I’m often asked to recommend what computer people ought to buy. I’m not a PC hardware expert. What to buy is a much more complex question than it seems. I recommend you start with what is the most computer intensive work you want to do. For your home computer, this is often a game you want to play. For a business computer, it is often the video or picture editing software you want to use to create your marketing campaign. If you have more than one application, pick a couple and look on their websites for recommended configuration data. You’ll need to know how much memory, and what processor power they recommend. Usually the required mass storage (disk) is too low. For that, think about how many pictures or videos you are planning on keeping. Also, look at the application configurations for DirectX release level or other graphics requirements.
After you have some requirements
for your applications, it is time to choose one or more vendors to
approach and ask if they have machines
that meet these specifications.
I recommend nonprofit thrift
stores if they can meet your needs, as they are definitely cost effective.
I volunteer one afternoon a week
at Free Geek Twin Cities (https://freegeektwincities.org )
taking apart electronics. They run a thrift store online at https://www.freegeektwincities.org/thrift-store but you can also visit
their store in person at 2537 25th Avenue South (on the alley). They sell refurbished
computers for very low prices, starting at $40 but a good internet computer for
less than $100. They don't ship computers. They usually put Linux, not Windows, on the
computers, but they may put Windows on it if you ask. Linux is a great free operating system (you
may have heard of Android phones which use Linux). If all you are doing is browsing the internet,
it is quite close to the same experience as Windows. But your applications may not run with Linux. Free Geek also sells Apple products.
PCs for People (https://www.pcsforpeople.org/) is a different model. Based on their social services
background, they make available computers to low-income people for almost
nothing, but require evidence of your income.
They are becoming a national organization. They are at 1481 Marshall
Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55104. Your
income must be under 200% of the poverty level to work with PCs for People, and
they offer less control over the kind of machine you will get.
Getrecycled (formerly Tech Dump) is a large electronics recycler which is part of the Jobs Foundation
and employs many people with criminal records. You can visit its retail stores or go to its website at https://getrepowered.org/shop/. It
sells better computers for more money than the other two. They have free
shipping for orders over $100. They
generally install Windows on the machines they sell. Their two retail stores are in St. Paul and
Golden Valley.
All of the above stores have
inventory that changes daily and is whatever the people have brought in to
recycle. Also, they have unusual hours,
so check before going. So, they may not have
a machine for your application at the moment.
There are many good retail stores in the area, including Micro Center,
Best Buy and Staples. Obviously, there
are many more vendors out there.
Micro Center (https://www.microcenter.com ) seems to be the last of a number of national computer superstores. It has a large stock of systems, parts, and accessories. The local store is in St. Louis Park. My friends like the open box bargains they have found here. Micro Center will build to suit, adding memory or disk, etc. if you ask.
Best Buy is a good source for
computers and accessories. They have a
good selection but don’t discount as much as some others. The Geek Squad will build to suit, adding
memory, disk, etc.
Staples is an office supply store
that occasionally has deep discounts on computers. It is now in Apple Valley or Minnetonka. Look for ads that show low prices, and brace
for a hard sell on an extended warrantee.
