Is paying $1200 cash too much for this system? (Note: I can still back out of this transaction if I want, so let me know if I spent too much.) System Details: Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 1.6GHz Memory: 256MB DDR SDRAM Hard Drive: 80GB UATA100 7200RPM Hard Drive Floppy Drive: 3.5" 1.44MB diskette drive CD-ROM: 16x/48x DVD-ROM Drive and 16x/10x/40x Recordable ReWriteable CDRW Certification: Energy Star Compliant Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition Application Software: Microsoft® Works Suite 2002 - Including Microsoft® Word and Encarta Monitor: EV910 19" Color Monitor (18.0" viewable area) Video: 32MB NVIDIA™ GeForce2 MX200 AGP Graphics Keyboard: Multi-function Keyboard Mouse: Logitech USB Optical Wheel Mouse and Gateway mouse pad Sound System: Integrated Stereo Audio Speakers: Boston Acoustics® BA745 Speakers with Subwoofer Case: Gateway Micro-Tower Case Expansion Slots: 3 PCI and 1 AGP Controller: Integrated Ultra ATA Controller Modem: 56K PCI Voice Modem Network Adapter: Integrated 10/100 Ethernet Limited Warranty Program: 3 Year Limited Parts / Labor / Lifetime Support AntiVirus Software: Norton AntiVirus 90 day Introductory Offer
I'd say so -- you could build one for cheaper, and better specs. But the difference is in the tech support. If you don't need it, build your own. If you do need it, then this may not be so bad. I don't know how much other prefabs cost, but I'd assume this is a Gateway?
Your assumption is correct. And I definitely need the tech support. I am not computer illiterate, but I have lots to learn. I don't think I necessarily needed that big of a hard drive, but it was only $60 more than the 40 GB that was originally included in the deal.
Ah Dell.com Gotta love it...try the refurbished systems...I got 1.8 gigs with all of those for under 1000. DaDakota
Refurb = used, right? Hmm...don't know about those. It's all relative. 3 years ago, I paid over 1400.00 (doesn't matter if it's cash or not) for a 433 mhz celeron.
I order Dell refurbs for work all the time. They look brand new and the configurations all seem to be the same as the new ones. (in other words, they can't be more than a month or two old). They're great bargains, and Dell backs them just as they would with their new ones. Still, if I wasn't building my own, and I was spending $1,400 for one for myself, I'd get this: AMD Athlon Mega (3) Baseprice: $1354 Gigabyte GA-7VTXE+ KT266A Motherboard (NU=13128134) Standard AMD Athlon XP 1800+/266 FSB PROCESSOR (NU=19103308) Standard Cooler Master''s DP5-6I11A CPU Heat Sink and Fan (NU=35103125) Standard KINGSTON 256MB DDR PC2100 RAM (NU=20141003) $72 IBM 40GB 7200RPM Hard Drive (NU=22145002) Standard LEADTEK Geforce3 TI200 64MB TV out Video Card (NU=14122126) $-20 LITE-ON 24x10x40 LTR-24102B-02 CD-RW Drive (NU=27106166) Standard TOSHIBA 16X DVD, 48X CD ROM Drive (NU=27130010) Standard Viewsonic PF790 19" Inch Perfect Flat Monitor (NU=24116150) $-13 SOUND BLASTER AUDIGY WITH 1394 Sound Card (NU=29102148) Standard Altec Lansing AVS500W 5 Piece Speaker System (NU=36113121) Standard Multimedia Microphone with Base (NU=36111104) Standard Zoom v.92 56k PCI Data / Fax / Voice Modem (NU=25115106) Standard INWIN ATX MID TOWER CASE WITH TWO-TONE 300Watts (NU=11108156) $1 Mitsumi 1.44MB Floppy Drive (NU=21103104) Standard Microsoft Intelli Optical Mouse (NU=26105115) $15 KBTEK 104 Keys PS2 Keyboard with Hand Rest (NU=23119103) Standard Linkskey LKF-5100 10/100 PCI Ethernet Card (NU=33117108) Standard Microsoft Windows XP Home OEM (NU=37110003) Standard PowerQuest Drive Image Special Edition 4.0 (NU=32102008) Standard price with option: $1409 By the way.....Gateway's monitors suck.
I think you paid too much. I got:- P4 1.6 Ghz 128M PC2100 DDR Ram 8 X CDRW 40 Gig 7200 RPM HD 3.5 " Floppy 56k Modem 10/100 NIC Keyboard, Mouse 64 MB GeForce2 MX400 Graphics card Win XP Home MS Works 1 Year at home call in warranty $509 delivered!!!! (Dell) I know there arew a few compromises in there, but for $509, who cares! All I need to do is buy a stick of ram and install my firewire card and I'm away.
by the way...I copied that off the detailed specs, and it doesn't mention the standard 256 stick of RAM...in other words, that system actually has 512 MB Besides the fact that this system will smoke the gateway, the sound and video are FAR superior.
Pole -- where can you get that deal? I'm in the market for a new computer... I hear mcglen.com is pretty good for buying good stuff. I think I'm going to go AMD also. <B>Edit:</B> davo -- that looks like a great deal. Saw this on FatWallet.com (an online deals posting site) this morning: http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=18&threadid=73737
I will say this, Dell's tech support is pretty cool. If they can't fix it over the phone, they'll ship you a new part, if you have on site service, they'll send a tech out to fix the problem. I had a problem with a bad mouse, they shipped a new one, the next day. My boss' laptop was having problems, they sent a tech the next day, took the whole laptop apart, replaced the system board, done. bad @ss
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! This brings back HORRIBLE memories of working for that company. Dell Hell, and Sweatshop are a few words that come to mind.
I always forget the link. Here it is, Clutch: www.nutrend.com Someone here ordered a machine from them (I'm pretty sure), but I've never heard any feedback on whether they were happy with the service or support. I'll see if I can find out who it was.
rH- I know this may be true for business systems, but the "on-site" service for home users it is simply NOT true. When you do get tech support (I would try calling on a Monday morning around 2:45am), they will do everything possible (and I mean everything) to not send out an on-site rep. Even if you have paid the $120 or how ever much it is now for the service, they will insist on trying to get the problem solved over the phone.
Clutch, DrewP bought the computer from nutrend, and he seems pretty happy with it. You can see for yourself in this thread: http://bbs.clutchcity.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27015
No - you can use ram manufactured by anyone - Crucial and Mushkin both have it. This particular machine (Dimension 4400) uses PC2100 DDR 266Mhz SDRAM. Costs about $35 for 128, $70 for 256MB.
Thanks for the tip Pole.... I'll check this out. I need a new computer badly.... looking to network two together at home and always have the second one available for wife/kids (computer time is becoming more and more scarce at our household )
I ordered my computer from www.nutrend.com on Pole's advice and I am verrrrrry happy with my computer. I payed 1428 for: Gigabyte GA-7VTXE+ KT266A Motherboard AMD Athlon 1900+ XP 80 GB 7200 Hard drive Plextor 24x10x40 Cd-rw 16x DvD drive Sound Audigy Platinum (MUST HAVE) Geforce 3 ti 200 Video card Big ass speakers 5.1 Linkskey LKF-5100 10/100 PCI Ethernet Card Microsoft Windows XP Home OEM PowerQuest Drive Image Special Edition 4.0 INWIN ATX MID TOWER CASE WITH TWO-TONE 300Watts Mitsumi 1.44MB Floppy Drive I wish I had gotten a deal with a monitor but it would of been too expensive. The extra spent on video, sound and speakers was well worth it. After I placed my order I became worryed because I read some things on www.resellerratings.com about Nutrend that concerned me, but once my computer got here I was amazed! I cant tell you how awesome it was to first set up my computer. Thanks for the help Pole, and Clutch, I strongly suggest you purchase from Nutrend.
