So yeah, everybody knows that I'm not exactly the most computer savvy person in the world. But lately I've been searching for a new computer. Well when I went to Best Buy I found a really nice Gateway PC that just came out about 3-4 weeks ago..the model is so new it aint even on their website yet. This is the specifications: 3.2 GHZ Pentium D Processor 940 with EM64T (Intel Viiv Technology) DL DVD+RW/CD-RW and DVD Rom Drives 500GB Hard Drive 2GB PC4200 DDR2 Memory Built in TV Tuner Windows XP Media Center 2005 Nvidia GeForce 6200 Graphics Card (Supports up to 256MB Video memory) 2x2 L Cache Memory It also comes with: Intel Virtualization Technology (i.e. the ability to have two different operating systems) 7 Total USB Ports Three firewire ports A wireless keyboard/USB optical two wheel mouse 2 Expansion Bays And it'll support Windows Vista. As for the monitor I want with it, it's a 21" LCD monitor that can support up to 1680x1050, that's high definition ready with 8 ms response time and which comes equipped with DVI-D and S Video input jacks. Also something that's cool about this is that the monitor can rotate vertically (which is primarily used for spreadsheets but is still awesome) . Its this: http://accessories.gateway.com/AccessoryStore/PC+Accessories_316441/Monitors_316684/LCD+_Q1_Flat+Panel_Q1_+Monitors_316694/20_D1_21+inch+LCD_381955/1535870_proddetail.htm?ref=merch Typically that monitor goes for 500, but through a sale gateway has I can get it for about half which means that the computer and monitor all together will cost me approx 1,500-1,600. The problem is that this discount ends on Saturday, after that it'll be higher. Now I have a little over 3 grand in the bank, and after this I'd have only about a thousand or so..so my question is..do you guys think it's worth it? Please reply and vote in the poll.
Sounds pretty good (I'm not too savvy, either, but the specs sound good). However, Gateway computers are really annoying, at least from my experience. Unless Gateway's changed it's ways, if your computer ever breaks down, the only way to fix it is to send it to them. Not only that, but they use parts that you can only get from Gateway, which limits the customization of your computer if you ever wanted to in the future. But if none of that really matters, the specs sound nice, but it depends on what you plan to do with it. I think if it's for casual use, it'll do nicely. Like I said, I'm not too savy and my experience could have been a rare one, but eh.
Buy it! It costs like a mac but the windows vista thingy id say would really help you go into lasting longer in any way you'd want it. the cons is pretty much the price (excluding insurance, if you buy or not >.<) id say go for it! it'll last long, even when vista is out * im guessing *
My biggest piss-off as far as buying factory-built computers goes. My recommendation would be to build it yourself. Once you have the parts, it only takes a few hours to put everything together and install the operating system. And there's a good chance you can maybe save some money too if you know where to look for parts. I built my machine with the following specs: *AMD Athlon 64 FX-57 processor (at the time, the fastest in AMD's stable) *512MB ATI Radeon X1900 graphics card (also at the time the fastest on the market) *2GB PC-3200 RAM (Corsair, plans are to add another 2GB soon) *2x500GB SATA-2 hard drives (because you never know how much bit torrent abuse you can handle). Two more drive bays are free. *19" Samsung LCD display *Two DVD-RW/R/CDRW/R/read drives - both LG. Black. *Cooler Master Centurion 532 case (also black). Total net worth: about 4 grand (as of Jan. 2006). Total paid: a smidge under 3,000.
It definitely has good specs. It is Gateway, which...ehh, I dunno. I have a bias against computers that aren't Macs, and that bias is even bigger when the non-Mac computers aren't built with my own two hands I will say this though, I had a Gateway, and 6 years later, it was still running until I decided to yank out the hard drive, throw it downstairs and forget it existed Their tech support was useless, but you'll get that anywhere. As far as the monitor goes...I have a 20" Dell widescreen, and I LOVE it. After using it, it's difficult to use my monitor at work which is a 17" standard ratio LCD, it seems so small Now, you could get a new Intel Mac that'll run XP for those rare times you need Windows, and when you don't NEED Windows (I never need it, not that my G5 could run it anyways), you can embrace the holy glory that is OS X They should be able to run Vista too, if you must.
So everyone basically agrees that I should get it, its just the price is iffy? And according to the best buy rep..gateway's are actually easier to customize than dell's. Dell's apparently have all this proprietary shit that keep you from customizing easily. And they cost about double the price of a gateway (same system with same specs costs 2,600 through dell apparently). Again..this is all from a Best Buy rep.
I'd get it custom, but the specs you have are pretty good for what your usage is. Although, I'd get an AMD instead, like Joe.
Yeah but its just like... Building custom will require me to spend even more. I want the 1337est PC evah, but i dont wanna become the poorest person evah as a result of it, if you get my drift. 1,600 is already pushing it.
3 things: #1: Never, ever believe anything a Best Buy salesperson says. Gateways are just as bad to upgrade as Dells. But, they'll take extra hard drives, CD/DVD drives, memory and probably videocard. It's things like the power suppy and mother board that are proprietary #2: Building is almost always cheaper than buying pre-built. Unless you get one of those crappy eMachines for like $200, but you get what you pay for. #3: iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac iMac
I have to say, that I just got a iMac and... I'm not diggin' it. edit: Stupid computer sent before I finished. As I was saying... I just got a Mac and it's good and all, but perhaps because I'm just used to PCs, it feels so different, lol. I'm not sure why people prefer Macs over PCs.
The first time I got a Mac, it took me awhile to get used to it. Once you realize you never have to worry about spyware or viruses, you'll see why people prefer Macs over PCs (among other reasons) Especially a Best Buy one. I can't recall a time when I've ever been told the truth by a Best Buy salesman
Yeah, I still remember the time a sales person told me you could use a hub to use USBs in place of firewires. At most, take what sales people have to say with a grain of salt. They basically have an obligation to be informative, but not truthful.
I feel sorry for the customers who don't know any better and fall victim to the retail salesman bullshit. Some of the salesmen lie to make a sale...others just don't know what the fuck they're talking about. Salesmen at stores like Best Buy will always be uneducated, because the people who know about technology go to college, get a degree in something and get a career where they'll never have to work a day in a retail setting.
Like Todd, I'd say give Apple a try since you have the cash, but if for some reason you really don't want a Mac, this looks to me to be pretty nice. If it wasn't for my love of Mac that has developed in the past month, I would maybe look into this.
As a salesperson at FutureShop, a division of Best Buy Canada, I can tell you some do say bullshit, but some actually know what they're talking about. So far, having worked on Gateways, eMachines, HPs and Compaqs (helping out the tech while my department, cameras and cell phones, is empty ), I'd say Gateway's latest computers are the best thing around in preconfigured PCs. Their top of the line models come with a PCI-e video card slot, spare DDR400 memory slots, S-ATA and ATA/133 hard drive connectors, free CD or DVD drive slot & connector, free PCI slots and a very decent cooling system. If ever the power supply fails, drop in a new Antec (or any high quality PSU for the matter) and it'll work. That's customizable to me. If ever you want to change the motherboard or the CPU though, you're gonna need a non-OEM version of Windows (not Gateway's CDs)... Which is the case for all preconfigured PCs. Even on a custom one, reinstalling Windows should be considered if you swap the m/b or the CPU. As for warranties/service plans/extended coverage/whatever, take into consideration your knowledge of computers or of someone who really is able to look into your problems without fucking things up more (believe me, many people say they do know how to fix "problem A" but shit ends up hitting the fan and they come to you crying cause they messed things up). A PC is unexpensive to repair... if you don't go to a computer shop! Hehe. If you know someone who's really good with computers, it's not worth it. It really is on a laptop though - why? All components of a laptop are "integrated" one into another, while a desktop is modular - replacing a motherboard costs around a hundred, but replacing a motherboard with onboard sound, video, LAN, Wi-Fi et al. that must fit a 1 inch thick case costs a shitload.
Avenger, you're full of bullshit. I mean, look at all of that non-sense you just wrote, it makes no sense! =p Oh, Derek. With all that left-over money, I wouldn't mind a Macbook Pro sent my way. =D
I'm thinking maybe I could finance it, like only pay so much a month. I figure: $100/Month = 16 Months $200/Month = 7-8 Months. While I'd still in theory, be losing just as much money..during the time of paying I'd still be saving up cash so it wouldn't be as drastic of a hit as say...1,600 all at once. Plus not to forget my parents run an antique business so any item i 'went in on' I get a cut out of the final sale price, so I could always put my cut towards paying for it..so my actual paychecks arent all that affected. EDIT: In essence since this is Dual Core and also has that 'double operating system technology' wouldn't I be able to run OSX on here? Or must a mac run a mac operating system?
As long as your processor has MMX and SSE2 instructions [don't ask] then you can run OSX. Ask me if you want any help, as I've done it. [it's currently on my computer.]