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...........

[mlmr]

Sorry. FR often has tech info threads because of the nature of the internet and the interests of many of the posters. I have done a lot of research. I have stood in front of every 500-800 dollar computer being sold in southern maine. I was going to buy the e machine but wanted to check it out with the experts...those who use computers every day, techies and users.

Besides I love FreeRepublic and it has been kind to me. Thanks JimRob

[dennisw]

Get the cheapest Dell Celeron based computer

[US admirer]

Compaq 5000J 2400+ 128MB 40GB $319 at HP Shopping http://bensbargains.net/cgi-bin/a.cgi?hps

Choose Desktops >Compaq >Customize 5000J Series: Choose the 40GB Hard Drive to bring your total to $419 - $50 off coupon code PC2593 [Exp 10/31] - $50 rebate http://www.shopping.hp.com/shopping/pdf/rebate_compaq_dt_sumfall2003.pdf[Exp 10/4] = $319 with free shipping.


Athlon XP 2400+,
128MB DDR,
40GB Drive,
48x24x48 CDRW,
48x CDROM
Integrated Video/Audio,
JBL Platinum Speakers,
Keyboard/Mouse
Floppy Drive,
XP Home,
Works/Money 2003/Encarta,
1-YR Warranty

[mlmr]

What do you think of this one?


http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=572472&Sku=SYX-XP-036042%20S&CatId=118

[patriota-ferus]

Hi,

I think for what you want go here: http://pcpartscollection.com/inpeniiisoc3.html

They start with the basics, and then you add what you want. I like these guys. I once ordered a hard drive and motherboard from them. When it arrived the hard drive was upgraded. Just nice guys I guess!

As far as add-on go, here are my thoughts:

A) Go with Intel. I used to like AMD ATHLON, but they have a over-heating problem.

B) The processor- anything above 1.4 gig, but you don't have to get the fastest ( i.e 4.2 gig). It is not really necessary. It is for school work, not gaming??

C) RAM. Go with DDR ( double data rate) good stuff!

D) You will never need anything bigger than a 40 gig hard drive. I do webdesign, and have only used about 1/3 of its capacity.

E) Video card: ASUS is always good(anything they make). A good middle of the road is ASUS GeForce 2 Pro $109.00

F) Sound Blaster is good for your sound card. The 5.1 is nice. Here, like the videocard, the more you pay the nicer the quality; more bells and whistles!

G)There is 1 choise for modem.

H)If you are going to get two computers, a network card might be nice. They can talk to each other and use one internet connection.

I)DVD if you want to watch movies???

J) I would rather see you spend the money on a Re-Write CD/player! The new standard is the 52 speed. I see they have a 52x24x52 WOW! that is a fast reader/writer.

K) I LOVE Widows XP, even with the occassional difficulties. Very friendly! Has the networking software built-in. Whenever you get new software, always go up on the manufacturer's site and get the latest updates.

When chosing a monitor there are two considerations. Size of screne and depth of machine. Never get anything smaller than a 17" screne. It is hard on the eyes!
If you have a shallow work station, then a flat screne is your best choice. But they are a little more expensive.

SECURITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I suggest Norton AntiVirus. Strong/reliable. I hate MacAfee! There are Issues!

Go to a site called ZoneAlarm.com It is great firewall protection. Get the PRO version. It is about $39.00. Online download. WELL worth it!


I hope that this helps. Please let me know if I can help anymore.

P.S.
Home-scholers Rock!!

[Uncle Meat]

I was going to buy the e machine but wanted to check it out with the experts..

MY wife is looking at a few that they sell at Walmart.I want to build her one like I did.Tiger Direct has all kinds of different ATX cases with several colors and clear panels.What's cool about those are that you can put a cathode light iside and UV sensitive case fans that match the color of your case.Lights up the whole inside.You also can get glow in the dark IDE round cables.What's all that cost?Not much at all.The stuffs pretty cheap.Hell,I wouldn't buy a name brand computer anymore as cheap as the stuff is to build your own.

[FLcitizen]

Must agree, avoid Emachines. I watch Techbargains.com every Thursday. They monitor best deals for hardware. They suggest go always go to Dell Small Business menu. When ordering, just use your initials as the business name. Hey, your a homeschool and your children are your business. Here is their current find for Dell. This is a great deal. Just go to the Dell web site select Small Business and follow their directions to get this deal.

$349 2.2Ghz Desktop w/Freebies

Freebies! Dimension 2400 Celeron 2.2Ghz 128/40GB HD, Free 17" Monitor, Free 48x CD Writer, Ethernet, 6 months ISP, Word Perfect, XP Home $349 shipped free. 4x DVD Writer only +$110.

Select Desktops, Choose Dimension, Featured Systems under 2400, Customize it on $349, Free CDRW, Free Upgrade 17" monitor, select ISP. Add it to cart to see final price.

Update: They force you to buy a Pentium4 based 2400 to get the free monitor starting Tuesday.


We are a homeschool family as well. Best of luck and God bless.

[mlmr]

I hope that this helps. Please let me know if I can help anymore.

P.S.
Home-scholers Rock!!


Thank you and welcome, newbie. I will check out your site recommendations!!

[patriota-ferus]

This is prove a point. I am the product of public education and cannot type.

I meant, "Home-Schooler Rock!!"

[mlmr]

Thank you for the information. I have some options to look at tommorow when I go to purchase on monday. I will even see if I can visit a mom/pop store. Time for me to go to bed and tuck in the rest of the children. Goodnight. Pleas keep bumped!!

[Malsua]

It's got good specs. It's a MFG build machine, as in it is farmed out to the cheapest Tiger can get, but specs are solid. Price is right.

Personally, I'm not a fan of tiger but I've only ever dealt with them a few years back(99) and bought a junk CD rom drive and a scanner for a work machine.

However, I suspect that's a decent machine that will do you fine.

If it works for a few weeks, you're good. Service is tough for mail order items so before you buy, you'd be best served by checking a to see if anyone local can come near it in price for a build unit. That said, the Tiger machine is a universal case that you can part-in later if you choose.

I say check locally and if nothing tickles you, go for it. I'd do one before the second...see how the first one comes in. Does it work out of the box, is everything mounted solidly, etc.

-Mal

[Leroy S. Mort]

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".

"Bother"? The Freeper asked an opinion. You gave yours and I gave mine. However, your saying all computers are doorstops if they die after the warranty is up leads me to believe mine may carry a bit more weight. Whatever....

[Leroy S. Mort]

I have a new motherboard and Athlon chip

Were you able to install the new mobo in the e-machines case and are you still using the e-machine's power supply? All the other parts are pretty much interchangeable on any computer.

[Uncle Meat]

I have a new ATX case and a new 350 W power supply.So installing the motherboard was no problem.

[Leroy S. Mort]

Those are the critical pieces in an e-machine as noted in my #17. Ya can't get replacement mobo's. Other ones wont fit the case, and the power supply is cheap and not a standard size. You're t*ts up if you're out of warranty and one of those goes.

[Uncle Meat]

I finally did fry the power supply in the old "E".It is rather small.I since then gutted everything I could use out of it and stuck it in the closet.I should just chuck it then.You sure can't do much with one ,can you?You're lucky if they gice you 2 or 3 PCI and two memory slots.I don't have to worry about my new machine.I got plenty of room to expand.

[Joe_October]

No! Never buy HP. Junk. Junk. Junk. The company would be gone if they weren't surviving on their give the printer razor for free, charge for the blade cartridges.

HP and Compaq did us a favor by merging. It used to be difficult to decide who made the worst PC, HP or Compaq. Now, we know for sure --- Both!.

I've never owned an Emachine but my buddy likes them. They aren't as good as Dell.

My advice: Buy a Dell. XP Home is fine. At least 384 MB RAM. Any hard drive is good. Word Perfect is as good as the MS products and costs much less.

If you want to be adventurous, buy a used machine on Ebay but you will have to put software on yourself. I bought Pentium III / 1 GHz Dells for less than $100 each (no monitor) a year ago. Companies sell them when they upgrade so you can get a good price.

Be very careful what you let you kids pull off the internet, such as tool bars and free applications. Even the best machine is brought to it's knees by the junk.

The virus thing is overblown. Be careful, keep your patches up, run your anti-virus, and you're more likely to lose your data by you accidently deleting it than a hacker getting you (by a long shot).

[Vladivostok]

No! Never buy HP. Junk. Junk. Junk.

I wouldn't go that far, they're just run-of-the-mill general consumer systems, just as Dell and others are. Mine has been booting up 18+ hours a day, 7 days a week, for over 2 years with zero problems.

[JohnSmithee]

"The Freeper asked an opinion. You gave yours and I gave mine."

Then stop harrassing *me*. Duh.

[JohnSmithee]

""Bother"? The Freeper asked an opinion. You gave yours and I gave mine."

Actually this is where you apparently have issues. I never gave an opinion. I only related my own personal good experiences with using e-machines, as have a number of other posters. I have given no opinion except on the issue of video cards which wasn't even addressed to you.