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.

[TomServo]

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

Don't worry about it. The new machine will support the HD. Just add it as a second drive. I did it with my Mom's new Dell. She got one just like you're getting.

[KellyAdmirer]

Dells don't usually come with floppies as standard equipment any more, you have to add them (they overcharge, I think they want about $20, you can buy them yourself for $10). If you know what you are doing, getting your old files to your new computer can be done any number of ways:

You could set up a wireless network. You could do this for $50-75 or so these days if you look around for deals. The advantage of this is that you get to still use your old machine on the Internet.

You could do a direct cable connection between the computers. All this takes is a cable between them. Windows Help will tell you how to do this. Cable costs about $15.

The most direct solution would simply be to take the hard drive out of your old machine and put it in as a second hard drive in your new machine. This can be done in about half an hour even if you don't have experience, it is basically a matter of turning a few screws.

You could get both machines hooked up to the Internet separately on separate lines and do direct file transfers between them on IRC.

Lots of possibilities, others I don't personally use, too (such as just getting a USB jump drive).

[tracer]

I usually don't wish ill on people, but the news of the Dell "Dude!!" guy getting busted for possession of weed made my day.

The commercial I am praying to see someday soon igoes as follows:

The scene opens with the Verizon guy with the black-rimmed, Coke bottle glasses laid out in a casket.

A group of twenty grumpy old men and ladies (Noo Yawkahs all) gather around the casket with their cell phones pressed against their ears.

Then comes the voice-over of them addressing in unison his cold, dead, corpse: "Can you hear me now? Good!! Ya putz.......

[cinFLA]

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.

Pull the old drive out and put it into the new PC as a second hd.

[TroutStalker]

I bought a Dell Dimension 8300 ($2500 total) last year and had problems with it right out of the box. After probably forty hours on the phone with India, six components replaced, and a letter from my attorney, they sent me a new machine. Of course, it may be the same with any other brand too.

If your old machine has USB ports, you can get a memory stick for about forty dollars and use it to transfer files.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

I just purchased a new Dell system. They don't come with the floppy so you have to add it. I also recommend upgrading the memory to 512. Everything you add now is cheaper than if you add it afterwards.

You can follow the building of your unit online. It's really great.

Also... Windows XP RULES!

[WarEagle]

Just wait 'til you need support from Gateway - you'll regret your purchase big-time. After a $3000 mistake with Gateway, I'd buy anything Dell has.

[tracer]

And I hope the customer support folks remember to say "Senk yoo veddy mohch!!" after each technical help session Old Professor has with them...

[Astronaut]

Dell sells computers cheap, but you get what you pay for.

Have you looked at Apple? Using a Macintosh means no virus problems, no product activation codes, fewer privacy worries, and a much better user experience. Apple offers seamless integration between the OS and hardware. OS X is muchb easier and more pleasant to use. Compare OS X and win XP and see which you prefer.

[observer5]

Why buy a computer (Dull) that is dead on arrival, I mean technoligical speaking.

[So Cal Rocket]

Don't get a floppy drive, use one of these puppies that hooks up to your USB port.

http://www.xpcgear.com/128lmusbdrive.html

[observer5]

I mean unless you like Worms etc.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

You sound like you might know a thing or two about computers.

I have a question and I hope I can be clear with my problem.

I get text files via email that I need to open in Word Perfect or Notebook.

For some reason, and I think it's because I clicked a weird button when I first got my system, they are all opening in a very old program called Symantac Q&A write. Since this is a program from 1993 and unupgradable, it won't convert many of the text files.

How can I reprogram or click on something to have my computer open email text files in Word Perfect or Notebook?

[tom paine 2]

Does it have the Pentium 4 processor? Or the Celeron? I would recommend that and also that deal you are looking at does not include a monitor. Check your specs carefully.

[maui_hawaii]

My advice: Don't buy Dell.

We just bought a brand new Dell laptop...

The salesman was nice as he could be. We got the computer...

Had a 3 minute question...that took us 6 hours (over a 4 day period) to get through their maze of call centers and got serious run around. Then when we FINALLY got through the guy had NO IDEA what he was doing and barely spoke english.I got hung up on too.

Dell is very nice...until you get the thing home...

Go to Best Buy or something and get a system that is just as good and they will fix it if it breaks (while you wait)...

[ASA.Ranger]

I have had three Dell's. I won't buy anything else. One of my systems crashed out of warranty because of my mistake and Dell's Customer Service was nothing short of magnificent. They researched for 3 days and came up with a solution and did not charge me. I have a great deal of respect for Gateway, don't care about Mike's politics and I hate the intern's commercials but I'll stay with Dell like I stick to my guns (CCW rules!). Get as many USB ports as you can! I agree that you should forget the floppy unless you must be compatible with a host unit (shool/work owned computer). Good Luck and happy computing!

[Landru]

I bought a 4500 a year ago & have been *very* happy with it, overall.
Just a couple suggestions:

1) Get a CD burner when you place your order & Dell will cut you a great deal (~$100 extra). Copying CDs is a real piece of cake with a burner in your spare drive.

2) Get the "In Home" warrenty!!
No ther way to go. On my system one of the CD drives went haywire & Dell sent a techie to my home in a matter of days, swapped me out and had me up immediately. Money well spent, IMO.

The poster who recommended 512RAM was right also, IMO.
Dell will upgrade you for little $$ & that'll markedly improve the quality of your computing life.

...& WinXP has fax etc built in, too.

[Elliott Jackalope]

I have also become an Apple fan. You might want to check out what they have to offer. I used to use PC's, but no longer. I had too many problems too many times, and dealt with too many rude and snotty people trying to get those problems solved. I now own three different Apple computers, and have had no serious problems with any of them. Like the ads say, "they just work".

Please consider switching to Apple, I don't think you'll regret it. You can get a very nice eMac for around $750, and if you are on a tight budget you might consider a used Mac. If you can spring for a few extra bucks you might consider one of the iMacs, those are very nice, and flat panel displays are easy on your eyes.

[Irene Adler]

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

Glad to hear from someone who hates them as much as I do. Like Dell computers; hate their current ad campaign.

[abner]

Sony Vaio computers are great!