REQ: Cheap starter PC package

JohnCleary

Hi guys,
I want to buy my sister a PC for Christmas. The intent was to build one out of the scraps I have at home but I'd prefer to just get her a nice clean, new, compact desktop.

I'd prefer a flatscreen monitor. Specs are not important as all she'll be using it for is the very basics

Anyone got any ideas? Around the €450 mark would be sweet

Moanin

You can't beat Dell for prices.Have a look on their website.You'd get one for approx €500-€600

TerrorFirmer

PC World had an E-Machines PC for 399 with a 15" Tft.

It was basic spec wise as you'd expect, Celeron Processor with basic onboard everything but for a general day to day system running the usual email, music, movies, internet and the like, perfect.

JohnCleary

HavoK wrote:

PC World had an E-Machines PC for 399 with a 15" Tft.

It was basic spec wise as you'd expect, Celeron Processor with basic onboard everything but for a general day to day system running the usual email, music, movies, internet and the like, perfect.

Will take a look when im back in Galway on the weekend

Ooh just remembered theres a PC world in Sligo!

TerrorFirmer

When I say had though, I don't know if they still have it - they had them the same time as they had the AMD 64 3200+s for 500. You never know though. They always have some sort of cheap 'family package' on offer anyway...

kippy

Dell.ie would be my usual advice but after a quick check there, there dont appear to be any around that budget at the moment.
pcworld.ie (The EI Systems) have a few different budgets but I still think you may be able to get better on the Dell site if you hold off for a few weeks longer.
Kippy

JohnCleary

Thanks for the advise guys. Gonna wait until the 1st week in December and see what pops up, I want to have it in my sisters house before XMas

Never know I might find a nice clean machine on adverts.ie and just buy a new keyboard/mouse

Ruu_Old

Yep adverts.ie or the Dell Outlet store might have a few models you are interested in.

Hmm_Messiah

you'll get the best value on ebay, dellfactoryoutlet

no monitor though, but you ca select one after purchase, or elsewhere .
I got a 1475.00 spec for 660.00 and they have much lower spec units

kaizersoze

...

Dimension C521 (D11C15)
Base:
AMD® Sempron™ Processor 3400+ 72778 [210-16806] 1
Microsoft Operating System:
Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 (Incl Operating System Re-installation CD) 77161 [619-10833] 11
Upgrade to Windows Vista:
MCE to Vista Premium Upgrade on: www.dellvistaupgrade.productorder.com before 03/31/07 77628 [616-10088] 139
Cover It with Dell Support Services:
Collect & Return, 1 Year Service only 73615 [680-16614] 30
Monitor:
Dell™ 17" Value Flat Panel (E177FP) 66359 [480-13823] 5
Memory:
512MB Dual Channel DDR2 533MHz [2x256] Memory 72797 [340-13514][370-12566] 3
Hard Drive:
80GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 8MB DataBurst™ cache 72808 [400-12863] 8
CD/DVD Drives:
48x CDRW/DVD Combo Drive 76099 [429-11155][429-12282][429-12367] 16
Video Card:
Integrated nVidia® GeForce® 6150 LE graphics 73328 [490-10584] 6
Gedis Bundle Reference:
List D11C15 Dimension C521 76650 [200-42277] 22
Shipping Documents:
C521 Documentation with UK Power Cord 72782 [340-13923][640-10401] 21
Adobe Reader:
Adobe Reader 7.0.8 - English 20764 [640-10399] 601
Order Information:
Dimension Order - Ireland 11746 [800-10124] 111
SecureData Software.:
No Secure Data Software 66636 [640-10512] 330
Standard Warranty:
Collect & Return, 1 Year Service only 73614 [680-16608][680-16609] 29
Dell Internet Order:
Dell Internet Order. 21417 [815-10000] 650
Promotions Hidden Option Class:
Reporting -256MB RAM FREE - Double Memory Promo 28288 [236-10167] 605
Promotions Hidden Option Class:
Free Monitor Upgrade from 15"FP to 17"FP 36468 [238-10008] 605
Promotions Hidden Option Class:
Free Upgrade to Microsoft Media Center from XP Home 78624 [235-13021] 605
Keyboard:
Dell™ Black Entry Quietkey USB Keyboard - UK/Ire (QWERTY) 69692 [580-12325] 4
Mouse:
Dell 2 Button USB Wheel Mouse - Black 63104 [570-10088][570-10277] 12
Floppy Drives:
No Floppy Drive 73389 [385-10468] 10
Modem:
No Modem 63337 [530-10564][640-10237] 14
Sound Cards:
Integrated 7.1 Channel High Definition Audio 73326 [510-10160] 17
Speakers:
No Speakers 6655 [520-10217] 18
AntiVirus & Security Software:
No Security/Anti-Virus Protection 50863 [650-10124] 40
Microsoft Application Software:
Microsoft® Works 8 - English 9078 [630-10933] 25
Network assistant:
90 days trial of Network Assistant included 66419 [640-10504] 675
Digital Photography:
No Photo Organising & Sharing Software/No Photo Editing Software 77185 [640-10540][640-10542] 87
Dell System Media Kit:
Resource CD - contains Diagnostics and Drivers 72780 [340-13921] 319

Great spec on this for the money incl. XP MCE, a 17" flatscreen and a free Vista upgrade when it comes out.
€493 delivered.
http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?b=&c=ie&cs=ieepp1&l=en&oc=D11C15&rbc=D11C15&s=dhs&sbc=iedhsftdppdesktop1

Oracle

The Dell deal looks good to me . If your sister likes music, videos and movies, the XP Media Centre Edition would be ideal for her and with a 17" screen most media will look good. Includes an upgrade to Vista Premium in February '07. Just in case anything goes wrong you'll have the XP Media Centre Edition Reinstall CD, and the 1 year collect and return service- so you're good to go!!

Just a few minor things:
1) To enjoy multi-media you need sound and there's no speakers with this PC. Basic speakers are the only reasonably priced accessory Dell sell at about €12 (Dell A225 Stereo Speakers.) So you could just add them to your order.
2) Although it's ready for broadband, there's no modem with this PC so it won't work with a dial-up connection. If you need dial-up just stick in a modem yourself, costs about €8 in PC World/Maplins.
3) The graphics card and system memory are below recommended spec. for Vista Premium you won't get the very best from Vista with this system. It's not a problem though because when your sister changes to Vista, she'll still get most of the benefits of the new operating system; and the graphics and memory can easily be upgraded later.

I hope your sister enjoys your present whatever you decide- good luck.

TerrorFirmer

PC World now have a Celeron based machine with 15" TFT for 299 euro. You simply won't beat that.

The Dell Sempron machine is better but for basic general use, why bother paying for more. The Celeron is grand...

JohnCleary

HavoK wrote:

PC World now have a Celeron based machine with 15" TFT for 299 euro. You simply won't beat that.

The Dell Sempron machine is better but for basic general use, why bother paying for more. The Celeron is grand...

Cheers for the hint, gonna run into PC world tomorrow and see if they have them. Gonna have to wait until Friday to buy it though (Payday w00t)

Oracle

If you are buying in PC World most of the screen with their packages can be upgraded for an extra €50, if available it's well worth it to go from 15" to 17".

JohnCleary

Oracle wrote:

If you are buying in PC World most of the screen with their packages can be upgraded for an extra €50, if available it's well worth it to go from 15" to 17".

Thank's, will ask when I go in there

TerrorFirmer

JohnCleary wrote:

Cheers for the hint, gonna run into PC world tomorrow and see if they have them. Gonna have to wait until Friday to buy it though (Payday w00t)

I didn't see them in-store mind, but on their website.....its a basic EI Systems machine, here

JohnCleary

Yeah spotted it online, surprised they don't have a CD-RW

TerrorFirmer

Yeah, it is a very basic machine, but it'd still be a cheap solution overall if you were to throw in your own cd-rw or dvd-rw....299 for the base machine with tft is still good!

JohnCleary

I looked at those ones in PC World, for 450 there's what looks to be a decent starter package, spec is similar to the one above that HavoK posted, except with 512MB RAM and a DVD-RW

Having said that, for an extra few quid you could get the dell machine... So I think i'll go for the dell. Should I just buy now, or wait a week or two and hope for offers? I want to have it in plenty of time for XMas

JohnCleary

Base AMD® Sempron™ Processor 3400+
Microsoft Operating System Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005 (Incl Operating System Re-installation CD)
Memory 512MB Dual Channel DDR2 533MHz [2x256] Memory
Keyboard Dell™ Black Entry Quietkey USB Keyboard - UK/Ire (QWERTY)
Monitor Dell™ 17" Value Flat Panel (E177FP)
Video Card Integrated nVidia® GeForce® 6150 LE graphics
Hard Drive 80GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 8MB DataBurst™ cache
Floppy Drives No Floppy Drive
Mouse Dell 2 Button USB Wheel Mouse - Black
Modem No Modem
CD/DVD Drives 48x CDRW/DVD Combo Drive
Sound Cards Integrated 7.1 Channel High Definition Audio
Speakers No Speakers
Shipping Documents C521 Documentation with UK Power Cord
Gedis Bundle Reference List D11C15 Dimension C521
Microsoft Application Software Microsoft® Works 8 - English
Standard Warranty Collect & Return, 1 Year Service only
Cover It with Dell Support Services Collect & Return, 1 Year Service only
AntiVirus & Security Software No Security/Anti-Virus Protection
Digital Photography No Photo Organising & Sharing Software/No Photo Editing Software
Order Information Dimension Order - Ireland
Upgrade to Windows Vista MCE to Vista Premium Upgrade on: www.dellvistaupgrade.productorder.com before 03/31/07
Dell System Media Kit Resource CD - contains Diagnostics and Drivers
SecureData Software. No Secure Data Software
Adobe Reader Adobe Reader 7.0.8 - English
Promotions Hidden Option Class Free Upgrade to Microsoft Media Center from XP Home
Dell Internet Order Dell Internet Order.
Network assistant 90 days trial of Network Assistant included

TOTAL Incl. VAT:€ 538.92

---

Seem's ok for 540euro? I'll be going halfers with my Dad, so thats 270eur each