(OT) - Buying advice for new PC (desktop)

This is one of those cases where the Internet has just TOO MUCH information. I
am trying to figure out how to help my sister decide what to buy - for a new
desktop (tower) computer. I figured that I state my parameters here and see who
suggests what.

I will be MORE than happy if someone can point me to a FEW good articles on the
web - or if you want to email me privately. I have already checked cnet.com and
Consumer's Report.

My sister is a "medium computer literate" retired teacher. She wants a desktop
(tower) and not a laptop. She wants to stay with Windows (and she and I both
know issues related to XP, Vista, and Windows 7).

She primarily uses her computer for:
- email (via MS Office)
- Web browsing
- Preparing of MS Word and Publisher documents
- Storing (viewing and printing) of LOTS of digital (camera) pictures

She is NOT a "gamer" nor a "programmer" to a home business person. (She does do
some MS Excel spread sheets for various groups she is involved in).

She definitely want faster web browsing (she does have Cable internet access)
and "no worries" about the amount of pictures she stores. She also would like
to NOT need to update her computer real soon. She would also be interested in
someone else installing the new PC and doing the "transfer" of stuff from the
old PC. (She has kept most of the media of programs that she has installed on
her machine).

She appreciates good (and free or at least cheap) support when she has problems.

She lives in Tucson (if that matters)

* * * * * *

What suggestions does this group have on:

A) Where I can look to help her make "good decisions"

B) Brands of PCs (and monitors)

C) What peripherals she needs (especially "back-up" techniques with a large
(1tb) hard disk

D) Buying from dealer, in store, via web "stores", wherever?

E) Any thing else you can think of.

--
Bill Klein
wmklein <at> ix.netcom.com


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