$1,200.00 to spend, what desktop to get?

[Montu]

if you don't want to build the computer find some one that will build it for you for a small fee. it will save you a good amount of money and you end up with something suited specifically for YOU.

Now in days I would probably build a pc and install windows for some one for a few boxes of 45 acp.

[RyanDBurkhart]

You'll thank me later. Every computer that I haven't built myself, I've purchased through VM. They are solid systems, and great for the price.

[hcbr]

being a PC guy my entire life, i've switched my entire household to Mac, do it, you won't regret it.

[226Rfan]

being a PC guy my entire life, i've switched my entire household to Mac, do it, you won't regret it.

i did, and now recently just bought a dell.

bought a dell vostro 460 mini tower +21.5" Dell U2211H Monitor for $620

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?sduid=0&t=3134404

then installed a EVGA GeForce GTX 460 for $100

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3185751

(sold the photoshop for $60, so i only spent $40)

+G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 16GB for $90

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3185479

and a 700 corsair power supply for $50 at bestbuy on sale.

[UBFRAGD]

I bought a HP Elite HPE-500Y, it is a great computer for what, $800-900? Six-core and dual-monitor capable out of the box.

[bartt]

Appreciate the input from all.

Not interested in building a PC since I have no experience with doing so and I would not know what to look for.

If all I am looking for is a solid platform to surf the web, upload music and video, edit photo and video and upload music would the base iMac ($1,195.00) 21.5'' model be enough? Someone mentioned that with my price range I would be looking at a low end Imac. For $200.00 more I get a 1tb hard drive compared to a 500gb & the Processor jumps from a 2.5 to a 2.7, don't think I would need the upgrade, right?

Building a PC is really easy. There are tutorials all over the place. Check out MaximumPC.com for the latest in hardware and they usually have a couple of build projects that you could copy to get a really nice system.
Once you start building PC's you'll never buy one..
You really should give it a try.
Here is one article where they build a PC for $340 http://www.maximumpc.com/article/fea...tra-budget_box
HTH..

[dctex99]

Same here

Get a HP or Dell with 8Gb of ram, and a godd graphics card. Spend the left over money on gun stuff :-)

Bought a 8Gig, 1.5TB HP last weekend at Office Depot for $499...already had a big display....HATE macs...my boss always had those overpriceed toys..

[orangeglo]

I build my own. I always will.

This is my next build:
Intel Core i7-2600K - 315
GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 - 160
CORSAIR Enthusiast Series CMPSU-850TX 850W - 135
Crucial RealSSD C300 - 250
EVGA 012-P3-1571-KR GeForce GTX 570 HD - 320
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB - 70
Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB - 80

Extras:
ASUS DRW-24B1ST - 20
Antec Three Hundred case - 60

It costs a little more than 1200, and it will massacre anything listed in this thread.

For what you are wanting to do, this is total overkill. But, it does give a good baseline for a high end system.

[ejhc11]

For $1200 you can have three PCs or one Mac. If you really intend on spending all the $1200 then get a Mac, or spend $500 on a PC and save the rest for shopping at Calguns....

For PC, a Dell is decent, get their Vostro line, not a lot of advertising crap on the system. I have one works good since 2007, had to replace the WD hard disk though, but their warranty is easy no need to run a diagnostic and wait for a code....

I was reading that Seagate has a hidden charge when you send in their hard disk for warranty ~$26 plus tax, can anyone verify? They have long warranties but if that costs money then its a little extreme.

Check here for deals - look under desktop

http://www.techbargains.com/?r=1

[bg]

Just remember that HP is trying to move their computer dept
and go with software only.

[Jsapata]

In my experience I've always been able to build a desktop ( mid to high end) far cheaper than I could buy something pre-built with similar specs. The only reason I might spend the same amount to build va buy is because of component upgrades.

On the low end it's probably better to buy pre-built but $1200 moves you into build territory IMO.

Watch a couple YouTube vids if you have never done it before. You can probably find suggested mid range builds on tomshardware or anandtech. But it has been a while since I've used either.

[Wallabing]

If you dont game on the pc (i.e video card), then you can build an extremly fast Core i7 + 4gb ram pc for $500.

Hard drive space is the sky as you can add hard drives in a home build pc easily.

[Rouge Recon]

The only reason you would need a desktop these days is if your looking to upgrade it down the line or are a serious gamer/enthusiast. But for $1200 you can easily buy a Windows based laptop that'll last you 6 years. I have used HP my whole life but recently picked up two Dells/Alienwares. Get a 17 inch laptop with a quad core i7 + SSD. That's all you'll need. I have recommendations if you decide to go with a laptop.

[jak77]

All these answers are fail.

For what you need, buy a pc for $500, than spend the $700 on a gun. Am I seriously the first one to mention this!? Dissappointed in my fellow calgunners...

[high_lander]

As an IT Pro, I use and support both. I would go with the iMac. For the needs you just stated, the software that comes with the Mac would fulfill your needs. Give it a try, you'll prolly like it.