Department Store Computers....?

[CrowDog]

My mother will be buying her first computer soon.....she refuses to get one built.She wants to go somewhere like Staples or CircuitCity.
If you would recommend a computer that someone could just buy out of a store.....what would it be?

 

[TunaBoo]

Um she wont order a dell online?

Get something cheap like an e-machine, then when it breaks convince her to let you build her one.

 

[ledzepp98]

as a hardware junkie, it is painful to see someone buy a $799 all integrated, non-expandable computer....however, if all she needs is a basic computer, just tell her to get a cheap dell celeron system or something like that.

 

[MichaelD]

I can understand your Mom's point of view. The Older Generation is very afraid of these "new fangled computer things" and wants as trouble-free an experience as possible. My Mom is 70 years old. The microwave is still intimidating to her. I've tried for years to get her to use WebTV (I'd pay for it) so I could email pics of me, my son, my life, etc...but she just refuses to learn. Oh well.

Oh yeah, back to your query. Tell her to get a Dell. A nice PIII system. I believe they are still selling the 933 Dimension series. It's quiet, it'll never need a 4-in-1 driver...It should run for years with absolutely no maintenance.

Everyone on this forum is a custom-build junkie, but for some folks (Moms especially) it's much, much better to go w/a realiable prebuilt box. Good luck to you and you Mom.

 

[Zach]

Is Gateway has thoese stores sometimes...

And local stores have prebuilt stuff, mom and pop's. They have nice people to talk to. They might use nice parts that you and I can appreciate.

 

[TunaBoo]

Oh and it might be kind of mean, but for the first little bit set her up with win2k and a restricted access thing.


We all know when we see an ad window that says, "Warning, your internet connection is not optimized, click here to download super-speeder-upper download helper" not to click. Mom will not know this. You will go to her house, and see her taskbar filled with 100 programs doing stupid stuff.

 

[TunaBoo]

<< Is Gateway has thoese stores sometimes...

And local stores have prebuilt stuff, mom and pop's. They have nice people to talk to. They might use nice parts that you and I can appreciate. >>



Check them out tho. My mom and pop store I work at uses PCCHIPS. Not good (E-Machine qual)

 

[GremlinHater]

<< Oh and it might be kind of mean, but for the first little bit set her up with win2k and a restricted access thing.


We all know when we see an ad window that says, &quot;Warning, your internet connection is not optimized, click here to download super-speeder-upper download helper&quot; not to click. Mom will not know this. You will go to her house, and see her taskbar filled with 100 programs doing stupid stuff. >>



I totally agree with TunaBoo, as far as my PC goes if I ever get my mobo from newegg, NO1 and I mean NO1 will be allowed anywhere near it! I screw it just fine by myself without others helping me.

 

[Caiwyn]

I gotta agree with these guys. For pre-built systems, you can't really beat a Dell or a Gateway.

Just make sure that whatever she does, she does NOT buy a Compaq.

 

[TunaBoo]

<< I gotta agree with these guys. For pre-built systems, you can't really beat a Dell or a Gateway.

Just make sure that whatever she does, she does NOT buy a Compaq. >>



All the ppl I know with gateways - good computers once with worked. But had to replace a HD or this or that after shipping. From MY experience, dell is better out ofthe box.

 

[fishingeek]

My Hp was a good computer. I did a lot of treaking on it as a learner. I just gave it to my girlfriend and she should be able to use ti trouble free.