Expert, (or non-expert), Computer Advise, please

Computer Dummies Network | 5/22/2005 | Sir Thomas the More

[sirthomasthemore]

Feeble minded, at least when it comes to computers. (I know- those who have read my posts consider me feeble-minded, generally)

I use a PC for basic word processing and Internet. My only other interests would movies and music.

I’m looking at Emachines T2984; Celeron Processor 2.93 Ghz, 512 Ram to 2GB; 8o GB HD, Intel Extreme Grphics; 16XDVD; CD-RW 48X; 8-1 Media Mgr;5 USB 2.0; 1 serial; 1 parallel; 2 PS/2 ports;1 VGA External; 10/100Mbps Ethernet; Windows XP-

It’s about $500.00. Is it a good buy? Will it suit my needs? Any other recommendations?

Any help appreciated. “Put downs” and criticisms graciously accepted. :0)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

If you want to stick with the Windows route, I think you should really look at the ABS box at NewEgg , has quality components inside (motherboard is ASUS ) , good amount of memory, and a great processor... runs at 1.8 Ghz which doesn't give a fair representation of it's power.

[TheSpottedOwl]

I've run into some bad luck with my 2 yr old eMachine. The problem is that I got a virus, and a hard drive full of worms. After I moved, I went to the Best Buy here, and they told me to reformat the hard drive, and to install firewall software before hooking up the internet. I have Norton Anti-Virus, but it got KO'd on that machine.

I called eMachine customer support to get new disks. I paid 20.00 3 months ago....and still no disks! I can't find the disks that came with the computer. Moving and all. I've been calling these people since March, and they keep telling me that the disks are on back order. It's their product for pete's sake, and they don't even have them in stock?

I'm using a computer so old, that it doesn't even have USB ports, so I have to type everything up, save to disk, then have Staples print the material off the disk. I had to hire a paralegal to do something I could have done much better. We're talking extra expenses that I can't afford. This has been explained to the customer service rep several times over the phone.

I'm thinking of speaking to the manager over at Best Buy(I'm in their system as a customer)and explaining the problem. What I would like is to exchange my eMachine for a comparable system. To sweeten the deal, I would purchase a reasonably priced digital camera(my friend wants to post pics of his snakes)and the firewall software. If they blow me off, I will simply boycott Best Buy for not standing behind the merchandise they offer for sale.

No, I haven't been drinking :/

[sirthomasthemore]

Owl-
Thanks. I understand that one of the problems with emachines is service, expecially that they don't have a toll free number.

[TheSpottedOwl]

I think they're in CA, and we have a long distance flat rate plan. That's a problem if you're out of state...I've been on the phone for up to 45 minutes.

On the bright side, I went to Best Buy and talked to the manager. They had the back up disks the whole time!!! Of course I will be calling eMachines and demanding my 20.00 back.

That lazy girl just didn't want to go the extra 5 steps to burn me off a copy, which a member of the Geek Squad, was more than happy to do.

I just have to get the anti-virus software now. Good luck on your hunt for a pc. Have you checked out pcmall.com?

[sirthomasthemore]

They had the back up disks the whole time!!!

---

Hi Owl-

Typical...why am I not surprised.:o) But genuinely pleased things worked out for you.

I've been checking cites recommended by the Board- NewEgg, tiger, dell, etc- Problem is since I'm really a computer dummy, the different configurations are confusing- AND, it's so easy to see that$500.00 budget, start to approach $1,000.00 or more when you price in monitors, printer, etc-

Unfortunately, I have more questions now than when I started- but don't feel comfortable imposing further on Freepers- who have all been very kind.

At some point, like Frist and the GOP, I'll just pull the trigger and hope it doesn't backfire. :o) Cheers- and again, glad things worked out for you.

[ThePythonicCow]

My number one recommendation - check out any company you plan to buy from at ResellerRatings.com.

For example, the ratings for some places you named are:

Dell	4.47
Best Buy	2.01
Tiger Direct	7.30
Newegg	9.68
WalMart.com	5.00
Fry's Outpost.com	6.79

You really want to stick with the vendors that have high ratings, and you really really want to avoid those with low ratings. I usually look for ratings of 9 or better, on at least 100 reviews. From this, I'd recommend the following vendors:

Newegg	9.68
Monarch	9.28
Envision	9.90

At above sites, I see:

• AMD Sempron Envision Preconfigured System $499 w/o monitor
• Monarch 2400+ System Special $365 w/o monitor

[Petronski]

I wouldn't pay a dime for a celeron. They're crap.

If you buy this computer, be sure you can go into BIOS and turn off the onboard graphics. "Intel Extreme" is also, well, crap....but if you can't turn it off, you can never upgrade to a real graphics card.

[Petronski]

I'm still using a Packard Bell with 95 Windows...

[sirthomasthemore]

Hi Cow-

Good information. I will browse the 3 best cites. Thanks much.

[sirthomasthemore]

Hi Petro-

Thanks for the reply. As for my P.B. with Windows 95 I look at it from the bright side- Anything has to be an improvement. :) Thanks

[ThePythonicCow]

I wouldn't pay a dime for a celeron. They're crap.

I suspect you are peddling old news. See for example Intel Celeron D: New, Improved & Exceeds Expectations (June 2004).

I also suspect you are being just a little bit of a techie snob. Someone picking a system from a list that includes an eMachines $500 box should not be picking on the basis of which CPU it has.

[ThePythonicCow]

You're welcome.

[Petronski]

I own a two-year-old celeron and it is crap. I know others with similar problems.

As far as snobbery, far from it. I recommend one purchase a used Athlon or Pentium system over a new Celeron.

[Petronski]

As for my P.B. with Windows 95 I look at it from the bright side-

Definitely do that. I only scream because I remember what "Packard Hell" and "Windows 95" were like. [shudder]

If you have a Packard Bell that still runs, you got the good one. It was rumored they made a quality computer, I guess you're the guy who bought it. ;O)

[ThePythonicCow]

I own a two-year-old celeron and it is crap.

Well, if you could describe in some more detail just what you mean by crap, then perhaps I would have a chance to evaluate whether it is the selection of CPU that is the cause of your systems crappiness.

There are so many reasons a PC can be crap, and in the price range asked about on this thread, so seldom is the selection of CPU one of those reasons, that I can only presume, absent evidence to the contrary, that you are unjustified in your conclusion.

And note the date - your Celeron is two years old.

[CFC__VRWC]

(I'm still using a Packard Bell with 95 Windows :))

My very first machine was a Packard Bell 386SX running at a blazing 16 MHz. It had 1 Mb of RAM and a mammoth 100 Mb hard drive. It was a pretty hot machine - back in 1992.

[Malsua]

I'd just like to chime in. One aspect of my job is the management of 100s of PCs in a 24/7 environment. We've had vendors sell us equipment driven by Emachines. Of the 10 or so we've had over the years, only one is still operational. All had various problems, but the single biggest was "does nothing". Powersupply is generating voltage, memory is fine when swapped into another unit. The cpu or motherboard simply outright fails.

I wouldn't wish an emachine on my worst enemy.

As other have suggested, the Mac Mini is a fine piece of equipment for the tasks you intend to do. There are also frequent Dell blowout specials in the 400-500 dollar range. A new, old stock Dell is head and shoulders above an emachine.

[Malsua]

Oops, posted to the wrong person. Sorry.

[Petronski]

"Wrong person" maybe, but I agree with you.

[ThePythonicCow]

For a quite different approach to a $500 box, see the article Ars System Guide: Ultimate Budget Box:

With a LCD monitor, mouse, keyboard, and speakers, the Ultimate Budget Box weighs in as a complete system for just over US$500.

I suspect that this option is not what you'd prefer, as it involves selecting the individual pieces and assembling them yourself. It comes close to matching what I would do, if I were putting together such a box. But I routinely build PC's from the parts.

If you look at the details, you will notice one good bit of advice - get 512 MBytes of memory. Some low cost PC's will have just 256 MBytes of memory, which for most ordinary uses, will seem terribly slow, because you won't be able to fit all the software you are using in memory, so the PC will keep having to go to disk, and disk is roughly a thousand times slower.