Should Your New Desktop Be A Tablet Instead?

Jenny writes:

I am needing a new computer..What do you suggest for me to buy, I only do my email, get on Facebook and play bingo on there and couple other games, and I use it to do my banking, and just general surfing..I have looked at many, do you suggest an all in one? I have a dell monitor..23 inch i think, and really dont need a monitor..I use a HP Pavilion Slimline  s3600f PC now..I really enjoy your comments on here and love the great deals I get..So please help me in what is best for me buy..Thanks so much for your help

Looking at your needs, I wonder if you really need another traditional laptop PC at all. A tablet might be the most cost-efficient and convenient way to go for you.  A tablet can easily handle your e-mail, Facebook and general web surfing and has the advantage of a lower cost and easy portability to anywhere in your house or anywhere else you choose to go. Since you seem to enjoy Facebook games, I might suggest a Windows 8.1 tablet for you. Many Facebook games use Flashplayer and Android tablets and iPads do not support Flash games.  Although there may be app versions of the games available. You can find a decent Android tablet in the $100 range and a tablet capable of running the full version of Windows 8.1 for just a little over $200.  These devices are so light that they easily fit in a purse and you can also purchase an additional keyboard if you think you may need to do more typing.

If you get a tablet, you will need to have WiFi in your home. If you already have it, you can just jump right on with your tablet. If not, you’ll need to purchase a router.

If you would prefer to purchase a desktop model, the good news is that your needs are fairly simple, but the bad news is that an inexpensive desktop is getting harder and harder to find as more people switch to laptops and tablets.  I’m not going to give you a brand name, but I will give you this link that discusses what things to consider when purchasing any computer.

Another option might be to check with your local computer store and see how much they might charge to put just a basic desktop model together for you. You might find they can be competitive with the big box stores and online retailers.

 ~ Cynthia