Okay, so I'm very old school. I'm not a computer guy, I'm not down with the lingo, the bits, the mega's, all that computer talk stuff so please be kind with any recommendations of what I should be looking for once I explain what my computer needs are.
Basically I have been using a Windows xp Dell XPS 400, made in 2003. Intel Pentium 4cpu 3.20ghz 2gb of Ram. Upload :: 4.9 Mbps-Download :: 11.5 Mbps. (copy and pasted )
It has lasted this long without any major issues. The dvd cd thing doesn't work anymore. Which I never used that often. But I'm ready for an upgrade. My actual main issue I'm having is I can never watch anything on hbo.go, showtime anytime, starz online, as they only show things in hd, and I have all these subscriptions through my cable company that I can't ever watch online. Well I can actually watch it, but the audio, and action are out of sync, and it buffers. With netflix ( thank god) I can choose the option for standard and have no issue. All standard videos are fine, no issue. But I don't like being so limited with what I can and can't watch. I have dealt with it long enough and I think it's time to ' let it go'
So I'm out of the loop, and not sure what I should be looking for, what speeds of what I should be wanting, what good companies are etc. Mind you for normal computer desktop usage. Reading websites, youtube, downloading music on itunes ( I have over 2000 songs and counting) watching shows, writing ( I don't really need any fancy writing software, notepad does me right lol). The normal browsing the web type stuff, basics.
Another limit on my wants is I need to purchase a refurbished computer, probably through amazon.com because of the good coverage if something goes wrong etc. I have a budget of $175 tops or lower, so again it limits my search, but it's all I can afford right now, and this new computer def won't be used as long as I have this xps 400, lol but something now for the meantime in between time for awhile.
I prefer a desktop, as I have a fairly new monitor. But I was curious about laptops, but I'm not a big fan of the small screens. Though I did watch a video on youtube that stated you can mirror your laptop onto your computer monitor, and browse the web etc on your larger monitor etc. Not sure if it's 2 much trouble to do all that, or confusing. Again I mean mirror onto the desktop monitor not tv. Im old school in that department and still own a fat back big screen tv screen, lol. No magic cable can mirror anything from computer to that old thing. 
So after browsing on amazon and looking at the refurbished choices, I see some in my price range with good warranties, but I'm not sure if it's what I'm looking for. I will see something listed but then it's processor will be slower than my current computer at 3.19 ghz. Or it will have more ram, and I think okay maybe this will work? Just not sure. Some have windows 7, again old school I have been stuck on xp so I have no idea about the different windows, and if changes anything.So this is where I need some advice. I saw some HP, but then heard how HP isn't the greatest... Then when I see other name brands in my range, I'm not sure if it's what I'm looking for as I'm not sure what specifics I should be looking for. People I know will tell me ' I haven't been in the desktop universe for years, I don't know, GET AN IPAD. ; lol But I like a big screen monitor not a teeny tiny thing. A mouse and keyboard, and a nice computer desk.
So again any advice would be greatly greatly appreciated.
Just trying to find something that will work for me. Nothing complicated. I can also post the link ( if it's okay) of the ones I was interested in so someone can help me narrow it down.
Hope to hear from someone out there. 