Man computers have changed a lot since i got my last one!

[Mendoza]

Im doing research now to buy a new comp early next year after my tax return (its either a new compy or a PS3 havent decided yet) and ive come to the realzation that my comp is not only old, i think its ancient by today's standards.  It comes from a series Hp released back in 2005

I have a HP dc5100.  It has a pentium 4 3.2Ghz processor 40 GB of hard disk and 1 GB or ram.

I run Windows Xp Pro on it.  My main program use is Office 2003.

Ive been told that an emachine might be a good choice as i wont be doing any pc games or video editing.

The most demanding thing i might do is stream hd video.

Any help or suggestions, either of machines or places to find more info, would be appreciated.

Id like to run windows 7 and probably upgrade to the new office, but other than sufing and storing mp3s and video i dont use the compy for much else.

[marka]

I don't know anything about PCs (I've got a Mac), but I found these review sites. Maybe something here would help?

http://reviews.cnet.com/desktop-computers/

http://www.desktopreview.com/

http://www.galttech.com/research/computer-reviews/best-desktop-computer.php

(The one good thing about being a Mac person is lack of much choice. Of course, it has its downside too.)

Hope you find something good.

[Mendoza]

Thanks for the sites.

I'm looking at this one from tigerdirect.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5472004&CatId=4925

Thoughts?

[Cyborg Rurouni]

I looked at the link you posted, but it appears to either be sold out or discontinued. I've personally heard a lot of bad things about eMachines and as a rule of thumb I discourage others from buying them. Although if you don't plan on playing games on it, it could be a decent rig for your buck.

[Mendoza]

Yeah i have no intrest in PC games, at least not modern ones.

I Have a 360 for the bulk of my gaming and i plan on a PS3 sometime next year as well, so no need.

I have tried to look in stores like best buy and walmart, bu all the pcs seem like so much overkill for me, and the sales people only want to push all in one super rigs on me.

[Mendoza]

Any thoughts on this system?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0031RG38M/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=A3LJ5WMKNRFKQS&v=glance

My only real concerns are the dual core processor being the slowest of the X2 line and the integrated graphics card being good enough to watch HD content on the net.

For a little bit more i could get this one which seems a lot more powerful, but is probably overkill, though cnet gave it the editors choice for best budget pc.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5602486&Sku=G180-0120

[Woraug]

Personally, I'd go for the Gateway.  It's a decent step up from the Acer.  But, if all you're going to be using it for is general web browsing and HD video, I'd think that the Acer would be plenty powerful.

[Mendoza]

Hey just wanted to let you guys know im going to go with the Gateway SX model i listed before.

CNET giving it the best budget pc honor, and the fact that it is expandable for the future put it over for me.

Now i just have to wait for best buy to carry it.

Thanks for the advice.