Guys:

One reason I haven't posted more recently is that my computer CPU is shot. I don't know enough about them to buy one! My wife (who does) has proven to be of little help in this matter. I have a blank check. What CPU should I buy?

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

This is a nice system for the money. Add memory to 1GB. I would use this for a nice workstation. You might want to add the MS Office with it. The bargain is the Flat Panel that comes with it - excellent. We have them in the office.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=D47F4&s=dhs

The free printer is useless. You can only use them with Dell supplied printer cartridges. But who can knock Free. The cartridges are expensive an you cannot buy them in the store.

Richard - you'll get lots of opinions. :) It depends on what you need - what do you do with your computer? Is it primarily for just web surfing, Email, writing Word documents, some spreadsheets? Or do you do digital video editing, heavy photo editing, heavy graphic games? Do you want a desktop or a laptop? The sweet spot is somewhere around $900-1000 these days - it strikes a good balance between price/performance for most people on desktops - slightly higher than that for laptops.

Masaki

Guys:

I use my computer primarily for boards like this one ( about cruising and car makes) and for word processing. Would also like a CD and DVD burner, as our other CPU, while having these, is "slow" (or so I am told). And that's about it.

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

PS:

It would also be helpful if I could buy the thing somewhere where they would send a tech out to hook it up. My background is not in this area. It is in other areas wherein the computer guys actually worked for me, so all I know is "Get 'Er Done!"

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

Richard - Dell will do home installation but it'll cost you - around $150 - 200 or so. I like Kathy's featured system though you would need to upgrade the burner to a DVD burner.

Masaki

Richard, I got a relativly cheap (under $600) Compaq for Christmas this year and I LOVE it.

It is incredibly fast (I used to think that this boards pages loaded too slow...it turned out it was my 4 year old computer) and I have yet to have any problems with it. My old computer used to freeze up twice a day, it is such a joy to not have that problem anymore.

Installation is a breeze, all the wires are color coded to the ports in the back of the pc.

Here is the one that I have:




Compaq Presario Destop Computer
•Pentium® 4 processor 515J
•160GB hard drive
•Dual-layer DVD+/-R/RW
•512MB of DDR2 SDRAM
•7 USB 2.0/2 FireWire ports
•9-in-1 memory card reader



You can find this pc at any Staples, Circuit City, etc. Circuit City is offering a $50 rebate, so this pc is going for $549 there.

It is so easy to set up, all you need to do is come home and start connecting the colored wires. If you are not computer friendly, I do suggest buying the whole package as I have had some annoying problems in the past with my old computer not recognizing hardware that didn't come with it. ( when I added a new mouse, keyboard and scanner, I never did get the scanner to work)

Richard,

I have to agree with everyone here. There are many good choices. I have a Dell XPS at home and Dell in my office (workstations plus server) and have never had a problem.

Customer service can be slow with all, as most of it is based in India (at least when I have called in the past).

Good luck with your purchase. By the way, the Dells, too, are color coded so setup is a breeze.

Anthony

Hi Richard - My vote is for EMachines. They are what I always recommend to people who want a computer primarily to use the internet, word processing, etc. They are really, really inexpensive, and seldom have any problems. Plus, they are very easy to put together. Everything is color-coded. I think you could do it on your own.

I just helped a friend buy an EMachine two weeks ago. She got the computer, a 17" inch monitor and a Canon color photo printer for $350 after rebates. I'm also typing right now on Mary's emachine which she got for about the same amount, though her free printer is still sitting in a box in the basement - kind of junky.

You can find them at BestBuy, CompUSA, Circuit City,Costco...

Lis

MaryLis,

I have a whole list of clients with Emachine issues and Gateway issues. Hard Drive Crashes - big stuff. Those two are on my never buy list. One of my friends had a crash of her Emachine and it took them 8 weeks to decide it was not repairable and then sent her a refurbished machine that didn't work either.

Dells, Compaq's, Sony's and HP's are so inexpensive now that I would only recommend those brands for this kind of use.

Kathy,

Add my name to the list of the Gateway casualties. My hard drive crashed a few months ago on my computer which was less than 3 yrs. old at the time.
Yesterday my son's Gateway( also less than 3 yrs.old) started acting up and he's asking me what to do about it! The only thing I can think of doing is throwing this thing away and buy a Dell! I'm glad last Christmas I bought my daughter a Dell. Hopefully it'll last longer!

You're right about the prices! No price advantage between Gateway Vs. Dell.