Helping my friend with a computer

[aimeeandbeatles]

All right, so my friend wants a computer, although she's got low budget.
She's not a gamer, though, so she don't need real fancy hardware.
She mainly surfs web, talks on instant messenger, listens to music and watches videos.
She asked me for help, but I'm not too keen on the hardware part.

She wants a desktop.

She wants
about 150 gig hard drive,
Windows XP,
a "regular" sized monitor,
DVD burner (two would be nice),
some place to plug in VCR so she can convert VHS's to DVD,
some place to plug in ehr keyboard, MIDI port?
and USB ports.

She's looking the price to be about 500-600.

Does anyone know any good ones?

 

[Zelig]

Some points:

150gb hard drives are a horrible deal, 320gb are the minimum to get a half-decent $/GB, 500gb or 750gb are better.

XP sucks, get Vista with any new computer.

VCR's do not plug in to computers, you're going to need extra equipment for that. Same for midi ports.

For $500-$600, dell.ca is probably your best bet.

 

[WildFire]

two dvd burners are pointless

 

[Shadylookin]

All right, so my friend wants a computer, although she's got low budget.
She's not a gamer, though, so she don't need real fancy hardware.
She mainly surfs web, talks on instant messenger, listens to music and watches videos.
She asked me for help, but I'm not too keen on the hardware part.

She wants a desktop.

She wants
about 150 gig hard drive,
Windows XP,
a "regular" sized monitor,
DVD burner (two would be nice),
some place to plug in VCR so she can convert VHS's to DVD,
some place to plug in ehr keyboard, MIDI port?
and USB ports.

She's looking the price to be about 500-600.

Does anyone know any good ones?

I imagine you're going to have to cough up a lot of extra cash for a video card with analog inputs(if you can find them in this era) and a sound card with midi inputs. I could be wrong though.

 

[warpus]

won't an ati all-in-wonder let you hook up an rca or svideo input? the vcr would be hooked up to a tv - and the most tvs have svideo output.

as for the midi port, sounds like she'd just need an audigy.

 

[GoodGame]

I believe any tv tuner card will do at least svideo.

Seach here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2000380047+1685342847&Tpk=tv tuner

This one looks promising right off the bat, though I would examine the specs more closely: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815127007

 

[Zelig]

I believe any tv tuner card will do at least svideo.

Seach here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2000380047+1685342847&Tpk=tv tuner

This one looks promising right off the bat, though I would examine the specs more closely: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815127007

aimee is in Canada, newegg is useless.

 

[warpus]

ncix, tigerdirect

 

[Zelig]

ncix, tigerdirect

And ncix pricematches any other place, no no real reason to order from anywhere else unless you're getting a better deal on shipping.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

My friend lives in US, actually. And she has no credit card. But lots of money orders.

 

[taper]

Are you seriously recommending Vista for this? The OP is looking for a low cost, low end computer for very basic tasks. Vista is absolutely the wrong choice. XP is fine, but I would take a look at a user friendly version of Linux, like Ubuntu. I know it sounds scary, but if you can use Windows, you can use Ubuntu. It is very easy, and better in many ways. You can use Pidgen for IM(using your existing account of all the major chat programs), Amarok or Rhythm Box for music, and vlc for video. Ubuntu also has very good multimedia support. Best of all just about everything you'll ever need is free, and has very low system requirements when compared to any version of Windows. Feel free to PM me if you want more info.

 

[GoodGame]

I was just linking the specific product as an example of what she might want.

aimee is in Canada, newegg is useless.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

My friend says she don't like Linux. And she also don't like Vista. She used them both at some time.

 

[Aramazd]

Are you seriously recommending Vista for this? The OP is looking for a low cost, low end computer for very basic tasks. Vista is absolutely the wrong choice. XP is fine, but I would take a look at a user friendly version of Linux, like Ubuntu. I know it sounds scary, but if you can use Windows, you can use Ubuntu. It is very easy, and better in many ways. You can use Pidgen for IM(using your existing account of all the major chat programs), Amarok or Rhythm Box for music, and vlc for video. Ubuntu also has very good multimedia support. Best of all just about everything you'll ever need is free, and has very low system requirements when compared to any version of Windows. Feel free to PM me if you want more info.

A $600 computer can more than run Vista.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

If the friend gets Vista though, its not going to be a 600$ PC anymore, its going to be a 450$ PC. the best option (if she doesnt do gaming) is to go with Linux. Ubuntu has changed a lot lately and is very user friendly. Plus if she needs help, she can always come by #civfanatics and ask.

 

[taper]

$450? You can get a Dell Vostro 200 for just over $300 that'll do everything the OP listed. Half the price of one that'll sorta chug along with Vista. XP is an option on those, and I've been very impressed with the Vostro laptops I set up for both my sisters this summer.

If your friend is dead set against Linux, I won't push, but when was the last time they tried it, and what distro did they use? If it was more than a year ago, I highly recommend at least trying an Ubuntu LiveCD on any existing pc. It won't change a thing on your system. I'll even mail you one for free if you give me an address.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

$450? You can get a Dell Vostro 200 for just over $300 that'll do everything the OP listed. Half the price of one that'll sorta chug along with Vista. XP is an option on those, and I've been very impressed with the Vostro laptops I set up for both my sisters this summer.

If your friend is dead set against Linux, I won't push, but when was the last time they tried it, and what distro did they use? If it was more than a year ago, I highly recommend at least trying an Ubuntu LiveCD on any existing pc. It won't change a thing on your system. I'll even mail you one for free if you give me an address.

Well if you want to go minimalist, you can get a complete System that can do all of that (no OS though) for around 200.

As for Linux, I do agree. The distro's are always being worked on and it continually improves.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

She clearly told me no Linux or Vista.
She also has a bad track record with Dell computers.

 

[taper]

The Vostros are a business line introduced about a year ago. They aren't even in the same league as those cheap student laptops that Dell churned out that gave them a bad rap. I'm giving you up to date computer advice from my own personal experience. If you would rather stick to out-dated info, it's your choice.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Tell her that she can try Linux and if she doesnt like it she can replace it. All its going to cost her is a blank cd.