wiredotter14 said:Just go wherever it's cheapest—plus you have to consider the warranty, especially since business accounts usually deal directly through a representative.
The prices and warranties seem pretty much the same everywhere, honestly. But fine, I guess I'll just pick whichever retailer feels like they have the most reliable service.
wiredotter14 said:The only way to really know is to just give them a call and ask.
Yeah, I did. Turns out it’s always a one-year warranty for the legal stuff since that's what the supplier dictates—they're gonna get back to me about the extended coverage, though.
I'm still kind of wondering if anyone has a recommendation on where to pick up a laptop, or does it really not matter much?
Hey there, I'm looking to pick up a laptop for my sole proprietorship—specifically an Alienware m15, NH.Q5PEX.025
Where do you guys think I should grab it? I've been looking at a few places: Best Buy, CNET, Micro Center, Newegg, CDW, and also Micro Center.
A couple of those sites mention that the warranty is only one year for businesses, while the others just say two years across the board. I'm a bit confused if the warranty is actually shorter for business owners on all of them... I was thinking about maybe grabbing some extra coverage, but I'm not really sure if that's even worth it when you're running a business.
So, I was recently checking out some $8k laptops, and I finally ended up pulling the trigger on that predator for $3.50. Honestly, the price jump for the i7 version felt like way too much to justify.
To be real, the difference between the red predator and the blue one is only about $1000, even though they're rocking the exact same specs. I kind of feel like a bit of an idiot for being willing to pay that extra premium just for slightly better cooling, a nicer screen, and those blue keys.
One little downside for you two is that those GPUs might struggle a bit with 1440p, though they should be totally fine if you're sticking to older titles or newer games that aren't too demanding
If you decide to go with 1080p at 24", I’d definitely suggest getting one with 144Hz. Whether you really need it or not, I guess... they aren't expensive anymore anyway...
Does that first one come in a 24" or a 27" version?
That second one looks great, but honestly, that stand might be a problem for me because of that third leg in the back. It would probably get in the way if I tried to push the monitor right up against the wall.
wiredotter14 said:Pro offers extra features for things like networking and stuff—it’s got nothing to do with whether you can use it for business. Even Microsoft doesn't actually claim that.
A few years back, I called Microsoft HR while reactivating a system and asked them about it. They didn't have any clue that it had to be Pro.
When you're buying a license separately, the price gap isn't huge, but laptops that come pre-installed with Pro tend to be way more expensive.
If you ever run into an audit, you really need to have a receipt showing you bought the license or a machine that comes with one included.
I'm with you—Home could probably be used for work, but plenty of people say otherwise, and when you Google it, I don't see ANYWHERE where Microsoft explicitly states you can't use it for commercial purposes. They don't say you *can't*, either, but that's not much comfort, so I'd rather just play it safe. To me, the price difference isn't worth the headache of trying to explain myself to an IRS agent who might see things differently—whether they're technically right or not. But honestly, Windows isn't even the main point here.
I've been looking around, and I'll probably end up going with one of these two: DELL G3 17 gaming 3779 273050419 (17.3 FHD Intel ® Core ™ i7-8750H Processor up to 4.1GHz 16GB 1TB+SSD128GB GTX1050Ti-4GB LNX)
It's a multifunction, does duplex, has WiFi, handles high-volume color printing, and is pretty cost-effective overall.
Thanks for the suggestion, but I think I'm sticking with the one I mentioned earlier. This one is a bit out of my price range, and honestly, I don't plan on printing much—maybe just a few times a month here and there.
Btw: is it just me, or did the mega-thread for picking out monitors disappear?
wiredotter14 said:It’s actually a bit tricky trying to hunt down a laptop for Photoshop—it's tough to tell what an actual screen is like just from the spec sheet. You know, screens that are great for gaming aren't necessarily any good for PS.
What do you even need Windows 10 Pro for?
The laptop is going to be for my sole proprietorship. I honestly just prefer the Pro version over Home, even if we ignore the whole ongoing debate about whether Home is technically allowed for commercial use or not.
Yeah, I get that it's hard to judge a screen without seeing it, but I don't need anything crazy specialized for design—just a decent, standard monitor. Even the BenQ I'm using now is kind of crap, but it works perfectly fine for graphic design, so I haven't had any issues. If the laptop has a screen like that, I'd be happy. My main worry is that I've seen some Acer monitors where the colors look washed out—like, if you look at the top half, it looks pale, or if you tilt it slightly, the bottom half goes dim. There isn't really one specific angle where you can see how bad it actually is... I just hope it isn't catastrophically bad like yours, and I'll be satisfied.
The price is pretty much the same for the other colors too—I’ve probably printed somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 pages by now, and I think I’ve used maybe two-thirds of the black ink.
bluemason3 said:If running costs are a big deal for you, you might find that some of those refillable ink tank models are actually the best way to go right now. Usually, the cheapest ones fall somewhere in that $100-$200 range.
Companies like Epson and HP have similar deals available.
From what I've seen, most of them come with Wi-Fi, though—honestly—Wi-Fi can be such a headache with printers sometimes, so it might be better to just stick to a cable.
I don't really need an automatic feeder. It's not for scanning books or anything like that—it’s mostly just for single drawings, one by one. I've always liked Brother as a brand, too. So, I guess I'll just focus on making sure the ink is easy to refill, you know? Thanks!
electricbadger9 said:https://www.bestbuy.com/printers/epson-...0-dpi-64519791 I've been using this one for over a year now, and honestly, no issues so far. Plus, if you register it on Epson's website, they usually give you an extension on the warranty up to 3 years.
Even though I tend to prefer Brother, looking at the specs here, I think I might actually like this one more. Does anyone know where the best place to grab extra ink would be, and how much should I expect to pay?
It looks pretty great to me.
Thanks so much to all three of you for the help—I think I'm going to end up going with that Epson.
Kenneth Cruz67 said:Does it need to be an all-in-one, or should I look at two separate machines? If it's a combo, what else am I looking for—networking, Wi-Fi, or whatever else?
Honestly, I don't really care which way I go. I'd probably prefer an all-in-one just for convenience, but at the end of the day, I just want something reliable—whether it's one unit or two separate ones. I'm not even sure what all the networking stuff entails, and honestly, I don't think I really need Wi-Fi. Especially if there's a big price jump for those features. My desk is right next to my computer anyway, so I'm not against using a cable if it means getting a solid printer with decent color quality without breaking the bank.
Hey there, I noticed there aren't really any replies to the printer questions here—I guess that means it’s not exactly a hot topic, or maybe things change so fast it's hard to keep up. Either way, I figured I'd take a shot at asking for some advice since I'm pretty much starting from scratch on this one.
So, basically, I'm looking for an all-in-one color printer and scanner (standard letter size). Ideally, I'd want something where I can either grab some affordable third-party ink cartridges or just find the original ones without breaking the bank—somewhere in the $200-$100 range. I don't have a super strict budget for the machine itself, though. I don't need anything high-end or professional grade; I just need something "decent." You know, something where the scans are clear and the prints look about as good as a standard poster, a magazine, or even product packaging you'd see on a shelf. It's mostly for personal use—things like drawings and stuff—nothing meant for a professional business.
Does anyone have a specific brand they swear by, or maybe some tips on how to spot a reliable one?
I’m looking to pick up a laptop for my sole proprietorship by $2667. It would be a huge plus if it came with Windows 10 Professional pre-installed.
Main use: Graphic design work, specifically using Photoshop. Display: I really need something decent—nothing like those cheap screens where half the image looks washed out if you tilt it just a little bit. I'm thinking somewhere between 15 and 17 inches, but definitely nothing smaller than 15". Where to buy: Anywhere here in the US, though having Windows 10 Professional included would be a nice bonus. Brands: I’d prefer Dell, Lenovo, Asus, or Acer, in that order. Specs: I’m hoping for something that at least matches or beats my current setup: a Ryzen 5 1600, a GTX 1050Ti 4GB, and 8GB of RAM—though 16GB would be ideal. For storage, a smaller SSD paired with a 1TB HDD, or maybe some kind of combo, should work fine.
I'm looking to pick up a new monitor by $833. I'll be using it for graphic design and some single-player gaming. My main priorities are image quality—so 1080p is a must—around a 24" size, and ideally something with a response time of 2ms or less. I'm not exactly an expert, so I'm wondering if it even makes sense to bother with a 75Hz or 144Hz monitor given my current setup with a Core i5-8400 and a GTX 1050Ti?
Right now, I've got an IPS Panel: a Dell UltraSharp, but honestly, the picture quality feels worse than my old TN: a Samsung Monitor. Plus, after just two years, some white spots started appearing behind the screen... so I'd probably prefer to stay away from anything from Dell or Samsung.
I don't quite follow your logic, but if I were in your shoes, there are a few things I’d probably look into first: 1. Just how much are you actually going to lose to taxes? If you go through with the plan you're thinking about, I suspect you might end up handing over closer to 45% of everything you make—just a heads-up on that. 2. You might want to check if you'd basically be flagging yourself for tax evasion for all of 2019 and taking a hit. I'm not entirely sure how the rules work for late filings, but I think you usually have an eight-day window after a payment to report it. Honestly, instead of throwing yourself under the bus, it might be smarter to just start paying taxes regularly on all your future income and maybe just... not mention what happened before. 3. Maybe look into setting yourself up as a sole proprietor or a freelancer. I'm not sure how that works specifically for students, but it's usually the cheapest way to handle taxes. Without hiring an accountant, it could actually be more cost-effective than whatever method leaves you losing 45%. It’s kind of like a flat-rate system; as long as you stay under, say, $50,000 a year, you just pay that set amount—I think it's around $150-$$667 a month, if I recall correctly.
P.S. There’s really no reason to panic or rush into anything right this second—the odds of anyone ever asking you about that specific income and tax situation aren't super high. Still, you'd definitely feel a lot better if you were staying current with it, especially if your earnings start to climb later on.
I was seriously considering picking up the Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 with the ergo stand, but after watching a few reviews, it looks like a total beast—kind of a space hog. I don't really want to surrender my entire desk setup to it, especially since I still need room for my regular computer work when I'm not drawing. On the flip side, the MacBook Pro 16 feels a bit too small for me, and honestly, the iPad Pro isn't quite cutting it either. I looked at the Cintiq 22 HD, but that’s an older model and lacks that 4K resolution I'm looking for. I thought about maybe going with a Wacom alternative like Huion or XP-pen, but I'm worried about parallax issues and pen Jitter... plus, it's not like they're super easy to find here in the States. So, I'm kind of stuck.
If there were just a Cintiq Pro in an 18-20" size, it would probably solve everything, but that doesn't seem to exist. Does anyone have any advice or maybe some experience that could help me figure this out?
Nicole James said:Some studies have suggested a slight increase in stomach cancer risk for people who stay on Prilosec for extended periods. It’s likely your doctor prescribed it because they noticed that specific throat irritation that comes along with reflux. That's basically just a health issue where acid travels back up from your stomach into your esophagus and throat—which explains why you've been feeling that irritation. So, while it isn't ideal to be taking Prilosec indefinitely if you can avoid it, leaving untreated reflux alone isn't great either—it can actually lead to permanent damage to your esophagus. In my opinion, it seems reasonable to complete a course of Prilosec, while being really mindful of your diet—things like avoiding milk and dairy before bed, generally trying not to eat right before sleeping, and maybe even propping your head up a bit higher at night—and then just seeing how things settle. It would definitely be a good idea to have a thorough conversation with a gastroenterologist about it too.
Thanks—I actually spent some time Googling stuff about reflux and the esophagus earlier. Regarding the diet advice, the plan is to stick with these stronger pills for four weeks, and then check back in with my doctor; if I'm feeling better, she might switch me to a lower dose for another four weeks. So, at most, I'll be on it for about eight weeks. I definitely tend to eat late and right before heading to bed, so that's probably a big part of the reason.
I honestly thought I had chronic laryngitis, but looking at it now, reflux and acid seem to be the only thing that really makes sense.
I'll give the tablets a shot and hopefully fall into that 90% success group. I haven't even heard of seeing a gastroenterologist until now, so I'll figure out what to do about that when I go in for my next appointment.
Thanks so much for the reply and for explaining everything.
Hey everyone, I've been dealing with this constant "scratchy" feeling in my throat for about a year now—it’s not really a cough, just this constant urge to clear my throat, you know, that little "ahem" sound. My ENT doctor did an endoscopy through my nose and ended up prescribing me Prilosec.
I was reading up on this medication and saw there's a bit of a trade-off between the benefits and the risks, which has me feeling a little hesitant about starting it for a few reasons:
1) I didn't really walk away feeling like she pinpointed the exact cause of the throat irritation; it felt more like a "best guess" scenario than a definitive diagnosis. 2) She mentioned she was giving me the lowest dose possible, but she actually prescribed Prilosec 40—which my primary care physician noted is actually a pretty strong dose. 3) Looking at the side effects, one of the "common" ones (affecting about 1 in 10 people) is the development of benign stomach polyps. Since I'm generally prone to growths and polyps and tend to have a sensitive stomach, I'm worried this might just trigger more issues down the road. While digging into the whole polyp situation, I stumbled upon this: Most hyperplastic polyps almost never turn into something malignant, but if we're talking about adenomatous polyps—especially if they hit 2 cm or larger—there's a 40-50% chance they could become cancerous, particularly near the gastric cardia.
I'm honestly not sure if the risk is worth it, especially since the diagnosis feels a bit shaky. There haven't been any other tests done yet, just the scope.
Thanks for the link! I actually knew about that, but I’ll definitely dive deeper into it. 👍
wearystag57, regarding those manufacturers you mentioned—do they usually have just a small handful of products, like maybe 3 or 4, or are we talking closer to 20? I'm asking because I know this one cosmetics brand that used to have dozens of items, but ever since they officially registered their business, they've scaled back to just three. I'm wondering if there's some sort of legal or financial reason behind a move like that. If you don't mind, could you share the names of those LLCs you know? I'd love to see how they set things up. 😁
Hey there, I'm currently weighing my options between starting a small sole proprietorship or maybe setting up a non-profit association—still deciding, really—to make natural skincare products like creams, scrubs, and masks. I want to stick to formulas without any harsh chemicals, and since I'd be making them in small batches (say, maybe 15 creams at a time) to keep everything super fresh, I was thinking about doing it right in a kitchen.
Right now, I'm renting a place here in Indianapolis, but I actually own a house over in Columbus that's sitting empty at the moment. I'm wondering if that house could potentially qualify as a business space for this kind of thing. Also—and this is the big one—could I just register the business at that address even if I'm actually doing all the work here in Indianapolis? I'm definitely not looking to move back to 😁 . On top of that, I'm pretty much in the dark regarding product testing requirements. If anyone has any insight on how that works—especially when it comes to the actual costs—I’d really appreciate the help!
Or... would it be easier and cheaper to just go the non-profit route? My concern there is how I'd actually pay myself. Since I'll need the money from sales just to cover basic living expenses, and I'm not expecting to hit the jackpot right away, I'm not sure how I'd pull funds from the account legally. 😁