Posted: 2/2/2004 1:12:49 PM EDT
|
Any computer gurus out there want to help me put something together? I have not had a computer at home since my divorce 2 years ago and I guess its about time. A friend of mine gave me his old one, along with a monitor, keyboard, speakers and a printer. The thing doesn't work though. I some odd-ball error message and I don't even know if the thing has Windows 95 or 98. Either way, it sucks and will not come on. So... what I need is something fairly simple. I want to surf the net, edit pictures and post them here and at the FALfiles and I may want to burn CDs at some point. Other than that, I really don't care. It does have to have USB ports (the gift one doesn't) so my digital camera will hook up. What can I get for cheap? You can have all the components from the old one. |
|
DellSB - Dimension 2400 with 2.4Ghz Celeron, 40GB HD, 10/100 NIC, WinXP Home, for $349 with FREE Shipping! FREE Upgrade to 256MB DDR, CD-RW Drive, and $10 Upgrade to 80GB HD! Posted by: Apex Get this great economical computer that offers a lot of bang for the buck. It`s not a gaming or multimedia powerhouse, but it`s a solid, reliable machine. It`s also a great choice for relatives... there`s a 1 year in-home warranty, so Dell will go fix it for them, instead of you playing free-tech-support-man. They`re doubling the memory to 256MB for free, giving a free CD-RW drive for the 2nd media bay, and a free upgrade from the 40GB 7200RPM drive to an 80GB 7200RPM drive (it`s a $10 upgrade from the basic drive, we highly suggest upgrading). There`s free shipping, and no rebate to send in. Start here at this specific Dell Small Business Dimension 2400. configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dim24min&cs=04&dgvcode=ss&c=US&l=EN All of the options for the lowest possible cost should already be selected. Add your freebies: FREE UPGRADE! 256MB Shared DDR SDRAM at 333MHz Special Offer SPECIAL! Dual Drives: 48x CD-ROM Drive + FREE 48x CD-RW Drive Upgrade whatever you want, though they may raise the cost. Here are a few that you may be interested in. We definitely suggest the hard drive upgrade, but all 3 upgrades are great values: FREE UPGRADE! 512MB Shared DDR SDRAM at 333MHz [add $60] FREE UPGRADE! 80GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive [add $10] Special Offer SPECIAL! Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + FREE 48x CD-RW Drive [add $30] Scroll to the bottom and click on Continue Scroll to the bottom and click on Continue Scroll to the bottom and click on Add to cart Finish checking out. Shipping is free. DellSB - PowerEdge 400SC Server with i875P www.thetechzone.com/ I would get that dell and add a monitor to it then use your old keyboard and mouse or use your old monitor if you are happy with it. There is also a computer store at Potomac mills mall that has some decent prices on systems that they custom build. Last time I was there they had a XP1800 system complete built for $199.00 without a monitor. The other thing we can do is let me know about how much you want to spend and I can piece one together for you and we can do a computer/fal build sometime in the near future. I can probably get your gift machine running too, if not I may be willing to give you some money for it depending on what it is. My advice would be to get the dell though, thats not a bad deal and keep checking that techzone site cause they post those deals damn near everyday. There is another dell listed for like 275.00 but it doesn't have a video card. |
|
Thanks 101_proof. For that, I may just have to return your movie that you loaned me back in November! LOL Seriously though, I like the idea of the used thing. If I could get a basic tower for less than $250, I'd be happy. I have a Dell monitor already. You don't happen to know the name of that store or where in the mall it is do you? |
|
Crap man I forgot to tell you, I can't remember the name of the store but it is next to Hour Eyes. I happened to browse in there a couple of months ago and almost bought the athlon system to put on my network. They aren't selling used systems either. They are new just using cheaper stuff and don't have a lot of memory in them but 128k will get you by with what you want to do. We can upgrade to 256 for about $50.00. |
|
Hey! A couple of thoughts.. 1. get a DELL system w/ 2.4 gig processor, 40 gig Hard drive, 128 meg memory, combo DVD/CD burner, monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, USB port, Windows XP home edition, for $499.00 dollars (after rebate). 2. Go to a computer show buy a full or mid size tower w/ power supply, mother board, DVD/Cd burner, hard drive, memory, floppy drive, monitor, keyboard, mouse cables/cords, software, etc; for around $600.00 dollars. Then spend a few days building it and installing software. 3. Buy a cheapo "generic" Yakamakazumi special for $300.00 bucks and hope it lasts a few weeks. I have a DELL "Smart Step" 100 D I paid $500.00 bucks for 2 years ago and does everything you mentioned. Never had a problem with it. Good Luck |
|
I'll third the Dell. I've made the same recommendation to some other ARFComers. I bought my first computer in 1996 and finally broke down just over a year ago and bought a Dell laptop. I friggin' hate laptops, but I got sick of moving a desktop 4 times in 3 years. Do not get a portable unless you can't avoid it BTW. Anyway I got the Dell because they have stuff that runs the gamut in price from $500 & up. Their promotions run in like 3, 4 and 5 week cycles, so if you can watch the websites you can cash in on several big ones at once. I tracked the specials for a few months and got a free CD-RW, screen upgrade, HD upgrade and extended warranty. I just renewed the warranty, mainly because it covers stuff like dropping it, and they'll replace stuff that just burns out over time, the bane of laptops. In short, go Dell. The cheapo custom systems might work, but you could end up spending a lot of time taking it to get fixed. If you aren't as handy with computer repair as FAL building, it'll drive you crazy! YMMV. |
|
cliff; i've seen your posts both here and on the falfiles. i'm a computer technican by trade and this is my honest advice to "you". 1) do not buy a dell for any reason. they are not good computers and dell is not a good company. 2) if you buy from a computer show then be prepared to get ripped off. 3) buy from a local dealer you can trust. if you need advice one what to get or avoid let me know and i'll send you my email address... |
Along those lines, these guys are local: https://www.advanced2000.com/public/web/items.asp?cartID=13-GOA2KPC-369748QHVBQ94&cc=CUBE&tpc= These little minipc systems are the bomb! Have them throwin some memory CPU and Video card and you are off to the races. www.advanced2000.com/public/web/items.asp?cartID=13-GOA2KPC-369748QHVBQ94&cc=CUBE&tpc= |
| Cliffy for the mean time I have a CTX 200Mhz AMD-K6 MMX w/128M of RAM with a 3.7G HDD you can have, I have a 15" color monitor, mouse and keyboard (you can have it all FREE). My wife or I can install Mandrake or Red Hat Linux on it. It works but its slow (currently has Mandrake Linux on it). I think RedHat is faster. Its much faster than Mandrake was on our Gateway Pent II 450Mhz. |
|
Thanks gotm4. I have no idea what Mandrake or Red Hat are, but it sounds like I should take you up on this until I can figure out a more permanent solution. I'll shoot you an e-mail. The next question will be... to Dell or not to Dell. I see strong arguments both ways. Did I mention that I really don't care all that much? My home computing needs are pretty weak. I'd like to be able to hook up my camera so I can post pictures of my FAL escapades and maybe burn a CD or two, but that's about it. I'm not home enough to need the biggest and baddest. Thanks all for the advice. I really do appreciate the fact that I can come here and ask stupid stuff like this. |
|
Cliffy, Everyone's told you about the cheap new ones. Let me tell you about the cheap USED ones. If you're resourceful enough (I'm not that resourceful), the fed gov't (FG) is surplussing P3s for less than $50 somewhere in Franconia. I myself would not go this route because there are too many caveats, but there you go! If you can find more qualified assistance, I can find out more details. Then there is the PC Warehouse (?) on Route 7 in Falls Church. It's right beside Metro Run&Walk and Trader Joe's (off the Pimmit Dr. junction). I bought a P2 there last yeat for $100 and it had USB ports, could run the latest dial-up (Aol 8.0) could show nice pictures and coupled with a color printer, could turn out some nice stuff. But, no CD burner, though I doubt you'd have to pay much more since FG is surplussing so many units w/ burners these days. Or, you cold plunk down the money and get a used P3, which might have the CD burner bundled in with it. That oughta address your requirements quite well. But then again, by next year, they're surplussing the early P4s. Decisions decisions. Good Luck! MR2 |