buying computer for someone - need advice

[bdog]

I am buying a computer for a relative. It will be her first computer and she knows very little about them. She wants it for the basic stuff - email, web, word processing. She wants to spend around $800 or less for the computer, 15" monitor, and printer.

Super high performance isn't required, but reliability and customer service are important because she lives in another state and I won't be there to help out if problems arise.

I found an HP Brio 533 mhz 64mb 4.3gb 40x cd 56k modem win 98 for $579

princeton 15" monitor $129

epson 740 printer $99

Total price $807


Does this seem like a good deal? I usually build my own systems so I am not really familiar with prices and quality on machines like this. Any suggestions are welcomed.

[codybear]

thats not a bad chioce and with HP's I have found them to be either very reliable or major problems and you will know in the first couple days which you have

[Warthog]

My grandparents wanted the same thing. They bought an HP.
reliability and customer service

They didn't get that http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif

Don't go with HP or Compaq

Dell
Dell
Dell
Dell
Dell
Dell
Dell
Dell
Dell
Dell
Dell
Dell
Dell
Dell
Dell
Dell
Dell
Dell
Dell
Dell

It may cost her another 100-200, but that cost is trivial compared to the amount of troubles she will probably go through with a sucky comp. Dell all the way http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Warthog

[NDC]

Yeah, Dell does have a very speedy customer support. My buddy got a Dell and one of his hard drives was malfunctioning and he called and they sent him a new drive next-day air. That's what I call good customer support! http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[Paul Hubrich]

Seems like a reasonable deal. A Dell or Gateway might be nice, with their in-home service, but your not going to get one for $800.

I'm using a cheap HP for my primary computer - I use it for internet, word processing, spread sheets, CD burning, etc. I had one problem early on that phone tech support couldn't resolve. They sent me a postage paid box to ship the computer to them, and I got it back fully repaired in about a week. The only complaint was that they reformatted the hard drive when it had nothing to do with what the problem was. I think that's their standard procedure - reformat and restore the original disk image before they start any repairs, regardless of what the problem is.

[Win_98]

Do avoid these brand thought: packard bell from hell, emachine from outterspace, compaq from spain.

[bdog]

Thanks for all the replies and advice. I decided to go with the HP.

[LiLRiceBoi]

how could you decide to go with the hp? If you're not gonna build it...you have to get a Dell

[Warthog]

*wonders same thing*

Warthog

[bdog]

HP was about $250 cheaper than the Dell and she didn't want to spend that much.

[brandon184]

Yay! I see Warthog already advanced.

I better reiterate...

Go with Dell. You can get a good system from them for $729.

You'll be happier with the end product and the technical support is superb. The quality of the product is also excellent.

- Brandon

[This message has been edited by brandon184 (edited 09-22-2000).]