eMachines...comments?

[Athlon4all]

I'm consolting a friend on a PC to buy, and we've rounded it down to 2 computers. A Gateway, and... an eMachines. The eMachines looks like a sweet deal. XP 2000+, 256MB RAM, 17" Monitor, DVD and CD-RW Drives, Printer, 80GB HD for $700 @ Best Buy. The Gateway I configured is pretty good too. Celeron 2.0 (bleh), 256MB DDR, 17" Monitor, CD-RW, Printer, 60GB, Surge Protector for $700...but, we're possibly looking at $100 shipping, where as there is a local Best Buy we could go to and get it. So, here's my question. Seriously (and I'd like personal experiences if possible), is eMachines as bad as some make them out to be? Thanks!!

 

[blackhawk]

Never owned one and never recommended one. We have an 'action line' type of series in our local city newspaper and this is the most common computer brand in it. Generally some cheap parts inside & poor service.

I have a Dell and think its great. Also built a few other machines and know whats in them.

Stick with quality, gateway, dell or some other name.

 

[ray24k]

I bought one about 2 years ago and it is running strong. It is a celeron 533. The only thing added was a HP CDRW. If you do not plan on adding to it, I would say it is ok but I know someone who added a CDRW, HD, and vid card on an emachines and the blew out the psu.

 

[Mrburns2007]

I bought one three years ago and it's currently running Windows .net RC 1, it runs fine for a little server. It's powered by a AMD 500mhz K6-2 and 256 mb.

I build my machines now though🙂

 

[DrVos]

I have two friends that purchased e-Machines when the company first started out. Both computer suffered from constant blue screens and spontaneous reboots. I could never really identify what the problem was but I always figured it was the POS motherboards they used back then. I cant say anything for the quality of the computers now, but I wonder why you aren't considering a Dell? They have prices that tend to be more competitive than Gateway's along with better products and support IMO.

 

[tapir]

If they work, they work fine. We used to have 3 in my house until I built new computers for myself and my brother. They all lasted 3 years. I found that the actual parts - CPU, mobo, ram etc were okay but one of the power supplies was bad which made the machine act funny. Overall I would recommend them but only if you are not expecting much.

 

[Athlon4all]

^ Thanks everyone so far

 

[wetcat007]

Definitly stay away from Gateway they are nothing but bad news, I've heard dells are pretty good, Compaq's were good but im nto sure now that they are owned by HP.

-Mark

 

[Athlon4all]

^, any last min comments?

 

[ScottyB]

Why don't you try looking elsewhere as well. Cyber Power has some good deals and the have a decent resellerratings.com rating

 

[Luhny]

I have heard bad things about E-Machines. Just problems like DrVos said rebooting bluescreens. Wonder what you could build for 700?

 

[styrafoam]

There was a thread last week about emachines, see here for some more opinions.