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...........

[fqued]

a few very important suggestions:

Call DELL, they might give you a good deal on two, and their over-the-phone deals are good.

PCs (i.e., MS windows) are used by 90-95% of people, including the gamers, so go with that rather than linix, unix, apple, mac, etc. Almost any software and games you would want are made for PCs, but not necessarily for the others.

Most important, talk to your local phone company about DSL, broadband. I have MSN Broadband through Qwest, it costs me about $30-35 a month, and I don't need another internet connection. You get unlimited connectivity at quite fast speed.

[Old Professer]

Dell sells used machines and refurbished machines with the O/S stripped; a $350 machine will need $600.00 worth of software to work.

[Manic_Episode]

I think E-machines use a celeron cpu, which are ok. E-machines are ok cheap computers and should serve you well as long as you don't plan on upgrading them.
You could add a better video card etc, but that's about it.
We bought one a few years ago and the fan on the power supply was noisy, but it still works.

[Lovergirl]

hrmmmm.. Thanks for the info.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I know one person with an E machine, and he loves it.

[July 4th]

Buy from Dell. Good machines, and service after the sale. But don't ask for something with 512K and 120MB, or they'll ask you the last decade that you purchased your last computer. (I'm guessing you meant 512MB of RAM and a 120GB drive, which sounds just fine for what you're doing.)

[Vladivostok]

I agree with the guy that suggested going to the Dell outlet area, you may also want to investigate the HP outlet for refurbed HPs and Compaqs. CompUSA's auction section also has some solid looking deals from time to time.

[general_re]

Dell sells used machines and refurbished machines with the O/S stripped; a $350 machine will need $600.00 worth of software to work.

Not true - Dell's refurbs come with the same software package as when they were new.

[Green Knight]

I've been checking out the Dell catalog, as I'm looking to buy a new computer, soon, and the Dell Dimension 2400 looks pretty good to me, and it's only $500. It has the following (Note that I'm a fairly computer illiterate guy, so I don't know what much of this means. I just know it's better than the computer I have, now):

- Intel Celeron Processor at 2.20 GHz
- 128MB Shared DDR SDRAM at 266MHz
- 40GB ATA/100 Value Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
- 17" E773 Monitor
- Integrated Intel 3D Extreme Graphics
- 48x CD-ROM Drive
- Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
- Altec Lansing ADA 215 Speakers

Like I said, only $500 (I plan on getting one with a flat-screen monitor, which'll run $700, instead). Just a thought. Here's the Dell number, in case you want to ask for a catalog or ask some other questions. 1-800-576-3355. Hope that helps.

[martin_fierro]

I've used an E-Machines "E-Slate" K6 III HEAVILY for three years now, with no problems.

It was right under $1000 when I bought it new at Costco, and hasn't given me a spot of trouble. It's travelled all over the country with me.

That's the only E-Machine anecdote I can supply. Don't know about their other machines.

[fqued]

What fascinates me, is that I wrote "call Dell" and it appears that most other posters so far have also said "Dell."

Kind of strange, being in the majority. . . .

[Iris7]

I believe any box running XP or W2k will have adequate support for multmedia, except if custom made, or intended as servers. Tell the salespeople they have to run realplayer and a cd, fire 'em up with some some cds. download Realplayer from the website and do the website's function test. This will show you what you need to know. Some sort of multimedia support is pretty standard at $600 or so.

Dells are nice because they give fine handholding, return priviledges (no shipping to pay), and will steer you to a good box. Athlons are OK, more bang for the buck.

In your shoes I would go with a fairly "slow" processer and a hard drive more like 40 gig. Also I would see my favorite used computer shop. I could go out right this second and buy a Pentium III with multimedia, CD, and 20-40 gig drive for under $200 (with likely more than 5 years of life left), or a good 17" Sony tube monitor for $80. Personally I'd load them with W2K.

Apples are very expensive for the performance provided. If you want a totally secure OS Linux or even OpenBSD.

[Physicist]

I tell you this as soberly as I can manage: under NO CIRCUMSTANCES purchase an emachines computer, unless it is intended as a gift for a mortal enemy.

My father bought one of these boat anchors several years ago. On paper it looked like a good deal, but to get the low price he had to buy a 3-year subscription to a god-awful MSN service that he didn't need. New out of the box, the machine would freeze every half an hour, and tech support was almost non-existent. Occasionally, the machine would go "on the fritz", with nothing displayed on the screen but an odd kind of snow. Everything about the machine was cheap and flimsy. It sounded like a lawnmower. It even stank.

I got so fed up with helping him cope with this system that we bought him a new Dell Dimension 2400 last month (complete system including monitor for $500, shipping was free). Rock solid, no problems so far.

[rs79bm]

I would probably aviod E-Machines, jsut my personal opinion. They like to offer really great deals, but skimp around on the hardware end. As for good solid machines, try Dell or Gateway. I cringe when I suggest Gateway, but it would be better than a HP or Compaq machine, which in my mind are closer to Emachines than Dell. All this of course is if you can't get a reputable, locally built computer in the area, I find they can build far more superior machines than any big computer company can.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

The guy I know is using their newest laptop - its apparently featured up.

[annyokie]

I agree. Emachines are the McDonald's of computers. My neighbor bought one and it was pushing up daisies within two weeks.

[cebadams]

Oh, that e-machine. I thought this thread was about the original e-machine:

[martin_fierro]

Yeah, I'm considering the M5310, too.

PC Magazine wasn't wild about it, tho.

[Ches]

"Also I would see my favorite used computer shop. I could go out right this second and buy a Pentium III with multimedia, CD, and 20-40 gig drive for under $200 (with likely more than 5 years of life left)"

We bought a good used, refurbished computer for our daughter from a local computer repair shop three years ago. It was a great deal and we've been very happy with it.

[Gorzaloon]

I build and fix computers and I wont TOUCH an e-machine.

Sounds like the old Packard-Bells!! I refused to work on them for friends.."Opening the case is like being the first to arrive at a horrible accident-You do not want to look, but you have to!"