Buying advice for my final computer: laptop, all-in-one desktop, or what?

Thanks, food for thought! I hadn't thought of the iPad but others too have made this worthwhile suggestion. Brian

Thanks but getting refurbished products sent to Saudi Arabia is too adventurous for me! I do like the idea though and the Apple Care Protection suggestion is very practical. I am leaning towards a fixed desktop with 24" quality monitor, as I don't really need portability. It has been an education for me to read the comments. I have learned quite a lot from this forum and I am relaxed about this computer shopping so maybe it won't be my final computer! Brian

Thanks for your advice. I am learning from the many responses posted and certainly your suggestions for back-up have made me think. I do not really need portability and am leaning towards a desktop with high quality 24" monitor. Brian

P.s that was some 'shoot'... 5000 8mp pictures in one day, you will be camera shopping soon!!B.

Thanks for your advice. I am learning a lot from all the suggestions that people have offered. When I retire I don't think that portability will be that necessary. However,when you mentioned your Toshiba it reminded me of my reasons for submitting my question to the forum. I was on the verge of buying a top of the range Toshiba Qosmio model as a desktop replacement for $2200 dollars(Saudi Arabia prices)with Windows 7 Home edition but nothing else loaded. I liked the look of the machine and the specifications were first class. However, I felt a little unease that it was the best use of my budget and I am really glad that I asked the question. There are many possible solutions but at this moment I am leaning towards a tower machine with a high quality large monitor and by using wireless technology where feasible the surrounds shouldn't be too cluttered with wires. The Toshiba's are fine machines. Brian.

Thanks for your comments. You seem to have had several issues with your laptops and from all the suggestions that I have received I am leaning towards a desktop with a high quality large monitor, as I won't really need portability. I really appreciate the generosity that people have shown (with their time) in responding to my question. Brian

Thanks for your helpful suggestions. From the large number of responses I have received there are many possible solutions. I am leaning towards a desktop with large monitor and as much wireless technology as possible. I will opt for Windows 7 Pro because of the restore capabilities. I am familiar with Windows software and don't really want to change to other systems. Portability is not a big issue with me but from suggestions made maybe I will compromise on the high end tower and buy both tower and laptop from my budget. It surely is an education to read through all the responses. It is from simple questions like this that books are written! Anyway, I haven't finalized by decision but my shopping will have much more purpose now. Thanks again, Brian.

Thanks, You may well be right and I did look at Apple's 21.5" and 27" models here in Riyadh but the prices here are higher here than in USA and when you look for specs like i5 or i7 the models are over $2000. They were selling discounted models with Core2Duo technology within budget but I hesitated since I wasn't sure if this would meet my photo and video editing tasks. Your suggestion of Apple + iPad is nice and you have made me rethink about compromises. At this stage I am leaning towards a tower with high quality 24" monitor and wireless technology to reduce the clutter of wires. Thanks again. Brian

Thanks, From the many suggestions i have received I am leaning towards a desktop with large monitor and using wireless technology to avoid the clutter of wires.Brian

Yes, I agree with you the iMac 27" is beautiful but with core i7 it is way over budget in this city (Riyadh). I am a keen amateur photographer with no interest in selling any of my pictures and while the iMac would be a dream i am leaning towards a tower with a 24" HD monitor and wireless technology to reduce wire clutter. Someone else suggested that I buy an iPad with a tower and that also has possibilities which I like. Thanks for yo7ur comments. Brian.

Thanks a lot your advice is just what I am looking for. It is concise, clear and specific. I have had several great responses and I can see that there are many possible solutions. I am leaning towards a custom built tower with a large HD monitor and wireless technology to reduce wire clutter where possible. My photography and video skills are modest so I am sure that your specifications will be good enough to pass onto the next genearation. Having said that, my attitude has changed since submitting my question. I am not dead yet and this may not be my final computer so maybe I will settle for even a more modest specification and get an iPad to show off my pictures! Everday is a good day and I have really enjoyed the responses that were contributed. Brian

Thanks, having received a lot of great suggestions I can see that there are many possible solutions and several people have made the same suggestion as you. I agree maybe it would be foolish to put all my eggs in one basket. I am leaning towards a tower with large high quality monitor and wireless technology to reduce wire clutter.
Your mention of other family members did give me a reality check which is indeed relevant. Funnily enough I suggested to my better half that we buy an All-in-one machine to share but I was turned down sharply with the response, 'I will pick my own laptop, thank you'!! I decided to follow my own dreams and hence I asked the question and the responses have been both educational, valuable and entertaining.
Thanks again, Brian.
P.s I didn't figure what S.O stood for but reading between the lines I think you meant spouse.B

Thanks a lot. I have had many thought provoking suggestions but I like your comment that you must like what you get. It is too easy to be taken in by sales talk and specifications and then not like the look of the machine. From the suggetions sent to me I am inclined to favour a tower with large monitor and wireless technology to reduce wire clutter. Many have suggested that with my budget I should have both tower and laptop for flexibility and that also has made me reconsider. Brian.

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to pass along a thank you note from the original author of this question, Brian C. of Saudi Arabia. Thank you Brian for this email, it means a lot to all of us and thank you for following up.

Cheers!
-Lee

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Email from Brian:

Lee,

I have been on leave and am in the process of reading all the correspondence on "my final computer". I am amazed at the good will and generosity of so many 'strangers' in wanting to offer me the benefit of their experience. It has been an education for me learning about such things as lead-tin-core-solder in motherboards and how they can affect the life of a machine! Having read many wise and practical suggestions I am leaning towards a desktop, with large monitor and will try to avail of wireless technology to minimise wiring and clutter.

When I see such good will amongst us I wonder why there isn't more peace in the world! I will be responding to contributors in the coming days and in the meantime I just want to thank all who contributed.

Brian

Just like the time when Ciba Chrome was all the rage, doing photos and graphics on a PC running anything Microsoft is a pain. It is done all the time bu it is frustrating as heck.
I would suggest a MacBook Pro AND an external 20+ inch Monitor, Plain old Photoshop (not the suite( and a small tablet. Get an external drive for backup (and huge files ) and off you go. Those who insist that PCs are cheaper for the same thing need to really add up the actual costs. AND you can run XP or Vista or Windows 7 if you must for some reason.
As an old Photog, it is making photos that counts. I wanted my camera to feel automatic in my hands. Same with the computer - I want it to be simple and slick and automatic so I don't have to figure out every step from one program to another. I want to hit print and get what I expect. I got a Canon color printer and it has 4 inks. That has been a great boon to getting nice snaps AND really nice 8X10's.
Finally the Tablet is a luxury but I like to spot and retouch a bit and the tablet is more precise than the mouse or trackpad.
Finally- The oldest Mac I use consistantly is 12 years old and runs a version of Photoshop CS from 5 years ago. It prints wirelessly, does everything I usually want. I use the MacBook Pro for more difficult or intense things - really attacking a shot and piecing together several large photos etc. You would be hard pressed to find anyone running a 12 year old PC because they wouldn't allow the new Operating systems and would be a mess. (mine is running OS-X 10.5x)
Having a blast is the key and viruses, bloated junkware and spam are not what I want to spend my time on.

Thanks, definitely food for thought; like you I like not to have think too hard about using the camera or the computer as I am no expert with either. Brian

My son does some of the same things you are describing along with gaming or whatever he wants on a Gateway FX P7908u. You can find one for around a grand. The graphics card is awesome and the GTX 260m can be accesorized with 3D glasses etc. for more fun. I also think you can upgrade the RAM to 6G. It has been a workhorse computer for us, and it is also a beautiful piece with a 17" screen. It definately changed my mind about Gateway.

Good luck to you too, My last working day is March 2 2011. Brian

Thanks for excellent advice and for giving me the links to evaluate what would meet my needs. Brian

hanks for excellent advice. You certainly bought well for your wife. Brian

Thanks for advice. The Macs are tempting but am still undecided. Brian

Thanks, I have already dropped that line of thought, so many people have advised as you have. brian

Thanks, I appreciate the links info and especially 'live a little'! Brian

Tahnks, I am coming to that conclusion too. Brian