Cheap Monarch Desktop for Business Apps only?

[tjweaver]

Hi,

I was wondering if there is anything wrong with this cheap ($299) barebones PC from Monarch. It will only be used for office apps like word processing and some web surfing. It is for a friend who just wants something simple an cheap. Is there something I should be aware of here or does it look OK?

Here's the info:

Link

Thanks,

jake

 

[thorin]

IMHO If it's going to run WinXP you'll want 512MB of RAM but other then that it looks fine to general business app use. You may want to call and verify that the hard drives they use carry a 3yr manufacturers warranty.

Thorin

 

[piasabird]

I think if you plan on running a 333Mhz processor you should not get PC2100 DDR That will actually slow it down. There is probably not much of a price difference. Then you have to decide if you want Integrated video or not. You could try it and see how good it works.

That is a pretty good price.

Maybe someone has actually used that motherboard?

One thing I have seen is problems with things after you receive the PC. Makes it hard to get any work done on it if something goes wrong. If you had to mail the entire PC back that would be a bummer.

Edit:
www.newegg.com is selling a Sempron 2200 for $49.00?

 

[piasabird]

You do realize this is with no operating system?

 

[tjweaver]

Thanks for the advice. Extra memory would be a good idea. Yes, I realize there is no OS. The office I am buying it for has an open liscense agreement for the OS.

jake

 

[GlobalHPSJoe]

Originally posted by: tjweaver
Hi,

I was wondering if there is anything wrong with this cheap ($299) barebones PC from Monarch. It will only be used for office apps like word processing and some web surfing. It is for a friend who just wants something simple an cheap. Is there something I should be aware of here or does it look OK?

Here's the info:

Link

Thanks,

jake

Its a great basic system, very similar to our System Special, which is consistantly rated high by Linux Journal. I've personally been looking at it for a general use machine as well.

 

[GlobalHPSJoe]

Originally posted by: thorin
IMHO If it's going to run WinXP you'll want 512MB of RAM but other then that it looks fine to general business app use. You may want to call and verify that the hard drives they use carry a 3yr manufacturers warranty.

Thorin

Definately I would look to add some Ram to it, 256 is bare minimum nowadays. It has a Western Digital hard drive in it, which carries a 3 year warranty on it.

The on-board video is fine for normal office tasks, I wouldn't ever recommend on-board for gaming.

The great thing about the system is, it is all industry standard. So for $299 you get a great basic system that you can upgrade easily.

 

[Zepper]

The WD drive they are using in that has a 2MB cache-thus only 1yr warranty.
.bh.