New to PC at Home

[Looboo]

I am a long time Mac User moving into the PC world due to pressures from my daughters as well as good prices. I have always depended on Macfixit for great advice so I welcome yours as well.
I am about to buy the Compaq 5330 with a Sony 17" flat screen. It seems to have everything that I will need- any opinions out there? What about the Best Buy 3 year warranty. Is it worth it or do these systems rairly need service, such as a reliable Macintosh?

Thanks

[iisbob]

Well...for allthe BestBuy bashing i do, you can still get a reasonable deal there.

Don't hold much with their tech non-support tho. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

I actually dabble in the apple world a little myself ( we have a couple of Mac G3's in use in our ad dept. )-but for compliance with the rest of the world; Welcome to INTEL clones!! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

Seriously though, my advice to you is to either get it custom built-or if you're dead set on a retail version then go Gateway; they charge outrageous prices but-they do have a better than average tech support.

You may want to try out your local PC shop-a lot of times there are some very knowledgeable and skilled individuals in their own small businesses who could build you a better system and offer a personal tech support touch that no business could/can match.

Just my humble suggestions. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif




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iisbob
""I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know."
Mark Twain

[kenja]

I bought a refurb 5724 from Compaq online a couple years ago, and my dad bought a 5875 about the same time. We could have done worse, but Compaq put itself on my sh** list by refusing to post any Win2k drivers (no problem for my Emachine http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif ).

I bought a Dell almost four years ago, and had positive experiences with their support. Unfortunately, their Home Accessories site recently sent me through "phone hell", so I no longer have good feelings about Dell.

I'll echo iisbob: buy a computer at a small local shop, if you're not comfortable building one yourself. I was very impressed by the package deal my friend recently bought at a "hole in the wall" store. Building it yourself is great fun, but things don't always work out the way they "should". http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

[This message has been edited by kenja (edited 12-17-2001).]

[fixrupr]

The specs shown that I found indicate that the 5330 is not too impressive.
Glaring examples include 12X cdrw, and 235-watt power supply (info from other site, not best buy).

Migrating from the Mac world might make Compaq seem a lot better than they really are when compared with other IBM clones.

My humble opinion is for $1150 price shown (+monitor) a custom built machine would far exceed the Compaq. Shop around, absorb information, compare individual components to see what you are paying for.

A very important consideration is exactly what do you intend to use the machine for.
An excellent PC can be built meeting your specs, without wasting money on items that you will not use.
Case in point:
Do you need/want 80G hard drive?
Do you need/want DVD?
Do you need/want NIC?
Do you need/want 1.7g Pentium 4?
Do you need/want the software bundle that is standard with a “retail” machine?

There are many on-line companies that will build to your specs.

Lastly, I repeat, the 235w power supply is inadequate on the 5330.

Welcome to the PC world, the land of too many choices.

[Looboo]

Well I knew this would happen. So many choices- I just want to make it simple to start- and Gateway is right up there with Mac Prices.

I guess half of the things on a PC I will have to learn about- like NEC,etc. Software package on Compaq is what I want- especially MS works and Quicken which I currently use.
1.7 drive- it seemed average
pentium 4- definitely
80 gig drive- why not- price doesn't change much.
235 watts- I have no idea
As far as DVD Rom- they all seem to come with those now.

Wow, do I sound like an inexperienced user or what. I already miss my Mac!
Put it this way- the iMac wouldn't have sufficed. I was looking at the G4, but price and lack of software steered me away, so dollar for dollar and specs available I looked for a quick choice like Compaq.

[fixrupr]

Looboo,

If you are going to be using only office programs on the PC, a CPU faster than 1G is of questionable value.
1.7G P4 is useful if doing:
#1…..hard core competitive gaming
#2…..running several apps simultaneously that contain large graphics or audio files, as in photo or music editing.

AMD vs Pentium is personal choice.
P4 1.7 cost is $220
AMD Duron 1G (more than adequate for office apps) cost is less than $100.
Admittedly NOT apples to apples comparison. I have a friend that bought a P4 machine for no other reason than bragging rights. He’s happy with his choice.

80G hard drive: approx cost is $160
no specs are given re 5330 therefore it is assumed that it is 5400 rpm drive. A 7200rpm 20G cost is $85 and will yield better performance due to rpm.
Your OS and programs require less than 1/5 of 20G, leaving 15G (empty?)

DVD cost is $100 vs. CD ROM @ $40

If you need the software in a retail package it can be the best part of buying an “off the shelf” PC. Operating system = retail $100 +, but Quicken, MS Works is available lots of places for $10- 20 each (last years edition).

Most people are capable of building a PC, though the design of system is a bit overwhelming. “Kits” are the way to go for the inexperienced. Check out this option before buying “off the shelf”
If home built is not for you, check out this assembled system from TCWO.com.
TCWO $600 system (http://www.tcwo.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_prod.html?p_prodid=1426&sid=1gi2Ty0HXJrT8QH)

· Athlon XP 1600+ CPU
· Integrated 3D AGP graphics
· 256MB (Shared) PC133 SDRAM
· 20GB UDMA100 7200RPM Hard drive
· 56k v.92 Fax/voice modem
· Integrated AC'97 16-bit stereo sound
· WIndows XP Home preinstalled (CD included)
· (3) PCI slots, (2 avail) (1) ISA Slot, (2) rear USB ports, (2) 168pin SDRAM slots, (1 avail) supports up to 1GB SDRAM
· 52x Creative Labs CD-ROM, 1.44 Floppy drive
· Keyboard w/programmable internet hotkeys, 3 button scroll mouse.
· Amplified stereo speakers
· Driver CDs and Easy installation guide
· (2) available 5.25" expansion bays, (1) 3.5" hard drive bay
· Mid-Tower ATX case, featuring 2 front USB connectors

COST is $600, +$7 shipping, no sales tax
Add CDRW , monitor, MS Works, and Quicken.

Phone TCWO & ask about tech support. I find them knowledgeable and helpful.
There are many other sites where similar products are available (more damn choices).

Perhaps the best thing about NOT buying “a brand name” is the ease of changing a system to meet new requirements. The proprietary components in a Compaq, HP, E-machine etc. make changes difficult if possible.

Brand name PCs are designed to sell, therefore marketing, not engineering, determines design.
I have to admit the case/color combo, is very appealing, and a 1.7Ghz Pentium IV emblem looks cool. The Compaq 5330 will certainly fulfill your needs if you must buy immediately.

Does all this make the G4 more appealing?

[Looboo]

Thanks for all that info. It is kind of a fast buy, and I also like the one year- no interest deals- However what you say does make sense.
Thanks for the insights.

Bill

[Jumby]

Try to stay away as much as possible from proprietary machines...Compaq especially. Probably good machines, but not very friendly. Like others have said, a good local computer place that will build exactly what you want (without all the uneeded software and stuff) is really the best way to go.

[drdan]

I understand you wanting to keep it simple and quick. I think you may be under the impression that having a local shop "build" you one would take a lot of time and aggravation. I don't believe that would be true at all. You might just talk to one and see what they say about prices, performance, delivery time and service. You might be surprised.

[Looboo]

Went with a Sony Pentium 4- 1.7
Very happy with my decision.
Thanks for the information.

[sea69]

yep- around B'more there are many shops that you can pick from different packages and usually pick it up the next day.

Also I understand your feeling about just getting it and being done with it. Been there done that.

In fact did it with my current machine. I had 20- $100.00 bills on me,walked into Staples- my dell was giving me headaches (I didn't know how to fix then)

So I bought the machine I'm typing this on now.

A compaq... and while I have worked on some very funny acting compaq's this one has run flawlessly since July 2000.

was one of the 1st T-birds out (slot)

I was cutting edge at 800Mhz.. hehe

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

who knows.. sometimes things work out for the best.

(once you take all the compaq duplicate drivers and adapters and other comcrap stuff out, they run good.

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 12-26-2001).]