New PC...

[feebal]

Hi my mum has my brother's old PC which is VERY old and basically knackered. She wants a new one but she only uses it to send emails, browse the internet and upload digital photos so nothing flash. There's not much of a budget on this, no more than �300. Can anyone recommend anything bearing in mind we know nothing about specs? Thanks in advance.

[stevie21]

Buy one from ebay or this one which comes with no monitor (but is otherwise a cracker of a PC for that price)
http://tinyurl.com/7438r

[Buenchico]

(Posted in 2 parts):

I've helped several people find basic computers and there's one firm which I can thoroughly recommend for a combination of quality, value and excellent customer service. That firm is AC Computer Warehouse. They supply both new and refurbished systems - the products which my friends and colleagues have purchased from them have always been from the refurbished range and these have always been of excellent quality. They're currently offering complete systems from �149 (+carriage):
http://www.accomputerwarehouse.com

Another firm worth taking a look at is Black Barn Computers: http://www.refurbishedcomputers.me.uk/

I'm sure other people will have their own suggestions, so here's a quick guide to specifications:

Processor speed: 500MHz is adequate for you mother's needs. You might get a slightly quicker response from faster processor speeds up to, say, 1.6GHz. Above this you'd probably notice little difference. (Really fast speeds are only needed for gaming and applications like video editing).

RAM: 128Mb is perfectly adequate. 256 Mb is slightly better. 512Mb is unnecessary for your needs.

Hard Disk: The 6.4Gb drive on the most basic model offered by AC Computer Warehouse would be considered very small by many users but is probably perfectly adequate for what your mother requires. 10Gb should certainly be sufficient.

CD/DVD drives: A basic CD drive is all you'll really need but a DVD drive can be handy for, say, loading free software from magazine disks. CD (or DVD) writers (or re-writers) aren't necessary although they do provide you with the opportunity of creating back-up copies of picture folders, etc.

[Buenchico]

(It looks like it might have to be 3 parts! I keep getting error messages from AB!)
2nd Part:

Video & Sound Cards: People who use their PC's for gaming, video-editing, etc, need special cards. For what you require, 'on-board' sound and video are perfectly adequate.

Modem: For dial-up internet, make sure that the PC has a 56k modem.

Ports: Just about every refurbished PC these days has several USB ports - but it's wrth checking this.

Monitor: 14" = absolute basic. 15" = minimum size in most offices. 17" = the biggest most people really need. 21" = nice but probably expensive & unnecessary. TFT screens look smart and save space but they often can't match the colour rendition of conventional (CRT) screens.

[Buenchico]

(3rd and, hopefully, final part. AB's software permitting!):

Operating System:
Windows 95: Ancient & doesn't support USB. Avoid.
Windows 98: Ditto.
Windows 98SE: Ancient but perfectly functional. Theoretically supports USB but some people have reported problems
Windows Me: I use it and love it. (Others loathe it!). Perfectly adequate for your needs.
Windows 2000: Also perfectly adequate for what you require.
Windows XP Home: Many ABers swear by Microsoft's latest offering. Plenty of others swear at it! Either way, it's obviously good enough for your needs.
Windows XP Pro: Offers nothing to the average user which
isn't included in the 'Home version. Otherwise the same comments apply.
Linux: Wonderful, but definitely not for novices!

Software: Remember that, unless otherwise specified, any computer you purchase won't have any software on it (other than the operating system and its associated programs). Everything your mother requires is available for free from the Internet. (e.g. Firefox as a better replacement for Internet Explorer, Open Office for any word processing, etc that your mother might want to do, Irfanview for picture viewing and manipulation, etc).

Hoping that at least some of my ramblings have been of use to you,

Chris

[jenstar]

Windows 98 does support USB. Either that or somehow my computer is telepathic...

[fo3nix]

If I were you, I'd forget all of the above and go for this:

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=u k&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&oc=D11115&rbc=D11115&am p;s=dhs&sbc=ukdhsrsdimen_1100_3

(Hopefully that link will still work). It does just what you want, and is capable of more. It's no super gaming PC, but will do more than what you want it to do. Comes with a 17" CRT monitor, not a flat panel one, but that is changable if you really want to. CRT may be fine for you though.

[fo3nix]

OK, so it didn't quite work. Change the following options on that page:

- 90 Day Collect and Return Service [Included in Price]
- 48X DVD/CDRW Combo Drive [add �23.51]
Dell Recommended
- Dell A215 speakers [add �11.75]
Dell Recommended
- Dell v92 Data/Fax modem [add �11.75]

and you end up with a great PC for �326

If you still want it down a bit further to �304, then take off the DVD/CDRW drive and put it back to a DVD-ROM drive. I'd still suggest the former though, you may want to make use of it at some point.