New PC Advise #2

Just like Bear, I'm in the market for a new PC.

*Home use with a small amount of business thrown in
*Wireless networking capability nice but not essential
*Flat Screen a must
*CD Burner
*Plenty of USB Ports
*Good sounds and graphics for both games and music
*1GB+ RAM
*100GB+ HD
*XP Pro
*MS Office

I'm about to press the Dell button but thought I'd like 100 different
pieces of conflicting advise first.

TIA

 

Just hit the Dell-boy button, it'll be cushdie.

 

Have a look at PC Pro magazine. They have a "Hot List" of systems and
parts.

 

Just watch the term "flat screen" as this is not a TFT FLat panel monitor
but a huge dirty great monitor with a "flat screen"

 

Well if you're anyway tech savvy i'd suggest buying a top spec shuttle
box and all the parts seperatly, from the likes of dabs etc. Probably no
cheaper than if you bought a dell though, but you do get to build your
own machine (like lego)
My shuttle is really nice, small and unobtrusive, also fairly quiet.

Then again im sure the latest dell "home pc's" are also fairly quiet and
small...

 

You've come to the right place then.

Speed without compromise:
www.alienware.com

If you want something a little more modest then I don't know who to
recommend. I roll my own, and the old man has a Dell. Even though
it's a P4 and we upped the memory it's still dog slow for the spec. If
I hadn't checked the chip itself I'd swear it was a P3. Also, the
delivery time was about 6 weeks (got tired of waiting and tried to
cancel it twice, but they must've ballsed that up too).

For the wireless thing, DLink have an offer on a router (model D604T I
think) and it's available through most places. Buy the wireless
router, get a wireless laptop card/pc card/usb stick free. I'm chuffed
with mine - easy to set up (as routers go). If you've not got wireless
at the moment and you're looking to get it it's a good one.

 

Gimme a shout, I'll build one for you


--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 75 2.0 TS
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

I vaguely remember hearing something bad about them, not got a clue
what..

Personally I'd build my own machine (and always have), but for
simplicity Dell do seem to have decent kit at reasonable prices.

You also know that the backup and phone support will be there if you
need it, unlike a lot of the smaller companies.

For what you're looking at the Dell would be fine. Dell XPS3.. a grand.

 

My uncle bought from them about 7 years ago. IIRC it was an OK box,
but it came with shitty cheap keyboard & mouse.

Dell seems nice and cheap until you realise that you can't buy without
an OS, they default to a 150 quid extended warranty and 60 f*cking
quid for delivery[1] and whatnot, by the time you click "buy", your
600 quid Dimension has ballooned to 900 quid.

I'd stick with your build yourself option, or find a man who'll do it
for you for 50 quid. That way, you know what bits are in there.

[1] I think they're offering "free" ATM

 

Tempting.

 

Wah wah wah.

XP Home comes as standard, so what. At 300 quid for a basic machine, with a
decent warranty, it's as good as free. Delivery is currently free, but if
you have to pay it they _still_ work out cheap. The order process defaults
to an extended warranty and on-site installation, but that's one click for
each to decline the offer.

I've bought one recently, 350 quid or so delivered for a Dimension 2400 with
an 80GB disk, firewire, gig ethernet, yadda yadda. Bargain. My mrs has just
bought the same, with the free delivery offer, and found that they no
longer allow you to order a machine without a monitor. And guess what - it
cost NOT A PENNY EXTRA.

 

If he can wait, I'll have 2 shuttles with 3 gig P4 chips up for sale in
a month

 

They're absolute bollocks. Horrendously overpriced and their support is
perhaps the worst in the entire industry. They used to be great but then
they just started selling out their name to franchises and retailers.

 

<marks watch>

 

I want a media centre spec box
- living room friendly size/shape
- quiet
- big disk
- DVD burner
- TV card
- IR keyboard and mouse
- wireless network

Give us a quote, eh?

 

Mainsleaze spammers.. they had a habit of auto-adding you to their
product emailing list without bothering to ask.. and not removing you
when requested.

I don't know if they still do.

Hmm.. my experience of Dull tech support is not that positive.. It's OK
if you manage to talk to someone with a clue but that is quite rare.

Phil

 

Most people don't want to buy without an OS! And they are by no means
the only manufacturer that won't ship without an OS.

Um - my laptop was free delivery..

Build yourself is fine if a) You know how to do it and b) you don't
mind paying extra. The days of "it's cheaper to build it yourself" are
long gone.

*And* if you are prepared to forego a system warranty.

Phil.

 

Where's the place to go then? I know someone who's looking in their
direction, but if there's better to be had, where do I point him?

 

HooDooWitch wrote:

about Dell PCs...

Just reduce it to the one year warranty. They offer free delivery every
couple of weeks so it's only a matter of biding your time..