help for a non-techy

[Pike]

Due to work circumstances I will not be able to use a work internet connection for much longer so will need to get a p.c linked up to the net at home.

 

I have no technical knowledge at all!

 

I am looking to buy a stand alone p.c with a flat monitor and printer which is capable of processing 5meg digital pics and running the net quickly. If it is somehow wirelessly connected so much the better.

I also need to set up a "broad band account?!?"

 

 

Any advice very gratefully received

 

Pike

[Baldrick]

Assuming you have a BT landline, call them up and sign up for their BT Broadband scheme. They'll test your phone line to determine the likely connection speed. They'll send you the modem required to connect to your existing phone line. If you're using a desktop PC (not a laptop), there's probably little point (in my opinion) in going for the wireless broadband option.

 

For God's sake don't apply for AOL broadband. I've been very content using BT as a broadband supplier.

[Dunkield]

You will need to contact an ISP (internet service provider) to connect you to the net via broadband, essentially down your phone line. You will also need some filters to go in each phone socket and a box from you pc to the phone socket. Have look arround for a good deal they are changing all the time, I am with BT but there are hundreds of aother companies that will provide the service for you.

[pin]

I just bought my mrs a Dell dimension 3100c for £400 with 19" flat panel, 1GB ram, 160GB disk and all the trimmings. You can get a printer to deal with photos for about another £60. Thats more than enough PC for what you want. Have a look at the deals http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products...dhs1&l=en&s=dhs

 

Pick your choose for broadband, cheapest out there is probably the talktalk deal, just about any of the big deals are as good as the rest.

 

Its a hard question to answer as there are so many variables, but dell are good solid machines. In my last job I used to buy a lot of them and hardly had any issues, any I did have were sorted properly and in good time.

 

Good luck looking.

[Baldrick]

I second the Dell recommendation - I use one at home and at work, along with an Apple PowerBook. Just to confuse the issue, have you ruled out buying an Apple computer? They are unbeatable for anything involving graphics/photo editing etc.

[pin]

I'm a bit sad like this, pike if you want anything explaining PM me and I will talk you through anything you need to know.

[Bazooka Joe]

Pike,

If you have Sky in you cannot go wrong, free broadband 2 mg connection, with a cap on the download limit of 2gb, There next package is only a £5, 8 mb connection with 40gb download limit, all this with a free wireless modem, & if you want I sure they will set it up for you.

 

BJ.

[Pike]

Pike,

If you have Sky in you cannot go wrong, free broadband 2 mg connection, with a cap on the download limit of 2gb, There next package is only a £5, 8 mb connection with 40gb download limit, all this with a free wireless modem, & if you want I sure they will set it up for you.

 

BJ.

 

 

Fantastic tips folks,

 

I will look into a Dell - just looked at my work P.C and that is a Dell

 

and the Sky package sounds fab

 

Anyone know which channel the Moto GP is on though?

 

P

[pin]

Usually eurosports or sky2 I think

[VicW]

MotoGP is also on BBC2 and if you have digital I believe you can watch qualifying as well.Usually more exciting than F1 and Suzy Perry is a lot better to look at than Martin Brundle!

[lurcherboy]

The 250cc practice was fun at lunchtime

 

 

 

LB

[Bazooka Joe]

One thing to keep in the head Pike with Dell, good Computers, but if I was you, don't go for the free Printer. Sounds good at the time, but when the ink cartridges run out, you have to buy them from Dell themselves.

 

Thats when you find out why the Printers are free............!!!!!!!!!!!

 

When you've got kids that like printing out full size colour pictures, the cartridges don't last long.

 

BJ.

[Evilv]

Get a laptop with built in wireless and then you can lie about on the couch or anywhere you want and you're always connected. I'll never have another desktop at home again. It is so much easier and more convenient to use a computer that is smaller than a yellow pages, about the same weight and can do everything I want from wherever I want. If you do this you'll also need a wireless router, but the convenience of being able to move about the house and garden while still having full conection is great.

 

Dell also have some great laptop deals, and while for the same money the computer won't be quite as fast, who cares? It'll render your internet pages in a flash. If you want games and stuff, you might have to go the desktop way, depending on what kind of graphics card you need.

[Browning GTS]

Get a laptop with built in wireless and then you can lie about on the couch or anywhere you want and you're always connected. I'll never have another desktop at home again. It is so much easier and more convenient to use a computer that is smaller than a yellow pages, about the same weight and can do everything I want from wherever I want. If you do this you'll also need a wireless router, but the convenience of being able to move about the house and garden while still having full conection is great.

 

Dell also have some great laptop deals, and while for the same money the computer won't be quite as fast, who cares? It'll render your internet pages in a flash. If you want games and stuff, you might have to go the desktop way, depending on what kind of graphics card you need.

 

 

I agree i only ever use a laptop on wireless, and so does the misses, you cant beat them.

[plexer]

The sky deal for broadband is only free/cheap if your exchange has been unbundled which basically means companies other than BT can install equipment and provide your phone and boradband services direct. Otherwise they still have to use the bt equipment and pay bt a fee which means you could then only get the £17.99 sky broadband package.

 

Ben