Looking a fow a new desktop to replace my aging laptop...I'm not a hardcore gamer or anything so a basic system which can run office products, xp and the internet fast and clean since it will be connected to a cable modem. Also a a printer and a flat screen are essential. All I know about comps is Dell, are they the best deal around? If you order form them how long is the wait time usually to your door?

 

http://www.omnicast.net/~tmcfadden/g...ild/index.html

learn and save handful of cash..

 

How can you say that when you can go onto Dell's website and get a dimension 9300 p4 3ghz with 17"flat panel, printer, 512mb, 40GB Sata, etc for only $599?

I don't see how you can get all that stuff cheaper by building yourself. If cost is an issue, Dell is rarely easy to beat.

If you want top of the line and care about specific parts used then yes, building your own may be a good idea.

 

That doesn't work anymore.

Unless you are going to the extremes. (Like overclocking and crap)

 

IMO, dell is the walmart of the computer world.

they used to be the cadillac of computers, now they are the Hyundai.

They are plenty reliable and all. Just don't expect them to be fast.

 

My choices for you...

1. Build your own, its really not that hard.
2. Dell
3. Something from a place like BestBuy

If you want to game on it, then option 1, is the only real solution.
If you want to get what you pay for, again its optioin 1 all the way. I just ordered my uncle a Dell, they wanted $30 for a floppy, A FRICKIN FLOPPY! I told him no, went to the local computer store and got a used floppy for $4.98 and had a cable so all was well.

If you just want to surf the web and wordprocess then you cant beat otion 2 or 3.

 

Sorry for the craptacular layout.

Dell Dimension 5100 Series
Intel

 

yeh I was looking at that....They have a deal now where its free shipping if you buy it buy wednesday...but its crazy how there is no floppy and no speakers which aren't a big deal but its like ook....Anyways it does have a soundcard though right? so all I would have to do is put in speakers or a headphone jack in and you get sound? Also you only get a one year service plan....hmm. Ieven looked at gateway but its worse than dell. I'm also assuming that your new dell comes with a network 10/100 ehternet card for cable modem connetion right?


Man I havent bought a new comp since 99.....lol.

 

oh and ninethree how long was the wait for the comp to arrive at your from when your ordered it on the phone?

 

It was for my uncle, I will not sit idley by and be accused of buing a Dell.

Anyway, turn around time was about 10 days. We ordered on a saturday and he got it probably the second tuesday.

Soundcard is there.

The write up I did included a 30% off coupon (find it and others on fatwallet.com).
The one year service is actually $29 or so. I forget, but it is not free for service from Dell, and I would at least recommend 1 year if you know nothing about computers, 2 years if you know nothing and have bad luck, and whatever they give you if you know alot about computers, but then you would probably be building your own.

As for the floppy, get a USB thumb drive. I dont have a floppy in my computer and when I did need one (to flash my bios) I went in the other room and stole the one out of that computer for 30mins, then pomptly returned it.