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Thread ID: 97320 2009-02-12 01:25:00 Good deal ? sarel (2490) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
747040 2009-02-12 01:25:00 Where I work we run a Staff Hostel as part of the organisation. Years ago we bought a cheapo PC and got into KOL dialup so that tenants can check email. We want to repeat the action now, but the same deal is not around any more.

This morning we could get the following : CeleronDual Core E1200, 1GDDR2 Ram, Intel GMA 3100 graphics, 56k modem and Ethernet, 19" widescreen LCD, Vista Home Basic and 5 in 1 card reader. Cost : around $800.

I thought that there must be cheaper deals around for a basic unit like the above and I thought to ask the guys who would know. Any suggestions?

We will most probably also go for Wireless BB, with the modem hidden away, but we have to check signal strength first - the floors are a bit thickish (concrete).

What do you guys think or suggest?

sarel
sarel (2490)
747041 2009-02-12 01:38:00 Taking into account the power supply and case, I'd say it's about $70 more expensive than what can be built by pricespy. If you really only need to use it for emails and the like then a $400 used machine would do. qazwsxokmijn (102)
747042 2009-02-12 02:06:00 I'd get 512MB of RAM and downgrade to XP home. jwil1 (65)
747043 2009-02-12 02:14:00 So where do you get a $400 machine these days?

sarel
sarel (2490)
747044 2009-02-12 02:21:00 What about one of the Asus EEE Box PCs?

Get the one with Linux on it for about $500.
80GB HDD, 1GB RAM, No optical drive, USB Keyboard & Mouse, Wireless and Gigabit LAN, Card Reader, 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU.
The linux install has OpenOffice, Games, Firefox etc.
XP Home version is about $550.
CYaBro (73)
747045 2009-02-12 02:27:00 This morning we could get the following : CeleronDual Core E1200, 1GDDR2 Ram, Intel GMA 3100 graphics, 56k modem and Ethernet, 19" widescreen LCD, Vista Home Basic and 5 in 1 card reader. Cost : around $800.


Meaningless.

What brand motherboard?
What brand HDD?
What brand and wattage PSU?
What brand monitor?

All of which is important if you want it to last.
pctek (84)
747046 2009-02-12 02:59:00 I agree with CYaBro - if it's only going to be a web desktop, get an Eee Box. Also, I'd put XP Home stripped down on it and run Firefox in kiosk mode (plugin), and protect it as well (e.g. BIOS password, HDD as first boot device). pcuser42 (130)
747047 2009-02-12 09:45:00 Maybe it needs to be able to download from camera cards (the card reader) and back up to cd, tho where do you stop, depends on budget Ofthesea (14129)
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