northzax]

22. Dell is at least a US company

Sony is Japanese, last time I checked. :)

and the cheapest Sony computer would be...oh right, twice the price of the Dell. sometimes you simply have to buy the cheap one.

plus, I use a Mac, anyway.

[LynneSin]

23. I'd rather buy from the Japanese than support a Bush Whore like

Michael Dell. And I'm not even sure if the computers are even made in the US.

As for the price, along with that you get quality and Sony puts some of the best electronics out there. I just recently bought my desktop and knew I wanted a Sony. So I kept checking around all the computer stores that carried Sony products and waited for an Open Box buy and bought one of those. My Sony was originally $999 but I got it for $599. It was originally a floor model, had a few scratches on the one side and missing both the keyboard & mouse. But it's been working like a dream and I have about 5-6 keyboards/mice so I really didn't need those things anyways. Plus I got a full Pentinum instead of a knock off.

[UCLA02]

30. Buy a Dell...

...if you're not into the whole "blue company/red company" thing. Dell is definitely pro-GOP.

But, FWIW, I just helped my mother buy my sister her first computer and it's a Dell. They are decent machines (for a PC), reasonbly priced, and depending on the day of the week and which way the wind is blowing, you can actually get some help on the phone.

[LeftyMom]

2. So other than a monitor that's easy on the eyes and big enough

for spreadsheets (a 17" lcd should be fine) it sounds like any basic desktop will do. You don't need a ton of horsepower or anything. I'm incredibly fond of Sony Vaios, but for your purposes any decent brand would do.

[eeyore]

4. Exactly, just a business machine.

I'll check out the Vaios. My mom had a Vaio laptop that felt really cheap and fragile, but it seemed to work out just fine.

thx.

[LeftyMom]

7. I

I had a desktop Vaio for work and had no trouble after two years of daily use. they don't look like it, but they're nearly bulletproof.

[DUHandle]

12. I have an E Machine

They used to have a bad rep for reliability, which has pretty much fallen by the wayside.

Mid range will get you a good AMD or Pentium processor, 512 meg of ram, 180 HD, multiple media readers, two cd drives, a bunch of USB ports and whatever else.

At the right time, you can get one with an LCD monitor.

E machines are limited in how far you can expand them.


I'm by no means an expert in this area, probably just the opposite, but for a good bare bones machine, you can get much.


People often speak well of Dell.

[DS1]

14. Call up Quickbooks and tell them to stop making shit versions for the Mac

:shrug:

[eeyore]

18. Been down that road many times already....

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

They stopped making Quickbooks for Macs in 2000, reason being Y2K. :scared:

I had to buy a Dell at that point, and then they started making Quickbooks for the Mac again a few years ago. I thought I'd finally be back on a Mac, and bought the Mac version of Quickbooks only to find out that it was a completely stripped down piece of shit. After a whole lot of pissed off phone calls they finally refunded my purchase. :mad:

My previous PC was beat and outmoded, so I sent that one to the recycling heap, and got Virtual PC.

Yes, you are correct. If it weren't for Intuit having a fucking monopoly on accounting software, and a stubborn refusal to support their Mac versions, I would not be in the market for a new computer.

[LanternWaste]

15. If you have a nearby Circuit City

If you have a nearby Circuit City, look at their generic brand called, "GQ" (not kidding you). Installed w/ Windows XP and has everything in the box except the monitor. Total cost is about $200.00.

System specs change from month to month, but I bought one in Dec. for app. same price: 2.5gh processor, 500mg ram, 40gig hard drive, cd/rw-dvd drive, four to five empty slots. Not too shabby.

First one I bought in 2000 and it finally gave up the ghost in late 2005. Good investment.

[eeyore]

20. Thanks...

I'll check those out.

:)

[jmowreader]

24. I thought Dell was the enemy

Michael Dell is a Bushbot and his credit plan is outrageous...

Lemme tell ya what to do. A PC is not like a Mac--you can go online, order all the parts for a PC and screw the thing together in your back bedroom. Screwing PCs together in the back bedroom has become a good-sized cottage industry, so look in the phone book in the "computers" section for a business offering "custom PCs." Tell the geek who answers the phone you need a machine that will run QuickBooks.

The machine you receive will be as good as the ones in the store...and it will probably come with QuickBooks preloaded.

[dpbrown]

25. Can't you boot XP on the Intel Macs?

I'd say wait a couple months until the kinks get worked out and then just use Winblows on your Mac.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

33. Yes you can.

Yesterday I read an article on how it runs faster (not a shocker) on an Intel Mac than an Intel Winblows PC. Macs have always been faster, even with a lower Mhz advertised. I lost the link though. I personally would never taint a mac with winblows though. There has got to be a decent finance program for a mac.

[Initech]

26. Build your own - it's cheap and not that difficult

Well over 2/3 of the computers at my work were built in-house. There's tons of sites on the internet that will show you how to build your own.

[Kare]

31. Mines homemade

self built is the only way to go..
you get exactly what you want for less

[Redstone]

28. How about running Virtual PC on your Mac?

Mrs R does exactly that, exactly for the reason of running the Windows version of QuickBooks.

Redstone

[Sgent]

29. Do you need quickbooks?

There are other good small business accounting packages out there -- some which run on a Mac.

Checkmark & MYOB both have full featured double entry accounting products for the Mac. MYOB is the most popular, but Checkmark is more expandible and has a bigger feature set.

IMHO they are both much better than Quickbooks.