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I have an old laptop with a faulty p key. (You have no idea how much you use the p key!) Historic desktop at home. I have only used windows and microsoft. My good friend uses a mac and says it is not hard to learn to use a mac. I have an Iphone and I understand they would sync. I write a lot, and I would like to use the computer for powerpoint. Would appreciate any advice you have for preferences and why. I went back over this and pounded in every missing p! Thanks!
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I picked up a refurbished HP from Newegg that I am very pleased with, but I don't find much difference between brands. Microsoft Office is a bit expensive on its own so if you can find a system that comes with a full version installed it will save you a few dollars. It is really hard to suggest an exact system without a laundry list of your intent for the computer. For instance, a gaming computer has to have a far more expensive video card than a computer used for office applications.
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Thank you UptonSinclair. No gaming. Writing sermons, newsletters... I would like to learn how to do more. Right now I am doing instantcert and Aleks with it. Slowly I progress!
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hicandle Wrote:I have an old laptop with a faulty p key. (You have no idea how much you use the p key!) Historic desktop at home. I have only used windows and microsoft. My good friend uses a mac and says it is not hard to learn to use a mac. I have an Iphone and I understand they would sync. I write a lot, and I would like to use the computer for powerpoint. Would appreciate any advice you have for preferences and why. I went back over this and pounded in every missing p! Thanks!
MAC's are good but for the price. As uptonsinclair said, brands don't really matter that much. What does matter is the quality of the components used to build the machine. Where brands come into play is when you have various warranty issues that arise. But if you buy a used one, the manufacturers warranty is generally already void.
I recommend a used laptop with Linux 
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I love the penguin, but I wouldn't suggest it for casual users.
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UptonSinclair Wrote:I love the penguin, but I wouldn't suggest it for casual users.
Depends....Ubuntu based distros are getting to be pretty user friendly. However, distros based on Fedora, Debian, BSD, etc. definitely are not for the faint of heart....
But using the command line makes me feel like a bad@$$
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I have recommended ones similar to this for both of my parents Newegg.com - Acer Aspire E1-572-6870 Intel Core i5 4200U (1.60GHz) 4GB Memory 500GB HDD 15.6" Notebook Windows 8. I've had good luck with Acer's, you just have to rid yourself of Windows 8 right away and start with a fresh Windows 7. I own an Asus laptop that I haven't been very happy with, but it was refurbished from TigerDirect. I've had horrible luck with many HP's. As for desktops, I couldn't be happier with the 2 that I built myself.
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I've been on Chromebooks for a little over three years now, not looking back.
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If you're just going to be writing sermons and newsletters, I would consider Linux. Linux Mint is similar to Windows XP or 7 but is more stable and secure than any Windows operating system. In fact, when I ran a Linux Mint VM, it was actually easier to learn than Windows 8. Chromebooks are also worthy of consideration.
Regardless of the operating system you choose, LibreOffice is a highly capable freeware alternative to the Microsoft Office.
There isn't a huge difference between different manufacturers. Refurbished PCs are often a bit less expensive than new machines, but they also have a slightly higher risk of things going wrong. It's up to you whether these savings justify that risk. Asus and Toshiba often seem to offer a good value, but as long as you avoid the bargain-basement $250 laptops, you'll have a hard time finding a lemon in the lot.
Course clear! You got a card.
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Bibby Wrote:If you're just going to be writing sermons and newsletters, I would consider Linux. Linux Mint is similar to Windows XP or 7 but is more stable and secure than any Windows operating system. In fact, when I ran a Linux Mint VM, it was actually easier to learn than Windows 8. Chromebooks are also worthy of consideration.
Regardless of the operating system you choose, LibreOffice is a highly capable freeware alternative to the Microsoft Office.
There isn't a huge difference between different manufacturers. Refurbished PCs are often a bit less expensive than new machines, but they also have a slightly higher risk of things going wrong. It's up to you whether these savings justify that risk. Asus and Toshiba often seem to offer a good value, but as long as you avoid the bargain-basement $250 laptops, you'll have a hard time finding a lemon in the lot.
Mint is Ubuntu based, with a KDE window manager instead of the standard Unity that Ubuntu comes with. And I agree with you. Mint is very stable and user friendly.
A lot of people are big fans of Chromebook. I've run ChromeOS in a VM, and I didn't particularly like it. It didn't offer the features I need....but then again, I'm an above average end-user. That being said, it is very secure and stable.....and it's linux based 
[COLOR="#0000FF"] B.S. - COSC (December, 2013) :hurray:
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80-Semester Hours at Western Governors University (2010-2012)
15-Charter Oak State College (2013)
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6-FEMA
If I can do it, ANYONE can do it![/COLOR]
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