E-bay computer. Good deal? Bad deal?
 

Well, I had to break down and buy a Windows machine. A friend advised me about prices, etc, so I just bought the following computer for $380. Is this a reasonable price?

THIS ITEM IS BRAND NEW IN BOX DIRECT FROM RETAILER. FOR EBAY PERSONS: THIS AUCTION COMES WITH WINDOWS XP HOME EDITION AND THE SOFTWARE DISC AND ALL OTHER USER AGREEMENTS, LICENSES, AND PAPERWORK FOR THE SOFTWARE THAT IS INSTALLED ON THIS SYSTEM.




THIS SYSTEM ALSO COMES WITH EMACHINE SPEAKERS, KEYBOARD, AND MOUSE THAT ARE NOT LISTED. ALL ITEMS ARE BRAND NEW NOT REFURBISHED.

This Intel® Celeron® 2.6GHz processor is a multimedia sweetheart with its DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive.
Intel® Celeron® processor 2.6GHz with 400MHz frontside bus
256MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM for multitasking power, expandable to 1.0GB
DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive

Product Features
128KB L2 cache memory for efficient system processing
80.0GB hard drive
Intel® Extreme Graphics 3D with 64MB shared video memory
Integrated 10/100 Ethernet card; V.92 high-speed fax/modem
6 high-speed USB 2.0 ports (2 front, 4 back); 1 each parallel and serial port; 2 PS/2 ports
Windows premium multimedia keyboard and 2-button wheel mouse
Windows XP Home Edition operating system preinstalled

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1070568705.jpg

As much as I hate to even appear to be a relativist, I've got to ask what it's supposed to be used for. If you "had" to buy it, I doubt it's going to be a multimedia godbox - which is good, given the (relatively) small cache, lack of dedicated video card and lack of dedicated sound card.

It's unlikely that the MoBo brand will make too much of a difference, unless it's a real obscure North Korean brand.

Once you take the premiums for top shelf a/v cards (around $600) and a monitor (pick your price) out of the equation, you're left w/ a good box at a good price.

You'll almost certainly want more memory at some point. I think 256MB is a bit thin on an XP box. At the very least, get MemTurbo for a few bucks to help keep your memory tidy.

JP

Yep, what is it to be used for?

I suppose that for most users, XP (OS) is the largest memory hog at ~90Mb. (internet & word processing don't need much ram . .you'll be fine)
OTOH; If you want to do video editing or 3-D stuff you'll need a lot more ram.

Just remeber, if that is one of those "E-machines" you will have to upgrade it with "E-Ram" :rolleyes:

The machine will have 3 uses:

1) Log on to a secure internet site that allows access to hospital medical records. The secure server does not allow Mac access even with VirtualPC.

2) Program a Philips remote control.

3) Program a Garmin Street Pilot GPS unit.

My video and photo stuff will be done on my Mac with which I have a deep and sustaining relationship. :)

Well, then, you done good.

JP

This box will be fine for what you're looking to do. Price is ok.

Also if you'd prefer a flat screen consider this.....

http://www.ecost.com/ecost/shop/detail.asp?dpno=964233

Highly rated and at a price you can't beat. It is, however, discontinued.

It'll be good for what you want, but upgrades will be mandatory if you A) do mulimedia or B) play games (newer games that is).

Those computers on ebay look like a good deal on the face of it. I told my son he could buy a machine (Windoz), and I would pick up half the cost. He found the bargains all right, but if you look closer, they always charge you a not insignificant amount for shipping. Maybe $70 from across the country. Do this only if the seller is in your home town and you're sure he can fix it when (not if) it breaks down.

What if the no-name computer decides to puke a hard drive or mother board and you don't know a foot pedal (mouse) from a coffee mug holder (CD loading tray)? You get to send it back (wherever) on your nickle and it gets sent back to you (whenever), again at your cost. That good deal suddenly isn't.

I suggest a name brand computer with on-site warranty. At my urging, my son finally bought a Dell. Upon arrival, the video didn't work right out of the new box. After verifying a faulty board with Dell's tech line, we received a new graphics board 2 days later. They also would have provided a set of human hands to install it, but we declined and did it ourselves. Unless your seller is local, working out of a store front and stays in business at least a year from now, I'd go with a company that includes both on-site repairs and good customer service.

Used long distance monitors may be another poor bargain. Factor in the shipping charges when you compare with buying one locally, even paying the sales tax. BTW, there's a ton of large screen, Trinitron and lesser CRT monitors on the market at bargain prices because everyone wants an expensive "gotta-have-it" 15" flat screen LCD monitor (I don't get it ... yet).

MHO,
Sherwood