I need a computer....

[Alexandra242628]

It is time for me to stop milking my office computer and get one at home. Within the next 6 months the job will be giving a few employees the ability to work from home because of all of the latest mail-scanning, paperless office technology. I am one of the lucky people. I am looking for a basic home office computer. I don't really need something with a huge memory, etc. I just want to be able to get online and play some music while I am working. Any decent, relatively inexpensive computers?

[ChipUser]

Some additional information will be helpful for people providing recommendations. Things like .....

What kind of office applications you will be using? Any graphics programs involved?

Connection spped to the office - dial up, DSL, Cable modem?

Does the company require compatibility with any specific operating system or software versions? Will they be buying the software licenses for you?

[ramirami]

check out this thread

[BCinTX]

I'm assuming the office dictates whether you get a mac or PC.

PCs are mostly a commodity, in my opinion, but you can get some crap on the low end. I'd recommend starting at dell.com. They usually have good some specials, or you can look at desktop solutions and they have some recommendations for types of PCs based on what you want to do. Then you can customize it if needed. For example, make sure you get an Ethernet card if you have any plans at al to get DSL or a cable modem. Dell has excellent service if you do run into a problem. With their volume your bound to run into someone who wasn't happy with theirs, but I bet a high % are happy.

I would not get a used computer unless you really know how up to date it is with technology and how much you can get for a similar new one. Too many people are trying to get too much out of a used computer because they $2000 on it a year or two ago, but if its hopelessly out of date their purchase price is meaningless. Plus things like hard drives do break over time.

For music, I recommend spending $60 at amazon.com on Altec Lansing ATP3 3 piece speakers. Good sound, great for that price. I use them for my computer and mp3 player in my home office.

[regnideir]

I'd have to agree on Dell as being a good place to start for the non-techie. They have good prices and great tech support. You can find some real deals in their refurbished section. Personally I do my own tech support so I tend to build my own or buy from a small local guy but then I don't have anyone to call in the middle of the night with a problem.

[FLPilot]

I just ordered a Dell for someone last month (but their prices change daily) for $999.00

It was a Dimension 4600 P4 3.06

Came with XP Home edition, 80 Gig hard drive, 512 meg RAM, 17" LCD flat panel, modem, NIC card, speakers with a subwoofer, mouse, keyboard, and 6 months of AOL. Not a bad deal I think.

[sfhondapilot]

Check out the bargain web sites, I think they are listed on the Hot Deals thread.

I used their daily postings to pick up a Dell Dimension 2400 for $200 after $200 MIR back in November. It came with a CDROM, a CDRW, XP Home, 128 MB RAM and a 40 GB HDD. Yeah, I spent $ to upgrade to 1GB RAM, add a 120 GB secondary HDD, dual format DVD burner and 19" LCD monitor but the basic machine was a great deal.

Recent Dell deals seem to be same Dell 2400 with a single CDRW, 128 MB, 40 GB HDD and a 15-inch LCD monitor for about $450 (before tax and shipping) - available on the Dell Small Business site (just called that because that's their target audience - will still sell the same configurations to individuals). Probably the only thing you would need would be add a stick of memory. Let me know cause I have a stick of 128MB and 258MB that will work in the Dell 2400.

[ramirami]

or buy a ford focus and get a dell pc free...with a flat monitor and a phat printer

[sfhondapilot]

Here's the hot deals thread

Search of recent deals

[kemosabe]

Will your home computer be involved with the work you're performing for the company?

Or will it just jam to tunes while you're, for example, stuffing envelopes?

[Bloke]

Just a quick note on Dell support. The Dimension line has offshore support and the Optiplex line has technical supoport based here. Makes no difference in the level of support you get, but it is impotant to some people.

Bloke.

[krygny]

If you're not technical and you manage to buy a system that lasts more than three years, it's probably more dumb luck or an accident than a likely result. PC makers operate on such low profit magins that they've cheapened them down far beyond the point they should be. There's so much competition and pricing pressure, no system maker can stay in business by making a quality system and charging a fair price. Hardly anybody is willing to spend $1500-2000 on a PC anymore, but that's what they should cost. Basically, the only way you can get a decent PC is to build your own from the better researched components. And you won't save any money.

I'm just astonished at the lengths box makers will go to just to shave a few dollars off the price so they can be competitive. The components going into PCs today are of such poor quality, it's almost criminal; but they all have to do it.

In a nutshell, they make little or no profit on the system (maybe $100). Their profit margin is in the service contract they will kill to sell you.

The last time I bought a computer, I just didn't have the time and was just too lazy to start researching components to build my own quality system. So, I bought a Dell, no service contract. I've been lucky. It has served me well and had few problems. But when I opened the box to replace the floppy drive (in warranty), I discovered what a festering piece of $#!+ it really is.

[FLPilot]

Not sure how good this system is that I am about to mention, but I am sure some of the techies here can answer that. BJ's is selling a Compaq AMD 2800+ 2.06 GHz, 512MB RAM, 120 GB hard drive, CD-RW, DVD Rom, & 17" LCD for $999, but I have a coupon for this system that takes $100 off the price. I don't know how AMD rates their speeds compared to P4 so I can not give any opinions. The only thing that I have heard in the past is that Compaqs are not good, but then again that was someone's opinion.

So techies, what do you think?

[tim.s]

Originally posted by krygny
...So, I bought a Dell, no service contract. I've been lucky. It has served me well and had few problems. But when I opened the box to replace the floppy drive (in warranty), I discovered what a festering piece of $#!+ it really is.

Really? How old is the system. My work has been replacing all of "workhorse" computers with Dell OptiPlex model GX270. It's a full sized box and it's the most user accessible system I've seen. Everything in it is built for easy installation and removal. I imagine the it's been designed to make factory assembly as smooth as possible.

To install a PCI card:
lay the unit down
press a button on either side
the shell opens up like a clamshell and is held open by spring loaded struts
squeeze a release lever and the bar holding down the card swings up
pull out a blank
pop in the new card
swing and snap the card holder in place
push the shell closed (like closing a car hood)
--in and out in about 15 seconds, literally---

No screw driver needed. In fact most of the major components can be removed and replaced in the same fashion.

[ipomoea]

is usually the first question I ask friends if they are out shopping for one or if somebody needs help in assembling one. If you are going the Dell route, then it should be a pretty straightforward process of getting the system that fits your "budget." Dell usually classifies their systems as entry-, mid-, or high-end personal or business models. Personally, the stock entry models look reasonably priced, but when you look at the specs, e.g., base system memory at 120 MB that is shared with the video subsystem, I'd go ahead and skip this level altogether. AFter "upgrading" the memory as well as the CD to CD-RW or DVD, one is definitely in the "mid-level" category. Having said that, I'd go with Dell in your case rather than one of those sites that advertise in PC Magazine or the other trade rags that "assemble" and "customize" for you and where systems are advertised as "gamers" or look more like a Federation Starship than a computer. While it is true that these "custom-built" systems are "upgradeable" and "expandable" and easier to service than than a typical Dell system, their tech support may be poor or nonexistent (I'd rather have somebody in India tell me that my video cable is in the wrong place --some Dell models have onboard video and an AGP card-- rather than spend the next day trying to figure out why the monitor is blank while the rest of the system in powered on). Just my 2 cents.