PC for Mom

[Slammy1]

Well, my mom finally decided she wants a computer upgrade. Her current system is a 200MHz MMX from a time when building a PC was a lot easier. Still runs no problem but can't do anything multimedia and I just gave her my old 19" LCD when I upgraded. She's not a big user at all, but I could set up a jukebox (she already has the Logitech THX speakers), DVD playback (1280x1024 native, nothing too fancy), light (really light) internet, maybe the odd "mom" game like cards and such.

Well, I'm sure that's TMI for the question. I figure she don't need much just a base P4 wth a DVI out. My question is, would I be better cruising deal sites looking for a bargain, watching EBay for the deal closing at 3AM Wednesday morning, or building something myself? I'm pretty comfortable building my own, though it's a lot of component research. I'm just going for "bang for the buck" in getting a nice, basic system. The only things I'd imagine that would carry over are a CD burner, monitor, speakers, keyboard, and mouse.

 

[suicidalpigeon]

yeah searching up ebay for systems isnt a bad idea, otherwise i would resort to dell in these situations.

 

[Slammy1]

I kinda suspected it'd be an EBay thing to do. I can always swap some parts if needed. So when does Dell's quarter end anyway? Thanks for the reply.

 

[i1o0i]

Go with Dell Dimension B110, It's basic entry desktop and cheap.

 

[pkrush]

You could build a cheap Sempron system for around 300, or try looking around Geeks.com, they usually have good deals on refurbished systems.

 

[Looney]

I would go with Dell as well. You can get dirt cheap systems when the deals come around.

You said 'light' internet? But how light? Does she do a lot of emails? You might even want to consider a mini-mac.

 

[mosco]

Originally posted by: LooneyYou might even want to consider a mini-mac.

i was going to suggest that too but I didn't want to be the first one. They are probably releasing new ones ~mid january. You could get that one or get the current one cheap.

Then you don't have to worry about virus's, spyware, etc for your mom. The only thing the current mac mini woudn't be able to do is take advantage of 5.1 speakers without an add-on. Some rumors say the new mac mini's will be much more like a media center.

 

[alimoalem]

how much you wanna spend? you can go dell but it'll be like $300 i think

 

[Slammy1]

Thanks for all the replies. I think a Mac would be a good idea, but by really light I mean she doesn't do hardly anything on the net. I looked up the B110 and they had some pretty decent prices at around $340 (before tax and shipping). I also looked for early P4's and the AMD equivalents but didn't find much fitting my need on EBay (it seemed cheaper to wait out a Dell deal, which is what compelled me to start this thread). If you took the price of the OS out of the equation a home build would seem the best, but I didn't want to go back to Windows 98. Thanks again for the help.

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: Slammy1
Thanks for all the replies. I think a Mac would be a good idea[/b]

Look, if she lasted THIS LONG with a Pentium MMX, I'm sure she can last with a newer PC.. Just scour around for a PII/PIII system, add a 7200RPM drive, make sure it has sufficient ram and BAM you have a system your mom can appreciate.

 

[GamerExpress]

Dell