Looking for Desktop/laptop

[EeveeFanboy]

I'm in need of a new computer, but I don't know what to get yet. My current computer is an HP Pavilion dv6500 laptop, and I hate it. It runs hot very fast, and I have a habit of not being able to sit in the same manner for a long time, so cooling fans are not really an option for me. Besides, I have had plenty of hardware problems, and while some have been my fault, I just feel like it should have been built more durable. It's also tough to clean, especially the top part. So anyway, I don't know what to get now. I like laptops because I like being able to use the computer on my bed, but I was thinking if I got a desktop, I could hook it up to my TV and just use a wireless keyboard and mouse on my bed (not sure how the mouse would work though, as I'd probably get tired of needing a hard surface for it). The only added benefit of the laptop is school, but all I ever ended up using it for was watching movies during my breaks and just a tiny bit of note-taking.

So my questions are: do you think it would be better for me to find a different brand of laptop or buy a desktop? Maybe there are different brand laptops that would be better suited for me. Is it better to build a desktop than to buy one already put together? I've never built a desktop, but it sounds pretty fun. What is a good website to buy all the parts?

And lastly, the main function of this computer will be to surf the web and play emulators. But I'd also like to give PC gaming another shot, so something kind of powerful, but nothing that plays Crysis on max settings. So what sites/brands do you guys recommend?

 

[EeveeFanboy]

Bump. Updated the title a bit for clarity.

 

[Musichead13]

I know everyone seems to like www.newegg.com for computer parts. As for your other questions, I'm in the same boat as you and don't know too much about it.

 

[EeveeFanboy]

Maybe I just don't understand how it works then. Can someone point me to a guide on computer building? I might just go the desktop route since it's cheaper anyway, unless someone can tell me a good and reliable laptop brand.

 

[ZerotypeX]

how much are you willing to spend/budget?

not sure if you want to go back to laptops, this one looks decent. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...oduct&id=1218044029604#tabbed-customerreviews

 

[Sleepkyng]

newegg.

if you want something that you can move around, get a laptop.

if you want something that you can upgrade and swap parts out of for a while, build a desktop.

A one armed monkey can put together a desktop, it's very easy.

there are a million sub $400 DIY computers
http://www.hardware-revolution.com/student-or-on-a-strict-budget-meet-the-400-gaming-computer/

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=10416646

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=8572265

the last one looks good - that's close to what my rig is like, then I added an intel cpu the 2180 and overclocked to 3.0ghz.

all told - with a 20inch samsung monitor, i spent $420

 

[EeveeFanboy]

[quote name='ZerotypeX']how much are you willing to spend/budget?

not sure if you want to go back to laptops, this one looks decent. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...oduct&id=1218044029604#tabbed-customerreviews[/quote]
That one did get some pretty good reviews, and it's actually not too pricey compared to the HP I bought, but I think I might get a gaming PC since PC gaming seems kind of interesting right now, given the prices on some 360 games, and how much cheaper and better they are on PC. Maybe down the road though I'll get a casual laptop for Word and Internet. That would probably be the smarter thing to do. Not sure why I never considered both.