$999 or less computer

[Dave_H]

Jad,
How do you figure the part about you not supplying wonderfull tech. support?
Has she promised that she won't call you? LOL
I'm shure that you know as well as me that once you start adding in the extras the price relly jumps. Stuff like a little bigger HD, more ram, bigger monitor, etc.
Unless she is shure that the system is fine the way it is for at least a year or so, and she would have no regrets, she should have something built for her. (my opinion)
Dave

[jad1097]

I figure since she has a 13 year old son she will need something much better for gaming. I was being sacastic about the tech support. But I suspect that is how she feels.

[richamies]

Put it to her this way - if you build the system you can make sure it's made of decent branded components and will be able to be upgraded later down the line. All she's gonna miss out on by ordering from you is the useless software bundle, but I guess if you get a cd-burner in that machine..... http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[jad1097]

This is kind of what I had in mind.
FIC-SD11 mobo - With CPU AMD Athlon 500 3DNow! (K7) OEM SlotA/ATX/1 AGP/ 5PCI/1ISA/3DIMM/ATX FORM FACTOR - $ 288
midtower case $50 (full $100)
IBM 20.4GB ULTRA ATA/66 EIDE 9MS, 5400RPM, with 2MB Cache - $ 148
Generic 128MB PC133 SDRAM DIMM EEprom $ 125
DIAMOND - VIPER V770 AGP 4X 3D AGP 32MB (OEM) $ 93
Sound Blaster Live! Value Edition OEM Version W $ 49
CD-rom $40
floppy $ 15
CTX VL700 17inch, $ 185
Total== $993 +shipping
Forgot fans another $40
I think this is much better than Gateway would give her for the price.

I can do better on some of this stuff. And yes she will also have to buy me some CDR's. She could get me 50 for $39. A small price to pay.


[This message has been edited by jad1097 (edited 01-23-2000).]

[richamies]

Why not drop an Athlon 550 in there, clock it to maybe 700/750, and show her how much power she can REALLY get for her money? If her kid likes games, he'll love you for that!

[jad1097]

What I ended up with the first time was $1500. I figured I could do 600 or 650 with the 500. cut the cost some you know.

[Ed_S]

You said she's insisting on Gateway, why not help her by suggesting she get a printout of the Dell system's specs, including the free printer, and fax that to a Gateway rep. State that she'd prefer Gateway due to reputation, service, and the trade-in deal, but cost counts too. It's almost for sure they'll either meet or beat Dell.

As to building for her, if she's intent on the name-brand stuff you're better off letting her do it.
Put it this way - probably you're going to be tech support no matter. Do you want to be called because you're the kindly friend bailing her out, or because you're the jerk that built the !@#$ thing in the first place!!

[jad1097]

A friend of my wifes wants to buy a computer for a grand or under. She insist on buying a gateway. I told her to buy a dell for the same price. Dell has more ram(32 vs64),faster processor(celery466 vs P3-500E) and a free printer.Both only have 15' monitors also.She is dead set on this stupid 2 year trade in thing that gateway has. I told her that they will only give market price for it when she trades up.And that will be next to nothing.
Could you recomend a computer for under a grand?
I figured if I could show her your thoughts on the matter she would understand better.Or at least listen to me and not get a Gateway. I even offerd to build her one for free. All she has to do is buy the parts.You can't beat that with a stick. Of course I do not offer the wonderful tech support she would get with Gateway. Or the trade in value.

[jad1097]

Thanks Ed I will suggest that to her.I talked to her yesterday and give up. I will print out what Dell has to offer for the same price and as you said Gateway should match it.