Dell owners, assist a rookie?

[xm177e2]

The difference between the 4300 and the 2100 is just that the 4300 is a P4 while the 2100 is a P3, you should go with the cheaper computer, both are lightning-fast. You'll save a couple hundred bucks.

My Instructions: Go here and choose the first option for $689. It will actually cost you $739, because you're going to click on the "customize" button. (the extra $40 pays for a "free" printer, that's probably a good deal, plus you get to select other options)

From the customize screen, you can choose a bigger monitor (the 17-in 15.9 viewable is a good choice, for only $60 more)

You get a 20GB hard drive, which is GREAT, that's probably all you need, unless you plan on putting a lot of files on your computer (I have 60GB on mine, but I play a lot of games and have a lot of MP3s (my OWN MP3s, not stolen off the internet)). But DO NOT choose the bigger 40GB "value" hard drive, it's much slower. 20GB sounds like it will be plenty for you.

You can also choose between a CD/DVD drive or a CD/CDRW drive (both are free, but you only get to choose one). Read-Write means you can make your own CDs, which is a good way to store backup data, digital photo albums, etc., DVD is good if you want to watch movies on your computer. If you go with the DVD, I would definitely go with a 17in monitor, too. You don't want to watch movies on a 15in monitor.

Since you normally use America Online, I think you might be able to get 6 months free if you click on that option in the internet access menu.

I'd stay away from changing any of the other items, that should be all you need.

The whole thing will cost $740 with the 15-in monitor or $800 with the 17-in monitor (plus shipping).

[xm177e2]

$20-30 per 256 MB module

F#CK!!!

I paid well over a hundred for a 128MB module last year... F#$@%@$%@$%

But I might get a 256 module, if the price is so low... 512MB would be very nice.

[Paulus Invictus]

My Bro has the latest and best Dell and it is a major rotten lemon. Worse, Dell service sucks (according to his experience They only made it worse).

Best buy an iMAC and live in peace and safety from crashes and needless complexity. (oops! did I start this up again? Mea Maxima Culpa!)

[Tennessee_Bob]

TRS-80 Model III

Only way to go!!!!!

[dvwjr]

Good advice, but I would disagree about the ethernet network card. Most Dell models have one built-in or available and since most future high-speed cable modem or ADSL connects with 10mbs Ethernet the marginal cost is worthwhile. Get 512mb of RAM (multiples of 256mb easy).
dvwjr

[Texas Yellow Rose]

Hi Ern,

I'm a Dell owner and love it. Mine is several years old... Dell OptiPlex GS. It has served me wonderfully. I wouldn't use any other! It's almost indestructible and easy to upgrade. Before you buy check out their on-line outlet store for super savings.

My computer was a "refurbished" which can mean almost anything (including the customer changed their mind about buying it!) I recommended the same to my daughter and she is now using a more recent model and LOVES IT.

[Winged Elf]

Look at the technical specs. The ethernet card comes optional. I wouldn't waste a PCI slot on something that is just going to consume electricity. Besides, take the thing out and hide it when the cable company comes over, and they'll give you an ethernet adapter.

[Texas Yellow Rose]

	"First, go with at least a 20GB I AGREE. At least 256MB of RAM, don't go higher than 400MB. I AGREE. As for video, it really depends on what you intend on using it for. In your case, I recommend staying with whatever the default video it is they give you, since you really don't need an Nvidia GeForce3 video card. That's only if you play games like most people breathe oxygen. Get 3-D graphics Don't go with Windows ME. WinME is a bug-ridden pile of crash happy crap, and that's putting it lightly. Go with Windows XP, and if they give you a choice, go with Office XP Professional. I'm way behind here using Windows 98 ... but I really like it. With the CD-ROM drives, it's really a case of what you intend to do with them. If all you're going to use it for is to play audio CDs or install software, then just go with a regular CD-ROM drive. If you want to make music CDs or backups of programs, then get a CD-RW drive. If the computer is going to double as a DVD player, then get a DVD-ROM drive. DVD-ROM drives can also read CDs, and the same goes for CD-RW drives. My daughter's CD-RW is convenient for photographs and backup. If you can, get a SoundBlaster LIVE! GET SOUNDBLASTER.... a must!! On to warranties. If you can, go with at least a 2-year warranty. I had a one-year warranty...but didn't have any problems.

[Kermit]

I want to play some video games. Do you recommend the PIII over PIV? How about sound and video cards?

[xm177e2]

I just bought 512MB of SDRAM for $89. I paid twice as much for just 128MB a year ago... wow.

Thanks for posting that, I had no idea it had gotten so cheap.

[Xenalyte]

I might have missed it earlier, but is there any reason y'all are wedded to Dell? My dealings with them (corporate and personal) have been hellish. I'd recommend a Compaq - and of course, 37 FReepers are gonna come tell me CPQ is a thousand times worse than Dell.

Or better yet, build your own. A Frankenstein machine. That way, you know EXACTLY what's inside the box.

[js1138]

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.

I agree with the RAM recommendation. It's now selling retail for under $20 for 256 megs.

If you go with the P4 ona Dell you might wind up with RAMBUS memory instead of 133 SDRAM. All you need to know about this technobabble is that RAMBUS costs 4 times as much and adds little to actual performance. Lots of cheap memory is faster than a little fast memory.

I still use a PII 400 for my main internet computer. the only thing it seems slow on is really big files in Photoshop.

[ArrogantBustard]

It is that low. I always buy direct from Crucial, though you might possibly beat their prices elsewhere, sometimes. I'm planning to fill up my homebrew AMD K6-2 system to 768MB (3x256) just because a) it's cheap and b) I do a lot of digital image processing. For that, too much is never enough.

AB

[xm177e2]

It is that low.

I bought it just over a half an hour ago. I don't need independent confirmation ;)

I'm just giving away the two 128MB modules that I had in my computer... they're only worth about $25, it's not worth the effort to sell them.

The downside is that my computer can only take 512MB max =(

[ArrogantBustard]

Our posts crossed in the net. I'm sure you'll enjoy your new memory.

[xm177e2]

My dealings with them (corporate and personal) have been hellish.

I have had a very bad experience with them, when something went wrong. Their customer support is @%@#%@#$@

But as long as everything works, they are very cheap and they sell a good product. Just hope they deliver what they promised to, and you'll be fine.

[xm177e2]

Our posts crossed in the net.

I didn't realize that =)

I will, I will enjoy it.

[MississippiMan]

I want to play some video games. Do you recommend the PIII over PIV? How about sound and video cards?

Yes, I definitely still recommend the P3 vs. the P4 under almost any scenario. Lemme say this: I went from a P3-450 MHz to a P4-1.0 GHz. I can see no real-world significant speed increase in anything I do, despite having even more RAM (640 MB in the P4 vs. 512 MB that I had in the P3) and despite the fact that the P4 is running the allegedly state of the art Rambus RAM that costs 4 times as much. Some difference on a few things? Sure. Worth paying for? NO. It bears repeating here that the performance bottleneck is rarely the CPU unless you're on a really old machine. Heck, my home machine -- the one I'm typing on right this minute -- is a dang old P2 233! I'll replace it someday but since it surfs and runs Office XP like a charm I'm in no hurry.

For gaming, the ATI Radeon 8500 is a superb video card that'll cost you $175-200. There are MUCH cheaper cards that still do a great job but this is the current darling. I think this one also has dual heads for 2-monitor output which is more useful than you can imagine.

For sound, I like the Creative Labs Audigy as the ultimate sound card right now, but again, there are much cheaper cards that still do a fabulous job.

Here's an excellent source for keeping up with hot deals and specials. Gird thy loins; lots of liberal thinking there in the discussions that flare up that are likely to elevate a conservative's blood pressure.

You can also find some super deals at CompGeeks, especially on stuff one notch under the bleeding edge.

Finally, for those of you in the computer consulting biz, there is a fairly incredible software deal out there that you may well qualify for. Freepmail me.

Hope this helps.

MM

[MississippiMan]

I just bought 512MB of SDRAM for $89. I paid twice as much for just 128MB a year ago... wow. Thanks for posting that, I had no idea it had gotten so cheap.

Most welcome! Congrats!

MM

[Eva]

My daughter works for Dell. Just call them up and tell them what you told us. They will walk you through the whole process. They have a great help line for after you purchase, also.