Sick computer

[PossumGirl]

My computer (a Toshiba only a year old!!!), decided this morning that

it no longer has a hard drive.  I played with it for a bit,

opening it up and looking around, cleaning it up, etc., but it was

clear that this was something requiring some spare parts.  So, it

is now in the computer hospital, hopefully totally repairable.

However, if that turns out not to be the case, what places have you all

found that have the best prices on new computers?  Anyone bought

in Andorre?  And what have your experiences been with that.

Thanks,

PG

[Dick Smith]

If it has to be a PC (ugh) then I would recommend Dell for price and ease of ordering. Just watch out for DOAs, and the build quality can be a bit iffy (slightly cheap cases at the lower price mark).

I got a new Dell at work last week and it actually worked straight out of the box.

[PossumGirl]

Yes, I've thought about Dell. I've heard both good and bad.  One

thing I found out today is that you can order them with an English

operating system and an American keyboard, even here in France. 

I'm a touch typist and don't want to have to learn a new keyboard. Even

the UK keyboard is different from the US one.

PG

[Viv]

Apologies for slightly diverting topic( only be a minute I promise)

My monitor keeps conking out for no apparent reason, but computer is ok-ish but needs updating when I can afford it! Is it cost effective to just buy a new monitor and if so where from ?

[Dick Smith]

I hate to say this as a dedicated (obsessional?) Mac user, but the Dell deals include flatscreens, and going by the one I got, they aren't at all bad.

[peebee]

Hi PG,  I bought a Dell PC the week before Christmas, it was a reasonable price and was delivered within 48 hours of placing the order.  I  had it out of the box and working within about 20 minutes.  I have even had two phone calls from them asking if all was o.k.  On the whole I have been very happy with the purchase and service received.

[ChezShells]

[quote user="viva"]

Apologies for slightly diverting topic( only be a minute I promise)

My monitor keeps conking out for no apparent reason, but computer is ok-ish but needs updating when I can afford it! Is it cost effective to just buy a new monitor and if so where from ?

[/quote]

Maybe ebay.fr or ive bought new from rueducommerce.com and have a look in the soldes

L'Eclerc sell decent flat screen lcds for about 150euros

 

 

[ChezShells]

[quote user="PossumGirl"]My computer (a Toshiba only a year old!!!), decided this morning that it no longer has a hard drive.  I played with it for a bit, opening it up and looking around, cleaning it up, etc., but it was clear that this was something requiring some spare parts.  So, it is now in the computer hospital, hopefully totally repairable.

However, if that turns out not to be the case, what places have you all found that have the best prices on new computers?  Anyone bought in Andorre?  And what have your experiences been with that.

Thanks,
PG

[/quote]

A year old!!! get it fixed or is it being already.

Is it a laptop? maybe the bios has lost its settings (bad battery) if you know how have a look and try and find the hard drive.

We bought a laptop last year in sale and got 300 euros off on the last one.

 

 

[PossumGirl]

[quote user="viva"]

Apologies for slightly diverting topic( only be a minute I promise)

My monitor keeps conking out for no apparent reason, but computer is

ok-ish but needs updating when I can afford it! Is it cost effective to

just buy a new monitor and if so where from ?

[/quote]

I would say that you should invest in a nice flat screen monitor. 

Even if you buy a new computer eventually, the monitor will still be

good.  As to where, well, I'm deciding on that myself!

PG

[PossumGirl]

[quote user="Dicksmith"]I hate to say this as a dedicated

(obsessional?) Mac user, but the Dell deals include flatscreens, and

going by the one I got, they aren't at all bad.[/quote]

I'm not against the idea of a Mac, but we've been on PCs for a long,

long time and all of our stuff is on them. I just hesitate to switch

over in case of incompatibility issues.

That said, glad to hear the good review of the Dell.

PG

[PossumGirl]

[quote user="peebee"]Hi PG,  I bought a Dell PC the week before

Christmas, it was a reasonable price and was delivered within 48 hours

of placing the order.  I  had it out of the box and working

within about 20 minutes.  I have even had two phone calls

from them asking if all was o.k.  On the whole I have been very

happy with the purchase and service received.[/quote]

Thanks.  I'm pleased to know that the service is good as well. Always a big issue anywhere.

PG

[PossumGirl]

[quote user="Chezshells"]

A year old!!! get it fixed or is it being already.

Is it a laptop? maybe the bios has lost its settings (bad battery) if you know how have a look and try and find the hard drive.

We bought a laptop last year in sale and got 300 euros off on the last one.

 

 

[/quote]

I am hoping to have it fixed.  I'm pretty sure that it's a

mechanical issue with the hard drive from the way the problem plays

out.  It is a laptop and I know where the drive is, but I was

unable to get it out myself.  I was going to take the drive out

and try to blow some air in it to clean it.  I"m pretty sure that

a combination of construction dust and Border Collie hair have gotten

in through the keyboard and caused the problem. You can tell that all

the data is still intact, and that it's just a mechanical problem.

PG

[Clarkkent]

That said, glad to hear the good review of the Dell.

My own experience of Dell is somewhat mixed. Yes, it did work straight out of the box - but then so did HP and Acer machines I have bought.

I ordered it direct from Dell. They promised 14 day delivery. Over the next two days I  tracked its progress on the internet from a warehouse in south west Ireland, to Dublin, across the Irish Sea to a warehouse in Coventry - about 30 miles from where I live. There it sat for 12 days. They promised 14 day delivery and that's what I got. The other machines were bought from dabs.com and were delivered the next day. Of the three, I prefer the HP.

[Dick Smith]

I've heard horror stories from the States about Dell DOAs, but in my experience and that of a friend who swears by them, they have been OK. He did get sent 2 free printers he didn't want, though.

As for Mac compatibility you can do everything bar Microsoft Access and some games, but you may have to buy new office software - which can be done cheaply if you can show some educational activity.

The new Intel iMac is a wonderful machine, but still in short supply - my son works for Apple and he has been waiting two weeks for his.

http://www.apple.com/uk/imac/

Much better spec, but a lot more expensive than a basic Dell, about £30 more than an equivalent spec (but includes built-in webcam and software and much more software, such as iLife, iTunes, iPhoto etc.) and much, much better looking with a smaller desk footprint.

[PossumGirl]

[quote user="Dicksmith"]

The new Intel iMac is a wonderful machine, but still in short supply -

my son works for Apple and he has been waiting two weeks for his.

http://www.apple.com/uk/imac/

Much better spec, but a lot more expensive than a basic Dell, about £30

more than an equivalent spec (but includes built-in webcam and software

and much more software, such as iLife, iTunes, iPhoto etc.) and much,

much better looking with a smaller desk footprint.[/quote]

Okay, the ugly truth is that if were just ME, I probably would switch

to a Mac, although, that being said, I really know my way around

Windoze.  Still, DH does NOT like change in the computer

area.  He gets that kind of "deer in the headlights" look when I

mention such things to him.  When I was taking my laptop apart

yesterday, I told him to leave the room, because he looks so nervous

about it all.

PG

[David_Janet]

Did any one who has recently bought a Dell, have it delivered to france? (What were the charges)

Is it best to order online, or by telephone?

(I know I can order through dell.fr, but I want to have english language software and instructions, and be able to talk to a technical bod in my own language should there be any problems)

Thanks for any info

David

[Viv]

Decided not to buy a new monitor but opted for a laptop from Carrefour instead  as seemed more sensible in the long run. It is an EMAX cost 599 euros and though I am struggling a bit with the french layout keyboard, I am dead chuffed with it.