what should i do?

A

A_G

New Member
Hey guys obviously im new here, please excuse my grammar ahead of time sometime i get a bit ahead of my self when im typing.

So heres the deal.
I thought i knew about computers but i was wrong. About 5 years ago id research ever new name brand product out there. But in the last 5 years the market has advanced so much and i find my self lost when i got to the store to get another pc.

I feel really stupid, looking at the details.

So if you could help me out id appreciate it.

Im heading off to college 2000 miles from my home in Oklahoma to Wyoming. And i need a pc, i cant live with out the internet, and i have a business class later on in the year.

Now i do like to download music. I have about 1gb of music. and i have a DIGI camera, i take quite a bit of photos of my trucks and projects, i have about 1gb of photos as well.

So heres my needs.
enough room for my current music, photos, and videos. (ill be transfering it over from the other computer.)
Internet capabilitys as well as 56k modem.
atleast one usb port
Some light editing software, mainly just downsizing.
And i dont need all that fancy crap that comes with an Operating system. I need word, excel, whats that one for power points.

I just need bare bones..in the 300-375 range. I wont do emachines or gateway.
Emachines IMO are disposable and i had a gateway back in 98 and it never worked right.

I hear custom builds but everytime i do a configurate it, it goes way out of my range..

Oh yea cdrw would be nice...two drives so i can copy a disk with out ripping it on to my computer..

I hope that was clear enough, but yet i feel like im running around in circles still. If you need any more help...just ask me and ill try to explain in depth of what i need.

Help?:confused:
anthony
 
Can I assume you can build one your own? Or 'ready made' ?
And how much are you going to spend overall?

By the way, I usually not recommend getting a barebones as I don't usually find they are good deal to suit the purpose.
 
^ Sometimes people who say they just need a barebones system...actually just need a barebones system. If he can get away with spending sub-$400 for a basic-needs system (which is what he described), why spend more money on parts/stuff he doesn't need, especially when going to college?

Honestly, it's a bad time to shop for pre-built systems, as even with rebates and free shipping, they're just not offering the deals they were a few months ago for the holidays. I checked a few sites and the cheapest system I saw was $479, plus shipping. Here's a basic-build via TigerDirect.com. You'll be able to find pretty much the exact same stuff on Newegg.com, but they tend to charge a bit more for shipping. Either way you go if you decide to build your own, though, will be fine with wither site.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3524058&sku=S458-1288 A
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2943299&sku=S457-1035
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2552182&sku=M17-7501
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3227073&sku=L12-1021 (two each per your desire)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2948208&sku=TSD-80AS6

Those components total $394 shipped from Ohio to NJ; I'd image your shipping would be the same, +/- a few $. Also, that's including $90 for Windows XP, but if you have a legit CD you can use to Install it, now you're at $00 for the total system. In order to have Excel, you'd need to have a copy of Office 2003/2007, which is quite a bit of money. If you don't have a legit way to install it, like XP, I would suggest OpenOffice.org (completely free) for your MS Office-type needs. Also, I didn't include a monitor, as I figured you would use your exiting one.

The above system is in no way cutting edge, but it's not an obsolete beast either. For the needs you mentioned, though, it will do you nicely:)

Welcome to CF!
 
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I think you should also be able to get Microsoft software from your University for a reduced price, enquire about that.
 
imsati said:
^ Sometimes people who say they just need a barebones system...actually just need a barebones system. If he can get away with spending sub-$400 for a basic-needs system (which is what he described), why spend more money on parts/stuff he doesn't need, especially when going to college?

Honestly, it's a bad time to shop for pre-built systems, as even with rebates and free shipping, they're just not offering the deals they were a few months ago for the holidays. I checked a few sites and the cheapest system I saw was $479, plus shipping. Here's a basic-build via TigerDirect.com. You'll be able to find pretty much the exact same stuff on Newegg.com, but they tend to charge a bit more for shipping. Either way you go if you decide to build your own, though, will be fine with wither site.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3524058&sku=S458-1288 A
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2943299&sku=S457-1035
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2552182&sku=M17-7501
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3227073&sku=L12-1021 (two each per your desire)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2948208&sku=TSD-80AS6

Those components total $394 shipped from Ohio to NJ; I'd image your shipping would be the same, +/- a few $. Also, that's including $90 for Windows XP, but if you have a legit CD you can use to Install it, now you're at $00 for the total system. In order to have Excel, you'd need to have a copy of Office 2003/2007, which is quite a bit of money. If you don't have a legit way to install it, like XP, I would suggest OpenOffice.org (completely free) for your MS Office-type needs. Also, I didn't include a monitor, as I figured you would use your exiting one.

The above system is in no way cutting edge, but it's not an obsolete beast either. For the needs you mentioned, though, it will do you nicely:)

Welcome to CF!
Click to expand...

I am not saying barebone is definately bad. But sometime they come up with some crappy MB with outdated 939 socket, DDR RAM and APG slot with some crappy brand! Or with some outdated chipset! The PSU come with the barebone could be another problem. I would say it will be better off to spend extra $30 to get a better brand or later chipset.
 
daisy, that wasn't a shot at you, sorry if it came across that way:(

While not the best MoBo/CPU out there by far, I looked for something that would serve basic needs and offer limited (but do-able) upgradability (DDR2, PCI-e). I've experience with that MoBo in the selection I Posted, and while not the greatest (and ultimately not for me specifically), it did offer decent features for it's cost. The system won't hold up to hardcore gaming or super-intensive multi-threaded applications, but for general-to-mid-range use (college homework, papers, burning music, web-surfing, multi-tasking) it will be solid.

I understand what you mean about some Barebones though; some companies push out some pretty crappy units and hype them up. In this case, I tried to blend inexpensive cost with acceptable performance (no DDR, no Celeron, 4 SATA ports, decent HDD).
 
imsati said:
daisy, that wasn't a shot at you, sorry if it came across that way:(

While not the best MoBo/CPU out there by far, I looked for something that would serve basic needs and offer limited (but do-able) upgradability (DDR2, PCI-e). I've experience with that MoBo in the selection I Posted, and while not the greatest (and ultimately not for me specifically), it did offer decent features for it's cost. The system won't hold up to hardcore gaming or super-intensive multi-threaded applications, but for general-to-mid-range use (college homework, papers, burning music, web-surfing, multi-tasking) it will be solid.

I understand what you mean about some Barebones though; some companies push out some pretty crappy units and hype them up. In this case, I tried to blend inexpensive cost with acceptable performance (no DDR, no Celeron, 4 SATA ports, decent HDD).
Click to expand...

I understand what you mean. I personally tends to get a better quaility.
Like the barebaone you picked. It is a good deal. But when you thinking about the major selling point intel new CPU is overclocking, then it come up with a 945C chipset, I would see it some how of 'wasting' the CPU.
 
Microsoft Software

PabloTeK said:
I think you should also be able to get Microsoft software from your University for a reduced price, enquire about that.
Click to expand...

You are quite right here. I attend a local Community College and they have an alliance with Microsoft. The software they had listed was all free. I downloaded Visio 2007, Project 2007 and Windows XP Professional with SP 2. I burned them all to CD. Then Microsoft came out with a special for the students, Microsoft Office 2007 Professional for only $59.99. Wow, couldn't pass that up.
 
ill be honest with you guys,I highly doubt that my school would get stuff cheaper from MS. They only have one class that deals with computer programs like word, excel, or power point. The rest is computer to read ECMs and other vehicle computers. Run alignments. Etc etc.

Id like to stick with xp i just got used to it...But should i switch to vista, Are they gonna stop making updates for Xp anytime soon.

currently i have a HP compaq presario s6000cl
2800 amd athlon xp processor

512mb DDR Sdram

80gb hard drive

cdrw and a dvd rom drive.

It came a screen, A screen thats flat, but its obviously a tube configuration. two speakers, keyboard,mouse
For like 689.00 5 years ago.

I only use a 16th of the programs on here...more than likely less than that.

Windows media player, limewire :cool:, msn messenger, yahoo messenger, Aim, mozilla firefox, and before my camera broke, Hp image editor, and windows movie maker 2.

So i realliy just need a basic computer.

But like a i said years ago. A desktop bare bones...or next step up. You couldnt find one without a screen,keyboard, mouse, or speakers. Now 90% of what im finding is a 300 dollar computer without a screen and then the screen is 148.00 WTF?

i mean i found a computer i want but no screen..

Now heres the truth behind why im going so cheap.

Im doing this with my tax return, yes a 17 year Old with a tax return. Anyways it was in the 600 dollar range. Ive gotta get a cheap computer and camera. And then throw the rest into my gas hog so it will make it out of the state. Now i know i have some extra cash coming in the mail in the next week or so..but im not sure how much. Prolly 200 bucks....


So with that i know best buy has one for 299.00 i think its an emachine. am i right about emachines...are they disposable or is that just crap.

anthony

uh ps.

i think i might have already said this.
i have

about 3gb on my hardrive from photos, music, and videos. otherwise i havent even scratched the surface on this harddrive.
 
oh yea..can you put some of what yall are saying in idiot terms. Like i dont what DDR means or DDR2 and stuff like that.

I do remember what ram means...
 
A_G said:
oh yea..can you put some of what yall are saying in idiot terms. Like i dont what DDR means or DDR2 and stuff like that.

I do remember what ram means...
Click to expand...

Memory terms:

SDRAM - Outdated like heck.

DDR (Double Data Rate): Outdated, but it's OK. Not recommended.

DDR2 : Basically the standard of memory. DDR2-800 is most popular. Recommended.

DDR3 : Not a standard and won't be for a while. High costs and high latencies mean that you see only see a slight difference for 5x-10x the price.
 
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