Budget box for Mom

[AtlantaBob]

Just wanted to check everyone's expertise on a quick, budget build for Mom.

Right now Mom and Dad are sharing a computer (a pretty Decent Dell Inspiron that I got for cheap several months ago). Mom wants her own for websurfing and email. I imagine that we'll just get a family pack of Windows 7 when it comes out.

Price is key in this one. I'm thinking of this MSI Wind/Atom machine http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16856167032 with 2GB of RAM. I figure I'll go to the pain of installing Windows 7 from a USB key, so no need for a DVD drive, but perhaps I'll throw one in too so she can listen to CDs.

I've got the same machine with 1 GB of RAM working right now as an Ubuntu server/NAS machine. Love it. Of course I don't know what performance I could expect running Windows 7 on it. Any thoughts?

Other option would probably be a cheap Dell, but I haven't seen any blistering deals today.

Obligatory answers to questions below:

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Windows 7. Websurfing and email. iTunes. Open Office. Maybe Hulu--that's doubtful.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

Cheap as you can go. $250-$300 would be great.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

USA.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.

Nope, but given price/performance/desire to run cool, I'm thinking Intel Atom.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

No.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

Yep

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

Stock

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?

Now/ASAP

 

[Fox5]

How about the dell inspiron 546?
http://www.dell.com/us/en/home...6&s=dhs&cs=19&ref=dthp

$269 and it'll run rings around any atom based machine. I don't really see a need to go with atom on the desktop. HP has similar systems.
You may also find a good deal in refurbished stuff.
But for your mom's use, it may be better to go with a laptop.

 

[AtlantaBob]

Fox5 -

Thanks, I guess I missed that since I was mostly looking in Dell's Small Business line (where I've found better deals in the past). And free shipping too!

I think I'll ask her about the laptop preference -- although I might have to let her try out mine for a few days before she could really give an informed opinion.

 

[philosofool]

One thing about cheap lap tops is they tend to have terrible battery life. Maybe your mom won't want to take it far, but I find the ~2 hour battery on many low end lap tops obnoxious.

Do you already have a monitor? Obviously, that will add some cost, and for $300 you're not going to be able to get anything but an atom desktop if you need to get a monitor and computer. Looks like Newegg monitors start at $100.

 

[AtlantaBob]

philosofool,

Thanks for the reminder. I think that it would end up being carried from the den to her office -- so battery life probably wouldn't be a concern. But it's definitely good to note.

As for the monitor -- they do have an old CRT that's usable (19"?), but isn't that great. I think that's one more reason I might go for the Dell -- they include an 18" LCD with it.

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

AMD Sempron LE-1300? Seriously?

CPU/MOBO/RAM $125 after "LABORDAY15" coupon

PSU/CASE $57

HDD $45 with EMCLXLW22

Total- $227

 

[ReggieDunlap]

From the bit I've read online and with a test machine installed - AMD Sempron 2600 1.6Ghz 2GB RAM - Windows 7 actually runs pretty smooth (even running the Aero experience with an integrated video adaptor). If she wants an email/websurfin machine I think those base specs would be adequate and should help to keep the price down.

If you can get the Dell for the $300 or so with an 18" LCD I see that as a pretty good deal for what you're looking for. I don't know that I'd go the laptop route; if screen resolution becomes an issue, the external monitor - IMO - would be better suited for the accessibility features or just running on a lower resolution.

 

[mindless1]

Penny pinching aside, don't make her use a dinky 18" LCD and widescreen at that for things not so good in widescreen mode. Seriously, for the described uses I'd MUCH rather a 22" LCD and a second-hand Pentium III 1GHz system that can be found for ~$100 online. , maybe less if you luck out on ebay. If push came to shove I'd rather a Celeron 500MHz system running Win2k w/22" LCD over widescreen 18"... and they don't include the 18" LCD at the mentioned price, it's about $160 add-on.

Main point is, make the primary interfaces good first. Good monitor, good keyboard, good mouse. CPU, amount of memory, and Windows version are not really things you should focus on much at all keeping in mind price is a central factor. Well I take that back avoid Vista but XP is certainly fine for the described uses and comes free with aforementioned online deals for P3/1GHz or equivalent... OEM box, OEM license sticker on the case, etc.