Help! Where's the best place/website to buy a new computer and multi function machine?

none ^ | 1-30-03 | M. Peach

[cdefreese]

256 Megs of RAM? What other sticks of RAM is in your machine? With many motherboards, you have to stick the largest sized RAM in the slot closest to the processor.

Or it could be that you bought SDRAM instead of DDR RAM. Or, the RAM in the Dell could be RAMBUS RAM.

If it fits in the slot, I would go with the suggestion above.

[Search4Truth]

http://www.pricewatch.com/

[Britton J Wingfield]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/ is very good.

www.outpost.com is good. They are the web sales for Fry's Electronics.

[Ff--150]

ing-pay

[upchuck]

I'd suggest you check into Dell's refurbished^ computers. Fantastic prices and guaranteed to run like new. I'd also suggest taking Dell's 3 year on-site warranty. And if you're buying a notebook computer, be sure to get their "Complete Care" service that covers just about everything (drop your notebook? It's covered).

[JoeSixPack1]

As cdefreese said, tons of different ram out there. You've got to match what you have. And then be assured the megage is acceptable to the boards logic.

Bumping the upper mem is a pain when you don't have the specs on the MB.

Get with DELL support and pin down the proper stick. They will happily guide you to get the right one.
Some independent computer shops will make trades (at a profit).

[Lee'sGhost]

SDRAM instead of DDR RAM

I think that's the problem. I mean I'm pretty sure the Compaq used SDRAM and the Dell is using DDR. So, I guess I'm hosed, huh?

[SeeRushToldU_So]

http://www.pricewatch.com

[Lee'sGhost]

Thanks for the trade idea. That's probably my only hope of salvaging something out of the deal.

[Petronski]

I've had good luck with Tiger Direct. Right now, I am using the Dell I got there.

[JoeSixPack1]

Once you figure out which stick to get, it'll work out. And you'll be edumacated! :-)

[Revolting cat!]

I'm a builder too (since 1986.) Clone it, I say, even if you're not going to build it yourself. There are still some reputable shops in your state, typically owned by East Asians, that'll build you a machine to your specs for a reasonable price. If you want a high performance box for a reasonable price, that's the way to go.

[FoxGirl]

**My own experience with Dell has been excellent.

I wish I could say the same thing...I'm on my second laptop (first one got fried in an electrical storm) and have had problems with the floppy drive (it stalls and erases the jpgs on the floppy...grrrr) Tech support has been frustrating. You get a different answer for the same problem with different tech people. I finally got a guy that knew what he was talking about, but he's not in tech support anymore. Figures! I still need to call them back, b/c the NEW drive did the same thing (not right away, though). I hate calling tech support.

[RWG]

www.store.apple.com

[VOA]

bump

[TomServo]

Can you tell me why the new 256 chip I bought for the Compaq won't fit my new Dell?

Is Compaq still using proprietary hardware?

[newgeezer]

I like the Lexmark for print-scan-copy. Cheapest cost/page. (Beware expensive carts from Brothers and HP).

Actually, if you can do without color, almost any laser multifunction machine is WAY cheaper per page than any inkjet.

I just received a refurb Xerox XE-88 from compgeeks.com ($107 on my doorstep). Now that both the drum and toner carts arrived from eBay, I'm anxious to try it out this weekend.

[Mannaggia l'America]

It's hard to beat Dell. I needed a cheap PC to do some testing with the Windows 2003 Release Candidate and I picked up a Dell 2350 for around $600 with free shipping. I had it in about 1 week.

Be somewhat aware of the free shipping. It is shipped by some carrier I never heard of from Dell to your area, and then shipped from the carrier's depot to your house by the US Postal Service (not UPS -- the good ol' Post Office). If you have any issues with how your mail gets delivered, consider paying for another method.

I don't have any problems with the post office delivering stuff, but it happened to be that no one was home when they tried to deliver it, so they left a slip in my mailbox and I had to drive to the post office and pick it up (2 big boxes - no problem for my Silverado - could be for a smaller car). If you are not home when they try to deliver, expect to have to go pick it up yourself.

[anymouse]

I have a bit newer HP multi-function printer/fax/scanner/copier. It works great and the operation is very intuitive. I looked at other brands and they seemed to be a bit more complicated to operate. The one I have does color too. the price wasn't to bad either.

Check Office Depot for sale prices. Best Buy has good prices and a no hastle return policy if you don't like what you bought.

[anymouse]

That last post was for you too. :)