My MO for computers (i've given up on desktops and am just a laptop) for a while has been to buy an inexpensive one and replace it every year or two.
I do this for a few reasons: 1) I travel everywhere with my computers and beat the crap out of them and sometimes break them. If I might break it I don't want to have $1000-$2000 invested in it and 2) I've found the budget computers can more than hold their own for what I need to do
Running this site, I'm on a computer, a lot of the day. It's pretty important that my computer work well.
I'm posting here because I've found a laptop that I really like. It's a Toshiba C55-A5100 Laptop, with a 15.6" in monitor, 750gb hard drive and most importantly 6gigs of ram. It also has a 3rd Gen Intel Core i3 processor which from my research and experience is a good thing. Total price $399.99 from Best Buy and that included a wireless mouse, case, and memory stick. Here's the link:
It's got everything I need. I still need Windows, so it has Windows 8, video camera, USB3, HDMI, and even stuff I don't really need anymore like a DVD player. It's got a numeric keypad. I bought it sight unseen and really like it (since it's part of a package I'm not sure they even have it on display at Best Buy, but I ordered mine online and picked it up at the store)
Before this computer I bought an Asus with 4gb of Ram that wasn't up to the task. When i was multitasking with a bunch of browser windows open it was slow. It was super lightweight as it didn't have a DVD player which I liked. But the slowness drove me to break my rule and go find another inexpensive computer before a year was up.
This Toshiba is a bit heavier than the super lightweight Asus (still only 5 lbs) because it has the DVD player, but it kicks ass in performance. Very pleased with it. It multi-tasks like a champ. I decided to find something with 6gb of RAM and it paid off for me big time.
The $399 package deal looks like a great one. The cheapest 6gb RAM Toshiba on Best Buy on its own right now is $479. This same computer without the wireless mouse, case, and USB stick is $439 on Amazon. See
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Satellite-C55-A5100-15-6-Laptop/dp/B00II5DE0M
Use this thread to ask me questions or post about what laptop you've got if you recommend it. I'd have the computer since Feb 26. (Disclosure: We can get a commission from the links if they are with one of our partners). Next time around I'd like to be able to have a thread like this and just go buy something off someone's recommendation without having to spend time researching.