Can I butt in here? Cause we're looking too, my wife asked me to post for an opinion but don't want to start another thread when this one's here. OK she found this one:

# HP Pavilion A735W-B desktop computer
# HP vx74 17-inch flat screen CRT monitor
# AMD AthlonTM XP 3000+ processor (2.10GHz)
# 80 GB (7200rpm) Ultra DMA hard drive
# 512 MB DDR-SDRAM with up to 64MB allocated to video memory
# Memory expandable to 2 GB
# 512 K secondary-level cache
# 400 MHz FrontSide bus
# Pair of stereo speakers
# 8X DVD writer and CD writer combo drive (DVD+RW/CD-RW)
# Drive Speeds: 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD+RW, 2.4x DVD+R DL, 12x DVD-ROM, 24x CDR, 10X CDRW, 40x CDROM
# 9-in-1 digital media card reader
# HP keyboard, HP scroller mouse

She says the DVD speeds are kind of slow but she doesn't care. All she wants it for is surfing and photos. Oops, I forgot the progs it comes with, it's XP+SP2, MS Works 7.0, and some other photo and dvd progs. I don't know what any of it means, she copied it and said to paste it here for an opinion. Oh and it's under $600 USD. (This is feedback for me cause as soon as she gets a new one i get her old one and no more fighting with the laptop!!!)

 

2Bowers that looks pretty decent for the price.
Can you pay a bit extra and upgrade to a flat panel monitor?
After having mine for a couple years now I can't see going back to a CRT.

 

Well I went and did it and ordered a 8400 it will be here on the 21 of Jan which is a pizz off but ohwell. I decided I worked my butt off all summer and nothing to show for it so a new computer will be nice. My 550 Dell was built in 99 so its over 5 years old it runs win 98 has a 10 gig hard drive its starting to crash on me.

I did lots of reaserching to see what I need I spec'ed out a 4700 it came out to be more than the 8400 which Dell has on special till the 6th of jan for CND sales. So it comes to 1700 dollars CND which is ouch but I figure the puter will be good for another 5 years.

As for the screen size I was told a 17" flatscreen is big enough start getting into a 19" then the picture gets blurry for any type of DVD movie its only good for text.

I can't wait till the new puter arrives

 

Sems to be the time for new computers! Congrats on getting the one you wanted, wish my wife would make up her mind too. I think she's going for the one in above post, though.

Racerguy: She says she'd like to have a flat panel but doesn't care much either way, she has a huge desk to put a CRT on anyway. And trying not to spend too much $$$.

 

Hey Kenworth...I have almost the same thing, and love it. I look at the internet, read my news, play poker, read about Fords and run a camera software program. You really can't beat it for what it sounds like we're using it for. Heck, it's probably overkill for me, but I needed a computer. I've never had to call customer support, and do disagree with the outsourcing thing...but 2 things to consider. 1) They're bringing a lot back to the U.S. and 2) Isn't it 24 hour support? Would you want to be the guy at the help desk in Iowa or something at 3:21 AM? While cost is an issue, I think logistics has a lot to do with it too. Whatever, good luck with the new computer!

 

IMO, AMD = :barf: just my opinion, never getting one of those again.

 

Thanks guys this new puter I ordered is probably over kill for me too but might aswell order something with more power now and it 5 years it will be low power compared to new. If I bought a lower power 3000 series then I probably run into not enough ram or hard drive is too small etc 2 years later.

I'am not into gaming but who knows I may get into a digital camera and play with pictures my uncles do pictures on their computers and they look pretty good.

I guess it does take Dell awhile to build a person a new puter with all the orders they get I have to wait 2 weeks before the new one arrives

Then I will have to have the cable company to come over and set up this new computer to the cable modem I switched to cable 2-3 years ago and never go back to dial up again.

 

with xp you probably dont have to configure anything for the cable to work. just plug it into your router, im pretty sure they all use dhcp so it should just work.

 

Hi all!

If I may add my 2¢ (+). . .
I recently bought both a Dell 3000 (for my wife's use for her college) and an HP laptop for my son's college graduation.

The Dell: (from what I remember)
P-IV - 3.0 gig processor - upgraded the RAM to 1.0 gig
80 gig HDD - - DVD ROM - CD/CDRW burner
I ordered the upgraded speakers w/ the sub-woofer - a few dollars more.
When I ordered it online, I upgraded the software to Windows XP Professional, added the 19" LCD flat screen ($100.+) and the PC 'online deal' was $100.00 rebate and free shipping after another $99.00 rebate. Final cost - - $850.00
(When the final ordering screen came up, it said that I was entitled to the Dell '720' printer, free. What the heck? Free is free.)
The printer is still in the box, unopened.

So far, the ONLY thing I don't like about the Dell is the fact that the video card is built-in. It 'shares' memory with the system. Don't like that.
No way to install an AGP video card. No AGP slot. PCI only.
Personal preference, I guess. (I do typesetting and graphics on my job. We don't 'game'.)
This PC screams, though!!!
It replaces a P-III 733MHz w/ 512 mb RAM w/ 28 gig HDD, that I built.
(My youngest son is getting this for his school work.)

The HP laptop for my oldest son:
AMD 2.8 gig processor
60 gig HDD
15.5 in screen
512 mb RAM
32mb video card
DVD ROM / CD burner
Internal wireless 'card' (I like this. I have a wireless router in the house.)

Final cost for the HP: $900.00

Dislikes: When I bought the laptop and started setting it up, the wireless 'card' failed. I called HP. Their support staff is in India. I couldn't understand the call-taker worth a darn. I had to keep asking him to repeat his instructions.
(Side note -- I've been using and building PCs for a BUNCH of years) This guy at HP had me re-format the HDD and re-install the software TWICE! (Let me insert that when I ran a CAT 45 cable to the PC from the router, I got online instantly.) The guy at HP said that the software was corrupt. (Yeah, right.)
Well. . . after being on the phone 3 times with 'Chris' - I decided 'Enough is enough.' Keep in mind, this PC was 1 day old.
I boxed this 'pig' back up, and off to "Best Buy" I went. I talked with the manager, told him my plight, and he swapped out the 'pig' for another HP just like it.
No problems with this one. My son LOVES it!! He is a teacher, and carries that laptop with him, wherever he goes.

My PC(s). . . that's another post -


Keith

 

The funny thing another local guy in this area was ordering a 8400 too the same night except for he missed out on some of the discounts I put my order in at 4:00pm he was later at night.

The one thing about the Dell free printer is you can't buy the ink cartriges anywhere but Dell. I have a 2100 Bubble Jet now works fine I don't need another printer I don't print pictures.