Buying a computer ...

[Niky]

My mommy and I are buying a new computer, FINALLY! However, we don't know much about them, and aren't sure which 'brand' to go with. She wants a Dell for some reason, probably because of the commercials! LoL It's going to be a desktop. The main useage for it will be AOL (probably dial-up, tho I may convince a cable modem or something), but homework and such will also be done. I might want to add some picture editing programs and such, but I'm not too sure yet. Any advice?!? Thanks, guys!

[epic]

Um, hi Niky. You talk to me usually daily. I'm in the IT field. I buy a computer every year, help people buy computers, and repair computers in office and out of office. Nice to meet you.

Dell, Gateway, HP, blah blah blah...they're all the same. Find one that fits your needs.

You can get the most barebone machine if you're using dialup and doing MS Office type stuff. I'd recommend something between 1.5-2.0ghz, that'll be enough for simple picture editing, etc.

[Niky]

HaHa, I was actually JUST about to ask you. But nooooo, you had to reply to my post not even 1 full minute after I typed it! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[wilkcamaro98]

I go to school for info tech and build and fix computer for friends and family all the time. So basically Epic basically wrapped up what you would need based on what you said you wanted to use it for. On top of what he said I would get at least 256mb of ram being Microsoft word takes up 64 Megs alone when it running. If I were you I would rock 512mb of ram that way you be up to date for awhile logner but 256mb would get the job done and shouldn't be too slow. check this one out it lil more higher end what your looking for but it not a bad price with that rebate. Only thing is it a refurbished one where it was in and office for a year but the clean the hard drive off and should be cool.

[ August 30, 2004, 02:20 PM: Message edited by: wilkcamaro98 ]

[95Batmobile]

I wouldn't get an e-machine if I were you.. unless their build quality has gone up recently. I've heard nothing but bad things about them.

[epic]

I'm assuming their build quality will be going up pretty soon, due to the fact that Gateway bought them out. However, yeah, you're right, they were built like crap before being bought.

We'll just have to see what Gateway does with them..

<rant>

And please, people, inform Niky and her mom that buying a computer in a store is a no-no. You don't have to worry about a salesrep selling some extra junk you don't need, you don't need to worry about the corporate chain adding on to the price of the computer, so on and so forth. Plus, buying online almost always guarantees free shipping so you don't have to lug that **** to your car.

The every-day-consumer is stupid. [img]smile.gif[/img]

</rant>

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

2.5Ghz
512 ram
60GB hd
i like dell but www.tigerdirect.com

[bobrules]

I've had two buddies get Emachines that ran like junk.

Clock speed can be decieving. A 2.2 Ghz AMD 64 will outperform a 2.2 Ghz Pentium 4 all day long. Avoid Celeron/Duron/Sempron CPUs if possible. A 2.4 Ghz Celeron isn't even close to a 2.4 Ghz AMD 64, the clock speed means very little.

If you buy a Pentium 4 based system, make sure it has 800Mhz front side bus and hyper threading. Don't worry about the clock speed.

If you get an AMD based system make sure it's an AMD 64 CPU, not XP, or anything else. Make sure it's an AMD 64 w/ Hyper Transport.

[hawgs]

When I used to work for Best Buy we used to treat the E-Machines like sh*t when we unloaded them. We used to see who could throw them the furthest, who could slide them across the floor the furthest and who had enough guts to drop them from the highest. I dropped one from 12 feet up once... it was quite funny. As long as you don't drop it on the corner noone can tell. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[RallyRed 98]

all that seems to matter to me is front bus speed.

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

Originally posted by RallyRed 98:
all that seems to matter to me is front bus speed.

yep and the AMD 64 have like 1100 Mhz of it :D
combine that with dual channle DDR and raid 0, oh hell yes

[bobrules]

The AMD 64 doesn't have FSB, it has HTT @ 800 or 1000Mhz.

[MustangEater8251]

Check out dell they can have some decent deals.

My girl picked up a Dell 2.5hz, 60gb hardrive, 512 mb of ram, WinXP, burner, but no dvd drive for ~$400 shipped. Didn't come with a monitor, but buy a normal one for like $120 and its a good computer for like $500.

We already had a good monitor off her old computer it was only like 6 months old.

[ August 30, 2004, 08:29 PM: Message edited by: MustangEater8251 ]

[MustangEater8251]

btw if you do get a dell check out www.fatwallet.com and click under dell stores...

they often have coupon codes for like 10-25% off
http://www.fatwallet.com/store.php?store=208

[RallyRed 98]

fatwallet is good... so is pricewatch