Is it time that I upgrade my parents computer?

[amol]

They use their computer for web surfing, word processing, etc

Except, if they get a new computer, they'll probably do digital pictures and probably video chat with relatives on the east coast and overseas

Their current computer is turning 5 this year, it's a HP 6730 :

Intel Celeron 600MHz
192Mb PC100 RAM (came with 64, i put in 128 later)
20GB ATA-100 HDD (came with 10GB, that broke, so we put in a 20GB)
CD-ROM Drive
Onboard Video
17" KDS CRT Monitor
Windows 98 SE

This is all in a really small case, which with the power supply (hard to take out), floppy drive (cage isn't removable), CD-ROM drive (again, cage isn't removable), where upgrades are hard . . . it took me 20 minutes just to put new RAM in!!

I'm thinking of getting one of those really cheap Dell desktop (ton of coupons, free 15" or 17" flat panel, etc) . . . I don't want to build one as I'm going to college soon and every little problem they have, they're going to bother me (They already complain about their internet connection dropping here and there but that ain't my fault)

Or should I get them a Mac Mini? I dunno how they'll adjust to OS X . . . I'd also have to buy a KB, Mouse, and an LCD if they really want a flat panel

 

[VigilanteCS]

Make sure you get a crappy dell with a memory upgrade. No use switching them over to a mac, that would just cause them to bother you becuase they'd be learning an enitre new OS.

 

[everman]

Mac isn't a bad idea, though I'm not sure about the mini. No virus or spyware headaches. A Dell or some other, even self built would work fine if you set it up well.

 

[amol]

well, what i want is a completely (or very near) silent pc since it wont be doing intensive tasks . . .

 

[UsandThem]

Get them a Dell. Just watch for hot deals. I got this for $374.00 after MIR:


1 221-6495 Dimension 3000 Series, Intel Pentium 4 Processor at 2.8GHz with 1MB cache
1 463-2952 512MB DDR SDRAM at 400MHz
1 310-1582 Dell Quiet Key Keyboard
1 463-7614 17 in (17 in viewable) E173FP Flat Panel Display
1 320-2870 Integrated Intel Extreme Graphics 2
1 340-3274 80GB 7200 RPM Ultra ATA Hard Drive
1 340-8688 No Floppy Drive Requested
1 412-0721 Dimension Dell Support
1 412-0688 Image Restore
1 463-2282 Dell Owners Manual installed on your system,click on icon after system set-up to access
1 420-4834 Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition,Service Pack 2,English
1 420-4927 Windows Media Player 10
1 420-5099 H and R Block Tax Software
1 310-1871 Dell 2-button Scroll Mouse
1 430-0412 Intel Pro 100M Integrated PCI NIC Card
1 313-3607 No modem requested for Dell Dimension
1 412-0705 Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0
1 313-1476 48X Max Variable CD-ROM Drive,Factory Install
1 313-2758 Integrated Audio
1 313-4514 No Speaker Requested
1 412-0754 NO SECURITY SUBSCRIPTION, MCAFEE
1 412-0741 Music Match 9.0 Basic 7 day OnDemand
1 412-0744 Paint Shop Photo Album 5.1 Standard
1 412-0586 AOL BSD/SMB
1 412-0670 DELL/MY WAY HOME PAGE
1 412-0701 Word Perfect Productivity Pack
1 950-6641 Type 3 Contract - Next Business Day Parts and Labor On-Site Response, 1YR Extended
1 412-0360 Soft Contracts - Banctec
1 902-9550 Type 3 Contract - Next Business Day Parts and Labor On-Site Response, Initial Year
1 960-2800 Technical Support, Initial Year
1 900-8241 Technical Support, 1 Year Extended
1 900-9987 Standard On-Site Installation Declined
1 463-4507 $150 MAIL-IN REBATE 55301

Not bad huh?

 

[amol]

$374? WOW