We're considering buying an inexpensive desktop computer for the kids to use. It will presumably be a low end, light use computer; other than homework/printing/watching youtube the only other uses would be as a guest computer or a backup for when my husband's work computer is on the fritz (not uncommon). Since this is just an appliance I assume it would be cost effective to buy a PC. Unfortunately as a mac user, all PCs look the same to me. I have no idea what the specs mean, nor do I particularly want to invest much time in learning them. (If I cared, I wouldn't be a mac user, would I?) So I'm not sure what features are worth paying for and which can be safely ignored.
Since I'm starting from scratch, I need a keyboard and monitor as well as whatever antivirus software and security protection people are recommending these days. And I probably need a more recent version of MS office (my PC version runs on XP pro; I assume we're long past this now.) It wouldn't break my heart if it doesn't work for the flashiest and trendiest of video games, I figure that's what the Xbox is for and anyway I'd rather my kids go out and play.
So what price range should I be targeting? What should I be willing to pay for? Is there anyplace I can get everything I need out of the box but still get a good deal?
Source:
http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=103534&p=1502472
