Which cheap windows PC?

[garyb]

I know it's the wrong forum but.......
My wife wants to replace our 7 year old PC with another PC.We have screen and keyboard etc. I know this is crying out for a mac mini but it has to be windows for the sake of the children!
Any ideas ? shuttle.
Thanks all

[darrensen]

I'd go for Windows........Freedom of software and easy to repair. Even though Tiger is out now, just you wait until Longhorn!!!!!!!!!

Got my PC for sale if interested..........

[headbrace]

I doubt anyone will check in here to answer it, so I shall move it to tech...

[garyb]

I think you're right, will do.

[nichomach]

Retail or self-build preferred? Will it be used for gaming or other demanding 3D stuff, or is it just going to be for office tasks, web and email?

[noah]

any ideas on a budget for us? cheap for some isnt always cheap for others

[nichomach]

For general office-y type stuff, Dell e-value code UKDHSONL-D05306B:

Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor with HT Technology (3.0GHz, 800FSB, 1MB cache)
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
512MB DDR RAM (Was 256MB)
17" Analogue Flat Panel Monitor (17.0" v.i.s)
80GB Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
16x DVD+/-RW Drive#
90 Day Collect And Return (CAR) Service(3)
Save £30 (inc VAT)
Free Delivery - Worth £57.58 (Inc Vat)

No use for games, but a good quick machine and if you REALLY don't want the flat panel, you could always Fleabay it. £461 inc VAT and delivery.

[garyb]

Thanks.
Price around £450 ish, cheaper would be better.
It's for my wife and young children to get used to PCs. Used for web/email and MS word etc.
No serious gaming. I already have a monitor.
A self build is out. Reliable, basic and simple are the keywords.
I use an Apple ibook so would not really be using it. I have tried to talk my wife into a mini mac but she is worried the kids will never learn to use a PC.
Thanks.

[Trippledence]

Mac's are dirty and wrong, windows is so simple even my mother can use it, You could jsut get the best spec for your money second had of ebay, stick a Linux Distro and open office on it. Sorted.

[nichomach]

Hop along to the Dell outlet, they have some good deals on the dimension range, e.g.:

Dimension 3000, MT, Pentium 4 2.80GHz, 533fsb
English - Win XP SP2 Home
System Price £324.79

Dell recommends Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional
Operating System: English - Win XP SP2 Home (Backup Media)
English - Win XP SP2 Home
Memory: 1024MB (2x512) Dual Channel DDR333
Floppy Drive: No Floppy Drive
Hard Disk Drive: 80GB IDE Hard Drive (7200rpm)
Modem: V.92 Data Fax Modem UK
Software: Microsoft® Works® 7.0
English - Adobe Reader 6.0
BT, AOL, Tiscali ISP Combination
MISC: Dell Standard PS2 Keyboard
Dell 2 Button PS/2 Scroll Mouse
DMX Dell Media Experience 2.
16 X DVD +/- RW

That's £324 ex VAT and delivery. Basically, anything on there that's under £330 will fall inside your budget.

[noah]

the above looks great for the money, although you may want to upgrade to a copy of office instead of works.

[autopilot]

Yeah, your probably best of starting at Dell for now if it's a lowish spec officey PC. Just make sure you take of all the silly over priced options, like extended warrenties etc. You don't need them.

Thats if you can't get one of the stuuuuuupidly good deals from Aldi

[Rave]

Unless you're in a real hurry to buy, I would wait around until Dell come up with one of their regular silly offers. They have been known to do computers with a 15" flat panel monitor for not much more than £300 all in. Sell on the monitor for £60-70 and you're looking at well under £300. It'll most likely be a Celeron D with 512MB RAM which isn't top spec, but it'll run web/office apps for years with no difficulty at all.

[Trippledence]

As far as office software is consered i would go for Open Office, with all the majour functions of MS office, unless you can get a copy of 2003 through your work (what we did) its a good choise.

http://www.openoffice.org/

Defs get 512 of ram, even if you upgrade yourself from what it comes with.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...197696004&rd=1 Not bad Imo <<

[darrensen]

Thanks.
Price around £450 ish, cheaper would be better.
It's for my wife and young children to get used to PCs. Used for web/email and MS word etc.
No serious gaming. I already have a monitor.
A self build is out. Reliable, basic and simple are the keywords.
I use an Apple ibook so would not really be using it. I have tried to talk my wife into a mini mac but she is worried the kids will never learn to use a PC.
Thanks.

i am selling my Dell Diemension 8300 for 400 if interested....... i can PM you my spec if you want.

[nvening]

http://www.meshcomputers.com/updated/bto_m_1.htm and upgrade it to 512 of ram, it also has a 6600 for some game as kids (as we alll do) love em!