I'd like to comment on the 32-bit operating system.

Some of the new computers come with more memory and 64-bit Vista. Theoretically, that means that the computer can operate quicker. The problem is that not all devices have 64-bit drivers. For example, some printers don't come with 64-bit drivers.

My desktop has 64-bit Vista Home Premium, and although it can do most anything I want, I can't use it at home to connect with my work PC via VPN. Cisco doesn't offer a 64-bit VPN program.

 

bingo

 

Jerry,

If you don't mind buying your PC via the Internet, check some of the good sales sites such as:

http://dealnews.com/

http://slickdeals.net/

http://news.cnet.com/cheapskate/?tag=mncol;pm

http://www.fatwallet.com/

These sites are very reliable and point to great deals and usually no sales tax is applied to the sale.

The Cnet site yesterday has a e-machine laptop described as follows:

What's better than the $299 Dell Inspiron 15n laptop I posted a couple weeks ago? If you can scrounge up an extra 50 bucks, you'll get more bang from the $349.99 eMachines eME625-5192.

For openers, this is a new lappie, not a refurb. That's a rare find for less than $400, let alone for less than $350. No rebates, either. Shipping will run you just $1.99.

It's pretty well stocked, too, including a 1.6GHz Athlon 64 TF-20 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, and a DVD burner. It has a 15.6-inch screen, a 5-in-1 memory card reader, and a travel weight of about 6 pounds.

It also includes a six-cell battery; the Dell had a four-cell. The Dell also had less RAM, a smaller hard drive, and Linux as its operating system. eMachines bundles Vista Home Basic--blech, right?

My recommendation: Install the free Windows 7 Release Candidate and enjoy that until next March. Then you can decide if you want to buy the OS outright, switch to Linux, go back to Vista Home Basic, or whatever.

If this was a refurb, I'd be calling it a mighty sweet deal. Given that it's new and comes with a full, one-year warranty, forget deal: it's a steal.

 

I also want to comment on Dell support.

I have a Dell monitor, a Dell Inspiron laptop, and some cameras bought on the Dell website.

All Dell support is handled by their call center in India. I am very frustrated by the call center support because they don't really help you, they just recite their scripts. To get US support with Dell, you can now order it with your PC, but it costs extra.

 

The main difference as far as buying a computer goes is that Vista uses about twice as much memory as XP. So if you have reasonable performance on your current machine, you probably want at least double the memory on your new one.

 

Jerry the issue with the Emachines is the power supplies. If it goes than your stuck as they use a PROPRIETARY power supply in them. Other than that they are fine.

 

thanks for the info.....this will give me another website to spend a couple hours on....

 

thanks for your thoughts on item 1 otoh, it was my understanding that Windows 7.0 was only available in a Beta version

re: item 2: thanks for the idea, G-rod....BUT i'm already spending enough time on the research.....don't need superfluous activity

now, if YOU wanted to start a POLL, I'm sure that it would get a lot of traction from the s2ki crew..........

 

thanks for shopping bot suggestions, Dennis

re: customer service, another friend told me that....when you buy DELL from their business/ enterprise website, the CS reps are in the old US of A and you have a better chance of getting an actual answer.

wondering....is Slumdog Millionaire now a CS rep in Mumbai?

 

I have the gold support, its worth it not to have to talk to Phil in India. Plus if your
system goes down they'll come to you to fix it. I've even had them come to my
job sites.