Neverside

It looks chock-full of completely unneeded junk.... I believe I could build a better computer right now for around $1000-1500 (i.e. a little higher considering it includes a monitor). Once I began checking the most current prices (haven't done so in a long time) I wouldn't be surprised if I could do it for much less than that even.

$130 Dell Movie Studio Plus... ?!?
EDUCATEU OFFICEXP ONLINE TRAIN.... not sure, but looks like that probably tacks on tons of $
512MB DDR AT 400MHZ - 2X256MB .... equals little or no RAM upgradablity.... I'd say get it with 1 stick 256, and then get another 512 stick from Crucial/etc for about $100.... much better price that way.

Also be careful... I've noticed that Dell has lately been "pre checking" a lot of add-on component options that you don't want or need.... i.e. when I configued a laptop there last week, it automatically included a carrying case, various $ software, surge protector, etc etc... overall added several hundred dollars to the price - if I had been a newbie, I might have easily missed that and ended up buying all the stuff I didn't need (which is probably what Dell is counting on).

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-- Dave
Neverside Admin

absolutecross.com

My god that is a complete rip off.

You could build a better computer for like $1000-1500

actually my computer is better for $600 (minus monitor and speakers)

a 5200!!! for a 2.5k computer def not what you want.

and since it's 2.6 with ht it's a northwood C core.

If he's got that kind of money get him an athlon 64 system w/ 1gb of ram and like a 9800 pro plus a free beta of wink 2k3 64

(http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/64bit/extended/trial/default.mspx)

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Back in the states.

That's basically what I'm trying to get across.. I've offered to build a better one for $1500 and it would have great components. The system he is looking at has no future, really - it just isn't upgradeable. Thanks for all the replies, and I'll follow up the next time he gets back to me. I jsut hope putting a computer together is as easy as I think it is.

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I did the atkins diet for only two weeks, and I lost 14 days!

"Decker, your sig still.." rocks
Love, Phil

RED FLAG!

you've never built a computer before but your going to buiild one for someoen else first?

you're pretty gutsy.

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Back in the states.

Yea man, I wouldve never taken the risk of having my first built computer for someone else :-/

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"The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything."� - Edward J. Phelps

Well I plan to have friends help that have done it. Maybe for a little payment. Yeah, gutsy I know...I'm gonna take apart my old gateway and put it back together a few times. Im really quite unsure about it all. I know opportunities don't come around like this all the time.

Can anyone link me to a up-to-date tutorial on building a PC of your own? I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do, but I want to be extremely thorough.

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I did the atkins diet for only two weeks, and I lost 14 days!

"Decker, your sig still.." rocks
Love, Phil

Last edited by Decker, January 13th, 2004 03:19 AM (Edited 1 times)

all retail companies bloat your windows installation with usless programs, most of the time RAM doesnt run in sync with your FSB, and they're overpriced. open up newegg, config a system with the exact same parts, and show the price difference.

online tutorials dont help one bit. nor do books. the truth is, technology is always changing. material isnt up to date. the best resource while putting your pc together is your motherboard manual.

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Signature Suspended as it is in violation with the signature rules

Not entirely true, a book on hardware i have from 2000 is still very much valid nowdays. Basics of the tech do not change that much afterall, even if they get faster or smaller.

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"No matter if it is a white cat or a black cat; a cat that can catch rats is a good cat."

your mother board and processor will come with intallation guide maybe even your ram will to...

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Back in the states.

To dispell some rumors that have been said here:
their AGP slots (when the mobo has it) ARE standard... agp IS a standard... therefore any agp slot is standard.
Also, unless you're getting one of their "As seen on tv" super-low price computers, their parts aren't poor quality. At all. Now, those bargain-basement prices for some of the specials they have... i'd beware.

Yes, they do put a whole LOT of "demo software" on the pcs... my parents had 4 different image editing programs (all of which sucked btw.. except PSP of course), none of which were full versions. And yes, some of it is spyware... which is easily taken care of by someone with enough wits to build a computer themselves, i'm sure

and remember.. building a computer isn't as cheap as everyone thinks... you have to remember the price of winblows (+$200-300), the price of a monitor... mouse+Keyboard (don't go cheap on those please....) speakers, any SOFTWARE they might want.. (office is pretty $%#!ing expensive...)... and don't warez it.. they might get pissed off if they get arrested for unknowingly stealing software...

point is, Dell isn't a bad deal for people who aren't tech savvy. and building one isn't as cheap as people think.. heaven forbid you have a conflict... or something fries (i've seen it happen..) there goes $300-500 down the toilet.

I know you probably won't even read this.. but there's been a lot of dell bashing here.. and a LOT of is was uncalled for, even false. sure you could build one cheaper.. but will it be as good a value?

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