I Need to Purchase 2 Computers for the Children Monday and Need Freeper Imput

10.040.03 | mlmr

[mlmr]

I am going to purchase two boxes for my children's homeschooling, their curriculum will be almost totally web and cd based with lots video and some interactive work. I have been looking at the E machines at Best buy. I am thinking that 512K and 120MB would do it. I am not sure how fast a processor I need I think the E machines use an Atheron. I am not sure what kind of video card for multimedia cds. It will be going on the network I am installing in my home. Any other tips for buying mid level boxes for short-type people would be appreciaed. I am going to put two of the darlings to bed right now.... I willl be back to check the thread in a lttle bit

If I read one more Ramona book...........

[Cicero]

I love Windows XP. I've used Windows 2000, and it's also very stable, but it's not as tolerant of other programs or as easy to work with.

[Swordmaker]

I'm a Mac fan, but I'm advocating a boycott of them until they fire Al Gore from their Board of Directors.

I would rather have him there where he can do little harm than in government somewhere. Let's not put him back on the unemployment line where he might look longingly at public office again.

But, he does have to eat, you know... and from his latest photographs, Apple is paying very well.

[mlmr]

Did you add the OS?

[Salvation]

I would get a Dell

[mlmr]

Dell hurt me badly so I am looking elsewhere. Thanks anyhow.

[xrp]

Go to www.neocomputers.com and configure two low end AMD processor PCs. You'll pay about $300-$400 for each one. Get your monitors separately from Best Buy.

They ship just as fast as Dell, too.

[rs79bm]

I certainly wouldn't buy one from a gaming shop.....look for reputable companies that have been around a while.

[browardchad]

I cannot buy Dell becasue of the horrors that happened when I tried to buy a high end machine Some of you may remember...

You should have posted the fact that you have an issue with Dell on the original request for assistance.

[Salvation]

I know what you mean with the Packard Bell. I ended up throwing one away! Useless!

[Lael]

I had a bad experience with Dell. I am trying to find other options.

See my #92.

I had a HORRIBLE experience with Compaq (badly integrated Motherboard), and a bad experience with Gateway (GP-450 Pentium II, subsequently rebuilt), and same with E-Machines.

That's where I learned to repair them. It's nice to be able to cruise the neighborhood four times a year looking for junked E-Machines that largely only need a $59 ATX Case with 350-400 watt Power Supply.

[mlmr]

I had a horror-show with dell, my link is futher down in the thread. I have been looking at the Tiger direct catalog. Would they build them for me? Then I need to add in two operating systems. Where would I find the two operating systems and things I need, (Mail, word) at a reasonable price. Do I have to buy more than one and is there a discount?

[snooker]

Go here http://www.tigerdirect.com/ and get a refurbed hp machine. 2ghz or better, 512m memory. Comes with full factory warranty. Cheap. Others sell refurbs, but I have dealt with these people at their store, so they are reasonable and established(as any PC vendor can be).

If you want a custom built, get a bare box version from http://www.zipzoomfly.com with a Intel board or ASUS AMD nforce2 board if you want AMD AthlonXP processor, which is just fine and will save a few hundred.

[Woodman]

I just bought the same machine yesterday for my brother-in-law but with a P4 256MB Ram, Floppy, 15" Flat panel and and extra CD r/RW for 767.00 including tax and shipping. Check the Deals and Prices, your paying too much and the extra $67 is worth it.

[Misplaced Texan]

I purchased an e-machine for my wife over two years ago because it was cheap and I thought if she got a year's use from it, the price was right. It is working great over 2 years later except that the the fan is noisy, but always has been.

Having said that, the next one I buy will be a Dell because I like the company better and I believe that the product is better.

Consider buying a couple of used Dells on eBay. You can probably find what you need for a good price and you don't need top of the line equipment for home use.

[mlmr]

I have been homeschooling 6 years. I have to work outside the home and this is the best option.

[JohnSmithee]

"If that was remotely true, I couldn't make a living."

OK. You obviously have a thing against e-machines. I have had success using at least two desktops. Get over it. Go bother someone else with your "issues".

[mlmr]

Al Gore from their Board of Directors.

I did't know that. I thought all mac users were bleeding liberals.

[visualops]

Nonsense.
I've rebuilt/repaired machines as old as 286's.
Alot of the old machines/hardware are quite sturdy. I've got more than one acquaintance who refurbishes old machines to give to the needy both here in the US and elsewhere.

[general_re]

Dell refurbished machines operating systems.

[Mannaggia l'America]

I have to agree with others - I always look to Dell first. I'm basically the I.T. admin at my kids small Catholic school (on a volunteer part-time basis - nights and weekends) and we are using almost exclusively Dell's, including a 25-PC computer lab.

My kids have a Compaq PC I bought on clearance at buy.com. buy.com has some good deals sometimes on desktops in their clearance section (but I just hopped over there and they didn't have any right now). I wouldn't recommend the Compaq over Dell, but I got it at a great price.

Dell does have a refurb section, but their prices haven't knocked my socks off vs. a new Dell.

You can also check www.overstock.com if you are looking for lowest price.

Be careful of Best Buy's web site if the PC you want has a rebate. I got burned by them - I wanted a laptop that had a $100 rebate advertised on the web site. I went to a Best Buy store and they didn't have any, so I ordered it through the web site. Later, I printed out the rebate form and it said "in-store purchases only"! I now only shop there as a last resort - I felt it was false advertising to show a rebate on the web site and then disallow it when you purchase through the site. They won't burn me again.

I'm not sure how much you want to spend, but I've become a big fan of notebooks as desktop replacements, especially with wireless networking cards. You can get a new decently configured notebook in the $700 - $1000 range.