Laptop computer

Someone else will explain it better than I can, but you can downgrade or backgrade it so that you don't have to use Windows 8 if you don't want to. Windows 8 is fine if you want a touch screen, but I use two 24" monitors with my laptop and sometimes the laptop screen as a third monitor. For this type of setup, keeping your hands on the keyboard is a lot faster.

Bill

Since we got our iPads we rarely use our laptops or PCs anymore. The iPads are perfect for internet surfing and e-mail.

No one is more intimidated by anything new than I am. I bought a new laptop 2 months ago and finally gave up on trying to find one with widows 7. Best Buy gave me a 1 hour crash course on using windows 8 and I can tell you I love it. Glad I went with it now that I have it.

Good luck.

RT

X2 on a tablet. It can do probably 90% of what I do on a computer

I have been using my Dell laptop with windows 8 for a few months. I went from XP also. A little learning curve, but one I think anyone can learn.

"Trackrig" mentions Windows 8 being touch screen, My Dell is not.

Basically, windows is windows. Some changes to get used to, but most everything is pretty much the same. Things may look a bit different, but e-mail is still about the same, and web surfing is easier and lots faster. A $500 laptop from Walmart is 100 times the machine you have now. Look for one with a full size keyboard, including the number pad. I find that the keyboard is more comfortable if you place something under to laptop to tilt the keyboard a bit. If you are using e-mail such as Yahoo or Gmail, it will be the same as you have now, just a lot faster.

donn0128 wrote:
X2 on a tablet. It can do probably 90% of what I do on a computer

It is the 10% I am concerned with. Buy an extra computer that sits for 90% of the time or down grade my computer use? I need a real keyboard because I am one the wierdos that can type. The limited use mickey mouse keyboards just doesn't work for me on long 12 character paswords. Up & down for upper & lower case numbers is a pita on ipads.

I'd consider a "business grade" laptop, such as a Dell Inspiron as opposed to a "consumer" laptop. It costs more, but you can get a better service/support plan on it. Consumer stuff is hair-pulling at best for tech support.

Of course, the best tech support for individuals comes from Apple, and a MacBook Pro can easily run Windows, but you do pay for that.

But the Win8 laptop. If you hate it, or want to learn it at a slower pace, you can install a program called Classic Shell and you will get a Win7 desktop much like what you are used to, only better.
I used Classic shell exclusively at first and then started to play with Win8 a bit and then finally figured out I actually liked the Win8 interface better (no, I do not have a touch screen) and I now use it exclusively. It even gives me a direct link back to my "old" desktop making it appear to be a completely seamless transition.

That classic shell sounds good.

I was a Dell only buyer until my last Dell came DOA. Got support from India & it limped along until it was out of warranty in a year. When it finally died at 13 months I threw it in the trash & never another Dell. Bought a ZT systems home computer & got 24/7 free. tech help for life. After 2 years & never any problems I called the 24/7 tech # just to see if it was operational. Sure enough it was operational & the tech even spoke English & was in the U.S. Awesome home computer. Bought the cheapo Acer laptop for DW from Walmart. 2 years & NO problems.