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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
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