Dell or eMachine? Which would you buy?

[aprilgail2]

I would go for the Dell..I ahve one and I bought one for my mom and for my daughter for Christmas and they are all great.
I didn't even realize they still made Macs...I thought those went the way of the Betamax!

 

[disneyworld!]

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore/

 

[supercarrie]

We have 2 Dell laptops in our family and are happy. If I had a lot of money I would have gone with something nicer, but they have been good values for my mom and me.

 

[Nancy]

I have both and I have to say I like both of them. We bought our e-machine the really cheap (450.00 for the whole system) It was one of those day after Thanksgiving bundle deals a few years ago. We have had no problems with it at all. I bought my Dell notebook and we liked it so much we bought a Dell desktop. I will never buy an HP product (Compaq Presario) it was the worst computer we ever bought, then Dh goes out and buys another and we have major issues with it. It is now only used for gaming, that's all it's good for!

 

[Dan Murphy]

GB, GREAT to see you stranger!!!

 

[browneyes]

I've never ever ever heard anything good about an eMachine. I'd recommend 1 of 2 computers, E. Either Dells or IBMs.

 

[Kitty 34]

I will never buy an HP product (Compaq Presario) it was the worst computer we ever bought, then Dh goes out and buys another and we have major issues with it. It is now only used for gaming, that's all it's good for!

My youngest DS has an HP and I have to totally agree with you!! Bad computer!!

 

[Kitty 34]

I've never ever ever heard anything good about an eMachine. I'd recommend 1 of 2 computers, E. Either Dells or IBMs.

Hi Shannon! How has my Southern friend been?

 

[GreatBiscuit]

GB, GREAT to see you stranger!!!

Hey Dan! Long time, no post! With 2 daughters now, (ages 3 & 1) I never have time to do anything more than email...but they're at grandma's this week!

 

[browneyes]

Hi Shannon! How has my Southern friend been?

Hi E. I've been overworked and dealing with all this glorious Georgia humidity. If you tell me Michigan is humidity free, I might move to your backyard.

 

[scoutsmom99]

Just wanted to say I love my Dell Before my dell I had an HP that konked out after 5 years last fall (this weekend though I think I might break it out and try to fix it!).

 

[N.Bailey]

Check out Alienware.com

Last year I bought a new Dell that ran around $2500 (got the 19" LCD monitor though) and Alienware will be the next computer I purchase. This Dell is okay (certainly not what I'd call low end), but it's been nothing great. I got the 8300 I think it is with several upgrades. I had an HP that I bought at Sam's Club right before purchasing this one, but took it back thinking the Dell would blow it away (it wasn't impressive either) but when I did get the Dell, it was on par with the HP. I honestly couldn't tell you one was better than the other.

I've heard MANY rave about the Alienware machines.

I had a Gateway before this one and honestly that was really a fantastic computer. It was pretty old by the time I replaced it and I see that quality has dropped a lot since that purchase.

I've never heard anything good about the Emachines from anyone that I know personally who's had one.

 

[chadfromdallas]

Check out Alienware.com

Last year I bought a new Dell that ran around $2500 (got the 19" LCD monitor though) and Alienware will be the next computer I purchase. This Dell is okay (certainly not what I'd call low end), but it's been nothing great. I got the 8300 I think it is with several upgrades. I had an HP that I bought at Sam's Club right before purchasing this one, but took it back thinking the Dell would blow it away (it wasn't impressive either) but when I did get the Dell, it was on par with the HP. I honestly couldn't tell you one was better than the other.

I've heard MANY rave about the Alienware machines.

I had a Gateway before this one and honestly that was really a fantastic computer. It was pretty old by the time I replaced it and I see that quality has dropped a lot since that purchase.

I've never heard anything good about the Emachines from anyone that I know personally who's had one.

Alienware is high end stuff

If you can afford it, that is the way I'd go. Well, I'd never go that route because I build mine, but they are excellent computers. You can then go AMD which is just mucho better in many aspects

 

[N.Bailey]

Alienware is high end stuff

If you can afford it, that is the way I'd go. Well, I'd never go that route because I build mine, but they are excellent computers. You can then go AMD which is just mucho better in many aspects

I've heard many people say the same thing you have here about the price of the Alienware computers. I never heard about them till about a month after getting my Dell, but I ran the numbers side by side against the Dell and the Alienware was no more expensive than what I paid. You have an excellent point though if someone is only wanting to spend $1200 though. I doubt you'd find anything in that price range.

Just for the record, I am going AMD next time around.

 

[chadfromdallas]

I've heard many people say the same thing you have here about the price of the Alienware computers. I never heard about them till about a month after getting my Dell, but I ran the numbers side by side against the Dell and the Alienware was no more expensive than what I paid. You have an excellent point though if someone is only wanting to spend $1200 though. I doubt you'd find anything in that price range.

Just for the record, I am going AMD next time around.

Well, that is because Dell's high end priced computers aren't worth what you pay. Plain and simple. Budget ones, good. Its like going to a Kia dealership for a sports car. With the Alienware, I'd go AMD dual core, at least a gig of memory, SLI 7800s, and about a terrabyte or so of storage

 

[icebrat001]

Dell is for you are searching for a cheap computer that in good for the price. If you are okay with apple, splurge a little and get an Imac. I've had my imac 3 years, no problems, I love it to death, i also have a compaq pc. Apple wins hands down!

 

[chadfromdallas]

Dell is for you are searching for a cheap computer that in good for the price. If you are okay with apple, splurge a little and get an Imac. I've had my imac 3 years, no problems, I love it to death, i also have a compaq pc. Apple wins hands down!

Bad time to buy an Apple. I would wait until the first released x86 system as they are moving off of the ppc hardware. In other words, you don't want to buy into outdated hardware Also, once its on x86, you will be able to install windows and dual boot as well.

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Bad time to buy an Apple. I would wait until the first released x86 system as they are moving off of the ppc hardware. In other words, you don't want to buy into outdated hardware Also, once its on x86, you will be able to install windows and dual boot as well.

This is a great point and it really depends on what you want to do with your machine. For me, the vast majoirty of programs I use at home have great Mac versions. (Microsoft Office, MS Internet Explorer, Yahoo Messenger, Windows Media Player, Quick Time, Adobe Photoshop, Final Cut.) Also, I like the built in software with OS X. (iLife) When I do have to run a Windows program, there is a great piece of software called Virtual PC for Mac that does a fantastic job. HOWEVER, if you plan on playing high-end games (many have a mac version) and have to use PC games, you will want a dual boot machine, as running the emulator over OSX can bog things down.

Also if you go PC, Chad is dead on with AMD recommendation. I just built a system for our church to use for projecting multi-media and used an AMD processor. It has performed like a dream and has no problems with the high end graphics, dual monitor output, text over video, etc. that we throw at it every week.

 

[RadioNate]

Also if you go PC, Chad is dead on with AMD recommendation. I just built a system for our church to use for projecting multi-media and used an AMD processor. It has performed like a dream and has no problems with the high end graphics, dual monitor output, text over video, etc. that we throw at it every week.

My eMachine runs on an AMD processor.

Just saying.

Actually I'm just having a little fun. If I were advanced gaming or using audio and video programs I'd go with something like alienware or move to mac but I've been happy with both of my cheap-o Dell and dirt cheap eMachine.

 

[Kitty 34]

You guys are so smart with all this computer knowledge!!! You lost me midway on page 2!!! It's like trying to read German!!! But I do appreciate the replies and I AM trying to translate!

I was looking in the $800 range.

I really just need a computer that I can turn on every morning, DIS; check my e-mail; DIS; play some rounds of Freecell; DIS and then turn off at night.

My sons have all the high teck stuff on their computers, like CD burners, the place you hook in the digital camera; etc.

The problem I have with my Dell is it's loading slow and won't show me any pics. Sometimes I can't even see the smilies!!! It's very frustrating. The boys tell me it's because the DIS (with all the pages) can slow a computer down.......can it???