Just recently at work, the boss has purchased (finally) an upgrade to our aging POS software. We've had the current version we use for approximately 5 or so years, so needless to say the 2 computer we have running it are Celeron 500MHz with 128MB of RAM. Even then, it runs the software not as fast as we'd like. However, with this upgrade to current times, minimum requirements call for atleast a P3 1GHz and 256MB of RAM.
Obviously, after knowing we can't upgrade what we have, my boss has given me two options: either find a cheap computer system that is pre-built, or find some parts to throw into the cases we have now. I don't care much for the option of buying older computer parts, just because it would be more of a headache to get everything working, and I'd rather not play around with my boss's money and time.
I'd like to look into the option of purchasing a pre-built system, from the likes of Dell or HP, however, I'm hoping to find something a little cheaper. After checking out all the big name manufacturers, HP had the cheapest system available at $249, which had more than enough specs to run our new software. We already have the monitors, so that's not an issue. However, with these HP systems, they want to charge an outrageous $100 per system for shipping and handling. We need 2, so that's an extra $200, and the boss agreed with me that we aren't going that route just because of principle. HP can kiss our collective rear-ends.
So I was hoping someone could give us some options, some that I don't know about. As you can see, we don't need much of a computer, just cheap as we can get it, however, I don't know where to get some on closeout or clearance or whatever. We'd like to stay in the $249-$300 range. Hell, even an OS isn't really necessary. Any suggestions?
Obviously, after knowing we can't upgrade what we have, my boss has given me two options: either find a cheap computer system that is pre-built, or find some parts to throw into the cases we have now. I don't care much for the option of buying older computer parts, just because it would be more of a headache to get everything working, and I'd rather not play around with my boss's money and time.
I'd like to look into the option of purchasing a pre-built system, from the likes of Dell or HP, however, I'm hoping to find something a little cheaper. After checking out all the big name manufacturers, HP had the cheapest system available at $249, which had more than enough specs to run our new software. We already have the monitors, so that's not an issue. However, with these HP systems, they want to charge an outrageous $100 per system for shipping and handling. We need 2, so that's an extra $200, and the boss agreed with me that we aren't going that route just because of principle. HP can kiss our collective rear-ends.
So I was hoping someone could give us some options, some that I don't know about. As you can see, we don't need much of a computer, just cheap as we can get it, however, I don't know where to get some on closeout or clearance or whatever. We'd like to stay in the $249-$300 range. Hell, even an OS isn't really necessary. Any suggestions?