OT: Refurbished computers?

[Antonin]

I looked around on the Dell site, and unfortunately, the computer that is within our price range does not come with any decent software, just the OS. And there's no warranty, which is strange.

Doing all this shopping for a computer, I have to laugh at these $2,000 gaming monsters. I sure with I could spend that much for a computer. Apparently, somebody's buying them.

[Caduceus]

Antonin said:
Our current computer is a 400 MHz IBM Aptiva. I've had no problems with it.

How hard/easy is it to install a video card?

I thought I was out of date when I upgraded from my 700 MHz Compaq 2 months ago!

The installation of a video card is a breeze. Just make sure you have everything you care about backed up (as with any upgrade). Follow instructions carefully and you should do just fine. Make sure your PC can handle a newer card!

[Will]

Try looking in for-sale classifieds, and around college campuses. All the time, there are people looking to replace their computers that sometimes are only a year or two old. And they usually don't ask too much for their "old" computer, and you can make an offer. You don't get warranties or support, but you can get a fairly nice system for cheap.

[Suicide Junkie]

Antonin said:
I looked around on the Dell site, and unfortunately, the computer that is within our price range does not come with any decent software, just the OS. And there's no warranty, which is strange.

You should already own >99% of the software you'll want to use.

Everything you want (except SE5) is already on your old harddrive; just plug it in to the new machine.

[Fyron]

Exactly... it is pretty silly to go and buy a bunch of new software just because you get a new computer.

Also, there are free alternatives to pretty much everything you would get on a Dell (or any manufacturer) system. Most of them are just as good or better...

[Iron Giant]

Microcenter has a 3.0 gig refirb for $350 with $50 rebate and they will give you $100 off if you qualify for a Microcenter credit card = $200

Edit for lack of math skills.

[dogscoff]

Will said:
But I'm not aware of any large numbers of support staff that have been outsourced to Iran or the Middle East. A lot of the more conservative segments of the Persian and Arabic populations still don't take too kindly to capitalist American influence

LOL!

Customer : Hi, I want to complain about this power supply I bought the other day.
Middle Eastern Call Centre Agent : You want to complain? I want to complain! I live in one of the most unstable and dangerous countries in the world! I mean the fundamentalists have guns, the Iranians have nukes and the Americans have Jesus. I just about crap my pants every time I open the newspaper.
Customer : Ummm, well, right. The thing is, when I switch it on...
Middle Eastern Call Centre Agent : I mean it's hardly our fault. Sure, we've done some crazy [censored], but what do you expect? For the last hundred and fifty years, we've had Western imperialists killing our people, plundering our natural resources, looting our cultural treasures, inciting religious and ethnic conflicts and meddling in our political autonomy to suit their own ends. It's hardly an environment conducive to the development of a secure and moderate socio-political landscape, is it?
Customer : Do you think if I took it back to the store they'd...
Middle Eastern Call Centre Agent : And then they have the nerve to call us terrorists! The bloody cheek! No wonder everyone's so pissed off all the time. And don't even get me started on the Israeli thing...
Customer : *klik* *dial tone*

**NOTE** The opinions of the middle eastern call centre agent do not necessarily reflect those of the author. Just a joke guys, no need for another flame war.

[Rasorow]

Ashamed to say it but I bought a Microcenter PC this last time instead of building (first time I didnt build since the 386) because of price. The system works great and was only $476. And I didnt go the discount road with the rebate and opening the store card. So if you want to go the store route then I would go that way. (though I will be building a custom PC when/if I get the money again)

Rasorow

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Side note: Not just for the past one hundred and fifty years have Western imperialists been invading the Middle East.

You do know about the Crusades, don't you?

[Karibu]

I build my own computers. This way I know what I get. Ready made computers tend to have cheap parts, with low quality.