Alright, so building this computer is out of the question. Family member wants a cheap, brand-name. I seem to have three choices. They all fall around $550-600 dollars with MIRs. Components will differ.
So, I've looked at Dell, Compaq, and HP (only two, then really). We've bought Dell before, and they work great. Prices always seem to be fair, but because they are not sold in stores/seemingly have no serious competitor, even their sales either don't give much money off or use outdated equip. Since HP has always built trusted computers, and now Compaq (used to be crap) is built by them, I can assume they are one in the same. I looked at Emachines, what with improved support and all, but since they price their products w/o monitors, comparitive products would be more expensive.
The best cheap one I could find at Dell, with a $150 MIR included a P4 2.2 Ghz proc, 128 MB DDR (forget what speed, but doesn't matter), 40 gb 7200, 48x CDROM and 48x CDRW, integrated video (Intel Extreme ), etc. But here's the killer on that one...the free 15 in flat panel display. Free shipping, btw. Is the flat panel really worth it? Read on...
So, at HP's website (it's been my experience that retail stores such as BestBuy will always tack on extra price, for obvious reasons), I built a nearly identical Compaq and HP. Athlon XP 2400, 256 Mb DDR266, 40 gb 5400, 48x CDROM. These would come with 17 in. CRT monitors, not flat screen. The Compaq costs a little more, but that is do the fact that the HP would come with a GF4 MX 440 64 MB and the Compaq with a ATi 9200 128 DDR. Obviously, the extra $30 or so for a better card is worth it. Also, the small things matter. Like the fact that Compaq's speakers would be better (JBL compared to Harman-Kardon) and that the Compaq would come with Works Suite 2003 compared to Corel Prod. Pack on HP. I like Corel and all, but when Suite contains so much more, shoves it a bit in one direction...
So, while the Dell has a "inferior" proc (anandtech itself has shown FAR lower scores compared to 2400) and half the memory, it does have a CDRW. Alright, granted, I can buy memory cheap and a CDRW cheap. So it comes down to this....is a slower proc on a mb w/ no AGP (they play very few games, but who knows...slow proc + no AGP means sooner upgrade) w/ 15in. flat panel worth the same as a faster proc w/ AGP + video card and 17 in. CRT? Come to think of it, since this Dell flat panel would be free, and it is their lowest quality one (nothing hi-tech), is it a "system-buying promo"?
Dell Small Bus.=approx. $540
Compaq=approx. $578
HP=approx. $545
(all w/ free shipping and all after MIRs)
So, I've looked at Dell, Compaq, and HP (only two, then really). We've bought Dell before, and they work great. Prices always seem to be fair, but because they are not sold in stores/seemingly have no serious competitor, even their sales either don't give much money off or use outdated equip. Since HP has always built trusted computers, and now Compaq (used to be crap) is built by them, I can assume they are one in the same. I looked at Emachines, what with improved support and all, but since they price their products w/o monitors, comparitive products would be more expensive.
The best cheap one I could find at Dell, with a $150 MIR included a P4 2.2 Ghz proc, 128 MB DDR (forget what speed, but doesn't matter), 40 gb 7200, 48x CDROM and 48x CDRW, integrated video (Intel Extreme ), etc. But here's the killer on that one...the free 15 in flat panel display. Free shipping, btw. Is the flat panel really worth it? Read on...
So, at HP's website (it's been my experience that retail stores such as BestBuy will always tack on extra price, for obvious reasons), I built a nearly identical Compaq and HP. Athlon XP 2400, 256 Mb DDR266, 40 gb 5400, 48x CDROM. These would come with 17 in. CRT monitors, not flat screen. The Compaq costs a little more, but that is do the fact that the HP would come with a GF4 MX 440 64 MB and the Compaq with a ATi 9200 128 DDR. Obviously, the extra $30 or so for a better card is worth it. Also, the small things matter. Like the fact that Compaq's speakers would be better (JBL compared to Harman-Kardon) and that the Compaq would come with Works Suite 2003 compared to Corel Prod. Pack on HP. I like Corel and all, but when Suite contains so much more, shoves it a bit in one direction...
So, while the Dell has a "inferior" proc (anandtech itself has shown FAR lower scores compared to 2400) and half the memory, it does have a CDRW. Alright, granted, I can buy memory cheap and a CDRW cheap. So it comes down to this....is a slower proc on a mb w/ no AGP (they play very few games, but who knows...slow proc + no AGP means sooner upgrade) w/ 15in. flat panel worth the same as a faster proc w/ AGP + video card and 17 in. CRT? Come to think of it, since this Dell flat panel would be free, and it is their lowest quality one (nothing hi-tech), is it a "system-buying promo"?
Dell Small Bus.=approx. $540
Compaq=approx. $578
HP=approx. $545
(all w/ free shipping and all after MIRs)