Need help with picking a computer

[r0ck]

I need to find a preassembled (dell/gateway etc.) for my 12 year old cousin. I have been out of the loop for quite some time so I need some help with this decision.

The budget is ~1200 and I want to get him the most I can for the money.


thanx

 

[MustISO]

You can spend far less on a Dell than $1,200. You can get a nicely loaded machine with LCD for $500 - $800 depending on options.

What's the main use for the PC?

 

[bamacre]

Yeah, for gaming?

 

[GZeus]

I won't offer a hardware suggestion, you're going to get plenty of help there...

just this: http://www.netnanny.com/ or something similar
and this: are the parents 'onboard' with this planned gift?

Sorry, just something about the words '12 year old' and 'computer' that suddenly turn me into an adult.

 

[r0ck]

how is this for $1033


PROCESSOR Intel® Core?2 Duo Processor E4300 (1.8GHz, 800 FSB) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista? Home Premium edit
MONITOR 19 inch Samsung 920NW Widescreen LCD Monitor edit
MEMORY 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz- 2DIMMs edit
HARD DRIVE 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache? edit
OPTICAL DRIVE 16x DVD+/-RW Drive edit
VIDEO CARD 256MB ATI Radeon X1300 Pro edit
SOUND Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio edit
My Accessories
SPEAKERS Klipsch Promedia 2.1 Speaker System with Subwoofer edit
KEYBOARD & MOUSE Dell USB Keyboard and Dell 2-button Scroll Mouse edit
ESSENTIAL BUNDLES Core Bundle: 7-outlet surge and 1GB flash drive edit
FLOPPY & MEDIA READER No Floppy Drive Included edit
MODEM 56K PCI Data Fax Modem edit


can i get better for that price or this is pretty good?

 

[r0ck]

for $829 but need to add about $150 for a nice set of speakers from newegg (dell didnt have much choices)

PROCESSOR AMD Athlon? 64 X2 Dual-Core 3800+ edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition edit
MEMORY 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz- 2DIMMs edit
HARD DRIVE 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache? edit
OPTICAL DRIVE 16x DVD+/-RW Drive edit
MONITOR 19 inch E197FP Analog Flat Panel edit
VIDEO CARD 256MB ATI Radeon X1300 Pro edit
SOUND Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio edit
My Accessories
FLOPPY OR MEDIA READER No Floppy Drive Included edit
MODEM 56K PCI Data Fax Modem edit
SPEAKERS No speakers (Speakers are required to hear audio from your system) edit
KEYBOARD Dell USB Keyboard edit
MOUSE Dell® 2-button USB mouse edit
POWER PROTECTION APC SurgeArrest 11 Outlet with Tel2/Splitter, Coax and Ethernet Protection

 

[Skitzer]

Originally posted by: MustISO
You can spend far less on a Dell than $1,200. You can get a nicely loaded machine with LCD for $500 - $800 depending on options.

What's the main use for the PC?

Agree ........ for a 12yo, a basic Dell system for around $500 - $700 will do nicely. I also agree with GZeus .... a good parental control software might be wise.

 

[jae]

Originally posted by: Skitzer

Originally posted by: MustISO
You can spend far less on a Dell than $1,200. You can get a nicely loaded machine with LCD for $500 - $800 depending on options.

What's the main use for the PC?

Agree ........ for a 12yo, a basic Dell system for around $500 - $700 will do nicely. I also agree with GZeus .... a good parental control software might be wise.

I thought I was the only one thinking $1200 was too much for a computer that 12 year old will be using.