What do you expect a home computer to be able to do? Also, a computer recommendation thread.

I'm currently looking for a new home computer.

I want to be able to send emails, word process and browse the internet (including watching Youtube clips without them freezing). I'm guessing I could do this on a £350.00 computer.

I'd also like to store/manage some music files and photographs which might suggest it's worth spending a bit more.

I like the idea of Apple's Time Machine device (which, if I'm right, automatically backs up a machine every hour) but I'm not sure I can justify the expense of an Apple computer.

I've also got a vague idea that a computer in 2013 should be doing lots of exciting things, although I'm not exactly sure what - perhaps linking to the TV or something.

Anyway, what should I expect a computer to be able to do? How much is "reasonable" to spend? And do you have any specific recommendations?

I'm not a expert but I think most reasonably low-cost PCs should be fine for most multimedia stuff these days. Anything with an HDMI port should probably work with most new TVs.

I have a quad-core Lenovo with an OK graphics card because I play games but their entry level stuff might be worth a look if you don't.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lenovo-VE74AUK-Ultra-Factor-Desktop/dp/B00AXYAXU0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365182916&sr=8-1&keywords=lenovo+pc

I guess it feels weird to be [thinking about] buying a computer that doesn't seem that different from the one I bought seven years ago (albeit that it is cheaper now).

Does anyone use their computer for anything other than word processing/email/internet surfing/games/music&photo storage?

i use mine to watch stuff on my tv via hdmi

i sometimes get the feeling i should be doing this wirelessly or through a network or windows media centre or some shit but rly i mean

I use mine to make a living (DTP/print/prepress).

Is there any reason to spend more than £500 given my criteria?

Any more thoughts?

Is there any reason to not just do all of that with an iPad or similar?

At home we have an iPad, an iMac, and a MacBook Air, and the iMadc just simply doesn't get used these days - about the only time I go and sit at the desk where it is, is to rip CDs. We're seriously thinking of clearing it, selling it, buying an external DVD drive to attach to the MacBook Air via USB.

Unless you've got massively specialist software requirements (like 3D design or serious photo and video editing or music making or whatever), I think a desktop PC or full-size laptop is crazy these days. it certainly is for how we live. The iPad is my main web-browser, and the MacBook Air is my sit-at-the-dining-table-and-write machine.

windows 8 has a thing like time machine only rubbish

if you already have a monitor etc you may want to look at a mac mini, buy w/education discount and it'd be less than £500

otherwise dont buy anything with celeron or pentium processors in even if it looks a good deal

http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobile-technology/office-the-ipad-better-still-not-good-enough-212147

Office on the iPad is better but still not good enough
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is fooling himself when saying iOS version of Office isn't needed, thanks to Office Web Apps

Just asking, whether you all agree or disagree or whatever, about this aspect

"dont buy anything with celeron or pentium processors in even if it looks a good deal"

How come?

Part of the rationale behind not buying a laptop is to limit RSI damage.

Also, I will end up leaving a laptop in a caff ...

Scik Mouthy - I think I missed it from my criteria but being able to burn CDs is important as is being able to touch type on a decent keyboard.

But, yeah, part of the question is really ... yeah, I'm uncertain about the "traditional" home computer sat in the corner as mine is ... and a vague idea that a new computer should be doing something different to the one I bought seven years ago.

The only thing I do that might require a processor more powerful than a Celeron is to manipulate HD home video. As tablets and netbooks prove, web access and watching youtube quality video are well within the range of most low-end processors. Same goes for word processing, photo editing, and similar activites. Unless you're compiling massive programs, you can even do most programming jobs with a Celeron. It also depends partly on how much you task-switch and multitask.

hmmmmmm. what to do

No, I couldn't make a decision either ...

Still haven't made a decision but the cd drive is now completely broken so will need to buy a new computer soon (to make cd-r compilations) ...

The trouble with laptops is that it's so hard to drop in new components. On a desktop that's about a $35 replacement.

Yeah ... sticking to a desktop ... partly due to the amount of wine and coffee that ends up on/in my keyboard. My computer needs replacing for other reasons but not being able to burn CDs is the final straw ... Wouldn't be worth spending any money on it.

Any thoughts on this?

http://www.johnlewis.com/hp-pavilion-23-b115ea-aio-pc-intel-pentium-2-9ghz-4gb-ram-1tb-23-black/p231820484

Those all-in-one desktop PCs often use laptop components, so you'd have problems upgrading/fixing it later.

You mean when I spill wine on it?*

*will happen.

That's a standard mouse and keyboard, so if they do stop working they'll be cheap to replace. But replacing any other component of that PC is going to involve a complicated dismantling job and then a search for a relatively more expensive part compared to a regular desktop PC. As an example, if the DVD drive in my desktop machine (it's a standard beige box) breaks, that's going to take about £20 in parts and about two minutes to replace. If the DVD drive in my laptop breaks (remembering that the HP all-in-one uses laptop parts so it's a good comparison for time/cost) it's going to be about £60 in parts and maybe half an hour if it's not too much of a pain to take apart.

Thanks. Wise.

I guess my current computer feels clunky and big and I have a vague hope of buying something neater (though there's no reason why I couldn't just put the computer on the floor out of the way).