Is this computer good for $299?

[NintendoTogepi]

My Mom will be needing a new computer.

For someone who mainly surfs the internet, has A LOT of family photos, likes to edit them with Picasa, and some other general stuff, would this be alright?:

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/2599/zgoodspecsji3.png

I know it says it's a Celeron, but is that bad when it is 2.2GHz?

[LaRoza]

What are the spec and model?

[tbroderick]

It should be fine.

[tbroderick]

What are the spec and model?

Looks like a Dell Inspiron 530.

[LaRoza]

Looks like a Dell Inspiron 530.

The image wasn't there when I saw the thread.

I noticed it says "Arch Linux". Are they selling computers with Arch or is this not from Dell directly?

If you don't know Arch (and don't plan on installing an OS you know), it may be not the best choice.

Specification wise, it looks fine, although I cringe at the Celeron.

[I-75]

Specs are pretty good, don't know about the Arch Linux though.


Micro Center sells a Power Spec desktop computer with Ubuntu for $199 after rebate.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0291873

[LeAstrale]

Looks fine to me :) but for your mom to use for those things i'd recommend an Asus EEE Box (yes a desktop version of EEE).
It doesn't require more than 20W of power and it runs Xubuntu with no issues so far.

That said i don't know if EEE Box is reasonable priced in your region. But at least take a look at it.

/LeAstrale

[eragon100]

Since when does dell sell arch linux??

Looks good to me, too :wink:

[kernelhaxor]

I would go with a different processor though it might be 2.2Ghz .. clock speed doesnt say much like dual core 1.5ghz beats Pentium 4 3.4GHz .. I mean to say upgrade in architecture more than makes up even if clock speed is low ..
so if the processor upgrade doesn't cost much , I wud take it

[JohnFH]

clock speed doesnt say much like dual core 1.5ghz beats Pentium 4 3.4GHz ..

No it does not! In fact 2.5Ghz single core machine can beat a 2GHz dual core machine for some tasks.

In the short time I've been on these forums I've noticed an awful lot of misinformation here. Come on people, please refute the crud.

[LaRoza]

No it does not! In fact 2.5Ghz single core machine can beat a 2GHz dual core machine for some tasks.

In the short time I've been on these forums I've noticed an awful lot of misinformation here. Come on people, please refute the crud.

And that isn't entirely accurate either. The Celeron has a small L2 cache and other differences, and that is what would make the difference, not its speed.

To fully get an analysis, you'd have to compare the individual processors.

[igknighted]

No it does not! In fact 2.5Ghz single core machine can beat a 2GHz dual core machine for some tasks.

In the short time I've been on these forums I've noticed an awful lot of misinformation here. Come on people, please refute the crud.

If the comparison was Pent D to Pent 4, then you would be right. But the core2 architecture alone makes up much of the clock speed difference. I would disable one of the cores on a c2d@1.8ghz and run it against my old p4@3.0ghz and I bet the c2d at lower clock speed would win. Even with one core. Architecture matters.

[Vince4Amy]

It's not too bad for the price. The value is in that hard drive and possibly the memory there.

[hessiess]

No it does not! In fact 2.5Ghz single core machine can beat a 2GHz dual core machine for some tasks.

In the short time I've been on these forums I've noticed an awful lot of misinformation here. Come on people, please refute the crud.

Depends if the application was written multi or single threaded.

[ryantriplett]

Take a look at the bundled software .... works for Arch huh?

[EV500B]

Looks fine to me :) but for your mom to use for those things i'd recommend an Asus EEE Box (yes a desktop version of EEE).
It doesn't require more than 20W of power and it runs Xubuntu with no issues so far.

That said i don't know if EEE Box is reasonable priced in your region. But at least take a look at it.

/LeAstrale

Try don't to forget that there's something like a virus or malware on some of them. So if he/she wanted, he/she would ask for one.

http://ubuntuforums.org/images/smilies/smiley-faces-75.gif
:lolflag:

[mips]

I do not like Celeron processors and will never buy a pc/laptop with one ever again.

[HotCupOfJava]

You might want to take a look at something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883118008&Tpk=everex

It is $100.00 cheaper, and has the correct OS already installed! (I'm not really saying another OS is incorrect, I'm just showing my bias).

It has a little less memory, and a smaller HD, but for your Mom's described purposes it should be good.

[elmer_42]

The only thing that really worries me about it is its slow CPU speed. I'm not too sure that it will really be strong enough to run Picasa.

And to echo what everybody else has said in this topic: Dell sells Arch?!

[Ub1476]

Arch and anti-virus software??

[OutOfReach]

Dell and Arch? Have I missed something here?

[mp3_freak_721]

And to echo what everybody else has said in this topic: Dell sells Arch?!

WHAT!? I thought it was Ubuntu!?

[NintendoTogepi]

Oh, I edited it with Arch Linux as a joke to show my mom (she's a Windows user).

Let me bring up the real version:

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/6461/zgoodrealmf5.png

(grrr....Vista)

So it sounds like the processor is no good? :(

Is it worth upgrading 60 dollars for a "Intel® Pentium® dual-core processor E2200 (1MB L2, 2.2GHz, 800 FS"?

[myusername]

yes. go with the processor upgrade. $60 dollars more isnt bad. and it will fly with linux

[NintendoTogepi]

yes. go with the processor upgrade. $60 dollars more isnt bad. and it will fly with linux

Meh, my Mom would be resistant to Linux...:(

[zmjjmz]

Meh, my Mom would be resistant to Linux...:(

I anticipate that it will be pretty slow with Vista...

[elmer_42]

Meh, my Mom would be resistant to Linux
Then pull a ninja and configure Ubuntu (or your preferred distro) to look exactly like Vista.

[blazercist]

I just sold a much more powerful lot of hardware on ebay for 100$ AMD-64 FX-51 2.2GHz 1 GB RAM 1 DVD-RW 1 CD-rom 1 ASUS A8N Deluxe Mobo a 350WATT PSU and ATI X800Pro 256MB. I should've sold it to you, 1 stick of ram and a case and you would be in business for less than 200$