dr_zero
VMK Ultracoolmouse
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2007
- Messages
- 895
If you are looking for a computer new or used check out the HP and Compaq units.
I have built and worked on computers for years and I have been really impressed with the service from this company.
The newer units have nice cases and extra fans included and are very user friendly for upgrades unlike some of the beast from the past
Also they come with standard size power supplies (a big +) so you can get one off the shelf to replace it not some rinky dink supply that is a odd shape that will burn out in a year and you play havoc to find another that will fit at a decent price.
Look close though at the Hard Drive size, CPU type and Speed (GHZ) and RAM that comes installed a really cheap price comes with some sacrifices most times.
What ever you get look up the max RAM you can add and go for it Ram is cheap most ship with 500mb but Vista likes 1gig for basic and 2 + for more of the toys. (check newegg.com for the ram)
I got a Compaq unit fairly new (2.9ghz) that came from a police turn in sale the unit had been wiped clean nothing on it at all.
Now this is where the fun part usually starts looking up the unit trying to find the drivers for all the components and then get a legal copy of windows (and a legal copy of windows can cost as much as some new pc's).
So I go to the Compaq website and put in the model and serial and there are all the drivers I need, pretty sweet saves alot of time there then I see you can order the recovery cd's.
I punch in the serial number and its say they have them in stock and the price is ..... I expecting 40-50 bux easy but no! they say $16 with shipping included!
Out comes the Visa and the deal is done just have to wait 5-7 days, 2 days later I get a small package in the mail and to my surprise was 12 cds in there
That is alot for most recovery cd usually you get one with drivers and then you provide a windows cd, but much to my surprise the cd's contained a full version on windows xp professional and all the drivers and additional software like from the factory all for $16! That was the deal of the week!
So if you find a Hp/Compaq at a yard sale or a auction you might really be looking at a diamond in the rough.
When you buy one new you know you have a company out there that does provide some support in case something happens and you crash the system or you lose your disk you are not left high and dry like some places.
Be warned not all recovery cd's are the same some just have drivers but no windows operating system. Also recovery cd's generally will only work for the specific model of pc they were created for.
One a side note many people dont know HP and Compaq are now the same company
HEWLETT-PACKARD AND COMPAQ AGREE TO MERGE, CREATING $87 BILLION GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY LEADER
Will Offer Businesses And Consumers Most Complete Set Of Products And Services, With Commitment To Open Systems And Architectures
Will Have #1 Worldwide Positions In Servers, PCs and Hand-helds, and Imaging and Printing; Leading Positions In IT Services, Storage, Management Software
Companies Expect Annual Cost Synergies Of Approximately $2.5 Billion; Transaction Expected To Be Substantially Accretive In Year One
PALO ALTO, CA and HOUSTON, TX, September 3, 2001
And E-machines and Gateway are the same company now also so look close at that new gateway you might can get the same unit re-branded for less.
eMachines and Gateway Support
Gateway announced on March 11, 2004, its successful acquisition of eMachines, one of the world's fastest-growing, most efficient PC makers. More details on the integration will begin emerging in the weeks and months ahead. You can stay informed about the integration at the News & Information section of the Gateway Web site.
And Gateway now was sold to ACER!
PC Maker Gateway Sold For $710 Million To Acer
Om Malik, Monday, August 27, 2007 at 8:10 AM PT
So check around to see who really makes your pc
I have built and worked on computers for years and I have been really impressed with the service from this company.
The newer units have nice cases and extra fans included and are very user friendly for upgrades unlike some of the beast from the past
Also they come with standard size power supplies (a big +) so you can get one off the shelf to replace it not some rinky dink supply that is a odd shape that will burn out in a year and you play havoc to find another that will fit at a decent price.
Look close though at the Hard Drive size, CPU type and Speed (GHZ) and RAM that comes installed a really cheap price comes with some sacrifices most times.
What ever you get look up the max RAM you can add and go for it Ram is cheap most ship with 500mb but Vista likes 1gig for basic and 2 + for more of the toys. (check newegg.com for the ram)
I got a Compaq unit fairly new (2.9ghz) that came from a police turn in sale the unit had been wiped clean nothing on it at all.
Now this is where the fun part usually starts looking up the unit trying to find the drivers for all the components and then get a legal copy of windows (and a legal copy of windows can cost as much as some new pc's).
So I go to the Compaq website and put in the model and serial and there are all the drivers I need, pretty sweet saves alot of time there then I see you can order the recovery cd's.
I punch in the serial number and its say they have them in stock and the price is ..... I expecting 40-50 bux easy but no! they say $16 with shipping included!
Out comes the Visa and the deal is done just have to wait 5-7 days, 2 days later I get a small package in the mail and to my surprise was 12 cds in there
That is alot for most recovery cd usually you get one with drivers and then you provide a windows cd, but much to my surprise the cd's contained a full version on windows xp professional and all the drivers and additional software like from the factory all for $16! That was the deal of the week!
So if you find a Hp/Compaq at a yard sale or a auction you might really be looking at a diamond in the rough.
When you buy one new you know you have a company out there that does provide some support in case something happens and you crash the system or you lose your disk you are not left high and dry like some places.
Be warned not all recovery cd's are the same some just have drivers but no windows operating system. Also recovery cd's generally will only work for the specific model of pc they were created for.
One a side note many people dont know HP and Compaq are now the same company
HEWLETT-PACKARD AND COMPAQ AGREE TO MERGE, CREATING $87 BILLION GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY LEADER
Will Offer Businesses And Consumers Most Complete Set Of Products And Services, With Commitment To Open Systems And Architectures
Will Have #1 Worldwide Positions In Servers, PCs and Hand-helds, and Imaging and Printing; Leading Positions In IT Services, Storage, Management Software
Companies Expect Annual Cost Synergies Of Approximately $2.5 Billion; Transaction Expected To Be Substantially Accretive In Year One
PALO ALTO, CA and HOUSTON, TX, September 3, 2001
And E-machines and Gateway are the same company now also so look close at that new gateway you might can get the same unit re-branded for less.
eMachines and Gateway Support
Gateway announced on March 11, 2004, its successful acquisition of eMachines, one of the world's fastest-growing, most efficient PC makers. More details on the integration will begin emerging in the weeks and months ahead. You can stay informed about the integration at the News & Information section of the Gateway Web site.
And Gateway now was sold to ACER!
PC Maker Gateway Sold For $710 Million To Acer
Om Malik, Monday, August 27, 2007 at 8:10 AM PT
So check around to see who really makes your pc
