Inexpensive but decent computer?

[eternallytired]

So we're at the point where we would really like another computer.  I almost cringe to admit this, since we have a laptop (mine) and a desktop (DH's), but when three kids are trying to practice typing or do some other computer-based learning, the day can drag on (even when I try to stagger usage, someone inevitably takes longer and leaves everyone else waiting around--and everyone prefers the desktop for size/not bumping the touchpad).  Besides, DH is a computer gamer who loves to play with the kids (Terraria, right now), so he wouldn't mind another PC for multi-player.  BUT we're not exactly rolling in money over here.  We don't want a computer that's a junker, but we also don't want to spend a lot.  Does anyone have any recommendations for something that has decent specs at a reasonable price, or is our best bet going to be building our own?  (And if the latter, how beefy does it actually need to be?  DH tends to over-build...)

 

ETA - Mostly looking for desktop recommendations.  The kids continually bump the trackpad when they type on my laptop, which is unendingly frustrating for them (and, consequently, me).  And DH hates laptops.  (I like them quite well, but since we have a dedicated office space and the desktop works better for DH/kids, it makes sense to go the desktop route.)

Edited August 18, 2017 by eternallytired

[happypamama]

I'm a fan of my Dell Latitude e6410 laptop. It runs $100-140 on eBay. I did add a bigger hard drive and more RAM, but the i5 processor works fine for my needs. It had a fresh install of Win 7, but when I got a second and third identical machine for my older kids, one of them came with Win 10. They have been great for OneNote,

Word processing, internet surfing. I don't play a lot of games.

[Angie in VA]

I'm a fan of my Dell Latitude e6410 laptop. It runs $100-140 on eBay. I did add a bigger hard drive and more RAM, but the i5 processor works fine for my needs. It had a fresh install of Win 7, but when I got a second and third identical machine for my older kids, one of them came with Win 10. They have been great for OneNote,

Word processing, internet surfing. I don't play a lot of games.

 

 

Do you mind sending me a PM w/ info on an ebay seller you've had success with? 

[Homebody2]

I absolutely love our Chromebook. You can't load any software because it is web based, but that's what makes it great. It turns on and is all ready to use within seconds. There are several different models at varying prices.

[macmacmoo]

We had a desktop and when I went to set it up for the kids it was so old that it ran so painfully slow.

So we had to get something new or atleast with a current operating system. DH wanted to get something grand and over the top, but I looked at our needs and they were few and simple.

 

Be able for the kids to Internet based things like nessy and starfall and othe homeschool type things during the week. And on the weeks be able for the kids to play the minecraft and terreria and other games. Nothing graphic intensive nothing latest and greatest.

 

Figured if the kids ever needed something more they would be old enough to express their needs and even do the reasearch and find the something better, but I think that a few years off.

 

Being we had all the accessories for a laptop ( keyboard, mouse, and monitor) I went with this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AZC4NHS/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A intel computer stick. Plug into into an hdmi monitor and plug in a mouse and keyboard, get it power, and turn it on.

 

Set up was a breeze, though took awhile for all the window updates to download. We've been using it since July and I'm very pleased with it.

[Lanny]

<snip>

 

ETA - Mostly looking for desktop recommendations.  The kids continually bump the trackpad when they type on my laptop, which is unendingly frustrating for them (and, consequently, me).  And DH hates laptops.  (I like them quite well, but since we have a dedicated office space and the desktop works better for DH/kids, it makes sense to go the desktop route.)

 

You are interested in Desktops, but this should apply. 2 or 3 years ago, we bought our first laptops, Refurbished, with a one year warranty on everything but the batteries, and a Fresh, Legal version of MS Windows, from Blair Technology Group in KY (near Cincinnati).  Excellent experiences.  I think now the warranty may be only for 30 days, but that for $5 you can extend it to one year, which I would pay for, without thinking about the 5 dollars extra more than 2 seconds.  Blair is a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher.

 

We had very minor issues with 2 of them (dead battery when one arrived and the DVD Burner in another machine had issues (couldn't boot from DVD drive) about 2 months after we received it.  On the DVD Burner, on a Sunday afternoon, I sent an email to their Support describing what was happening.  On Monday afternoon, I received an email asking for our Shipping Address, so they could send a replacement DVD drive to us. Those were Dell Latitude E6400 laptops.  Their URL is blairtg.com  

http://www.blairtg.com/

 

They also have Desktop units.

 

Since then, I've won 3 used/incomplete Dell Laptops from an eBay Seller in PA, I'm using one of them as I type this, but that may involve time/work that you do not want to do. Those are more recent models with more recent technology.

 

NOTE: If you can get a machine with 8 GB of RAM, or the ability to handle 8GB of RAM, that will be faster. You will need a 64 bit version of the OS (Operating System) to address more than 4 GB of RAM.