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| Thread ID: 52507 | 2004-12-21 02:23:00 | New PC - comment and advice | Tony (4941) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 306133 | 2004-12-21 02:23:00 | I am trying to help my techonolgically and extremely financially challenged friend to get a new PC. She has seen an interest-free deal at Hill and Stewart for an Acer AT061. The spec as she has told it to me is: Celeron 2.66ghz 256mb RAM 40gig Hdd CDBurner/DVD Player Win XP 17" monitor 56k modem Price: $1299.95 This seems on the face of it like a really good deal, and should suit her very modest requirements well. Question: Anyone had any experience with Acer gear - good, bad or whatever, ditto Hill & Stewart? Have I missed anything obvious in the spec? The only thing that sprung immediately to mind was more RAM would be good. |
Tony (4941) | ||
| 306134 | 2004-12-21 02:32:00 | Make sure it comes with sp2 installed and an Anti-virus program of some description. More ram would be a bonus but if they can't afford it she will still run. |
Metla (12) | ||
| 306135 | 2004-12-21 02:47:00 | Well, I would look into Also bepends on what the computer is going to be used for, gaming? emails? playing DVD's/Movies" target="_blank">www.trademe.co.nz and see if any of their computers meet your needs (my good friend got a beast of a computer not a month ago off the site and was fitted out with top of the line stuff for $1500) so my bet would be you could get a computer just as good if not better for half that price. Also bepends on what the computer is going to be used for, gaming? emails? playing DVD's (of course, not downloaded movies or music, because no one on Press F1 would ever do that .... right¿). | ProMaz (34) | ||
| 306136 | 2004-12-21 02:49:00 | <techonolgically> ??? Technologically. What I would plan to do would be to do the installation for her and set up all the anti-virus, firewall etc then. I think I would also install OpenOffice, as the price would be right for her. She actually doesn't have any sort of internet connection at the moment, so the security stuff is not essential from step 1. If the OS doesn't have SP2, I'd install it from my SP2 disk. Any opinion of Acer as a brand? Thanks, Tony |
Tony (4941) | ||
| 306137 | 2004-12-21 02:51:00 | I used to have an Acer desktop ages ago, and it was total crap lol . Had nothing but trouble . It spent more time at Acer getting fixed, than my flat lol . And I wouldnt get something with a Celeron in it . I would replace it with a real P4 . And yup, as already stated a bit more ram will help since it has XP on it . You could make one yourself for that price, or just under 1300 . |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 306138 | 2004-12-21 02:53:00 | Sounds like she's in good hands then, As to Acer as a brand? As good as any other, How long is the Warranty? |
Metla (12) | ||
| 306139 | 2004-12-21 03:06:00 | Re: buying off trademe - as your friend is not techno-savvy, I would advise against this. Even though stores are often not helpful when things go wrong, there is still some comfort in knowing there is a physical shop to return it to and a warranty, as opposed to a private sale off an unknown person. Re: building your own for less - again, not the best for a non0technophile, unless you are prepared to go around and fix any problems they might have with it, or risk pissing off a friend. Re: Acer quality - haven't heard too much, but what I have heard is very middle of the road - ie, no horror stories, but no rave reviews either. G P |
echothreezero (6612) | ||
| 306140 | 2004-12-21 03:10:00 | How long is the Warranty? 1 year And I wouldnt get something with a Celeron in it. I would agree with you if she was after grunt. But all she needs is fairly low-level Office-type requirements, and whatever she has will be light-years better than her current setup. The only fly in the ointment is if her grown-up living-at-home oafish son wants to get into serious gaming, in which case it is a whole different ball-game. IMO If that becomes an issue, then he can pay the difference to get a gruntier machine. |
Tony (4941) | ||
| 306141 | 2004-12-21 03:13:00 | Re: buying off trademe - as your friend is not techno-savvy, I would advise against this. Even though stores are often not helpful when things go wrong, there is still some comfort in knowing there is a physical shop to return it to and a warranty, as opposed to a private sale off an unknown person. Re: building your own for less - again, not the best for a non0technophile, unless you are prepared to go around and fix any problems they might have with it, or risk pissing off a friend. Re: Acer quality - haven't heard too much, but what I have heard is very middle of the road - ie, no horror stories, but no rave reviews either. G P I agree with all those points. Although I want to help her, I don't want to enter into a huge time commitment. |
Tony (4941) | ||
| 306142 | 2004-12-21 04:28:00 | Very good . I think that will be a good choice for who you describe her as . I don't understand how it could possibly be a :badpc: From what I see them as, Acer is certainly one of the better brands . However - Hill and Stewart is not a place to buy it . In fact, I just have a funny feeling to tell anyone and everyone to stay away from them, most of the time without reason, but not this time! :thumbs: I have found two: both Acer and much cheaper from Dick Smith Electronics . . Only without monitors, but you could even buy an LCD and it'll be cheaper than the Hill and Stewart deal . 1) Acer Aspire T310: Celeron 2 . 8Ghz, 256Mb ram, 40gb,DVD-Rewriter, and the usual rest . DSE code XC5540 ( . dse . co . nz/cgi-bin/dse . storefront/41c7a523044eccb6273fc0a87f990729/Product/View/XC5540" target="_blank">www . dse . co . nz) $697 2) Acer Aspire T310: Celeron 2 . 66Ghz, 256Mb ram, 40gb, CD-writer and the usual rest . DSE code XC5562 ( . dse . co . nz/cgi-bin/dse . storefront/41c7a523044eccb6273fc0a87f990729/Product/View/XC5562" target="_blank">www . dse . co . nz) $721 I have no idea why but the second one is more expensive depite it lacking many features that the fast machine has :eek: :@@: Although both are clearance items, I'm sure they'll be able to locate one for you -I saw one, not sure which of the two, at the Glenfield store on Sunday . |
~sy~ (95) | ||
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