Basic Vista PC for my Mam

MAJJ

Hi Folks,

I'd like to buy a PC for my mother as a gift. Her requirements are simple enough she wants Vista and internet access. Given the rural location internet access will be via a usb modem from probably 02 or Vodafone. She already has a moniter.

So can someone recommend me a good, realible machine.

I can pick a cheap machine - my concerns are do I really need 2 GB of ram and a graphics card or will 1GB and onboard grahics be enough.

Thanks in advance,
Majj

Sherifu

MAJJ wrote: »

I can pick a cheap machine - my concerns are do I really need 2 GB of ram and a graphics card or will 1GB and onboard grahics be enough.

If you want to put vista on it yes. Do you want to build it yourself or pick a system off the shelf?

Sqaull20

Dell...

You can get a fine pc for you mam for €350

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?b=&c=ie&cs=iebsdt1&kc=D4X20003&l=en&m_30=138820&oc=D032012&rbc=D032012&s=bsd

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E4500 Processor (2.20GHz,800MHz,2MB cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium - English
1Yr Basic Warranty - Next Business Day Included - No Upgrade Selected
Dell™ 19" Value Wide Flat Panel (E198WFP) - UK/Irish
2048MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024]
500GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 16MB DataBurst™ cache
Integrated Intel® Graphic Media Accelerator X3100
16x DVD +/- RW Drive
Dell™ Entry Quietkey USB Keyboard - UK/Irish (QWERTY)
Dell 2 Button USB Optical Mouse

Or for €240

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?b=&c=ie&cs=iebsdt1&kc=D4X20001&l=en&m_30=138820&oc=D032002&rbc=D032002&s=bsd

Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core E2160 Processor (1.8GHz,800MHz,1MB cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® Business - English
1Yr Basic Warranty - Next Business Day Included - No Upgrade Selected
Monitor Not included
2048MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024]
80GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 8MB DataBurst™ cache
Integrated Intel® Graphic Media Accelerator X3100
16x DVD +/- RW Drive
Dell™ Entry Quietkey USB Keyboard - UK/Irish (QWERTY)
Dell 2 Button USB Optical Mouse

Vista Comparison Page

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx

Sqaull20

Vista needs 2gb of ram, and on board graphics is fine, unless your mother games/video editing/watches HD footage

-annex-

Sqaull20 wrote: »

Vista needs 2gb of ram, and on board graphics is fine, unless your mother games/video editing/watches HD footage

Vista doesn't need 2GB of RAM. I had Vista Ultimate running on a Core Duo with 1GB of RAM with Aero turned on and had absolutely no problems or performance issues with it. 2GB is recommended if you want some extra performance out of it, but if it's just basic tasks such as web browsing 1GB will do fine. Especially with Dell's ridiculous RAM upgrade prices.

MAJJ

Wow - first post in this forum and I really appreciate the quick responses.

Sherifu - I could put a machine together if I got a compatible parts list - nudge, nudge

Sqaull20/-annex- agreed on not needing a graphics card and I reckon I will go for 1GB ram as I am using that for my own HTPC - but will upgrade my own later.

Oh yeah - my mam won't be using it for games/video editing/watches HD footage anything time soon

Thanks folks for all your help,
Majj

Ricky91t

Just to add to all this iv up untill recently been running vista basic on 512mb of ram and it was fine for web browsing.At the moment iv got 1.5gb of ram and 256 gfx card and im more than happy with it

Khannie

That 240 euro one below looks perfect.

TerrorFirmer

I would opt for 2gb, ram is so cheap nowadays, you can get high quality 2gb kits for under 50 euro. Sure, Vista will run on 1gb and even 512, though to be honest, you will notice a difference. Onboard video is fine though, though some of the older integrated video won't run Aero, just in case you're looking at old, cheap/clearance stock.

The 240 euro machine is excellent value and perfectly suited.

AlmightyCushion

Khannie wrote: »

That 240 euro one below looks perfect.

It doesn't have a monitor though. I'd probably go with the one for 350 simply because it has the monitor everything else is a bonus.

TerrorFirmer

She already has a monitor, though now that you mention it, you could probably sell it (the Dell monitor) sealed for about 150....bringing the cost somewhat down and you'd have a better base machine to boot.

AlmightyCushion

Oh right, didn't notice that. Yeah you could flog it for €110 easily which would mean the computer would work out the same price as the cheaper one but better specs.

Sqaull20

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Oh right, didn't notice that. Yeah you could flog it for €110 easily which would mean the computer would work out the same price as the cheaper one but better specs.

Its €350 without the monitor, should have said "Monitor not included", would have bought one myself if had been with a monitor

MAJJ

Cheers folks. I agree looks like a good deal. Although I don't think it includes vat?

Still a good deal including vat at 21% approx EUR 420 in total before shipping?

Sqaull20

MAJJ wrote: »

Cheers folks. I agree looks like a good deal. Although I don't think it includes vat?

Still a good deal including vat at 21% approx EUR 420 in total before shipping?

Both deals include vat and shipping

MAJJ

Shipping and Vat - Indeed they do Thanks

MAJJ

Folks, just wanted to say a big thank you to all who advised me. I will be buying in about 4 weeks and will review the links and offers at that point.

Cheers,
Majj

Conor108

Does it absolutely have to be Vista? I got a Dell with Vista but now dual-boot XP and I never start up Vista. If its just internet access would XP not be a better option, tis a lot faster/stable I find. just mise's 2cent