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The Backlash Cometh Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-02-03 12:00 PM
Original message
In the market for a home PC
Someone I know is going to get a PC for Christmas and they asked me what to buy. I told them to put Dell last on their list. They asked the obvious question, well what do you recommend, then? So I'm asking DU, what do you recommend?

The ultimate user needs it for basic word-processing. So nothing snazzy is necessary. In fact, the less complicated, the better.
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trotsky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-02-03 12:03 PM
Response to Original message
1. What's the budget?
That will greatly influence the answer.
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The Backlash Cometh Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-02-03 12:08 PM
Response to Reply #1
4. I'm guessing
$800-$1000.

Actually, the printer quality is more important. Ink jet would be preferred over Laser, however. Laser would be too slow for his needs.
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trotsky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-02-03 12:12 PM
Response to Reply #4
8. Easy to work within.
I avoid Dell & Gateway in professional environments mainly because of their lack of consistent standards.

But for home environments, I am comfortable recommending both. They each have "good enough" tech support which -- most importantly -- is geared towards the PC novice.

You can get outstanding quality inkjets for CHEAP these days. The manufacturers finally realized that they don't even need to make money selling the printer - they'll make it up in spades selling you ink cartridges.
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TreasonousBastard Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-02-03 07:28 PM
Response to Reply #4
14. Ummm...
most lasers are a lot faster than inkjets, and the ink doesn't run when wet.

The real question is whether color is needed, and then how fast do you run through those expensive cartridges.
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The Backlash Cometh Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-03 07:55 AM
Response to Reply #14
18. Do you have suggestions for the laser or ink jet for
the best speed and quality? Can you give me a recommendation for a $200 & $300 printer?
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demnan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-02-03 12:04 PM
Response to Original message
2. Why is Dell the last on the list?
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The Backlash Cometh Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-02-03 12:11 PM
Response to Reply #2
6. Because that would be sleeping with the enemy.
I'm the ultimate consumer: They don't count my vote, so they can't have mah money.
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dani Donating Member (640 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-02-03 12:11 PM
Response to Reply #2
7. maybe because
of their outsourcing (support), or maybe this:

Michael Dell mobilized high-tech support for his former Austin neighbor George W. Bush throughout the campaign. In a letter dated December 5, Dell ... urged Al Gore to quit the race before the votes were even counted. "We understand that some of your advisors may be urging you to fight to the bitter end ... We call upon you to voluntarily concede this close-fought election . . . for the betterment of our country."


For more info:
http://www.motherjones.com/news/special_reports/mojo_400/104_dell.html
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ewagner Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-02-03 12:05 PM
Response to Original message
3. Just went through this
Had to replace my old CPU after five years and a Microsoft "update". (Hint:don't install the SOBs.)

Just bought my second Gateway CPU and I'm very pleased with Gateway. Customer service is excellent and the products aren't bad either. I got a pentium IV (2.3 gighz)40 gig hard drive 256 meg of ram and a combo CD/DVD writer/burner for $540. Kept my old 19" monitor. Thought it was a pretty good deal.
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The Backlash Cometh Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-02-03 12:09 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. I think they are leaning towards Gateway.
Thanks.
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Goldmund Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-02-03 12:21 PM
Response to Original message
9. If they are a little tech-savvy
Edited on Tue Dec-02-03 12:21 PM by slavkomae
Recommend they put it together themselves. At www.pricewatch.com you can find really cheap components and then use them to assemble a system. There's no way any of the major pre-built systems can even come close to being as cheap as an equivalent system you put together.
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cally Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-02-03 12:29 PM
Response to Original message
10. I had mine built at a local shop
Edited on Tue Dec-02-03 12:31 PM by cally
I paid about 40 percent less than I otherwise would have and I got just what I wanted. I loved not having to spend half a day taking off all the stuff the manufacturers install that they think you want. I had a slight problem, the shop took it back and immediately fixed it. I will buy all my machines this way now. Much better.

On edit: It was actually quicker, also. I just spent one-half hour on the phone with them and told them what I wanted and what I wanted to do with it. The owner suggested some components to me and helped me choose wisely. I picked it up 4 days later. Runs perfectly.
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RebelOne Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-02-03 12:32 PM
Response to Original message
11. Well, when my last computer died, I bought an E-Machine
Real inexpensive. Not a lot of bells and whistles, but I don't use it for much more than surfing the Web. The only disadvantage is that their "stereo" sound is not worth 2 cents. Luckily, I had a Doby sound system from my old computer.
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myccrider Donating Member (55 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-02-03 03:39 PM
Response to Original message
12. Try a Mac
If this person isn't already a PC person, you can't do better than a Mac for ease of use, lack of software problems, and pretty good customer support. Their lowest end eMac runs around $800 and includes everything they need for just word processing and net surfing. It doesn't include a printer, unfortunately.

Here's an example.

http://shop4.outpost.com/product/3851037#detailed
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TreasonousBastard Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-02-03 07:25 PM
Response to Reply #12
13. I agree...
unless there's a specific need for Windoze, an eMac should do everything they need, and have fewer hassles than a Windoze machine.

$1100 with the Superdrive DVD recorder/player.

iMacs are more expensive, but nicer.

A Power Mac is probably out of the question, and unnecessary.

http://www.apple.com --click on the store

Printers are dirt cheap everywhere, and many work with Macs. If it does, it'll say so on the box.
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Deja Q Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-02-03 07:51 PM
Response to Reply #13
16. Worth the extra $700 though?
Low-end PCs would cost $400, that's all this dude eeds. Average desktop PC I'd buy would be $600 and could buy it that would compare to a $1800 Mac. :eyes:

Are Macs really THAT much nicer?
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Nomad559 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-03 01:07 AM
Response to Reply #13
17. 12" G3 900 iBOOK $799 + Free All-in-One Printer
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0168463


I saw this posted at FatWallet.

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=18&threadid=247639
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AlabamaYankee Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-03 09:58 AM
Response to Reply #12
21. I love my eMac
The various mail order shops seem to be waging a price-and-goodies war, so the cost is competitive. My "lowest end" machine is 800 MHz, and runs on cable internet faster than my office computer on a university backbone. If you must use the MS Office software, the crossover with Windows machines is transparent.
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Deja Q Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-02-03 07:49 PM
Response to Original message
15. Only that?
Then forget a Mac, they're overpriced and overglorified.

A $675 PC would be more powerful than a $1000 iMac anyway and come with more RAM, hard drive space, and other amenities like being able to archive your data on separate storage (iMacs don't come with floppy OR CD-R/RW drives, duh...) . :eyes:
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HarukaTheTrophyWife Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-03 09:29 AM
Response to Reply #15
20. they do come with CD-R/RW drives
even in the cheapest of machines. Who needs a floppy drive these days?
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Pinko Commie Donating Member (91 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-03 09:28 AM
Response to Original message
19. Just tell them to use pencil and paper
I can't recommend either Dell or Gateway. They both have, oh, how can I say it, problems with lieing and cheating.

If, and it's a big if, you don't think you will ever have to send the machine in for repair, then maybe. Which may be the case if you're buying a cheap machine. But if you will rely on them for repairs, I'd say no.

Apple's tech support and repair functions get consistently top grades from the magazine review. And the Mac is a great machine.
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