Could build a decent desktop for that money and not that hard to do, plenty of guides and YouTube videos out there. I stripped my old tower and built a decent machine for around £400-500 but depends how powerful u want it. For sims/championship manager you don't need a massive graphics card and can pick up some bargains on eBay. Plenty of eBay companies too that make custom computers if you don't want to do the work yourself that are not badly priced.
I'm a web designer/developer. My home iMac is still super-quick after 4 years - one of the reasons they are they only machines we buy at our company. You won't find a PC that will last you more than a couple - all the ones we use for testing at work just slow down and eventually become tedious and unusable.
@daveydanger do you think I could get a decent Mac for my budget? And would they be ok in terms of the gaming side of things?
@Leaburns Daddy I would need a lot of research as I literally no nothing about computers!
Probably not for £650, but as mentioned, you are getting something that will last longer and is (in my opinion) much nicer to use.
It can be really worth checking out the Apple reconditioned products page - they have some good stuff on there and I think it gets the same warranty as brand new items.
I'm a web designer/developer. My home iMac is still super-quick after 4 years - one of the reasons they are they only machines we buy at our company. You won't find a PC that will last you more than a couple - all the ones we use for testing at work just slow down and eventually become tedious and unusable.
The extra money is a pretty sound investment imo.
If you buy a a pc with low end components i agree. If you buy a pc with a decent processor at least 8gb ram and an ssd that will last a a good few years. You can buy all the components a mac has and put them together yourself for a lot less. My pc is 4 years old and hasn't slowed down at all because it has an i7 and 16gn ram and an ssd.
Agree with SamB09. A decent PC, like an HP Workstation will run rings round a Mac. PCs are easy to mess up for a general user, this has improved a lot in Windows 10 where Microsoft has taken a more Apple approach to update and OS management.
(I oversee over 270 Macs and around 80 Windows)
Just to add. The Mac OS is easier for a general user.
How can anyone say a Mac will last longer than a windows PC? It is the exact same components with a different OS installed! In fact with macs you often pay double the price and get a bunch of laptop components disguised as a desktop.
The only reason the myth that macs last longer exists is because most people pay north of £1000 for a Mac whilst most desktop PCs cost £400-500.
Agree with SamB09. A decent PC, like an HP Workstation will run rings round a Mac. PCs are easy to mess up for a general user, this has improved a lot in Windows 10 where Microsoft has taken a more Apple approach to update and OS management.
(I oversee over 270 Macs and around 80 Windows)
Just to add. The Mac OS is easier for a general user.
Unless you're used to Windows then Capitan is a right bastard.
How can anyone say a Mac will last longer than a windows PC? It is the exact same components with a different OS installed! In fact with macs you often pay double the price and get a bunch of laptop components disguised as a desktop.
The only reason the myth that macs last longer exists is because most people pay north of £1000 for a Mac whilst most desktop PCs cost £400-500.
My Dell PC is ten years old and still going strong.... Well, sure, I've bunged in a larger drive, upgraded the RAM (the old stuff didn't die just didn't have the capacity I needed anymore) and the OS has been Linux for a few years now and not Windows XP. So I think I've got value for money out of it. The downside has been the integrated graphics card - do they still do that? When it dies, I'll probably buy something like a Zoostorm off Ebuyer without an OS and stick with Linux. But I'm not really using my desktop for games.
How can anyone say a Mac will last longer than a windows PC? It is the exact same components with a different OS installed! In fact with macs you often pay double the price and get a bunch of laptop components disguised as a desktop.
The only reason the myth that macs last longer exists is because most people pay north of £1000 for a Mac whilst most desktop PCs cost £400-500.
This is exactly what I used to say before switching to Mac.
I'm not going to build a computer, run Linux etc, I just want something that works beautifully out of the box. Having owned both expensive macs and PCs - I can say that the OS, lifespan, components, security, font-rendering, integration with my iPhone, etc mean I will never buy another PC.
How can anyone say a Mac will last longer than a windows PC? It is the exact same components with a different OS installed! In fact with macs you often pay double the price and get a bunch of laptop components disguised as a desktop.
The only reason the myth that macs last longer exists is because most people pay north of £1000 for a Mac whilst most desktop PCs cost £400-500.
This is exactly what I used to say before switching to Mac.
I'm not going to build a computer, run Linux etc, I just want something that works beautifully out of the box. Having owned both expensive macs and PCs - I can say that the OS, lifespan, components, security, font-rendering, integration with my iPhone, etc mean I will never buy another PC.
The new iMac costs £900 and comes with a 5400rpm spinning HDD (so takes us back to the days where you turn on your PC, make a cup of tea and come back), a laptop CPU and integrated graphics.
It represents the worst value computer money can buy. People are telling me that such a machine "works brilliantly out of the box", yet a windows PC with a desktop i3 CPU, a dedicated graphics card and a 512gb SSD at ~£500 will be slower in ten years?
Don't make me laugh. They're good at advertising, but come on...
The new iMac costs £900 and comes with a 5400rpm spinning HDD (so takes us back to the days where you turn on your PC, make a cup of tea and come back), a laptop CPU and integrated graphics.
It represents the worst value computer money can buy. People are telling me that such a machine "works brilliantly out of the box", yet a windows PC with a desktop i3 CPU, a dedicated graphics card and a 512gb SSD at ~£500 will be slower in ten years?
Don't make me laugh. They're good at advertising, but come on...
Yep, I used to say exactly this kind of stuff to Mac users. Anyway, enjoy your PC. :-)
The new iMac costs £900 and comes with a 5400rpm spinning HDD (so takes us back to the days where you turn on your PC, make a cup of tea and come back), a laptop CPU and integrated graphics.
It represents the worst value computer money can buy. People are telling me that such a machine "works brilliantly out of the box", yet a windows PC with a desktop i3 CPU, a dedicated graphics card and a 512gb SSD at ~£500 will be slower in ten years?
Don't make me laugh. They're good at advertising, but come on...
Yep, I used to say exactly this kind of stuff to Mac users. Anyway, enjoy your PC. :-)
If you are feeling flush and want something that is difficult to mess up by installing loads of crap and viruses then get a Mac. Be warned though that as Macs get more popular so does the billion pound business of zero day hacks and root kits for them. I know of 5 businesses that have been victim of crypto via angler exploits on a Mac. Get antivirus for it, don't believe the hype.
If on the other hand you know what you are doing with a Windows box then get a Windows PC or Laptop. Much better value and Windows 10 has significantly improved on the looking after its OS front by making it harder to mess up.
If you are feeling flush and know how to use a Windows box, go to PCspecialist and blow the above away.
Don't listen to Apple fanboys either, I look after hundreds of Macs and lots of Windows machines. It really comes down to budget and user case.
To add context, I have a Mac Air and a PC specialist laptop. Mac is for meetings and coding, PC is for serious work. I bought my parents a Mac as they are old.
Also, Apple will firmware lock some older models from installing the latest OS, it just won't be compatible. Google recently announced it will not support Chrome updates pre 10.7 and soon to be 10.8. Expect to be upgrading your Mac hardware more often than before.
You build it yourself using components you choose. You can gonas high end as you want depending on budget. Or theres websites like overclockers uk that will build a pc to your spec, good service as well.
The build quality is very good. I have a 14" one that was bought around 6 months ago. I'll look up the spec list tomorrow when I'm back in the office, it's pretty much maxed out.
I had one previously for 3 years that was 15" which we now use in the TV studio, still does an excellent job and the IPS screen is still ghost / pixel free. We have about 8 in the company and one was sent back for a failed network component, was replaced quickly with postage covered. From my own experience they are excellent and the components used are top quality.
The build quality is very good. I have a 14" one that was bought around 6 months ago. I'll look up the spec list tomorrow when I'm back in the office, it's pretty much maxed out.
I had one previously for 3 years that was 15" which we now use in the TV studio, still does an excellent job and the IPS screen is still ghost / pixel free. We have about 8 in the company and one was sent back for a failed network component, was replaced quickly with postage covered. From my own experience they are excellent and the components used are top quality.
Thanks for such a speedy reply.
Good to know that you have a machine 3 years old doing an excellent job. The ISP screen particularly appeals to me.
Really looking for assurance that the laptop won't fall apart or unceremoniously die on me, after a year or so.
Comments
Can anyone advise me on a laptop/Mac/desktop please?
Budget is around £400-£650.. I need to for running a website, gaming and normal internet stuff etc...?
The extra money is a pretty sound investment imo.
@Leaburns Daddy I would need a lot of research as I literally no nothing about computers!
It can be really worth checking out the Apple reconditioned products page - they have some good stuff on there and I think it gets the same warranty as brand new items.
http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/mac
(I oversee over 270 Macs and around 80 Windows)
Just to add. The Mac OS is easier for a general user.
The only reason the myth that macs last longer exists is because most people pay north of £1000 for a Mac whilst most desktop PCs cost £400-500.
Well, sure, I've bunged in a larger drive, upgraded the RAM (the old stuff didn't die just didn't have the capacity I needed anymore) and the OS has been Linux for a few years now and not Windows XP. So I think I've got value for money out of it.
The downside has been the integrated graphics card - do they still do that?
When it dies, I'll probably buy something like a Zoostorm off Ebuyer without an OS and stick with Linux. But I'm not really using my desktop for games.
This is exactly what I used to say before switching to Mac.
I'm not going to build a computer, run Linux etc, I just want something that works beautifully out of the box. Having owned both expensive macs and PCs - I can say that the OS, lifespan, components, security, font-rendering, integration with my iPhone, etc mean I will never buy another PC.
But, each to their own. :-)
The new iMac costs £900 and comes with a 5400rpm spinning HDD (so takes us back to the days where you turn on your PC, make a cup of tea and come back), a laptop CPU and integrated graphics.
It represents the worst value computer money can buy. People are telling me that such a machine "works brilliantly out of the box", yet a windows PC with a desktop i3 CPU, a dedicated graphics card and a 512gb SSD at ~£500 will be slower in ten years?
Don't make me laugh. They're good at advertising, but come on...
Search on there for an i5 with 16gb of RAM and there's a few under £500.
For what you're describing look for an i5 processor, an SSD and 8gb ram will be more than enough.
Would ignore what @daveydanger, anyone that thinks you won't find a pc that will last for more than 2 years clearly doesn't have much of a clue.
Macs do have their benefits but for what you're after you will get far more for your money going down the PC route.
If you are feeling flush and want something that is difficult to mess up by installing loads of crap and viruses then get a Mac. Be warned though that as Macs get more popular so does the billion pound business of zero day hacks and root kits for them. I know of 5 businesses that have been victim of crypto via angler exploits on a Mac. Get antivirus for it, don't believe the hype.
If on the other hand you know what you are doing with a Windows box then get a Windows PC or Laptop. Much better value and Windows 10 has significantly improved on the looking after its OS front by making it harder to mess up.
If you are feeling flush and know how to use a Windows box, go to PCspecialist and blow the above away.
Don't listen to Apple fanboys either, I look after hundreds of Macs and lots of Windows machines. It really comes down to budget and user case.
To add context, I have a Mac Air and a PC specialist laptop. Mac is for meetings and coding, PC is for serious work. I bought my parents a Mac as they are old.
Also, Apple will firmware lock some older models from installing the latest OS, it just won't be compatible. Google recently announced it will not support Chrome updates pre 10.7 and soon to be 10.8. Expect to be upgrading your Mac hardware more often than before.
I know they use Clevo 'barebones' models and put together a laptop to your own specifications.
But I've never seen one in the flesh.
And which model is your laptop?
Thoughts, etc please?
I had one previously for 3 years that was 15" which we now use in the TV studio, still does an excellent job and the IPS screen is still ghost / pixel free. We have about 8 in the company and one was sent back for a failed network component, was replaced quickly with postage covered. From my own experience they are excellent and the components used are top quality.
Good to know that you have a machine 3 years old doing an excellent job.
The ISP screen particularly appeals to me.
Really looking for assurance that the laptop won't fall apart or unceremoniously die on me, after a year or so.
I popped into a local independent computer place and he quoted me this;
Generation Intel Pentium dual core processor
4 GB ddr3 ram
a 1 TB hard drive and a copy of windows home 64bit either 7,
8.1 or 10 start from £475 inc vat. He mentioned Microsoft office would be around £120.
Considering I know nothing about computers is that good value?