eMachines 1.2GHz Celeron System With 17" Monitor + Printer, OfficeXP, UPS + More Stuff: $400+ tax AR

[fornax]

Not for the faint of heart ($630 of CompUSA rebates!):

CompUSA has the eMachines 1.2GHz Celeron system for $400. It includes 17" monitor, 20GB HDD, 128MB memory, 48X CD-ROM, speakers, etc. for $400 after $295 rebates. They also have "free AR" PC starter kit with any system purchase that includes: Epson C60 printer, Office XP for Students/Teachers, APC UPS, Norton AV, book, paper, CD-Rs (all free after $335 rebates). Including tax, this all comes to about $480. Of course, there is the BIG IF of CompUSA rebates.

 

[Maetryx]

eMachine always seemed like the Packard Bell of the next millenium to me.

 

[JJd]

Have a link? I can't find it!?? Thanks.

 

[bigempty]

Originally posted by: Maetryx
eMachine always seemed like the Packard Bell of the next millenium to me.

I can vouch for that... I got sick and tired of friends using my computer so instead of building one I went out and bought a emachines thinking how could you go wrong with something this cheap?

There isn't much more I can say other then it was a major piece of crap. Crappy performance aside... it wouldn't boot 1 out of 5 times. It would randomly crash for no reason whatsoever. It would crash coming out of Suspend mode. Replaced the power supply twice, problem was still there so instead of dealing with emachines crappy service I chucked it and built a new one.

 

[fornax]

JJd, I saw it in the CompUSA flyer. I believe the flyer is availbale onlin, but don't know where.

 

[allisolm]

If you don't have CompUSA around, Best Buy has a similar (13.GHz versus 1.2) with monitor and printer (but not the other stuff in the starter kit) for $399.97. They also have many rebates. Price is $774.97 less $100 BB MIR, less $50 BB MIR, less $75 emachimes MIR, less $100 emachines bundle MIR, less $30 printer MIR, $20 printer bundle MIR. Whew!

Specs: eMachines 1221 Computer, eMachines 17S 17" Monitor, Lexmark Z25 color Printer. Intel Celeron 1.3 GHz CPU. 128 MB RAM, 20 GB Hard Drive, 48x CD-ROM Drive, 56K Modem, Direct AGP Graphics

Circuit City, too, has the same one as CompUSA (except one has Proview monitor and one emachines monitor)for $399.99 after rebates. $624.99 less $75 emachines MIR, less $50 Lexmark MIR, less $100 CC MIR.

Specs: eMachines 1220 Computer, Proview PRO735 17" Monitor, Lexmark Z25 color Printer. Intel Celeron 1.2 GHz CPU. 128 MB RAM, 20 GB Hard Drive, 48x CD-ROM Drive, 56K Modem, Direct AGP Graphics

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: Maetryx
eMachine always seemed like the Packard Bell of the next millenium to me.

I had a student who worked at Best Buy's service desk, and when they got an E-machines in for warranty repair, they simply replaced it, since it was such a piece of bovine excrement. So that's how it goes anyway.. For a biased opinion, here is a link to emachines suck:


link

 

[randypj]

I got a gf an emachine. The first thing my Dad did was take out the crap 120 watt PS and hang (literally) a 250 watt on the back of it (looks like a supercharger). He then added a 2nd hard drive and a 24x burner, wiped the drive, and installed W2K, etc. She's got DSL, so I can't comment on the modem that he disabled. Works fine.

No way I'd leave one like it comes out of the box tho. All kinds of adware crap on it. I think it always bothered him that he couldn't get rid of the emachines logo on bootup tho.
--Randy

 

[RadioactiveMagpies]

($630 of CompUSA rebates!):

I think i'll stick to las vegas for better odds.
There are plenty of good Dell deals lately too, but they don't included a monitor.
They do have better cpu 1.8a ghz p4.

 

[RideFree]

Wow! I had no idea as to just how bad e-Machines are suck!

fornax,
This is an excellent thread and I, for one, appreciate your having listed it.

 

[unclebud]

i like emachines. really like all pre-builts over home-built
computer knowledge -- guess it's like learning martial arts, the better one gets, the less they get to actually use it

 

[Desslok]

Originally posted by: unclebud
i like emachines. really like all pre-builts over home-built computer knowledge -- guess it's like learning martial arts, the better one gets, the less they get to actually use it

What are you smoking over there? The only way they can offer such great prices on their systems is that they use crappy componets. Sure if you like the problems listed above then by all means go for it! Myself I will continue to build systems that way I KNOW what is in there.

 

[RossMAN]

I would never buy an eMachines but there are some people who can't build their own rig or plunk down $500 to buy a PC from Dell.

This is a great deal assuming you receive all the rebates.

 

[ElFenix]

damn, thats a lot of rebates.

 

[ghettobanana]

I hate eMachines. Working in a computer repair shop has helped me to develop the hatred...

 

[Desslok]

Originally posted by: ghettobanana
I hate eMachines. Working in a computer repair shop has helped me to develop the hatred...

Just curious what are some of the horror stories you ahve from E-machines?

 

[Azazel413]

Just take five minutes and learn how to build a computer... geez.

 

[durracell]

I bought an Emachines about a year ago for work only (no games) and it has worked fine. The power supply was adequate for the components. All I had to add was a NIC. The components were not bad at all- Celeron w/ Intel chipset.

Before everyone starts trashing them in this thread, make sure that you include the price of non-pirated software in your home-built system!

 

[amdskip]

emachines are good for a person who uses it to check email and maybe type a letter, nothing more

Their power supplies are nortorious for failing.

 

[fornax]

I almost jumped on it because of the free Office XP, thinking of just selling the rest of the stuff and probably making a few bucks in the process . But having had my share of trouble with CompUSA rebates, thought better of it. Actually, not all rebates are CompUSA's, some are manufacturer's rebates.

 

[ghettobanana]

Originally posted by: Desslok

Originally posted by: ghettobanana
I hate eMachines. Working in a computer repair shop has helped me to develop the hatred...

Just curious what are some of the horror stories you ahve from E-machines?

Where to begin?

1. The case hurt the hell out of me when I tried to get inside. It seriously didn't like me and I was beginning to feel the same way. Strike 1...
2. The client had a virus on his hard drive so I tried to circumvent booting off the hard drive. I tried changing it to CD-Rom so I could boot off Norton AV. The BIOS setup was a GUI that wasn't accepting input from the mouse the computer came with! The GUI was designed in a way that the only thing that could be done with only a keyboard was to TAB between the different sections but it wouldn't let me select an option! Strike 2...
3. The parts inside the machine were terrible. I don't remember much but I do recall a substandard PS that kept emitting a strange odor. The machine also didn't look like it would be friendly to any upgrades. Strike 3...

Honestly, I hate eMachines because I am somewhat of a computer snob but I also feel that an additional $100-$200 would be enough to get a comparable machine from Dell or, heaven forbid, Gateway. eMachines were the only computers we refused to buy from clients (the shop sold used machines) simply because we didn't want to have to deal with the inevitability of the buyer needing lots of repairs on it.

 

[RideFree]

durracell,

Before everyone starts trashing them in this thread, make sure that you include the price of non-pirated software in your home-built system!

Hey! That would be called a foul in Boxing.
Actually, eMachines do need a lot of care from the service guy. And sometimes they even outlive the warrantee.

But, what else is there to pick on???
Dood! I'm fixin' a Dell!

 

[flenn]

To all the people who are bashing emachines - have you ever owned one? If so, how exactly did it disappoint you? Did you buy one that had built-in everything and didn't figure it out until you you couldn't find an AGP slot? I get the feeling a bunch of you guys built a machine or two and think that anything pre-assembled is not worth buying. When you start building PC's for people other than yourself, you'll find that there is a market for ALL types of machines. I've built extremely high end, and down and dirty low end (and plenty in between), but it's the customer that will tell you what they want. If someone is looking for a lower end piece, the emachines is a good option. The quality is much better than the cheap generic stuff you find at shows. I've picked up a few from the geeks or outpost for undemanding family/friends and paid less than what I could have built myself. Another benefit is that I'm off the hook for tech support. I have one in our kid's playroom that has been on 24/7 for over a year with a Athlon 700, geforce 256 ddr, modem, nic, USB webcam and USB scanner. The scanner picks up all it's juice from the USB, no PS at all. If ever a emachines power supply should crap out, it's this one. The PS is made by Delta, the motherboard is an MSI. Is it high end? No, but it's not the garbage you see at the shows or the no-name stuff at the beginning of the Pricewatch list.

My point is that some of you guys automatically dismiss anything that isn't Anandtech's flavor of the month. I think the more time you spend building machines, the more you'll appreciate that there's a demand for lower end equipment that works dependably. Anyone can build a cheap PC, but try building a cheap PC that doesn't break. Emachines fills that niche, IMO.

 

[skywhr]

I bought an emachine for my Mother 2 years ago and the HD failed after 1 year, they replaced no problem other than that it has been fine. Its on 24/7 and it does what she needs. They are a perfect & cheap solution for a low end average user.

I personally wouldnt use one because I require a bit more performance.

 

[AuctionHugh]

I read through "emachinessuck.com" and the info there looks very outdated. Talking about "just came out with windows ME and 32 megs of ram." I heard emachines are much better now and the $400 deal listed is incredible if it works decently. If not, it is a throwaway of your cash. Wish I knew whether to recommend them or not!