Anyone own a VPR Matrix computer from Best Buy?

[Joyride]

On paper they look like really good computers for the price

I was wondering if anyone had purchased one yet or saw any ratings for them.

Even though the components look good are they name brand?

 

[ElFenix]

rule 1: never buy a computer from best buy unless it was with the california msn rebate trick

 

[PCHO]

They are good, everything is name brand.

 

[Joyride]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
rule 1: never buy a computer from best buy unless it was with the california msn rebate trick

1. What trick (musta missed it)
2. Why not buy from there?

 

[PCHO]

Originally posted by: Joyride

Originally posted by: ElFenix rule 1: never buy a computer from best buy unless it was with the california msn rebate trick

1. What trick (musta missed it) 2. Why not buy from there?

You'll have to excuse the elitist attitude from some of the posters here. Best Buy isnt exactly a well respected establishment in the forums. If youd like you can IM me at BigRuk515 to talk more about the vpr Matrix computers. Im a Computer Department Supervisor for Best Buy and can tell you anythign you need to know.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Joyride

Originally posted by: ElFenix
rule 1: never buy a computer from best buy unless it was with the california msn rebate trick

1. What trick (musta missed it)
2. Why not buy from there?

1. the msn contract had some huge loophole in cali, so basically it didn't hold, and a ton of people walked out with $400 in stuff for free, pretty much.
2. cuz dude, you're gettin' a dell! (and they run people into the cops for trying to get a legit receipt honored)

 

[PCHO]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Joyride

Originally posted by: ElFenix rule 1: never buy a computer from best buy unless it was with the california msn rebate trick

1. What trick (musta missed it) 2. Why not buy from there?

1. the msn contract had some huge loophole in cali, so basically it didn't hold, and a ton of people walked out with $400 in stuff for free, pretty much. 2. cuz dude, you're gettin' a dell! (and they run people into the cops for trying to get a legit receipt honored)

Yeah well when someone is trying to rip off the store they deserve it but I dont want to start going on about THAT topic again. And Dell sucks BTW.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: BigRuk515

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Joyride

Originally posted by: ElFenix rule 1: never buy a computer from best buy unless it was with the california msn rebate trick

1. What trick (musta missed it) 2. Why not buy from there?

1. the msn contract had some huge loophole in cali, so basically it didn't hold, and a ton of people walked out with $400 in stuff for free, pretty much. 2. cuz dude, you're gettin' a dell! (and they run people into the cops for trying to get a legit receipt honored)

Yeah well when someone is trying to rip off the store they deserve it but I dont want to start going on about THAT topic again. And Dell sucks BTW.

the manager could have simply refused rather than trying to get the guy run in for fraud and trespassing.

 

[PCHO]

To avoid a page long quoting reply I'll skip it. And you are very true there. Not fair to blame the company for one moron's mistake. I had someone come in and try it in our store and I just told him no, it wasn't going to happen no matter what he said and that if he wanted to buy the card at regular price he could. Any questions?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: BigRuk515
To avoid a page long quoting reply I'll skip it. And you are very true there. Not fair to blame the company for one moron's mistake. I had someone come in and try it in our store and I just told him no, it wasn't going to happen no matter what he said and that if he wanted to buy the card at regular price he could. Any questions?

bad customer experience is the number 1 reason people stop patronizing any specific store, and most of that is because of 1 moron. might not be fair, its how the world works, though.

 

[PCHO]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: BigRuk515 To avoid a page long quoting reply I'll skip it. And you are very true there. Not fair to blame the company for one moron's mistake. I had someone come in and try it in our store and I just told him no, it wasn't going to happen no matter what he said and that if he wanted to buy the card at regular price he could. Any questions?

bad customer experience is the number 1 reason people stop patronizing any specific store, and most of that is because of 1 moron. might not be fair, its how the world works, though.

Absolutely. I wholeheartedly agree.

 

[ElFenix]

anyhow, buy what you like from where you like. perhaps being an employee you'll get a few dollars off (computers are low margin). just not the alienware (unless they decreased their price from whats on their website... its expensive and really they aren't all that high quality)

 

[RossMAN]

Getting back to the topic at hand I own the vpr Matrix 1620 from BB for $799 with free $100 BB gift card. Didn't buy everything from NewEgg and assemble it myself because I'm lazy and don't need a super powerful machine.

As soon as I got it home, wiped the hard drive clean and installed XP Pro.

Now I have 60GB and dunno what to put on it.

 

[ElFenix]

whats inside it?

 

[RossMAN]

specs

Processor Brand
Intel® Pentium® 4 processor

Processor Speed
1.6GHz

System Bus
400MHz

Cache Memory
256KB L2 cache

System Memory (RAM)
256MB

System Memory (RAM) Expandable To
1.0GB

Type of Memory (RAM)
266MHz double data rate (DDR) SDRAM

Hard Drive Type
Ultra ATA/100 (7200 rpm)

Hard Drive Size
60.0GB

Video Memory
32MB DDR SDRAM

Graphics
nVidia GeForce2 GTS-V

MPEG
Yes

Audio
ADI 1885 integrated

Speakers
Yes

Modem
56 Kbps* ITU V.92-ready PCI internal fax/modem *Capable of receiving 56 Kbps downloads. However, current regulations limit download speed to 53 Kbps.

Network Card
10/100 integrated NIC

CD-ROM Drive
Shared

Maximum CD-ROM Drive Speed
40x

CD-RW Drive
Yes

CD-RW Drive Speeds
32x12x40

DVD-ROM Drive
Yes

Maximum DVD-ROM Drive Speed
16x max. DVD-ROM; 40x max. CD-ROM

DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo Drive
No

DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo Drive Speeds
No DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive

DVD-RW Drive
No

DVD-RW Drive Speeds
No DVD-RW drive

Removable Storage
None

Diskette Drive
Yes

Diskette Drive Type
3.5" 1.44MB

Total Expansion Bays
External: 2 (3.5"), 3 (5.25"); Internal: 2 (3.5")

Available Expansion Slots
5 PCI

Available Expansion Bays
External: 1 (3.5"), 1 (5.25"); Internal: 1 (3.5")

Total Expansion Slots
6 PCI, 1 AGP

USB Ports
6 (2 front, 4 back)

Parallel Ports
1

IEEE 1394 Ports
0

Keyboard Description
Logitech 104 Internet PS/2 keyboard

Serial Ports
1

Other Control Devices (mouse, etc.)
Logitech USB/ PS/2 optical scrolling mouse

Game Ports
0

Operating System
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Software Included
Microsoft Works 6.0, CyberLink PowerDVD

Product Height
16.5"

Product Width
7.75"

Product Depth
18.31"

Product Weight
40 lbs.

Manuals Included
Yes

Warranty Term ? Parts
1-year limited

Warranty Term ? Labor
1-year limited




EXPANDED DESCRIPTION


More exciting vpr Matrix features:

ATX motherboard with 1 AGP and 6 PCI slots
Mid-tower chassis with two 3.5" and three 5.25" external drive bays
6 USB ports (2 front, 4 back)
1 parallel port
300-watt power supply
Logitech optical scrolling mouse
Top-quality engineering and reliability
Software package featuring Microsoft Works 6.0 and CyberLink PowerDVD

 

[ElFenix]

know who makes the mainboard? gfx is looks to be visiontek.

 

[Joemonkey]

Probably a silly question, but are these USB ports 2.0?

 

[PCHO]

Intel makes the mainboard and the USB ports are 1.1

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: BigRuk515
Intel makes the mainboard and the USB ports are 1.1

Do you own one of these? If so which one?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: BigRuk515
Intel makes the mainboard and the USB ports are 1.1

Do you own one of these? If so which one?

c'mon ross, he said hes the super in the comp department there, what more do you want out of him, sheesh!

 

[RossMAN]

D'oh that's what I get for skimming a thread and not reading all the posts

 

[PCHO]

I own one of the first models the 1800:

P4 1.8
512 DDR
100 GB
16x DVD
24X CD-RW
GF2 MX400 (replaced with a Radeon 8500)

$900...w00t!

 

[Joyride]

If I had the green I would go with a VPR no doubt.

From what I hear all the components are name brands.

Too bad it would be another $200 for a good graphics card