disneytati Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 Hi, guys!I was planning to buy the desktop PC at Walmart on BF, but I've just found out that Best Buy has a PC for 369.97 with printer and everything. My aunt brought an ad from September, I checked it online, and they still have it! So, maybe they have it all the time... Do you know if it's good? Here are the specifications: AMD Sempron Processor 3100+256 MB DDR RAM memory100 GB hard driveDVD/CD-RW combo drive8-in-1 media reader17" flat screen monitor, .25 dot pitchcolor printer
Marcster Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 What do you plan to do with it? (surf, graphics, documents, etc.) It should be fine for anything short of intense graphics and video manipulation. And it's def. not a gaming computer. And DVD playback *will not* rival your living room set-up. 256MB of RAM isn't a lot -- it's the minimum recommendated by Microsoft. Consider purchasing an additional 256MB or 512 MB chip, they're really easy to install (5 minutes) (instructions are included) or have BB do it for $29 if you aren't comfortable. My parent's eMachines fried it's RAM after 1.5 years, but that was a simple fix and inexpensive fix, once I narrowed that down. YMMV.
disneytati Posted October 25, 2005 Author Posted October 25, 2005 What do you plan to do with it? (surf, graphics, documents, etc.) It should be fine for anything short of intense graphics and video manipulation. And it's def. not a gaming computer. And DVD playback *will not* rival your living room set-up. 256MB of RAM isn't a lot -- it's the minimum recommendated by Microsoft. Consider purchasing an additional 256MB or 512 MB chip, they're really easy to install (5 minutes) (instructions are included) or have BB do it for $29 if you aren't comfortable. My parent's eMachines fried it's RAM after 1.5 years, but that was a simple fix and inexpensive fix, once I narrowed that down. YMMV.Thanks for the info!! I only surf, type things at Word, view and enhance pictures from my digital camera (nothing too sofisticated, I don't know how to do much), download songs and videos, decode them and burn CDs. Do you think it would be possible to view things I viedotape with a digital camcorder and then burn it to a CD? I just don't play any games. In the ad my aunt brought, there was one for $290-ish, but you could pay $60 for an upgrade that gave you a 160MB HD and 512MB RAM, and other stuff. But I couldn't find it in the online ad. But there's always the chance for an upgrade there.
Marcster Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 Disney -- is this in Brazil? http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/Marcster2005/Smileys/thinking.gif 'Cause my BB circular from the newspaper has that computer for $299.97 after all rebates. And only $60 more for the 512MB of Ram, 160GB Hard Drive, and it steps up to a 3300+ Sempron (faster). Hmm, in either case, I'd kick in the $60 to upgrade. Either computer would do what you want, but for the additional 20% cost, you'll have a faster computer w/more Ram, which will extend it's usefulness. You shouldn't have a problem encoding video to DVD from your camcorder, but it will be slower then if you bought a Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64 based computer. All the more reason to spend the extra $60.
disneytati Posted October 25, 2005 Author Posted October 25, 2005 Disney -- is this in Brazil? http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/Marcster2005/Smileys/thinking.gif 'Cause my BB circular from the newspaper has that computer for $299.97 after all rebates. And only $60 more for the 512MB of Ram, 160GB Hard Drive, and it steps up to a 3300+ Sempron (faster). Hmm, in either case, I'd kick in the $60 to upgrade. Either computer would do what you want, but for the additional 20% cost, you'll have a faster computer w/more Ram, which will extend it's usefulness. You shouldn't have a problem encoding video to DVD from your camcorder, but it will be slower then if you bought a Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64 based computer. All the more reason to spend the extra $60.No, it's in Orlando, FL. I always check ads for Orlando, because it's the only place I go in the US. Not that I wouldn't like to visit other places, but I love Disneyworld so much that I always end up going there! Maybe I can find a good deal at BB when I get there, even before BF. PCs are much more expensive here, and the biggest hard drives we have are the 40GB ones, so it's already much better than I could dream of. Anyway, if I have the opportunity, I'll have the upgrade, then I'll have a great PC!!!
disneytati Posted October 25, 2005 Author Posted October 25, 2005 I found the PC you're talking about. But mail in rebates don't work for me, I don't live in the USA....
Marcster Posted October 25, 2005 Posted October 25, 2005 I found the PC you're talking about. But mail in rebates don't work for me, I don't live in the USA....True, true.
disneytati Posted October 25, 2005 Author Posted October 25, 2005 I just hope I can get something similar to that before BF. Then it will be much better for me to buy other things.
pcsoon Posted October 26, 2005 Posted October 26, 2005 Last years BB desktop was a Emachines with 2.6 Cel, 80gb HD, CD burner, 512mg RAM and a 17" flat CRT. $200 AR. I've been very happy with it, no problems. This year I'm wishing for the same thing with a 15" LCD at the same price. Wal-mart's desktop does come with an LCD but $400 is a little high IMO for a door buster special.:)
disneytati Posted October 26, 2005 Author Posted October 26, 2005 Last years BB desktop was a Emachines with 2.6 Cel, 80gb HD, CD burner, 512mg RAM and a 17" flat CRT. $200 AR. I've been very happy with it, no problems. This year I'm wishing for the same thing with a 15" LCD at the same price. Wal-mart's desktop does come with an LCD but $400 is a little high IMO for a door buster special.:)Well, I don't have much experience with that, and got really excited about the price at Walmart. But then my aunt got the BB ad and... well, their price now is better than Walmart's door buster special, so I'll have to agree with you. As I said before, mail in rebates don't work for me, as I don't live in the USA... So I'll just wait and see what BB has for BF. Do you know if it's open on Thanksgiving?
catsmeowjewelry Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 "Well, I don't have much experience with that, and got really excited about the price at Walmart. But then my aunt got the BB ad and... well, their price now is better than Walmart's door buster special, so I'll have to agree with you. As I said before, mail in rebates don't work for me, as I don't live in the USA... So I'll just wait and see what BB has for BF. Do you know if it's open on Thanksgiving?" Nope, my brother is a manager at Best Buy and that and Christmas are his only days off during "the season". Kym
pcsoon Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 disneytati,If rebates don't work for then BB most likely won't be your best bet. Last year they had a $500 laptop with no rebates but the $200 desktop was heavily rebated. I don't remember the amount but I'm guessing it was somewhere in the $200-$300 range. I still believe that BB will offer the best door buster computer if you can handle the rebates. Compusa should also have a good deal the day before Thanksgiving but that will most likely also have large rebates. They make money on rebates, I believe that only about 60% get redeemed.:) Well, I don't have much experience with that, and got really excited about the price at Walmart. But then my aunt got the BB ad and... well, their price now is better than Walmart's door buster special, so I'll have to agree with you. As I said before, mail in rebates don't work for me, as I don't live in the USA... So I'll just wait and see what BB has for BF. Do you know if it's open on Thanksgiving?
Jenniferharrison82 Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 I loathe my emachine, getting a new laptop at walmart. Just my opinion though. Happy Shopping
pcsoon Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 Dug up last years BB early computer special for comparison with this years WM specials.:) Desktops: -eMachines Celeron 2.66, 17" CRT, 512MB, 80GB, DVD/Cd-RW Combo (T2893/17F3) $599.98 - $350 bundle MIR - $50 Monitor MIR = $199.98 -eMachines Celeron 2.66, 15" LCD, 512MB, 80GB, DVD/Cd-RW Combo (T2893/E15T3) $779.98 - $350 bundle MIR - $50 Monitor MIR = $379.98 Laptop: -Toshiba Celeron M 1.4 Ghz, 256MB, 40GB, DVD/CD-RW $899.99 - $400 IR = $499.99 (6902514)
Marcster Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 pcsoon -- Wow! For $350 - $400 rebates, I think I'd send it in Certified Mail!!! I'd rather spend the $4.00 then have the rebate company say, "We didn't receive it in time, you're outta luck."
pcsoon Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 pcsoon -- Wow! For $350 - $400 rebates, I think I'd send it in Certified Mail!!! I'd rather spend the $4.00 then have the rebate company say, "We didn't receive it in time, you're outta luck."Ya I know,I'd forgoten they were so much utill I looked them up. I did send send them all regular post without much thought and recieved all in a couple of months. One thing to point out is you pay tax on the non-rebate price. I may take your advice this year.:)
alimfp Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 My DH repairs computers as a side business. About 3/4 of the hundreds if not thousands of PC's he's had to reformat or just tell the owners that the HD went bad.. were eMachines.
Marcster Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 My parent's eMachines fried its RAM. Took a while to figure that out. It would boot, but then lockup. And Windows wouldn't re-install till I swapped out the RAM.
pcsoon Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 My emachine came with a 1yr warranty and I would never recommend buying the extended from BB. I figure a PC will go bad in the 1st year if its a lemon. I also figure @ $200 an upgrade to a new machine every year or two isn't that costly. Concerned about emachine's reliability and want another good BF(day before) choice, try compusa. Last couple of years their special was a compaq.:)
disneytati Posted October 27, 2005 Author Posted October 27, 2005 Yeah, I am worried about these issues, as I am bringing it to Brazil (which means no possibility of going to Best Buy for a refund or warranty...). So I gotta know if it's easy to fix it here if it breaks down.
best4less Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 I have an emachine that I am on right now. Bought it last Oct at Best Buy and haven't had any problems. Prior to this I had another emachine's and that one lasted me about 3 years (but was refurbished to begin with). Towards the end, that one WAS giving me issues but seeing how much use I got out of it and the fact that it was getting outdated anyway, that was fine with me.
disneytati Posted October 27, 2005 Author Posted October 27, 2005 I have an emachine that I am on right now. Bought it last Oct at Best Buy and haven't had any problems. Prior to this I had another emachine's and that one lasted me about 3 years (but was refurbished to begin with). Towards the end, that one WAS giving me issues but seeing how much use I got out of it and the fact that it was getting outdated anyway, that was fine with me.I'll check it here if it would be easy to fix it. If I can get anything before BF it will be better, as I can go to other stores...
praveenml Posted October 27, 2005 Posted October 27, 2005 Sempron , Celeron processors are made for some simple day-today work . If you are thinking of using your laptop for high end processing go for Pentium and Athlon. -Praveen
disneytati Posted October 30, 2005 Author Posted October 30, 2005 Sempron , Celeron processors are made for some simple day-today work .If you are thinking of using your laptop for high end processing go for Pentium and Athlon. -PraveenThe most I'll do is to download songs and movies and burn them to a CD. I use the PC normally to internet, and to type stuff at Word.
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