Need new computer

[asiancivicmaniac]

I was careless enough to place my laptop on the edge of my bed and it fell over. It boots up, but something went wrong with the screen and all I see is black with shadows of images. It's three years old and a cheap Acer WM special so it's not worth fixing.

Right now my plan is to get a good durable desktop for my main computer and a netbook for the rare times that I need to have a computer with me while studying or going home for the weekend. Tired of the short life and large size of normal notebooks.

Right now I have the 21.5" iMac on the top of my list for a desktop and this Lenovo S10-3 for a netbook (saw a refurb on Lenovo outlet for ~$250). An also the Acer Aspire One AOD255 .

What do the tech savvy think? I've used Windows without many problems since Windows 98 (with exception of Vista) and actually like W7, but I'm tired with what is involved with keeping it running right (ie. constant updates, anti-spyware, antivirus, firewall, etc). So I'm 85% set on the iMac. I mainly use the computer to go online, do photo editing, listen to music, type lab reports and papers, watch Hulu, and the occasional DVD. No gaming. The netbook just needs to be cheap and be able to go online, word process, and run Powerpoint. Also, will loading Linux on a netbook make it faster than Windows? I'm borrowing my sister's Asus EEE PC with an Intel Atom N270 running W7 Pro right now and watching Hulu sucks on it and loading webpages takes a little longer than I'm used to.

Helpful suggestions are appreciated and please don't turn this into Windows vs Apple.

 

[rick9009]

Does the broken laptop have a monitor out? My dog broke the screen on my old laptop and it's now a desktop.

 

[JustinH]

You can probably buy a lcd panel and put it in the laptop, or you can sell the laptop as is on ebay.

In most cases they aren't worth fixing, seeing as a new laptop is 300 dollars for a low end asus/acer from best buy.

The netbooks haven't been fast enough for me to want one. I bought my girlfriend a acer full laptop for $330 and it has been fine.

Single core amd cpu, 4gb ram, 15.6 display, etc..

Very good for everything she can throw at it (college student)..

 

[AuthorEditor]

I'm a big fan of Apple, and I owned various products of theirs for many years but now I prefer going the PC route because I can use so many free and useful applications that aren't available for Apples. Sure, you can run Boot Camp or find some other program that runs on Apples, but it is always more hassle, or expensive, or slower, or something. Also, you can just buy something off the shelf in any Target or WalMart when you need it. My son just built himself a desktop from components, and I think that's the way I'll go next time I need an upgrade. It will be a lot more rugged in the first place, and then easy to fix when something goes wrong.

 

[bepperb]

I don't think you'll enjoy typing a paper or doing much besides watching a movie on the 10.1 screen. At least a 12" screen, though I'd prefer a cheap 14" or 13.3" notebook.

I like the idea of buying a monitor for what was a notebook.

 

[wavinwayne]

Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
...Right now I have the 21.5" iMac on the top of my list for a desktop and this Lenovo S10-3 for a netbook (saw a refurb on Lenovo outlet for ~$250)...


As a Mac and Windows user, I think you will love the iMac, should you decide to go that route; you can even run Windows on the iMac if you ever need to. If it were me, I would buy the iMac, and skip the netbook in favor of something with a 13" screen. Tigerdirect has some very good deals on several 13-14" laptops at the moment.