| Author |
Message |
    
viva
Citizen
Username: Viva
Post Number: 671
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 4:49 pm: | 
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The old one is holding up, but we want to purchase a new PC. Don't want to spend alot -- just a basic home computer. Any recs? Thanks again.
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Bailey
Citizen
Username: Baileymac
Post Number: 171
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 5:04 pm: |
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"A lot" is so relative.
I'd suggest a trip to The Apple Store in Short Hills Mall.
The iMac is a nice computer, 1299.00 for the 17" model, includes wireless and bluetooth technologies, dvd/cd burner, 512 megs of ram, a 160 gig hard drive, and some great software.
Microsoft Office is available if you need that, but Apple's iWork is a decent package too, no spreadsheet though. Its all-in-one design is nice too, easy to install.
Just bought one for my daughter Saturday.
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Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1169
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 5:43 pm: |
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Then again, you can start looking at www.dell.com. I find the Dell computers to be above average for the price; they're not really "power machines", but they do offer decent prices and a warranty.
I used to build systems for people, but (unless I'm building a server) I just can't buy the PARTS for what Dell charges for an entire system.
Look for a low-end XPS and I think you'll be very happy.
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upondaroof
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 562
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 6:53 pm: |
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2nd Case. Just ordered a Dell for my Mom. Basic series Celeron chip, 160 MB disk, 1 gig of ram, DVD burner, floppy (Mom's old school, but it works for her!)17" flat panel monitor. She'll reuse her speakers, mouse and keyboard. $713.00, shipped to her front door. You can't beat their prices!! |
Jelly
Citizen
Username: Jelly
Post Number: 18
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 8:01 pm: |
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For what it's worth, consumer reports just did a review of PCs. |
monster
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 2172
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 20, 2006 - 11:40 pm: |
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and.... |
Rick B
Citizen
Username: Ruck1977
Post Number: 988
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 8:00 am: |
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I will third Dell, I just ordered one for my Aunt, very basic features, but pretty darn powerful for email and web surfing. Soup to Nuts about 700 bucks...
Her friend called me a week later and asked me to order the same one for her, so I did. |
Jelly
Citizen
Username: Jelly
Post Number: 19
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 10:36 am: |
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I believe the consumer reports info. is available for some period for free online at consumerreports.org. Briefly, for budget PCs, they ranked an emachine T6410 ($550) first, followed by the Compaq SR1010Z ($560), followed by a Dell Dimension E510 ($840) and then an HP Pavilion a1000y ($500). |
Eponymous
Citizen
Username: Eponymous
Post Number: 106
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 6:17 pm: |
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You might also try a Mac Mini. Re-use existing monitor and USB keyboard and mouse, if you have them. Get at least 512 megs of RAM. |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1173
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 8:59 pm: |
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The only problem I have with the CR reports (I use them for a lot of things but not PCs) is how they rate things like warranty support, how loud the fans are, how clear the monitors are... lots of things.
I still like the Dells for general use. |
Eponymous
Citizen
Username: Eponymous
Post Number: 108
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 10:54 pm: |
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Case,
I agree. The CR reports on computers have never been very good. |
moving soon
Citizen
Username: Movingsoon
Post Number: 70
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 9:39 am: |
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If you're in the PC world, I recommend cruising the circulars. Go to salescirculars.com, each week they list the different deals offered by the large retailers. They use these deals to build traffic, and typically combine a store rebate and a manufacturer rebate to offer a very sharp price. If you have a sense of what you need, you can usually find it within a couple of weeks at a very good price using this method. I've definitely adopted the "pay less replace more often" model of computer shopping, since no matter what, I seem to need a new one every two or three years. Good luck. |
TarPit Coder
Citizen
Username: Tarpitcoder
Post Number: 32
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 11:39 am: |
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The best thing about Dells - I reckon:
Is the three year on site (gotta pay for it) super replacement warranty.
Dell sucks if you want to know MTBF of parts etc - but Dell support is wonderful if you get the onsite warranty thingies. They come out - replace bits.
Had them do that to my Inspiron laptop 3 times as it slowly died for one reason or another due to not being able to hack running serious software. Happened to the other Inspiron 8000 we bought too - the plastic over the CPU actually melted from doing compiles on it...
But they replaced them - no questions asked - just a couple of raised eyebrows.
I've never actually bought myself a Dell because I just can't stand it when I discover the reason it's so cheap is they went cheap on the components .
Remember TANSTAAFL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TANSTAAFL
I definiately agree with moving soon tho - Just figure out what you want - and it's good and then get it for as little extra as possible :-)
--Tarp |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12616
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 3:39 pm: |
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And get what you need now, plus a little, but only a little. Paying for what you think you will need more than a year from now will have you paying much more, since the price per feature ratio is always falling. Buy what you need NOW, not what you anticipate needing. |
TarPit Coder
Citizen
Username: Tarpitcoder
Post Number: 33
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 24, 2006 - 7:46 am: |
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Exactly right -- It used to be you should buy as much machine as you can for your dollar, so you didn't have to upgrade for a *long* time.
This thinking is almost always bad now. The core tech is just moving too fast to have this make sense.
The only thing you should consider splurging a little on is RAM. So if you are pretty sure 512 MB is plenty then spending $50 more bucks and getting 1 GB is probably an OK idea. Definitely don't pay lots extra to get a slightly faster CPU - just do the simple math:
e.g. If it costs you $200 to go from say a 3000+ to a 3600+ ask yourself if $200 makes sense in terms of total cost for a 20% speed increase on a box thats $500.
--Tarp |
jeffl
Supporter
Username: Jeffl
Post Number: 1585
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 7:57 am: |
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Hard to beat the edeals listings. Here's one from today. Sorry, the links didn't work but here's the link to the site:
http://www.edealinfo.com/
Dell Dimension 1100 Desktop, Celeron D 2.53GHz, 256MB, 80GB, 48x CD-RW, XP Home, 17" CRT » only $323.00 + Free Shipping
*** Super Hot Deal ***
Go to the product page of this system at Dell Small Business
Under "Internal Hard Drives" section, change the selection to "80GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive add $0"
Check each and every option to make sure you are getting everything that you need (Configuration changes will affect final price)
Proceed to checkout
Dell Small Biz is offering $21 instant discount on this system
There is a $50 Mail-In Rebate on this system
Dell Small Biz is offering Free Shipping on new system purchases
There is a handling charge of $24 on this system
Your Final Price: $370 - $21 - $50 + $24 = $323.00 + Free Shipping
This offer expires on 03/01/2006!
Since this system has a Rebate offer, make sure that it is shown when you click on "Detailed View" or "System Details" in your shopping cart! If it does not show up there, you will not get your rebate!
Note: Dell Small Business charges Sales Tax in most states!
Click here for all the current Dell System Deals
Tell a Friend about this deal: Just email this link
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viva
Citizen
Username: Viva
Post Number: 672
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 7:55 pm: |
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thank you all for this terrific input. that dell deal is something else. i should get ready to jump on this. |
TarPit Coder
Citizen
Username: Tarpitcoder
Post Number: 35
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 7:31 am: |
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Is it just me or does it seem like even a Celeron with anemic cache running at 2.53 GHz sounds plenty grunty enough for running the average office apps?
--Tarp |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12646
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 7:32 am: |
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Perhaps, but whatever bloatware is about to come out will take care of that. 
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monster
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 2232
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 11:43 am: |
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Celerons don't suck as much as they used to |
Jelly
Citizen
Username: Jelly
Post Number: 20
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 5:43 pm: |
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Just got a mailer from Dell. Dell Dimension 1100 Desktop, Pentium 4, 2.80GHz, 256MB, 80GB, 48x CD-RW, XP Home, 15" flat panel display $399.00. Not sure about Shipping.
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TarPit Coder
Citizen
Username: Tarpitcoder
Post Number: 37
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 7:40 pm: |
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There's a new Celeron that just came out which is a .65 nanometer part - had to catch myself - nearly said .65 micron! and has been clocked up to 5 Ghz...
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=29875
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Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2415
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 11:02 am: |
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Actually you meant 0.065 microns, which is 65 nanometers. 0.65 nanometers is getting close the size of individual molecules. |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2416
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 11:03 am: |
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A bit of perspective...
http://news.com.com/Bell+Labs+makes+molecule-size+transistor/2100-1001_3-274617. html |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12669
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 11:28 am: |
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And note, that article is from 2001!
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Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2424
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 11:30 am: |
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yup. Five years ago! Where's my organic processor? Better yet, where's my quantum computer? I want database searches of hundreds of millions of records that take less time than it takes to click the mouse!
actually, there was a good article in SciAm this month about progress in quantum computers |
monster
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 2245
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 1:13 pm: |
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where the heck have you been, my Mac is embedded into my brain, it's no larger than a grain of rice, the electrical energy of my brain powers it 24/7, and I can surf the net and post on MOL while having.... |
Jim Murphy
Citizen
Username: Jimmurphy
Post Number: 263
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 10:13 am: |
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Time for a new PC for the kids, who like computer games. Most of the ones they are interested in are 3D games, which seem to need a lot of horsepower, which the current dinosaur (1999 vintage Celeron processor)can't handle.
Otherwise, nothing heavy duty - surfing, email.
Is the Dell below complete overkill?:
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=04&kc=6W300&l=en&oc=1 d51h7&s=bsd
Seems like a good deal - no?
Alternative suggestions are welcome. And by the way, we already have a Mac Mini, which we love, but is not so great for games.
Thanks all for any replies.
Jim
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Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2620
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 10:28 am: |
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If they're really into 3D games (how old are they? there are 3D games, and there are 3D games), you're going to want the high end video card (maybe even an aftermarket card). The built in video controller on the motherboard will ruin the gaming experience, if it can even handle the video requirements.
It MIGHT be worthwhile to get the audio upgrade. You don't need the $100 one, but the $25 one might be worthwhile. Also, you might want speakers to go with that audio. |
Jim Murphy
Citizen
Username: Jimmurphy
Post Number: 265
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 10:33 am: |
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They're 11 and 9, so the former 3D games rather than the latter 3D games.
Does that change anything? |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2621
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 12:05 pm: |
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I would still stay away from the base integrated video. There seems to be an option for a mid-level integrated video. If you're talking about first person shooter games or very elaborate scenery, then it still might make sense to go with the higher level card. If you are talking about less complex 3D scenes, the mid-level integrated video is probably sufficient. Remember, also, that a video card is one of the easier upgrades to make aftermarket. So if you find that the integrated video isn't cutting it, you can always add a card down the road. |
Jim Murphy
Citizen
Username: Jimmurphy
Post Number: 267
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 12:26 pm: |
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OK, Thanks very much. Makes sense.
Off to purchase. |
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