Is this a ripoff?

[mrmiagi]

Hey all,

I just want to buy a really cheap comp for my grandparents. The won't do anything with it but get on AOL, as well as play some casino games or something.

I've built my own comp, and I could build them one, but I'm really being lazy and I need to order it really soon.

I tried to find a crapy refurbished one from Gateway or something and this is what I came up with.

http://www.gateway.com/reman/hm_desktop_1006248_3002834_Select_500SE.asp?seg=hm

I think its a bit overprice...but what you say?

It has just about the right specs for them.

(if it is a really bad deal, where's a better place to look?)

Thanks loads.

[kueijie]

wow, this kind of combination i think is going to phase out soon in 6 mths time or even lesser... but abt US$300, i see it a little $$$ X-Pen-sive $$$, maybe at this point of time, i would only willing to pay US$200-US$250 only

[Paleo Pete]

Win ME, integrated everything and NO FLOPPY...I wouldn't touch it with someone else's mousepad...

Take a look at This Dell (http://www.computersurplusoutlet.com/viewproduct.asp?ProductID=COM-P44501) from CSO (http://www.computersurplusoutlet.com/). Less expensive, lots more memory, larger hard drive, doesn't say if it has floppy or modem or what OS is installed, if any. Call their 800 number and find out. CSO is reliable, and will work with you on returns or DOA parts.

By the way, what are you doing looking for a "crappy refurbished" job??? I doubt if you'd like it if they looked at buying YOU a computer that way...

[sea69]

do you really want to treat your grandparents that way???

and since you are ordering it, and "know" about pc's (as far as they're concerned anyway)- YOU will be the one they bring it to- (and they WILL be bringing it to you with that configuration) to fix now and then...................

not me!


my advice:

1)NEVER purchase 1/2 a computer (no floppy drive)

2)AVOID winME as an OS (if possible)


;)

[dilsburger]

I've been down this road recently and you can believe sea69 when he says they WILL call you!

Do them (and yourself) a favor and get something that will hold them a few years. I bought my 75 year old grandfather who only uses the internet/email and scanner (well sort of uses the scanner) a Dell 4400/1.6Ghz P4/40MB HD/256MB DDR SDRAM/Geforce2 MX (no 3d games for him)/Soundblaster Live Value/XP Home. I also got him with his approval the 3 year in home warranty/repair because he lives 70 miles away.

AND I HAVE TO NETMEETING WITH HIM REGULARLY TO BAIL HIM OUT! :D :D

Oh - he loves online checkers too!;)

[mjc]

Friends don't let friends buy ME...let alone give it to their GRANDPARENTS.

I second Pete, check out what CSO has to offer, they usually have pretty good prices and not too bad machines (the older ones).

[mrmiagi]

Crappy is a relevant term. What is crappy by comparison to my current computer. Anything is better than the comp they have been using, and yes they call me all the time to fix it. A PI 133 mhz with a 1.7 gb hd, and windows 95, 16 mb or RAM or so. The point is that anything I buy will be a 5x stepup in quality from that, and I will get fewer calls.

Oh, and I wasn't going to leave Win ME on there. I've got a Win XP Pro disk awaiting its fate.

Thanks all for the advice. I'll definitely have to check out CSO!

Miagi

[sea69]

if you're going to install winXP- be sure to check for hardware/BIOS date/ compatabilities.

;)

[Nooyawkah]

I'm old. Not as old as your grandparents maybe, but I do have a 1 year old grandson. We oldies are living longer and having more fun. Don't buy them an already obsolete piece of junk with no warranty. They'll thank you for it!

For example, my friend bought the "Mercury" system from PC Progress for $559 with an Athlon XP 1900+ processor, 256 DDR RAM, 40GB hdd, a CD player and WIN XP for $559 and he's very happy with it. In fact, there's an ad in Aug. PC Shopper for the same system. Don't cheap-out on the old folks. :D

[HeadachesAbound]

Swap out a few parts and this might just work for your Grandparents.

http://www.newegg.com/app/WishList.asp?position=HISTORY&submit=VIEW&ID=132629

[evalroy]

Check out this link for a deal on a brand new Dell at Ben's Bargains. At $413 delivered, this would make a great basic system for your grandparents.

Specifiations: Dimension 4500S - Celeron 1.7GHz, 128MB DDR, QuietKey Keyboard, MS Intellimouse, XP Home 1-yr Warranty, 20GB Drive, Works 2002, No Monitor/Network/Modem

The Gateway is not a deal at all.

ER

Ben's Bargains (http://www.bensbargains.net/) :cool:

[Steve]

Hi mrmiagi,

If you're still looking for a cheap system you might want to look HERE (http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=GEN7845) or HERE (http://www.compgeeks.com/products.asp?cat=SYS#Pentium III). BTW, I spent two years with a computer that didn't have a floppy drive. I wouldn't recommend it.

Good luck. :)