Re: ot- buying a new name brand pc with xp

[J R FOX jr_fox@xxxxxxxxxx]

--- On Sun, 1/4/09, Leslie Savan  wrote:

> From: Leslie Savan 
> Subject: Re: ot- buying a new name brand pc with xp
> To: xywrite@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Sunday, January 4, 2009, 11:14 AM
> Patricia, Jon, Harry, et al.

> 2) This VGA card: Is this something I order from the
> company and they
> install it before shipping, or is this something I buy
> separately and add on
> my own?

Perhaps a majority of the desktop systems people buy in recent years have most everything built-into
the motherboard -- i.e., what used to be separate graphics cards, sound cards, NICs etc. these days
are chips on the MB. Separate video cards (in which case the on-board video would have to be turned
OFF) become more the province of graphics professionals and gamers, who have more demanding
requirements. One thing about the built-in video is that -- in most cases -- they will
"borrow" their memory space from your system memory, diminishing it accordingly. I'm
pretty sure there is _some_ built-in video that carries its own discrete memory, but you'd have to
specifically search those out.

> 3) I've been looking around online and I'm
> completely overwhelmed. Can
> anyone help me narrow down a few desktop choices (under
> $1000 with monitor
> and keyboard), preferably, I suppose at CDW, which Jon said
> had some of the
> better tech support, or Micro Center, where the closest
> store to me is Paterson, NJ.
>

I'm not the best one to answer this, since I've always had custom desktop systems made to my
specifications by independent system builders, up until I started configuring Shuttle XPCs myself
from the "barebones" kit.  But you may do best in looking over the desktop systems from
Dell or HP, if you've decided to go with a desktop. Once you know which of these systems meets your
needs and the price point, then figure out who you want to buy it from.  I would expect these
systems are available from many name vendors, such as CDW. Of course, you will want to inquire
upfront about XP. I don't want to run the risk of misquoting Robert, but seem to recall his
endorsing the Pro version of XP over XP Home. If you have a choice in the first place, the price
difference is probably not great.

Dell of course sells directly, but must also have many resellers. One thing I can say about Micro
Center is that at the one I've been to (in Tustin, CA.), many of the staff seem to have a much
better technical knowledge than at most other brick & mortar chain stores I've been to,
including the likes of Frys or Best Buy. Stay away from Circuit City, which had a mass culling of
any staff who knew anything awhile back, as an amazingly stupid cost-cutting measure, which probably
marks the beginning of the end for them.


 Jordan