Computer Hope

I have been a windows laptop guy my whole PC life, as has my wife.  I am thinking about buying 2 windows desktops for our home, that way we can free up a laptop or two for the kids and have full-sized machines to do a lot of things.  As far as the key question about our budget....  well I would like to spend as little as possible but still be able to get quality computers we'll be happy with for our needs.  I know that my last Acer laptop was an $800 machine.  So, I am hoping that the desktop computers would be less than that, monitors included. 

For myself, I do a ton of multi-tasking with several applications simultaneously.  I also do a lot of video stuff.  I could really use dual screens, especially for my daytrading and other stuff.  My understanding is that a tower would probably be better than an all-in-one for me.  I have enough space for it.  I would really like to get something really fast.  I want a good processor, lots of ram, and good-sized HD.

My wife likely needs something a bit more basic but one that has the capacity to watch and do video work.  I suppose in her case either a tower or an all-in-one would work.

I'm in rural Canada, and with the current pandemic, I would be looking to order online with delivery.  I have no idea where I should focus my search.  I have bought laptops at Best Buy in the past.  Are there better places to look?  How about Amazon or other stores that sell online?  Is getting pre-owned, open box, or refurbished a good idea to keep the costs down and still get a good product? 

I am looking for suggestions, recommendations, you name it...  thanks.

Hi Capper,

Now is a very expensive time to be looking for replacement computers. It is like this every year with the Chinese New Year, the stock gets run down and prices remain the same or go up slightly. This year of course there has been over a month of low production so less stock available, less selection and higher prices. A lot of the computer refurbishing is done in China and this has slowed to a trickle and is mostly tablets and Laptops. Not desktop computers.
Also there is high demand at the moment with people looking for a computer to work from home with 2 or more monitors. 24" monitors here when you can get them have gone up 20+ %.
When will the prices drop again?
Likely 3 to 4 months after the borders are opened which could be next year. Also I doubt the price will ever be as low as pre corona virus times. Business all along the supply chain have been hit very hard, like everyone with this pandemic and will need to make some profit to help cover the months of losses. 
I think $800.00 is to low given the current climate.

Thanks for that info.  I suppose I should look at last year's models that are clearance as well as the refurbished ones I can find.  It's definitely something I can wait on but would prefer to get the wheels in motion as these things take time...