posted on April 13, 2006 12:35:56 PM new
How often do we need to take the PC in for repair?
I am on my 4th PC and I never have to take it in for any hardware repair.
The first one is a clone,the second one is ??,third is a presario,fourth is a presario.
/ lets all stop whining !! /
[ edited by hwahwa on Apr 13, 2006 12:43 PM ]
posted on April 13, 2006 12:49:39 PM newLexmark (one of the worst printer companies out there).
That is a matter of opinion. I cannot complain about my Lexmark other than it's speed.
The print quality is way better than anything I have seen from the HP's they have at work. The HP's do print faster than my Lexmark, but I kick their azz on quality. It is a matter of give & take. It all depends upon what you are looking for. If I was looking for speed, I would never use my Lexmark. However, because of my volunteer work that I do, quality is a high priority and the Lexmark delivers.
How about two printers? One for speed and one for quality. I know at work, we have networked all 25 personal printers and I can print on any one of them.
posted on April 13, 2006 03:14:00 PM new
TnErnie wrote: I haven't really kept up with this sort of stuff for several years and I don't even know where to begin on selecting options for the hardware. I'm looking in the $1,000 - $1,500 price range, but less would be even better.
I'd go with an Apple Mac mini MA206LL/A (1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo, 512MB RAM, 80GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive) for $770 before rebate, and add in another 512MB of RAM. It runs both Mac and Windows software and is Vista ready (due 2007-2011). You can use your existing monitor, keyboard and mouse (or buy new ones).
*Intel Pentium D Processor 820 (2.8GHz) w/ Dual Core Technology
*1GB DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz
*128MB ATI Hyper Memory PCI-Express X16 (DVI/VGA/TV Out) Radeon X300 SE
*160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)
*16X DVD-ROM and 16X DVD+/-RW
*FREE 19" Flat Panel Digital Display Upgrade
It does come with a 56K PCI Data Fax Modem installed.
posted on April 13, 2006 05:13:36 PM new
I LOVE MY DELL!!!
Well, so far any way. I did have to remove a bunch of crapola from the system - AOL, NetZero, Earthlink trials, Macafee virus protection, Norton Ghost and a few other miscellaneous programs I won't ever use.
Now, the trick is to pull the hard drive out of my dead computer, drop it into one of the dinosaurs laying around and get my favorites and address book transferred over.
posted on April 13, 2006 05:17:45 PM new
one of the things I found out after I bot my Presario is that they dont give you a paper copy of the computer manual so you have to print it yourself from the harddrive.
They also do not give backup DVD copy of the operating system and you have to make copy yourself or buy a copy from them which takes up 13 DVD.
see they think these are trivia stuff and you dont find out until you get the pc .
/ lets all stop whining !! /
[ edited by hwahwa on Apr 13, 2006 05:19 PM ]
posted on April 13, 2006 05:32:32 PM new
Oops, too late. Oh well, enjoy the free viruses, worms, spyware, adware and trojans that'll come along with your windows machine, not to mention the endless patches you'll need to install... I'm sure the hassle they'll provide will more than justify the money you saved buying a Dell.
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posted on April 13, 2006 05:40:12 PM newTHe Apple users are certainly rabid fans!
How come everybody here recommending PC's aren't "rabid"? I'm frankly happy Apple has a <5% market share. Bet that same number doesn't bother BMW or Mercedes one bit either.
Failed to mention, we have three iPods in this house, including one first generation now almost 4 years old that's still on it's first battery. Never a problem. There's a reason they're the 800 pound Gorilla of mp3 players. They're better. Any electronic gizmo is going to have it's share of lemons, but they're the very small exception you always hear about.Dell just got out of the mp3 player business, if I'm not mistaken....
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posted on April 13, 2006 06:50:17 PM newOh well, enjoy the free viruses, worms, spyware, adware and trojans that'll come along with your windows machine, not to mention the endless patches you'll need to install... I'm sure the hassle they'll provide will more than justify the money you saved buying a Dell.
I can honestly say that to date, I've never had a problem with those things and I've been using a PC since before Tandy introduced the color computer.
The computer I'm using right now is three years old. I never install the patches and the only virus protection I've been running on it is a Zone Alarm firewall. I run Adaware about twice a month to clean up any spyware. My ISP catches 99.9% of anything that comes thru email before if ever gets to me.
I know I've probably been very lucky (and I've probably just jinxed myself with this post).
If and when I decide to add a second computer, I'll probably try a Mac. Right now I'm content to remain a creature of habit.
posted on April 13, 2006 06:52:30 PM new
toollady wrote: Now, the trick is to pull the hard drive out of my dead computer, drop it into one of the dinosaurs laying around and get my favorites and address book transferred over.
Easy. Just remember to switch the jumpers from master to slave and you can swap it out with the CD/DVD-ROM in another PC, then copy the files you need across to the existing hard drive. (Or ask any computer literate 12 year old to do it for you.)
posted on April 13, 2006 08:52:37 PM new
I just bought a Dell Dimensions E510. Got a great deal. It has all the bells and whistles that my BF's has for $1,000 less than he spent. I'll never use up the 160 gig HD. I ended up saving over $500 between the $400 off and the free shipping.
Cheryl
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
posted on April 13, 2006 11:44:52 PM new
I have to agree with TnErnie. I have also never had a problem with Windows. Been using it for years. I however have multiple firewalls and virus software programs. As for patchs and updates they are all done automaticaly.
I have no choice anyhow. I can not use a Apple platform. They have a very limited amount of programs that can be used on them. ALL of the heavy truck diesel engine diagnostics programs I use will NOT work on a Apple. All must be run on a Windows platform. I tried a friends Apple one time and that was enough to convince me to never buy one.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein
posted on April 14, 2006 12:05:23 AM new
Early in my career, I saw many contenders try for the 'standard' in the PC market, Apple, DEC, IBM, etc. It was pointed out to me many times that it would not be the best engineering that would win, it would be the best marketing and the IBM x86 architecture won hands down.
posted on April 14, 2006 07:53:41 AM new
For the last 10 years or so, I've been using disposable computers. I find the cheapest machine out there made by a major producer. I use it for 3 or 4 years... Until It dies or there is something out there I want to do and can't, and then I buy a new one. In the end, it costs me about $100 a year and I am usually pretty up to date on Technology. I tend to run in eMachines, but Dell and gateway can have cheapo machines.
If I get one from the producer, I expand the memory to the max, but that is usually all I do.
Monitors are universal, they all work, so I am still using the CRT 17 incher I got when they were expensive (about 12 or 14 years ago). Speakers and keyboard... Whatever. Again, What I have works great, I usually end up donating the new ones.
posted on April 14, 2006 11:32:59 AM new
I had my old Sony for 4 1/2 years. Purchased a new flat screen Sony about two years ago and just purchased a Sony laptop. I never had a bit of trouble from any of them. Hated to get rid of the first old Sony, but it was time for an upgrade. We still use it to play card games on in the laundry room.
posted on April 15, 2006 03:49:02 AM new
I just up-graded. I got a Compaq Presario w/ AMD Sempron 160gigHD MSWindows XP CD-R & broadband ready. Bought an additional gig of RAM and put it in. Picked up a 19" Envision LCD monitor and Labtec cordless mouse and keyboard. Oh, and an adequate Lexmark pinter.
Under $600, including tax.
My old speakers hum, new ones may push the total over $600 a little.
For a grand you can move up to a dual core unit with a gamer quality video card and power supply. If that is what you want.
posted on April 18, 2006 09:37:29 PM new
Of interest to TnErnie and all buyers of Dell computers,
"It's a sad state of affairs when you buy a new computer these days and it comes pre-loaded with a ton of garbage software that brings your new machine to a crawl. If anyone's bought a Dell PC in the last few years, you probably know what I'm talking about. Just recently, I was helping a friend set up his brand new Inspiron 1300 and it took forever for it to boot up. It's a very dissatifiying experience to pull a brand new computer out of the box and be spammed with a bunch of trial software. After removing all of the crap, (which took a significant amount of time) it booted much faster and performed like it should. I kept thinking it would be nice to have an automated way to remove all this stuff. Thus was born the Dell De-Crapifier script..."
Enjoy!
p.s. Dell will send you an OEM Windows XP install CD/DVD if you ask them (since those cheapskates usually don't include one).
posted on April 19, 2006 03:37:41 PM new
"It's a sad state of affairs when you buy a new computer these days and it comes pre-loaded with a ton of garbage software that brings your new machine to a crawl."
When buying a new pc the first thing you should do is get rid of Microsoft and and then put a penguin in your pc.
Tony.
In a world without walls or fences who needs Windows and Gates?
[ edited by sciclone2000 on Apr 19, 2006 03:38 PM ]
posted on April 20, 2006 05:58:15 AM new
I finally made it back. The new computer arrived on Monday and I've spent the last 3-1/2 days trying to get rid of junk and my old stuff transferred.
One of the first things I had to do on mine was remove the Trend Micro PC'cillin program that came with it. It caused problems with alot of my programs ... including my browser using Yahoo! Toolbar.
I bought a program with my new Dell called "Alohabob PC Relocater Ultra". It was the best $49 I've ever spent on something for the computer! I installed the program on both computers, attached them via a USB cable (included with the software) and it transferred everything, including my settings, from the old computer to the new one. It lets you pick and choose what you want transferred. It was great!
Unfortunately, it didn't transfer any of my passwords, most of which I had forgotten. lol
I did have a problem with the monitor. It appears to have a short, because if you touch it or move it, it goes dead. You have to jiggle the power cord to make it come back on. BUT after spending about an hour through Dell online chat with their out sourced Indian support, they are sending me a replacement. That was an experience I won't forget soon!
Overall I'm pleased with the new one and I really like the dual core processor. I work with a lot of graphics, pictures, etc. and generally have a minimum of 4 -5 windows open at a time. This thing really flies.
posted on April 20, 2006 07:14:46 AM new
congratulations
so what Dell did you end up getting?
BTW I had forgotten about this but my next door neighbor sells (or something) IBM computers. Guess what boxes were sitting out by the garbage last Christmas?
DELL.
yeah that pre-loaded stuff is a #*!@.
Make sure you call Dell and have them send you a CD for Windows.
But I don't ever remember talking to anybody from India when I had to call for my hard drive. They even called me back to make sure I was happy with everything after it all got installed by their tech. Could just be the small business service I guess.
posted on April 20, 2006 09:04:27 AM newso what Dell did you end up getting?
I got the XPS 400 with a few slight modifications.
But I don't ever remember talking to anybody from India when I had to call for my hard drive. They even called me back to make sure I was happy with everything after it all got installed by their tech. Could just be the small business service I guess
I first sent an email and the reply said contact Dell online chat. So I did. The first tech support person said their name was Zia-ullah and the second one was Suhasini Sreepada. They both asked questions like "Since when are you facing this issue." So I assumed they were located in India.
Maybe if you call in you get US based support. I'll remember to try that if I have any problems again.
- edited because I was typing like Dell support. lol
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein