Cheap computer for garage

[ShooterDK]

Looking for cheap computer for the garage. Either buying used or something like Dell Inspiron 660. Any other suggestions???

[hermosabeach]

What will it be used for in the garage?


If you are somewhat technical - consider looking at one of the display models/ oven box from Frys.

[LightsOut!]

Plenty of options, depending on your needs... computer, as in workstation (desktop) or laptop/notebook?

[ShooterDK]

Just for general (internet\email) use nothing fancy.

[Ninety]

frys had a deal on one for under 300.. should be able to find that all day long.. desktop

[LightsOut!]

Just for general (internet\email) use nothing fancy.

I was going to say, you could go with something portable like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-XE303C12-A01US-Chromebook-Wi-Fi-11-6-Inch/dp/B009LL9VDG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374529963&sr=8-1&keywords=chromebook

Yeah, or just go to Fry's and check'em out in person. You should be able to find something under $300 easily; plus they offer price-matching.

[ShooterDK]

Dell Inspiron 660s is only $299.

[Brianguy]

With a laptop you don't have to worry about buying a monitor, mouse, or keyboard. It's small and you can put it anywhere. Need instructions for something you're working on in the garage? You can move the laptop next to the car, next to your reloading table, or anywhere convenient for fewer interruptions. watching a good movie in the garage and have to take a crap? Hell, you can take the laptop with you!

http://www.frys.com/product/7701348 $268
I would spend a few more bucks for this one which is far superior $330
https://deals.bestbuy.com//computers+amp+tablets3/product/9130065/lenovo++156quot+laptop++4gb+memory++500gb+hard+dri ve

[ShooterDK]

MadMax just sold me his used computer.


/thread

[stilly]

Looking for cheap computer for the garage. Either buying used or something like Dell Inspiron 660. Any other suggestions???

Yeah, put together old technology used parts and build one. Get a barebones setup from newegg or microcenter, or heck, they have LOTS of cheap computers at Microcenter:

Some of these deal you just can not beat.

http://www.microcenter.com/search/search_results.aspx?N=4294967292&NTX=&NTT=&NTK=all&sortby=pricelow

My idea of a garage computer is a wall mounted lcd screen and a small box tucked away with a keyboard that you can either stow or just leave it there.

[stonith3901]

Yeah what he said

With a laptop you don't have to worry about buying a monitor, mouse, or keyboard. It's small and you can put it anywhere. Need instructions for something you're working on in the garage? You can move the laptop next to the car, next to your reloading table, or anywhere convenient for fewer interruptions. watching a good movie in the garage and have to take a crap? Hell, you can take the laptop with you!

http://www.frys.com/product/7701348 $268
I would spend a few more bucks for this one which is far superior $330
https://deals.bestbuy.com//computers+amp+tablets3/product/9130065/lenovo++156quot+laptop++4gb+memory++500gb+hard+dri ve

I agree with this guy. Probably want to just get a netbook or whatever cheap laptop. With the portability, you can take it to the bathroom or your next power outage won't affect the operating system and you can at least do a clean shutdown and properly unmount your filesystems.

Everyone has their opinion and what role they will be using their computers for. For browsing the net and watching some youtube in your garage, seems like wifi and a netbook will be sufficient. Oh and did I mention you can take it to the pooper?

[woods]

If you like Linux there are cheap low-power systems available that can do 1080p on HDMI. You can have a fully functional browser on a really nice ARM cpu and it's a TINY package. The SOC is about the size of a creditcard, but thicker, and the whole thing is about the size of a altoids candy tin. These are great because they can control other devices and are great for garage projects.

http://www.logicsupply.com/products/bblk_kit

Cost about 70$
Add a USB hub 8$, usb keyboard 7$, mouse 10$, wifi $10.95 (if you don't have a cable in your garage)
Hook it up to a good quality 22" 1080p monitor with built in speakers for 120$


Another option is a Google Chrome book http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...pendablecom-20
A tiny laptop with great battery life. It comes with google's Chrome OS which uses the Chrome browser and a Linux kernel. It's cheap.

I hope my 2 cents helped. I myself have a computer near my reloading bench for data and logging.

[AAShooter]

Craigslist . . . many mid-performance pc's for $100 or so.

[vikingm03]

+1 for linux on the garage box. Linux is far better for a "set and forget" computer, as long as you don't need a piece of software that is not available for it. But if you are just needing an internet box then that is not a problem. You don't even need a new computer, any used computer on craigslist from the last decade will do and will be plenty fast.

[bender152]

Cheap/used tablet for ~$200.