SillyDog701

[Angie]

My computer is 600 mhz. Is there any to upgrade this without buying a new computer? I had one on order from Dell but thinking of cancelling it. The one I have works find if I can upgrade the memory (128 mb currently, 15 g HardDrive) and the processing speed.
Also, is a DVD burner necessary? We don't have a digital camera and will be getting a VCR/DVD recorder for our television so I don't see why we would need a DVD burner on a computer. It usually abour $100.00 to the cost.
I'm also not crazy about Vista. I know it won't work with our printer and I'm trying to do this a inexpensive as possible.
HELP! I have three days to cancel the order and I'll probably do it. Dell is always having some kind of special so I can usually get a good deal. I just want to make sure I get the right computer or that it's even worth it. Like I said, I'm perfectly with our nine year old one. Hey, it works!

UserAgent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98)

[Angie]

Forgot to mention, I have Windows 98 so that will have to be upgraded as well.

UserAgent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98)

[Don_HH2K]

At 600MHz, you're probably dealing with a Slot 1 CPU or similar, so you'd need to replace the entire system board just to get a modern CPU in. If you have 128mb installed now, it's likely that the machine can handle up to 256mb or 384mb, depending on how many slots are available, and it goes without saying that neither is much by modern standards. Not to mention, if you do replace the system board to upgrade the CPU, you'd need to buy new memory anyway.

Overall, though, you're probably looking at an upgrade cost similar to that of an entirely new PC if you were to modernize the machine, since you'd essentially have to gut it and buy all new parts, save for some like the case and optical drive.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.2 x64; en-US; rv:1.8.1.14) Gecko/20080421 BonEcho/2.0.0.14 (mmoy CE K8C-X05)

[PaulD]

I agree with Don. Yes, you possibly could shoehorn in Windows XP Home edition. And make it work. But you would very soon become dissatisfied with the performance - your time, even if it is 'cheap' - is worth more than the aggravation that would develop. As you note, there is no way that Vista could be installed on your machine.

As for a DVD burner: no, you don't need one. But a DVD reader (which usually includes CD-writing capability as well) is almost indispensable.

Dell is only one brand; you can check online for others. One is Lenovo (was IBM until 3 years ago). Their lowest cost desktop is a ThinkCentre at $399 - here. This system has XP Pro. Monitor is additional, but your current one may work. Do verify your communications configuration (dial-up modem / ethernet port).

Your current system has been a dependable worker for a decade, but requirements have outstripped its capabilities. Now, prepare for the next decade. Get a new system; believe me, you'll be glad that you did. If you have the room, save the old one for occasional work. You probably can even network the two machines together.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1.14) Gecko/20080404 Firefox/2.0.0.14

[Angie]

I'm strapped for space in my house, but would like to keep the old one for Autocad purposes (it's a pain to reload autocad onto a new system). Would a laptop work? I hear they don't last as long as desktops.
Here's the configuration for the one I will probably be cancelling.
Item Number Quantity Item Description

223-8105 1 Inspiron 1525, Intel Pentium Dual Core T2370 (1.73GHz 533Mhz, 1M L2 Cache)
313-5773 1 Jet Black Color with Matte Finish
311-8081 1 3GB, DDR2, 667MHz 2 Dimm
320-6047 1 15.4 inch Wide Screen WXGA LCDTrueLife for Inspiron 1525
320-6059 1 Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
341-5618 1 250G 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
420-6553 1 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic Edition, English
420-7580 1 DELL RESOURCE DVD,BACK-UP INSP 1525
420-5769 1 Internet Search and Portal
420-5924 1 Icon Consolidation Application
420-6436 1 Vista, PC-Restore, Dim/Insp
463-2282 1 Dell Owners Manual installed on your system,click on icon after system set-up to access
420-7622 1 DELL SUPPORT CENTER 2.0
420-7905 1 Media Direct 3.5
430-2651 1 Integrated 10/100 Network Card
313-5793 1 Integrated 56K Modem
420-7468 1 ADOBE ACROBAT READER 8.1 DIM/INSP
313-5791 1 8X DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive
420-8183 1 Roxio Creator DE 10
313-4783 1 Integrated High Definition Audio 2.0
430-2652 1 Dell Wireless 1395 802.11g Mini Card,for Insp 1525
313-5785 1 Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam
412-0968 1 Creative Earbud EP630
420-7778 1 Software for Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam
410-1160 1 McAfee Security 9.0, 30-day Subscription, for Dell Inspiron / Dimension
312-0617 1 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery, for Inspiron 1525
412-0148 1 No Internet Service Provider Requested
420-8051 1 Microsoft Works 9.0, English For Inspiron
988-5077 1 Dell Hardware Warranty Plus Return To Depot, Initial Year
950-9057 1 No Warranty, Year 2 and 3
984-1980 1 Type 12- Mail-InService, 24x7 TechnicalSupport, Initial Year
960-2780 1 Warranty Support,Initial Year
990-7989 1 1 Year Limited Warranty and Mail-In Service,Notebook
330-0171 1 S and P Drop-in-Box Marcom forDHS Notebooks
310-8627 1 You have chosen a Windows Vista Basic System
310-9752 1 Intel Pentium Dual Core Label
420-7091 1 DataSafe Online Dim/Ins/XPS
420-7092 1 DataSafe Online Dim/Ins/XPS 1YR-FREE
987-4817 1 Insp Datasafe 3GB,1YR(Incl in price),DHS
988-0099 1 To activate your online backupaccount, go to Start, Programs, DataSafe Online
Subtotal: $624.00
Shipping and Handling: $19.99

Sales Tax: $32.20
Total: $676.19

Is the price justifiable? It also comes with a Webcam (thrown in due to a special) whatever that is. Some say a DVD holds more than a CD when it comes to pictures so the burner is necessary. I disagree, but like I said, I don't know much about these things.
You guys are great. I'll check the other two sites for computers as well.
Thank you!

UserAgent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98)

[Edward]

It looks like a decent price for all that.

Personally, I prefer custom-built systems, as if a part inside it eventually fails, it can be replaced with almost anything, not something that is proprietary to a specific brand.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i586; en-US; rv:1.8.1.15pre) Gecko/20080521 SeaMonkey/1.1.10pre

[Don_HH2K]

I have a friend with an Inspiron 1525. It's a pretty good machine, and $624 for a laptop is very inexpensive - a similar model just last year would've cost you upwards of $1000.

Personally, I'd recommend that you spend the extra money on one of the Office 2007 bundles, or if you're not so keen on that, download the free OpenOffice instead. The same goes for the McAfee Security 9.0 install: either invest in a copy of BitDefender ($24.95) or download AVG Free; either will treat you better than McAfee.

It's questionable whether a desktop will outlast a laptop. I brought my old laptop (ca. 2003) around with me everywhere, and it broke beyond repair within three years. I do the same with this one (ca. 2006), and it's beginning to show signs of wear. Meanwhile, my father's kept his laptop on his desk for the past nine years, and it shows virtually no signs of aging.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.2 x64; en-US; rv:1.8.1.14) Gecko/20080421 BonEcho/2.0.0.14 (mmoy CE K8C-X05)

[Edward]

I was in the local BJ's Wholesale Club last Saturday, they had the Asus EEE PC with a $25 rebate. It was tempting.

I wonder if it can run Linux...

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i586; en-US; rv:1.8.1.15pre) Gecko/20080521 SeaMonkey/1.1.10pre

[Don_HH2K]

I wonder if it can run Linux...

The EEE PC actually ships with Xandros installed by default; XP is optional.

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[Antony]

The EEE PC actually ships with Xandros installed by default; XP is optional.

I thought that there was a new edition with XP as standard.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; Intel Mac OS X; en-US; rv:1.8.1.14) Gecko/20080404 Firefox/2.0.0.14

[Ghostman 1]

why spend a couple $100.00 bucks on a 600mhz PC,when you can get a P4 for under $100.00 bucks.
Take a look here,They have some real nice IBM's for cheap.
http://www.usedibmpcs.com/

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[fadeToblack]

Forgot to mention, I have Windows 98 so that will have to be upgraded as well.

I just put XP Home Ed on a 650Mhz Dell tower but I added ram so now it has 640MB as it had only 128mb. 128MB is not enough memory for ANY PC. with 640MB it's fast enough for the web , etc. it can burn DVDs at 4x no problem. XP Home Ed is a good OS and does not eat sys resources like Pro does and with Service Pack 3 it runs like a top.
DO NOT DOWNLOAD OR USE...........IE 7...........!!!!!!!!!!!

I buy old pc's from the local thrift store and they need at least 384mb for ANY OS to run at a good speed. if your pc has only two slots then you have to buy the more costly 250mb sticks. $10 to $15 each on ebay not including shipping.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1.14) Gecko/20080404 Firefox/2.0.0.14

[Angie]

So how reliable is Electro Computer Warehouse? I see they sell refurbished computers, are these a okay thing to buy? They're prices are very reasonable.
I was once told that a refurbished computer is hard to fix and sometimes cannot be updated because it's been changed from it's original configuration.
Their computers don't come with an operating system installed. They send you the operating system of your choice, the license for it and they you do it. Could someone as computer illiterate as myself do this?

UserAgent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98)

[PaulD]

"Could someone as computer illiterate as myself do this?"
- Probably. But IF you run into a problem, who ya gonna call? The computer integrator is the 'help' resource. Now, that is you.
- On the other hand, it would be one way to become less 'illiterate'. Possibly frustratingly painful; but maybe not.
- Your decision.

My brother-in-law is a fairly smart guy, but he has an acquaintance with expertise that does all his computer work for him. A couple of years ago the friend cobbled together a system, a fairly high-end machine. It developed an undiagnosable hardware problem. The hard drive was moved to another 'interim' machine, also a home-built. It has had a HDD failure, and BIL lost an immense amount of data files. (He has now gotten an external drive for backup.) And the computer itself now is acting up.

I have no experience with refurbished machines so will not critique. My principle is always to get the best that I can afford. This involves judgmental trade-offs. If you desire to invest in computer education for yourself, then a do-it-yourself situation is good. (I note that some responders in this thread appear to have a technical bent.) If you would rather be only a user, not a fixer-cum-learner, then avoid risk and get a system with a warranty. Enough philosophy (for now).

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[fadeToblack]

So how reliable is Electro Computer Warehouse? I see they sell refurbished computers, are these a okay thing to buy? They're prices are very reasonable.
I was once told that a refurbished computer is hard to fix and sometimes cannot be updated because it's been changed from it's original configuration.
Their computers don't come with an operating system installed. They send you the operating system of your choice, the license for it and they you do it. Could someone as computer illiterate as myself do this?

I highly recommend a HP Compaq DC5000 3.0GHz HT P4 1GB Tower and it comes with XP Pro.

I bought two of them when they had a BIN price of $129 each. it's fast and quiet and from a corporate lease so they are clean and have not been beatup.
it's possible I will sell one of mine as it looks like I don't need it after all.


http://cgi.ebay.com/HP-Compaq-DC5000-3- ... dZViewItem

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