Dell owners, assist a rookie?

[ErnBatavia]

Fellow Freepers - Mrs. Batavia and self are really serious about upgrading the home machine to a Dell, and taking current "built" job, a 5 year old 233, upstairs for her to use specifically for the junk stuff - card games, bla, bla...with no internet.

Our requirements are minimal, really, but would appreciate ANY input regarding add-ons. We're zeroing in on the 4300 series desktop, which would be used for heavy Freeping, lots of internet surfing (some, as in Rush, which are heavy on sound and graphics), letter writing, making greeting cards and some photo work. Audio requirements would be minimal....we're "Eight track" kind of people....low tech all the way down the line.

We have never bought a computer before, so treat us gingerly, if you will.....would really appreciate input regarding what we need in hard drive, memory, and all the techno stuff. We're a little "lost" and need guidance; doing this on the cheap is not our ultimate goal. We want to do it right the first time.

Thanks in advance!

[Dog Gone]

I recently bought the Dell 8100 kickbutt model. It rocks.

[spycatcher]

Make sure you get a minimum of 256 MB of RAM with Windows XP.

You can often find freebies and discounts on a Dell. Don't buy it without those, especially with Christmas shopping beginning next week.

[Dog Gone]

You definitely want the read/write CD capability. It makes Zip drives obsolete, and is ideal for permanently storing the photos you were talking about.

[ConservativeyetHotChick]

We have a Dell 8100 and you are right.....IT ROCKS!

[SamKeck]

The one "must" I personally will want factory/delaer installed when I buy my next box after the first of the year will be a CD-RW drive. Right now they're an option on most machines, but the CD-RW disks hold as much data as up to 500 floppy disks, so they're invaluble for backing systems and data -- and I speak as someone who has suffered through two serial and unrecoverable (due to a chip error) hard drive failures on the same machine on the same day. Arrrrrrrrrgh.

[Chapita]

All I can say is that I bought myself a new 4100 model and couldn't keep the old gal out from in front of it. So I bought her a new 8100 model!

I like them! Mine has a CD burner and hers' a DVD player.

[quimby]

I don't know much about dells, but anyone buying a new 'puter soon should consider the new dvd-cdrw combo drives. Almost all the major companies are now offerring them. Its a combo DVD reader and cdrw writer in one drive.

[MississippiMan]

Is there a particular reason you're committed to Dell? Their machines are fine -- no better than any other machine with the same components -- but their service has gone to pure crap in my experience and I promise you that viewpoint is held by many in the computing world.

I'd strongly recommend going with a PIII vs a P4. MUCH cheaper and little if ANY dropoff in performance in real-world use. This is from firsthand experience. Get WinXP with at least 512 MB RAM.

FreepMail me if you have specific questions. I do consulting in this stuff and am quite on top of the game.

MM

[tacticalogic]

Dell has a website where the auction off their used equipment. It's mostly current or recently discontinued models - demos and stuff from their lease programs. It comes from Dell with the same warranty as the new stuff.

www.dellauction.com

[Trust but Verify]

Go with a Dell. If you can afford the 8100 model, get that one. And wait for free ground shipping. They rotate that offer every third or fourth week. It will save you $95.

[humblegunner]

I bought my latest machine from Dell,
they built it to spec and had it to me
within a week & a half..
The support is good, as well..
Note: Windows ME does not include excel
or powerpoint unless you ask for them.

[Cyman]

Got my 8100 about 2 months ago and except for Windows Me( included but discarded in favor of Windows98 SE ), I agree it is a pretty good machine. I wish I had ordered the CD-RW when I had the chance.

[Delmont]

If I was you, I would donate that old 233 to charity. I know of a excellent group that helps unwed minority mothers to be. If you like, I could drop by in my '79 Pink Drop Top El Dorado(Lucille) and even pick it up. Iffen I was you I would also listen to someone who bought from Del in the past, they know what they talkin bout, that Del is a good computer company, even if they did steal the first part of my name, hmmmm I wonder if I could collect royalty on the use of my name like that.

[Uncle Fud]

I would -never- buy a Dell, or an IBM, or a Gateway, or an HP, or a Compaq.

They all use "not-quite-standard" chips and boards which can't be swapped out with off the shelf components in the event you want to upgrade something or have a post-warranty failure.

Freepmail me if you want some pointers on how to find a better made machine (I won't be trying to sell you anything, neither I nor my friends or family are in the PC business)

[spycatcher]

Better yet shop for full warranty Dell refurbs at the Dell Outlet

[Dog Gone]

their service has gone to pure crap in my experience and I promise you that viewpoint is held by many in the computing world.

I have had good experiences with Dell, both in getting through and with resolving issues. The latest was this summer when the house took a direct lightning bolt hit. I had surge protectors, but the computer still was damaged.

Dell told me that since I couldn't see burn marks on the connections they would replace the whole motherboard. Free. They did it the next day.

(I now have surge protectors on everything rated to take a direct hit from an asteroid, BTW)

[surfer]

I would agree with your selection and the recommendation of 256m and XP. XP is a nice upgrade...finally!

[Bobalu]

I was at Sams club today and saw a nice Emachine for 599.00
1ghz Celeron
16x10x40 CDrw drive
256mb Ram
17 inch true flat screen CRT
30gb HD
modem
cheapy speakers...:-(
mouse kbrd..etc
Win XP home edition

stuff is sure getting affordable...
there were 15" lcd monitors for 254.00 WoW

[Aliska]

Guess I'm too hung up on cosmetic appeal, but I just love the L series mini tower. I don't like those newer dark towers. I wonder if you can get the lighter L-series tower with an extra bay. I have no desire for DVD on my computer but a rewritable CD is a must.

I do have a recent catalog they sent me but I went to your link. They didn't give much info on the L-series, rebuilts, prices, etc.

Guess I should give them a call but don't like to take their time until I'm more serious and know more what I want. Also have to decide on a monitor. When I got the one I have, I was savvy enough to upgrade to a .25dp and wonder if you have to know about that stuff for the newer flat ones.

And thanks for the help :-)!