Need Help About I Am About to buy Dell Desktop

11/21/03 | Old Professer

[Old Professer]

My present computer is dying; I must replace it. I need answers to a few questions and I can think of no better place to get them.

[Old Professer]

This computer is 6 years old, was not much good to begin with and now the thing is slowing to a crawl.

Dell has a promotion good until 11/23 on a 2400 desktop with a 2.2 ghz processor, 40 gb hd, 256 ram, and a 920a printer.

It comes with a wireless keyboard, rw cd, and an optical mouse.

What I don't know is if it comes with a 3.5 floppy.

The data on my present hd can only be copied to floppy because this computer's cd has been broken for 3 years.

I am currently using a Packard Bell Multimedia C115 (quit laughing)and we have been holding on to it for so long because it has Winfax for W95 and we have been using that program a lot while my wife was submitting resumes; now that she has a full-time job we leave it on but we only get the occassional solicitation call.

It would be nice if my copy of Winfax would work with XP but I doubt that, anyone know for sure?

My daughter has a one-year old E-Machine that has a 3.5 so we could always copy to that and then to cd and then load to the new Dell, is that practical or is it difficult?

There is some question right now whether I can get Comcast broadband so I may be stuck with MSN but they will move me up to MSN 8 or 9, if that is the current "rage".

Dell's price is $399 ($499 before mail-in rebate), so I don't think I can get hurt by the price.

[Old Professer]

Occasionally, I put the occasional extra "s" in occasional, sorry.

[ClancyJ]

We got a Dell last year, Dimension 4550. We love it.

[zencat]

I just won't buy one until they quit showing those dumb intern commericials.

[Semper Paratus]

I suggest finding a good Indian resteraunt and go there frequently to get used to the accent so you'll be prepared when you call customer support.

[Old Professer]

Thanks.

Sorry about the extra "about" in the headline, when I screw up I do a good job of it.

[Wait4Truth]

I have a Dell 4500. I love it! Plus, Dell is a big Bush supporter.

[Old Professer]

I ran into that a few days ago when I couldn't get OE to connect.

Other than having no help for me and not understanding the importance of enunciating when conversing with a half-deaf old man, she wasn't that bad.

[Porterville]

I just bought a Gate Way($700):
2.6GHZ Celleron
40 GB harddrive
258 RAM
CDRW DVD
15" LCD flat screen monitor

Anything comparble at Dell is 100 dollars more... and Gate Way doesn't require shipping if you buy it at the store and supports the local employees.

[oceanview]

www.techbargains.com, they always have a Dell "deal of the day", don't buy without checking their coupons first.

[SeeRushToldU_So]

I think XP has faxing software built into it. Also check E-Bay for cheap software.

[byrony]

In general, Dell is a well engineered and well supported product. Of course, I'd suggest getting 512RAM because Windows XP will run better. You probably want to get a new monitor also - I can't imagine using one that's 6 years old.

The last dell I got had a floppy but I never use it. The best way is to transfer the data to the eMachines and then network the two together.

I'm not a big fan of MSN - I believe the new Dell's will give you earthlink for 6 months.

Get broadband. It's definitely worth it and then you can get rid of MSN

[Squawk 8888]

Forget the floppy drive- save yourself a lot of trouble, by a network card for the old PC and you can copy your data over in a fraction of the time it takes to burn CDs or swap diskettes. LAN cards are dirt cheap- you can get one these days for the price of a box of CD-Rs.

[The Grim Freeper]

I'm sort of crashing your party here, but I'm looking for a printer (laser quality) or a really good black/color printer in the $300.00 range (is there such a thing?). Also, can anyone recommend a good digital camera in the $250.00 - $350.00 range?

[.38sw]

LOL! I've had occasion to call customer support numerous times during the past couple of weeks, and you are correct. My hard drive went bad, and it took about 1 hr. 45 minutes of telephone time with a customer service technician who had a thick Indian accent to determine that my hard drive was, indeed, bad. They sent me another hard drive. After I installed the new hard drive, reloaded the OS and all my programs, I couldn't get online. Another call to Dell customer service, another 1 1/2 with a service technician with a thick Indian accent. Result? Bad modem. Sigh. They sent me another modem.

[cinFLA]

The data on my present hd can only be copied to floppy because this computer's cd has been broken for 3 years.

You can probably move the old HD to your new PC and use as a second HD. Clean it all the old software and move what you want to your main HD.

[JoeSixPack1]

This computer is 6 years old,...

Anything, and I mean anything, you buy to replace it will seem like a rocket ship on steriods.

Don't go crazy trying to buy the perfect computer, it's not out there. Buy one that does what you want, not just what it used to do or what you hope it will do.

List all the programs you use on a daily basis. Then list all the programs you use, but infrequently. Then make a list that tells you what you would like to do.

Explain these lists to whoever you are purchasing your new computer from and you will have a much easier old-to-new transition. Good Luck OP.

[Lokibob]

You might watch here for some pretty good deals.  It is compusa's auction site for their demo models.

 

 

[The Grim Freeper]

Whoops, almost forgot...we bought a Dell about 8 months ago, and we love it. Never have had a problem.

[Hank Rearden]

I believe (but am not absolutely sure) that Dell has dropped standard floppy drives on many or most of their machines for cost reasons. I imagine the low-end machines you're talking about do not include a floppy drive, where every penny counts.

You should be able to add one back in as an option - that might be the cheapest route. Or you can buy (I think) external USB floppy drives that would do the trick. I would never sacrifice having a floppy drive; they're still very useful now and then.

My Dad buys 2-3 Dells a year (yep) because he loves fooling with the latest and greatest, then sells or hands down the machines. He buys *only* from the Dell Refurbished site (there's a link from their main page - look for it) and saves big money.

The refurbs are fully warranted, but usually don't include monitor, speakers and other peripherals. Sometimes they're brand new, just built to the wrong specs or something and never shipped. Include just mouse and keyboard as I recall, plus whatever is in the main box.

Good deals.

I switched to Dell from Gateway in '98. No regrets.


Suggestion: unless you really, really don't use a computer much, spend a few more dollars for one that you can keep and use for several more years. For $399, you'd be getting a servicable, but stripped down, machine. Check out the refurbs.