PC on TV

[Duffy Sullivan]

Yesterday,I saw this PC system on an informercial, called the System Max.They were selling the whole package for under 2 grand.Seemed like it came with everything.Monitor,speakers[4 with subwoofer],printer,keyboard,mouse,a barrel of software[mostly education stuff].It had an Athlon 1.2 proc.,128 pc 133 sdram,200Mh f.s.b.,12xdvd,5.1 Sound blaster live sound card,Win.ME OS....I could go on;they did! I couldn't catch what it had for a motherboard or video card.Anyway, has anyone seen this add, or know anything about the 'puter? Seems they were selling a lot of computer for $1800.Of course there was an 800# to call and order one.They said you could try it for 30 days and if you're not pleased, they would take it back.That is, if they are still in business,right?Seems like it would make a great product for MaximumPC to review!

[sea69]

if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is...........as you point out will they be there in 30 days??

Most machines have at least a ONE YEAR warranty..and lord knows what type 'spare parts' this thing may actually have in it.

The price at $1800.00 is NOT that good to begin with, and it having WinME as an OS is part of the reason they are giving this "discount"- they are phasing out ME from pre-install on new pc's (for MANY reasons)...

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*another 'toaster' bites the dust*

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 04-17-2001).]

[Randy_tx]

As with every "Mass-Produced" PC I've seen so far......the ONE thing they NEVER give is good Tech Support. I get machines in every week that are six weeks old and the customer has "HAD IT" with the company they bought the computer from ........computer didnt work when it arrived, has errors and they dont have anyone to help you with em, didnt send the driver cd's with the machine and on and on........My advice: Buy from someone CLOSE TO YOU......that way, if something goes wrong, you are 5 min away and can see them eye to eye.

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Will XP save Me ?

[tjaymadison]

Systemax has been around for a few years as a semi-custom/build-to-order system integrator. I would bet many of the components you don't see -- HD, video & sound, modem, power supply, etc. -- are either low-end or integrated on the motherboard, which is seldom from a well-known manufacturer. Room for expansion is probably also very limited. If you watch your prices, you can almost always buy equivalent hardware components yourself for quite a bit less. Out of the $1800, I would guess that around $600 is profit. Somebody has to pay for that infomercial. Granted, you do get a ton of software, but how much of it will you still be using six months down the road, and how much of it is "fluff"? Those system integrators get the stuff for practically nothing, so the software maker can bombard you with upgrade offers and sell your name after you register it. There is also the added cost of shipping, but you might offset some of that on sales tax. There are some pluses -- the system will most likely work right out of the box, and the setup instructions will generally be easy to follow. For those who don't feel comfortable building their own, there are worse ways to go. You could get a Compaq! (Sorry in advance to all who have one, but I just couldn't help myself.) http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif But like Randy pointed out, there's a lot to be said for being able to talk face-to-face with someone who has a stake in your good will and satisfaction. That's a lot better than getting an RA number, packing the unit back in the box(es) and waiting for two weeks or more without a computer. And if they have to replace something, they usually reserve the option to use refurbished parts.

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"When I nod my head, hit it with the hammer."
(Moe, holding nail, to Curly, holding hammer)

[This message has been edited by tjaymadison (edited 04-18-2001).]

[BigBlue66]

TJAYMADISON: I assume that you know all states have what is known as 'use' tax???? If you buy something from out of state, use it in your state, and are not charged your state's sales tax, then you owe use tax on the purchase. Use tax is a complement to sales tax.

I was wondering about your comment to Duffy about saving on sales tax, is all. Check your tax return. You will see a line item for 'use' tax on out-of-state purchases.

Unless of course, WA is a sales tax free state?? Is that possible?? I have heard of states where there are no income taxes, but sales taxes?? I want to move there!

Sorry, couldn't resist. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Cheers,

Big Blue 66


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The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability that you'll get it wrong.

[This message has been edited by BigBlue66 (edited 04-18-2001).]

[This message has been edited by BigBlue66 (edited 04-18-2001).]

[BigBlue66]

Alrighty then.

Just found out that five states do not charge sales taxes. Unfortunately, Washington state is not one of them.

What I said about use tax and the rules thereof, is my final answer. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Cheers,

BB 66


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The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability that you'll get it wrong.

[sea69]

hehe "Judge BB" - has spoken! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

where have you been ??




[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 04-18-2001).]

[BigBlue66]

Howdy Hey Sea,

Been lurking every now and then, but have mostly been spending every spare minute I have studying for the CPA exam. That is, when I'm not too tired and frazzled from work. Woe is me. (I don't know why I put myself through this kind of stuff sometimes. Gettin too old)

It's coming down to the wire now, (exam is on May 2nd and 3rd) so will no doubt be spending even less time here.

Wish me luck, and if you're a God fearin man, a prayer might help, too. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Congrats on your "Master" status Sea. Does that mean you now have DOS fully understood? hehe

Cheers,

Big Blue 66


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The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability that you'll get it wrong.

[Paleo Pete]

BB66: Glad to hear from you, been wondering myself. Good luck on the test, I hope you do well. We may be able to survive without ya till the test is done, but I have noticed that comic relief is sorely lacking around here at times, so get it over with already! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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So many idiots, and only six bullets...
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[sea69]

I have no doubt that as detail oriented as you are , there will be no Problems on that CPA Exam. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

bon chance, and have fun.. (those number intensive occupations leave me frustrated!!)


hehe.. "Master"(b8er)lololololololololololololololololol
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*another 'toaster' bites the dust*

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 04-20-2001).]

[BigBlue66]

"Thank you for your support." (The old feller from those Bartles and James commercials, can't remember his name)

Wish I was as confident as you are Sea. The national pass rate for first-time takers of the exam is only 13%. Although, the Madison WI area has more like a twenty-something percentile pass rate. Woe is me.

As for humor, Pete, TJAYMADISON is doing a fine job. Must be the water in this neck of the woods. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I have actually posted a couple of times lately, but not as much as I would like to.

All I can do is all I can do. I have almost convinced myself that I will have to take the exam over in November. Will just have to wait and see. I am taking some time off from work for a final cram session, so hopefully that will help.

Cheers,

BB 66


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The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability that you'll get it wrong.

[Paleo Pete]

So what are you doing hanging around here with us geeks and not studying? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

One thing I found many moons ago in school, our band director refused to rehearse the music we were to play in concerts and competitions the day before the performance. Everything you're going to learn you already have, so take the day before the test off, cramming that day will do you no good.

And if you put any faith in the more esoteric lines of thinking you can try sleeping with the book under your pillow, it's said that it helps. I don't have a clue if it will work, I always found it easy to learn anything I wanted to so I just read the book a few times and let 'er rip...never actually studied in my life the way most folks do...and I NEVER made below 90 on any test I ever took in school. Pretty near failed high school though, because I also refused to do homework, book reports, essays or anything but stare out the window in class. Also stayed 2 years ahead of the grade I was actually in, so by the time I got to class I already had it wired...9th grade and I was into college textbooks...when I could find them.

Can you say BORED?

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So many idiots, and only six bullets...
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[BigBlue66]

Hey Pete,

I hang around here to relax, and let my mind churn on the latest information that I have tried to force-feed it. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

As for HS, can't even remember much. In retrospect, I wish I had been more 'with it' as far as the realization of the worth of academics. Just kind of floated through HS, didn't apply myself, but somehow graduated. Worked my butt off in meaningless, back-breaking jobs for over ten years after that.

I just finished college with a 3.94 GPA, so guess that shows that I now realize the value of edumacation. 'Course, when I decided to go back to school, all my oats had been sown, I was tired of spinning my wheels, and I was ready to apply myself.

When I mentioned time off, I meant one week's vacation before the exam. I do intend to take it easy the couple of days before the exam. No sense in cramming my mind full, 'cause then it will be overloaded and I will no doubt suffer CRS. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I agree that if I don't know it now, I never will. However, there is so much to remember. I have always had a knack of bringing up an image of a page from a book in my mind when taking an exam. That's how I remembered all those journal entries usually. With the CPA exam, I will have to know the rules and regs and laws verbatim, else I will screw up a question. A favorite trick of the examiners is to throw useless fluff in the fact pattern of a question. I have to be able to spot it and the only way I can do that is to know my stuff in the first place. So, the more I stare at those pages that contain useful information, the better off I will be.

Well, gotta go crack open a book. Cheers to all.

Big Blue 66



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The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability that you'll get it wrong.