Computer for parents

[dmozer@gmail.co]

Hey guys, I was browsing the bestbuy website and found an emachines computer bundle for $200. I won't even bother posting a link for fear of being considered spam, but I'm sure you can find it if you so desire. Anyway my question is this. My parents have an old Dell and it is in desperate need of a new monitor and more ram (currently running XP pro on 128MB). I figured for that price (plus their printer sucks) I might as well get them a new computer. But I don't want this to be something that needs to be replaced in a few months. The computer comes with 1GB of ram, but because I know how to trick my parents I will have my Dad buy some RAM for my parent's current computer ;) --since he has no idea what the differences are I will be able to order them for the new computer. Is this a good idea? Or should I just say forget it? Sorry for the novela I just wrote, but I need a few quick reassurances or "no's" so I don't stand it line at midnight tonight for no reason. Thanks in advance!

[George Hallam]

ok im not 100% sure what your on about.. you want to get improve your parents old PC or trick them into buying a new one??
hmmmm i dont bother tricking just tell them :p

ok a PC with 128Mb of RAM must be an antique so maybe a new PC will be good idea
have a look with Dell
http://www.dell.com/content/products/results.aspx/desktops?c=us&cs=19&dt=SmallGrid&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=mn

I won't even bother posting a link for fear of being considered spam

it wouldn't of been considered SPAM but not a good idea putting your Gmail address as your name

[PrntRhd]

Well the eMachine PC is likely to have Vista loaded on it and does not have enough memory to run properly. (1 Gig is enough to run Vista with no applications running but 3 or 4 gigs makes it run properly). It is a cheap OEM PC.

We would need to know what model Dell to figure out how much a Gig of memory added would cost (it will run better with an additional gig).

Flat screen monitors are not that expensive these days, you don't have to buy a complete package to space out the upgrades if that makes it easier on your finances.

[dmozer@gmail.co]

Yeah, I realized that I screwed up, I was trying to type my user name, but out of habit typed my email address. Anyway I would trick my dad into buying ram for the new computer. They using it for email, internet, quicken and word processing. I am cheap and a poor college student, so unless this computer would break by being turned on I would love to stick with this one.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=999980900050000&type=product&id=pcmprd80800050000

[PrntRhd]

Sold out online, you would have to buy it tomorrow really early.
Printer and monitor are OK.
Send an email to Charles to ask him to delete the email in your member name. ixl[AT]pcguide.com is usable if it gets past his spam filters.

[dmozer@gmail.co]

So would a 2GB machine with Vista Home Premium run email, quicken, word processor and the interwebs better than their current system? They download no music, watch no movies on the computer and would burn few, if any cds. I am prepared to bundle up and stand in line for this (and a couple other things for my brother). Just don't want to waste my time and money...

[PrntRhd]

I would say yes, depends on the video, Vista is better if you have a dedicated card, and this one is onboard video even if dedicated.
The eMachine is a Celeron, older technology, how well it runs Vista is debatable.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/systemrequirements.mspx

[classicsoftware]

I would answer you with two words:

BIG MISTAKE

In other words you get what you pay for. A Celeron 1.6 ghz running vista with on board video??? Maybe walking Vista, but not running. Are you sure none of those savings are rebates?

[Whyzman]

Classic, it sounds like his budget is @$200.00 If he wants a new computer with that budget...what ought he consider getting??

It seems like for $200 he truly is getting what he's paying for. :)

Individually, the parts plus the OS would be quite a bit more...yes?

[classicsoftware]

Classic, it sounds like his budget is @$200.00 If he wants a new computer with that budget...what ought he consider getting??

It seems like for $200 he truly is getting what he's paying for. :)

Individually, the parts plus the OS would be quite a bit more...yes?

He should save is money until he can afford to get a better one. This will run only marginally better than what he has now. He gets none of the new interface and it's still an e-machine. It will be dead about 15 seconds after the warranty expires and the new power supply and motherboard he will need will be more than $200.00 not including parts and labor.....

I still say don't do it.

[mjc]

If you want a cheap internet machine (sorry no Quicken, but it does have an office suite...that does handle MS office documents), try this...

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7754614

[dmozer@gmail.co]

It is a moot point now, I got there too late, and plus it wasn't "how much money I can save," it was how much can i afford to spend for christmas on my parents. Too bad I can't afford a real computer--Apple, oh well, I guess they'll be stuck with second best for quite a while.

[classicsoftware]

I'm sorry you didn't get there on time. But over time, I think you will be grateful. In the meantime, if you add RAM to their system or add a faster hard drive, there system will run faster. OR throw the $200.00 into an envelope and safe some more until you can g them a better system.

[mjc]

If all they are doing with it is what you described earlier, upping th RAM to about 1 GB will make a big improvement for them...

[Whyzman]

What's the model on the Dell?? Let's see if we can put a price on a 1GB improvement...

[saphalline]

Be careful what you say! If this is one of those RDRAM-based P4 Dells... :rolleyes:

Might be better off buying new. I mean, what if the system decides to erupt a week after a RAM upgrade? What if the CMOS battery is dead and causes havoc? The viability of an upgrade is dependent upon the age of the system. And if it came with 128MB of RAM... I'm just saying a mere RAM upgrade isn't necessarily the best option.

[Whyzman]

Add that scenario to the cost of the RAM... I'd still like to know what the RAM upgrade would set one back?

So, even if the RAM upgrade only cost $100.00, as saph points out, you'd be adding it to a well worn system...albeit there's no warranty. It would appear that with the allotted $200.00 budget, one definitely faces a perdicament.