Comments on: Buying A Low-End Dell PC http://www.pcmech.com/article/buying-a-low-end-dell-pc/ Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:37:34 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Justin http://www.pcmech.com/article/buying-a-low-end-dell-pc/comment-page-1/#comment-26350 Justin Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:53:24 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=9851#comment-26350 I always recommend low end Dell machines to my relatives who a) don't live close enough for me to be their tech support, b) don't know how to use their computers properly, and c) don't have much money to spend on computers. I always recommend low end Dell machines to my relatives who a) don’t live close enough for me to be their tech support, b) don’t know how to use their computers properly, and c) don’t have much money to spend on computers.

]]> By: Rich Menga http://www.pcmech.com/article/buying-a-low-end-dell-pc/comment-page-1/#comment-26341 Rich Menga Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:19:15 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=9851#comment-26341 Can't. Case has proprietary cooling ducts. CPU socket would be in a different location on the new mobo, meaning fan would be in a different location and wouldn't attach to the duct. Can’t. Case has proprietary cooling ducts. CPU socket would be in a different location on the new mobo, meaning fan would be in a different location and wouldn’t attach to the duct.

]]> By: Darryl http://www.pcmech.com/article/buying-a-low-end-dell-pc/comment-page-1/#comment-26333 Darryl Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:26:01 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=9851#comment-26333 Hmmm since he,s still going to be using XP...i think i would have replaced the mother Board with new fan and cpu. Also installed a 1GB DDR2 Ram and saved $150.00 Refurbished or rebuilt? it,s all the same and has a warranty too. Hmmm since he,s still going to be using XP…i think i would have replaced the mother Board with new fan and cpu. Also installed a 1GB DDR2 Ram and saved $150.00 Refurbished or rebuilt? it,s all the same and has a warranty too.

]]> By: techandlife http://www.pcmech.com/article/buying-a-low-end-dell-pc/comment-page-1/#comment-26158 techandlife Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:40:17 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=9851#comment-26158 eli, I agree over the installation and printing with Linux but Rich said all Pop would be doing is internet and email that's why I suggested Ubuntu. eli, I agree over the installation and printing with Linux but Rich said all Pop would be doing is internet and email that’s why I suggested Ubuntu.

]]> By: eli http://www.pcmech.com/article/buying-a-low-end-dell-pc/comment-page-1/#comment-26156 eli Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:37:29 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=9851#comment-26156 I use Ubuntu and have switched my mom to it, and she LOVES it. However, if you did put him on linux you'd definitely have problems. The first time your dad tries to install something, or maybe purchases a printer without consulting you and then finds that it won't work with linux, you'd be wishing you had went with XP. Good shoice with the XP. Interesting isn't it that the same machine costs more when it has nothing but free software installed on it?? Very telling as well. I use Ubuntu and have switched my mom to it, and she LOVES it. However, if you did put him on linux you’d definitely have problems. The first time your dad tries to install something, or maybe purchases a printer without consulting you and then finds that it won’t work with linux, you’d be wishing you had went with XP. Good shoice with the XP.

Interesting isn’t it that the same machine costs more when it has nothing but free software installed on it?? Very telling as well.

]]> By: Steve Stone http://www.pcmech.com/article/buying-a-low-end-dell-pc/comment-page-1/#comment-26147 Steve Stone Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:46:36 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=9851#comment-26147 I recently purchased a notebook PC for my M I L. It came with Vista. I reloaded it with XP for the same reasons you describe. I've never been satisfied with AMD based PCs. OS and chipset support always seem to be an afterthought compared to Intel. I always seem to get burned with AMD based PCs where something doesn't quite work the way you anticipate, like the great XP SP3 AMD fiasco. Then again I rarely run mainstream apps. The AMD based products I have purchased most often seem to be designed to cut costs rather then promote quality. If I had that Dell 4400 I would blow out the dust bunnies and delegate the box to server duty for a non intensive application or use it as a customer rental/loaner. I recently purchased a notebook PC for my M I L. It came with Vista. I reloaded it with XP for the same reasons you describe. I’ve never been satisfied with AMD based PCs. OS and chipset support always seem to be an afterthought compared to Intel. I always seem to get burned with AMD based PCs where something doesn’t quite work the way you anticipate, like the great XP SP3 AMD fiasco. Then again I rarely run mainstream apps. The AMD based products I have purchased most often seem to be designed to cut costs rather then promote quality. If I had that Dell 4400 I would blow out the dust bunnies and delegate the box to server duty for a non intensive application or use it as a customer rental/loaner.

]]> By: Rich Menga http://www.pcmech.com/article/buying-a-low-end-dell-pc/comment-page-1/#comment-26146 Rich Menga Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:45:33 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=9851#comment-26146 http://www.dell.com/ubuntu/ The Inspiron 530n is $378 before tax and shipping, a whopping $129 more than the XP box does which has a start price of $249. http://www.dell.com/ubuntu/

The Inspiron 530n is $378 before tax and shipping, a whopping $129 more than the XP box does which has a start price of $249.

]]> By: techandlife http://www.pcmech.com/article/buying-a-low-end-dell-pc/comment-page-1/#comment-26145 techandlife Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:21:39 +0000 http://www.pcmech.com/?p=9851#comment-26145 If all Pop is doing is internet and email, then Ubuntu would have been fine and you could have saved buying XP. However, your point is valid: '...I’m not about to put my dad on Linux. It took long enough to get him used to Windows'. This is one reason why Linux is going to struggle to win over Windows users. People are familiar with Windows, how it works and how to do things on that platform It's difficult to give it all up and learn a new platform. Which is a great pity. I still think he would have been okay with Ubuntu. If all Pop is doing is internet and email, then Ubuntu would have been fine and you could have saved buying XP.

However, your point is valid: ‘…I’m not about to put my dad on Linux. It took long enough to get him used to Windows’. This is one reason why Linux is going to struggle to win over Windows users. People are familiar with Windows, how it works and how to do things on that platform It’s difficult to give it all up and learn a new platform. Which is a great pity. I still think he would have been okay with Ubuntu.

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