I must appologize for the length of this thread before I start. I am sorry! LOL!

Most of you who know me know I am NOT all that computer savvy. I've learned some things over the years, but I still have trouble with most "puter speak". Mr. Lixy knows less than I do. So we are lost when we talk to "geeks" and we bow to their knowledge.

Our computer is extremely antiquated and we want to get a new one. We have no kids so we will be setting it up for our use only. Mr. Lixy searches the internet for hobby related info and also for porn. He emails and sends and receives attachments. We don't have a CD burner now but he's always wanted to do that.

I do more work on the puter than he does. I shop online and do my banking. I type any of the important stuff we/I need using the (included) word processor. I resize and touch-up our pics. I store and organize them too. I IM peeps and keep two email addresses (would be three if I used our ISP email, but I don't). I don't get crazy creative because, as I've said, our current computer is antiquated. We are still on dial-up, but that will change with a new set up.

We currently have a Compaq Pressario 5000 running Windows ME. I found a deal on a Dell in a flyer that came to our house the other day. The puter I have my eye on was a basic model with a nice free upgrade. The deal was this...

Dell Dimension E521...AMD Athlon 64x2 Dual-Core Processor 3800 plus a free upgrade to Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium...1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 Memory...250GB Hard Drive...Plays and Creates CD's and DVD's...17" Flat Panel Monitor.

The price (as is) was regularly $809, but with a 25% discount from this flyer it would cost $599 (or $18/mo.).

I went to the Dell site and typed in the E-Value Code and pulled up the above package. I could purchase as is for the very price quoted and have a good deal. The site was VERY imformative and gave me ways to figure out what we felt was necessary for what we do now and what we want to do in the future. We want a good set-up and we don't want to have to do this again for a long while. I did some upgrades and I want to ask if you think I went too far or if I could bump it up even more? Here's the package I upgraded to...



Module Component and Operating System - Dell Dimension E521...AMD Athlon 64x2 Dual-Core Upgraded to 5600...Free upgrade to Windows Vista Home Premium w/1GB memory

Memory - Upgraded from 1GB to 2GB Dual Channel DDR SDRAM @ 667MHz-2DIMMS

Keyboard and Mouse Bundles - Took the included deal. Will shop on my own if necessary. Included = Dell USB Keyboard and Dell Optical USB Mouse

Monitor - Upgraded from 17" Flat Panel Display to 20" Widescreen Digital Flat Panel Display

Video Card - Upgraded to NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE Integrated Graphics GPU

Hard Drive - Upgraded from 250GB to 320GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache

Floppy Drive and Media Reader - No Floppy Drive included. I didn't choose one cause I don't really know what I would need it for. Can you think of a reason why peeps like me and hubby would need this?

Network Interface - Integrated 10/100 Ethernet included. (whatever that means)

Modem - 56K PCI Data Fax Modem included. Can't remember if I had a choice...and if it was important...lol! Are there choices and is it important?

Adobe Software - Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 7.0 included

CD ROM/DVD ROM - Upgraded from 16x DVD+/-RW to Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive +16x DVD+/-RW

Sound Cards - Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio included

Speakers - No Speakers Included. I could have ran the spectrum here (basic to blow your ear drums out) but they seemed too pricey for our purposes...even the basic ones. I'll purchase them seperately.

Office Productivity Software (Pre-Installed) - Upgraded from Basic Microsoft without Works (but will run some word processing functions) to Microsoft® Works Suite 2006...includes MS Word 2002, Encarta 2006 and much more!

Anti-Virus/Security Suite - McAfee Security Center w/anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall...36 months included. Didn't upgrade from here...though lots were offered. Figured I could do that on my own for less as well. Good Call?

Warranty and Service - Included...1Yr Ltd Warranty and At-Home Service. Could have chosen up to 4Yr for a price. What are your thoughts on warranties? I haven't ever needed service on this old thing I'm on now. Shouldn't 1Yr be enough to know if you got a lemon? Tell me your thoughts on this one, please!

Internet Access Service - Choice between AOL or EarthLink (included). I won't use either but they make you choose one so I picked EarthLink cause I had AOL before and I hated it! I don't have to activate it...ever.

Miscellaneous - Included...Award Winning Service and Support

Dell Digital Entertainment - Included...Trial pack-Basic and trial products from Corel and Yahoo

Software - I want to purchase a way to move my files and pics to the new puter. I scrolled through the choices and found one for Windows ME to Vista. It's called LapLink PCmover. Says it'll move applications, data and settings to my new PC. Does anyone know if this is just for "from a laptop to a PC"? I NEED to do just what it says but I am NOT on a laptop. I have a desktop. HELP!!! It's $29 and I don't know if that's a good price or can I get one on my own and cheaper.

I didn't get a web Cam cause I don't have one now and I don't see the importance. I know some will say otherwise...but if I want one in the future I can do that then.

Total after upgrades - $1,172.25 (includes taxes and FREE/3-5 day shipping and handling) or $36/mo. I'll have to wait a few extra days to have it shipped because of some of the upgrades. Shipping is still FREE as long as I order before May 15, 2007.



So...there ya go! Did I do good? Did I under or over do it? Tell me your thoughts please! I trust your expertise and I don't want to fuck this purchase up!

__________________
Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

P.S. Should I "link" you to the site, on the page I was on to do all the upgrades so you can see the options? Or am I ignorant in thinking you wouldn't know the upgrades I can get or the basic stuff I should stick to?

__________________
Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

A $599 computer will end up running $1100? I have bought 3 systems on sale in stores and paid much much less and have never been missing a program or device that I could not later get inexpensively or free on the web. I am no expert on what is what so I can't help I just worry you are spending nearly twice as much as you were going to be originally paying.

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The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
One man's dream is another man's nightmare~~~~> §¤ Lilith ¤§
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==>Gone Shopping<== ~Just a Quickie~ *~A Celebration Vacation~* ~Surprises~ Sleeping With the Window Open
What Did You Do Today? Self Defense Class ~Short Sweet Snippets~ § Summer Spin § Story Challenge Submission Pajamas

I know what you mean Lil. I thought the basic model sounded great as to what it does. I didn't know there was so many "upgrades" and I did a lot of reading as to what they are for before I made any choices.

Mr. Lixy just kept saying, "I want to be able to link up with NASA"! In other words...he wants power/longevity and he doesn't want to have to purchase it after the fact.

He loves the idea of being able to burn CD's and DVD's. He wants to download vids (probably mostly porn) and he wants them to run uninterrupted (he hates that stop/start thing while they are "buffering". I thought DSL would change that. I don't know for sure). He doesn't play games online or even by himself on the puter. He has a PS2 for game play. He wants a good monitor with a beautiful picure. He's rather a push-me-pull-you when it comes to wants and needs. I just don't know if the basic model is enough for what he wants/needs and if we'd need more in the future.

Thanks for your input!

__________________
Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

good idea to let us see 'exactly' how they are presenting it


I have to run now but will be back at ya with some thoughts
(you will will get GOOD imformation from the other Pixies in the meantime)






[don't worry about a web cam. I'll be happy to buy one of those for YOU ]

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Thanks PF!

Here's the link for the Options Page for Ordering Process

Hope that works!

EDIT: Yep! That's it. I checked the link and it's right. That's the page I started on and I went through all the components and read everything there is to read about them. Compared side by side...read their purpose as opposed to the "included" stuff...etc. Dell makes recommendations and sometimes I took um up on them and sometimes I didn't.

__________________
Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

Hiya (((((Casper)))))!!! LTNS hun!

Oops to the upgrade for the video card. That was the standard. Sorry for the mistake!

Still reading your input...but had to say hey when I saw you here. TY for all the considerations. I've got a lot of reading to do!

*hugs*

__________________
Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

I just stayed with a simple E machine , It gave me all I needed without all the bells and whistles (which you don't really need unless your in to programing, massive game playing and such) plus remember every computer that comes out now is already obsolete by a few years.
http://www.e4me.com/products/
Why pay for all the extras you probaly won't use

__________________
"Enjoy life. There's plenty of time to be dead."


Live Life, hearses don't come with luggage racks.
The second mouse always gets the cheese

TY sooooooooooo much for all the attention to detail Casper!

So I don't need to upgrade the CD Rom thingy? Okie Dokie! I was really thrown on that one!

Sounds like the basic model was good except for the monitor and memory upgrade?? I can save a lot of money if I delete some of the other stuff.

Oh wait! For the anti-virus thing I went with the Dell recommended upgrade. Sorry for the slip-up...I only printed out what I selected and went from memory as to what was offered and what came standard. It is $74 dollars for the upgrade but I have a FREE 30 day trial included in the package deal. I'll just go with the trial for now and work on it later online or in store.

As to the LapLink info you supplied...here's where I sit like a deer in the headlights when you start talking about networking and broadband and all that other stuff! I don't know what the hell it means but it sounded good! LMFAO! So...I'll research the transfer better before I choose to do anything. I can learn if I can see it done or can follow the instructions!

Thanks again hun! You gave me a plethora of info!

__________________
Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

I'm thinking more basic is better for us too Winston. I like the recommendations and explainations Casper supplied and I'll downgrade my upgrades accordingly.

As to an obsolete computer...you should see the one I have now! YIKES! But...it still works (no matter that I curse at it like a sailor on shore leave) and that says a lot about longevity. It just doesn't have any more memory to go DSL (or anything faster than dial-up) and we can't introduce a burner of any kind because I think the last intro of our digital cam took all it's strength to try and operate. It gives me problems on start up BECAUSE of out last intro of the new digicam.

If I want to upgrade to future (yet unknown) additions...I just want to make sure I'll have the machine to take the beating.

TY for the input hun!

__________________
Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

For the simple work you're doing, that's plenty good enough. The only thing I'd change is the RAM... Vista is better with 2Gb.


Doubt the upgrade was all that necessary. Unless you're doing lots of video editing or gaming, upgrading the processor is pretty pointless.

Memory - Upgraded from 1GB to 2GB Dual Channel DDR SDRAM @ 667MHz-2DIMMS[/quote]
You've done good!


Good work. More screen space is always good.


Eh? You upgraded? to integrated? What was it standard?
And in any case, that's fine.


250Gb is plenty, unless you're downloading lots of movies, doing lots of video recording, or if Mr. Lixy is downloading a TON of porn!


Nope you don't need one. When it says "media reader' I think it might mean Compact Flash or Secure Digital cards, like you store photos on for a digital camera. Might be worth it for convenience sake, but most cameras should be able to plug directly into your computer.


Basically that's the thingi you plug your broadband modem into. No point upgrading or anything, the integrated one will do fine.


If you've still got your dial-up modem from your old computer, (ie it's a separate box that plugs into your computer) then you might as well stick with that.


Ok, so where you originally had one drive you've now got two: a read-only and a burner. This is convenient, because you can copy an audio cd for example, and leave the original in the reader (probably the top one) while you burn it directly in the other drive. Convenient, but not strictly necessary if you don't mind swapping discs over in one drive.
Price of dvd burners these days, might as well go with two like you've selected.


Probably best idea. I doubt you'll need anything special, some basic $10 ones should be fine.


All good.


Yeah, good call. McAfee is one fo the best paid-for antivirus etc companies. When the 36 months expires, it might be worth uninstalling it and going with the pretty good free options around - Avast or AVG for the anti-cirus, Spybot and Adaware for malware, and Zonealarm for firewall.


Never heard of Earthlink, but yeah heard lots of awful things about AOL. Good work!



Hmm....
Laplink will work fine desktop to desktop. Although I haven't used it in 10 years.
Normally I'd just suggest networking them and copying things over. And that might be something you can look into, easiest way would be when you get broadband to get a modem with a built in router, that way you can plug both computers into it and they should be able to see each other.
But yeah, Laplink's probably easiest.... deferring to other Pixies here!!!

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You know, Blackadder, for me socks are like sex. Tons of it about and I never seem to get any.

My Photos:
https://imgur.com/a/80hiRdm

Ok (puts hands together and cracks fingers) Lixy I know a bit about pc's and have built my own. Even though mine is a little out dated it still runs with the best of them. Here are my pc's specs just so you get an idea of what setup I have:

AMD Athlon xp 1.6 gig cpu. 512 SD Ram, the video card is a nvidia 6200 which has 256 mb ram at x8, 2 hard disk both partitioned so I have 4. A cd-rom and a dvd r/w. Which is read and write. In other words a dvd burner which can also burn cd's. I am running xp as vista has all kinds of problems and personally I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot poll. XP still has the better compatibility and reliability. I am surprised that you are running ME. If you have ever used xp you will shit yourself. XP is much better.

Most computer geeks will try and hit you with the speed of the processor and how fast it reads data and also how much ram you need. You only get a pc for your needs and requirements not the other way around. For example if you are only doing internet surfing, email and word processing, then anything under 2.0 gig will do just fine. 256 ram is more than enough. 512 is nice too. If you are running high end games or things that require lots of nice visuals then you go for something a bit higher up. DVD's will run on any machine over 800 mghrts. Anything under and it lags. So a 2.0 gig or under will easily do the job. Even though mine is a 1.6 gig it runs much higher and I have no issues with mine. Price is another thing, most people buy the latest thing with all the bells and whistles and they only end up using about a 3rd of the bits and pieces anyway. Warranties etc, are only good for their duration after that any repairs you will have to cover.

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My stories
An erotic story
The instructor and student
Secretary learns how to take a dicktation
The story of sister stephanie

Hi Mark. TY for the info! I am running ME because XP wasn't out when I got my puter. Mine came with ME and I haven't changed it cause I never had a problem. I decided that when I got a new puter I would get some things based on what I learn/learned from this ole thang and from hearing what others like and why.

I know Vista is new and I haven't heard much about it. I've heard both sides of the coin with XP.

Now, what kind of problems do you refer to when you say "Vista has all kinds of problems"? I'd like to hear specifics if you could share them.

BTW...that was more than enough puter speak! It doesn't impress me much if I can't understand it...lol! Could you please drop down a few levels and try to explain in plain English? Thanks!

__________________
Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~

Lixy from what I read you are looking for a good basic computer and it looks like the one you are looking at is more then you need. my best advice would be to go out to a computer store that sells used computers and find something good there. Most likely you'll be able to pick one up for about half of what you'll pay (the original price) for this one and be getting more in lines with your needs.

My second piece of advice is avoid Dells. I've knowen a couple people who have had problem with them. including my dad who's mother board went out 2 weeks (or at least it died then after he had problem with it for over a month) after the warranty ran out. When he called they told him sorry his warranty was over but they could sel him a new mother board. They ended up sending him the wrong mother board. When he called again they told him he could wait while he shipped them back the one he got and then they shipped him a new one or he could but buy the prosser that would work with that board( they were nice enough to throw in next day shipping for free). I also have a friend who will never buy another Dell because of the problematci one he had. I would say look around for a good HP or Compaq (they are both basicly the same being they are made my the same people)

If you have your heart set on the Dell I would have to say avoid the Vista it has only been out for a sort time and like any program like that is going to be problematic. With XP they have worked out must of the bugs.

__________________
it's only kinky the first time

it's not the orgasm but getting there thats fun

a shot in the bush is worth two in the hand

whip me, beat me, tie me up, break my arm, but please don't break my heart

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid people are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt" -Bertrand Russell

PS don't let then get you with the buy now or you don't get the free shipping it's one of those ploys to get you to buy before you think about it to much.

__________________
it's only kinky the first time

it's not the orgasm but getting there thats fun

a shot in the bush is worth two in the hand

whip me, beat me, tie me up, break my arm, but please don't break my heart

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid people are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt" -Bertrand Russell