is this a good computer...

the girlfriend is about to buy a computer for uni, and i've come across this...dell what are your thoughts. we'd be adding a floppy drive and am thinkin about adding one of these tv tuners as she has very little space in her uni room and wouldn't need to take her crappy tv then. what are your thoughts on these tv tuners, does it mean that she can effectively watch tv on her moniter as though its a tv? also, are they tv licence exempt?

the only other thing is that she needs word, excel, and powerpoint software which it will only include for another 235, which we don't wanna spend. can it be 'found' cheaply elsewhere?

also, does she need XP pro, or will home suffice?

(keep in mind we are on a budget)
Edited by: acf8181

 

they aint bad pcs but you can get cheaper you will need a tv licence for the pc because you are still gettin a picture but its a chance you get they cant see the tv card

im sure you could download office too

 

Just to let you know that the tv thing still has to be plugged into a ariel socket. Its not wireless or anything like that.
You probily know that but just incase

 

yeah, new that matt

you've got a tv tuner don't you? what they like? suitable as an alternative to a tv? and do they need a strong signal, as she may only have a reasonably good one at her uni?

 

if you get a tv tuner get a digital one. XP home is fine.


Dell PC's are usually good, but I have heard bad things about delivery times

 

is the tv tuner in the link not digital then?

 

i found this place very good for new computers..... just start off with the case and just add bits around it. E-pcs
As for Xp and Office, private me and i'll let you know of a place to get them cheap!
Edited by: danthevan

 

Well my computer came with a tv card built in as sony have there own one.
But before that i had a hauppage(sp?) one and that was brilliant!

 

Custom build baby.

Its the way ahead. As crafted by my own fair hands.

 

happauge are good tuners, do not get a digital one as if the signal isnt very good then instead of a crap picture- you just get no picture.

plus probably out of ur budget for a half decent one..............

as for the software- doesnt all that come on microsoft works suite- the new one which is only like 100 quid.

as for the actual pc- bit pricey!?!

 

If the tuner is at uni, most campuses give you an access point for digital.

Or at least they do here. With digital you will get loads of channels too.

Decent happauge one 63

Works suite is crap, especially if you are importing work.

 

Be careful with dell....They have messed be about loads...took them 9 months to give me 60 they promised back...and the reeboot disk that I have has an error on it....They go on about best aftersales...bull!!!! Mines is completely knacked atm! also they do have tech. support lines...but you get put through to a foreign person...that tests your patience!!!

Just get a decent one from PC world, or custom build!

As for office xp...copies are available all over...just ask around...if all else fails I could try and sort you out with one!

 

reason i was gonna go for a dell, was that my mates have bought dells and none have had problems.

my mother on the other hand has bought two now from pc world, and they have never worked right...and their aftersales is cr*p too.

so i reckon dell's the better solution.

 

Oooooooooo pc world.... ewww !
Have a look at that site i posted, you may be surprised!
Can buy complete systems, or part built.

 

I hate PC world, im a student and have to work part time for the dixons group.

From the people at PC word i meet i think the following

bunch of fools

 

NEVER EVER buy a celeron!!!

 

agreement here. built a few 2.4 celerons and under winstone at least, they get spanked by a 1.6 duron. GAY. and dont forget peeps that the duron aint even running at 1600. i HATE intel with a passion right now. gone soo downhill. AMD all the way for me

 

yeah, we're gonna go for the P4 option

 

i say buy a pc mag and look at al the companies in there.

there's alot of decent manufactures ypu've probably not heard of selling decent kit at the right price.


failing that, build your own, just so you get exactly what you want and no extra stuff you don't need to pay extra for.

keeping it cheap on the cpu front- the athlon xp 2.5 is an absolute bargain right now, and a very good performer......

 

yeah, but thats a lot of hassle, and could potentially go wrong as i know nothing about computers. i think the dell one is gonna be adequate for us, doesn't need to be ablte to control air traffic or anything!