looking for a new pc

i am currently looking for a new PC and am thinking of adding a 24 inch Dell ultra wide screen

any suggestions on PC spec and screen???

stay away from dell

flat screen/lcd's are steadily declining in price... check the ads and websites regularly for the best deal

http://www.hardforum.c​om/showthread.php?t=10​64124

The Dell 24'' is a great monitor for it's price, with lots of output devices supported, like composite, component and s video. But, many picky monitor gurus complain that it's a lottery. Some 2407s are built to a better standard than others.

Aaagogo wrote in post #2593878
stay away from dell

If you know very little about the hardware and service side of PC's, i.e. you just turn it on, and know how to operate the software, then I happen to think Dells are worth looking at.

The biggest problem I have with them is there tendancy to up sell out dated, and below spec systems, usualy at a huge discount. At least they certianly do here.

Now who wants a wager on how many posts it takes before someone starts crying "buy a Mac, they are superior for graphics based work", etc etc, even though mws3 has said he's looking for a PC


mws3 if you are familar with PC hardware, then you simply can't beat building your own PC.
If you can do it all yourself, and have access to a wholesaler, it can save you a lot of money. Im currently building my father a PC, for about 2/3s the cost of an equivilant one from Dell.

If not your not so familiar with putting a PC together, but know what you want, (or hope to find out from this thread) then try some local shops can build one for you to your custom spec.
It may cost a little more, but you will get something that is perfect for your needs.

Otherwise you are left with pre-built systems from the likes of Dell etc, local retail stores etc.
As a general rule there is nothing wrong with any of them.
Computers are more robust than peple make them out to be (I destroy them for a living ) and if your only doing some photoshop work, and accessing the internet it dosn't need to be very flash.
Just make sure you get a dual core processor, and at least 1gb of ram.
Also make sure you get enough HDD space for your photos, room in the case for your existing HDD (if you plan on not useing your old PC) is also very, very helpful, and something to check for.

awesome expansion on the 4 words that i posted.

something to add, even if you just turn on and use the software, still stay away from dell, don't let the price suck u in. it's just like the camera world, if it's that cheap, somethings wrong somewhere.

however, the lcd's, you can slightly consider, but other named lcd brands, the prices are pretty close.

Moppie wrote in post #2594013
If you know very little about the hardware and service side of PC's, i.e. you just turn it on, and know how to operate the software, then I happen to think Dells are worth looking at.

The biggest problem I have with them is there tendancy to up sell out dated, and below spec systems, usualy at a huge discount. At least they certianly do here.

Now who wants a wager on how many posts it takes before someone starts crying "buy a Mac, they are superior for graphics based work", etc etc, even though mws3 has said he's looking for a PC


mws3 if you are familar with PC hardware, then you simply can't beat building your own PC.
If you can do it all yourself, and have access to a wholesaler, it can save you a lot of money. Im currently building my father a PC, for about 2/3s the cost of an equivilant one from Dell.

If not your not so familiar with putting a PC together, but know what you want, (or hope to find out from this thread) then try some local shops can build one for you to your custom spec.
It may cost a little more, but you will get something that is perfect for your needs.

Otherwise you are left with pre-built systems from the likes of Dell etc, local retail stores etc.
As a general rule there is nothing wrong with any of them.
Computers are more robust than peple make them out to be (I destroy them for a living ) and if your only doing some photoshop work, and accessing the internet it dosn't need to be very flash.
Just make sure you get a dual core processor, and at least 1gb of ram.
Also make sure you get enough HDD space for your photos, room in the case for your existing HDD (if you plan on not useing your old PC) is also very, very helpful, and something to check for.

Moppie wrote in post #2594013
If you know very little about the hardware and service side of PC's, i.e. you just turn it on, and know how to operate the software, then I happen to think Dells are worth looking at.

The biggest problem I have with them is there tendancy to up sell out dated, and below spec systems, usualy at a huge discount. At least they certianly do here.

two years ago. i would have hoorayed and agreed with this opinion, but i have found that recently this is no longer true. my last dell PC was a dimension 8200, and it worked well for a few years, and then i tried to update it, found out it had an underpowered power supply, stupid overpriced RDram, and only AGP 4x graphics. I ordered a new xps desktop for a friend of mine, and it was sporting some seriously great quality parts including a 700w power supply. Anyway, if you buy one of dell's bargin level pcs, you will get bargin parts im sure, but if you buy a good system i am certain that dell has realised people are much more likely to upgrade their system a few years down the road than buy a whole new computer these days, and have reacted accordingly. I would also like to say that dell's ultrasharp displays are GREAT quality, with top of the line panels (not made by dell) and great designs and stands (by dell). If you feel comfortable making your own computer, then hey, im still all for it, next desktop i get i will be building, but really these days its not that much more expensive to get a built computer, with tech support.

Aaagogo wrote in post #2594036
awesome expansion on the 4 words that i posted.

something to add, even if you just turn on and use the software, still stay away from dell, don't let the price suck u in. it's just like the camera world, if it's that cheap, somethings wrong somewhere.

however, the lcd's, you can slightly consider, but other named lcd brands, the prices are pretty close.

Aaagogo wrote in post #2593878
stay away from dell

it doesnt sound to me like you have much to support your claim or else you would know that dell's ultrasharp panels are some of the best out there. Obviously youve had a bad past experience with dell, and have held on to a poor opinion of them, and as i mentioned in my last post, a two years ago i would have agreed with you easily, but theyre new pcs are very well built with much better parts than they used to have.

nope, never had any personal bad experience with dell, it's my friends who have bad experience with dell and i've to solve it for them.

my 1 and only preassembled pc was my 486-dx66

i didn't deny that their lcd's are ok, but the rest are also worth looking into.

i use a 19" samsung widescreen SyncMaster 940BW

its great monitor. As far as how it compares to dells, i cant say much.. other than i would suggest the samsung.

I've gone for the Dell 2407WFP 24'' http://base.google.co.​uk …204/D1567120886​7113693267

Moppie wrote in post #2594013
Now who wants a wager on how many posts it takes before someone starts crying "buy a Mac, they are superior for graphics based work", etc etc, even though mws3 has said he's looking for a PC

PSST... mws3! PSSST! over here! Come over to the dark side! Buy a mac!

It can run windows AND OSX... mmm... OSX...

i doubt that will happen here, cause i'm pretty sure people read PC as Personal Computer, not Windows

Moppie wrote in post #2594013
Now who wants a wager on how many posts it takes before someone starts crying "buy a Mac, they are superior for graphics based work", etc etc, even though mws3 has said he's looking for a PC

purelithium wrote in post #2594317
PSST... mws3! PSSST! over here! Come over to the dark side! Buy a mac!

It can run windows AND OSX... mmm... OSX...

[yoda]Don't give into the hate, hate leads to single button mice, single button mice leads to OSX, OSX leads to Apple Mac, Apple Mac leads to the dark side.....[/yoda]



Iv seen a really good range of Dells.
Some are absolute cheap crap, good for 2-3 years, then you throw them away and buy a new one when its time to upgrade. These are the really cheap systems, and they are cheap for a reason.

Then there are more advanced systems. Good for 2-3 years, might have room in the case for a second hard drive, and you can usualy upgrade the graphics card and ram very easily.
But, when its time for a new processor you throw it away and buy another one.
These are reasonably priced, sometimes. Chances are, if you buy one, your the sort who will send it back to Dell when its time for some new Ram and a 2nd hard drive.

Then there are commercial high end work stations.
Very expensive, usualy very high end, and often reasonably easy to upgrade.
The catch being the upgrades really need to be done with dell parts, or you can run into compatiblity issues. From what Iv seen, the cost is usualy beyond what you can an equivilent system for else where, but you do get Dells surport, which is very good if you happen to speak Hindi.

Finaly there is a whole range of comercial work work stations that vary from the very basic, cheap crap, to very high end, with prices to match.

Also, be aware that in lately Dell have not been suppling a CD with drivers, OS, etc on it. Instead they leave it all on a HDD partition. Its great for dell, as it saves them a lot of money. Its bad for the conusmer, because it means working with partitions if you want to format your HDD etc.
I know of a few people who have lost all that data after formating thier HDD, and removing the dell partition with thier OS and drivers on it, or have lost the data after a virus attack.

I have a Dell monitor at the moment, its a 19inch CRT, made by Sony.
I don't believe dell makes any of thier own monitors, they just rebrand someone elses. So some are very good, and some are very average

Moppie wrote in post #2594802
[yoda]Don't give into the hate, hate leads to single button mice, single button mice leads to OSX, OSX leads to Apple Mac, Apple Mac leads to the dark side.....[/yoda]

Ahaha! Nice!

But just place 2 fingers on the trackpad and click the button, and voila! a rightclick! Two finger scrolling is fantastic too!