Skele, it's question time!

[Revolver]

Skele wele baby,

I'm thinking of buying something like this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zoostorm-Celero ... Promotions

Don't worry not for me, but for the rents. It needs to be new, cheap and capable of only the basics. My Dad watches a few vids (probably porn when we're all out) and has iTunes and a bunch of pictures to store and my mum does word processing and the usual "im a school teacher" bollocks. So obviously it doesn't need to be demanding in the slightest. They aren't technically capable either so they aren't going to be streaming to the tele or anything daft. You reckon something like this would do the job? Or do you know anything even cheaper?

I don't think they will need any form of graphics card will they? Or is it stupid to just run the basic graphics chips?

ooh the dell vostro's through business site look pretty outstanding at £200

Discount DetailsPrint SummaryComponents
English Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (32 BIT)
Intel® Core™2 Duo E7500 (2.93GHz, 1066MHz, 3MB)
Microsoft® Works 9.0 - English
Norton Internet Security™ 2009 - 15 Month Protection - English
Display Not Included
2048MB 800MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024)
320GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 16MB DataBurst™ cache
Integrated Intel® Graphic Media Accelerator X4500
16X DVD+/-RW Drive For Win7
UK/Irish (QWERTY) Dell Standard Quietkey USB Keyboard Black
Dell 2 Button USB Optical Mouse
Services & Software
1Yr Collect & Return Warranty - No Upgrade Selected
Accessories
Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio HD
No Speakers
No Floppy Drive
No Modem
Also Includes
Vostro 220 MT Standard Base Mini Tower Chassis
2 Meter Power Cord - UK
English - Documentation Vostro Desktop
D122203
1 Year Collect and Return
Vostro Desktop 220MT Order - UK
Resource DVD - (Diagnostics & Drivers)

Oh bugger thats not got VAT or shipping lol.

[skeletor]

The Dell is better than the Zoostorm (never even heard of them).

As long as the vids your dad is watching aren't HD then this should be OK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Acer-Aspire-R36 ... 144&sr=1-2

It is tiny and pretty much silent I think and uses more or less no energy compared to larger desktops. Problem is it runs Vista. You either want XP or 7 (although not starter edition).

At that sort of price range you probably won't be able to build it yourself cheaper as Windows 7 itself is £100.

[Revolver]

I heard that them atom processor thingies are a little bit shit? As long as its wifi though i'll probably get something like that.

[skeletor]

They are shit, but they are ok for word processing and browsing the net. They are really really shit when Vista is running though which is why it helps to have XP/7 or Ubuntu supposingly runs really well on them.

[Revolver]

IT Tech at work reckons summit like this

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/produ ... 1&ref=dthp

Bit more than what you said but nicer CPU and got internal Disk drive. I know its trivial but its probably a big thing to old folk lol.

[NItro{IRE}]

wouldnt touch a dell skell as you said their not computer knowedegeable so think about it how many months to they break one just buy a kit from map[lin chepa one build it and get cheap screen with christmas sale m sure you can get it done for les than 300 punds right/

[Revolver]

wouldnt touch a dell skell as you said their not computer knowedegeable so think about it how many months to they break one just buy a kit from map[lin chepa one build it and get cheap screen with christmas sale m sure you can get it done for les than 300 punds right/

They're cheap and do the job. They might not be "computer knowledgeable" but they sell to people who have no "computer knowledge". Inspiron 545 is £299. I think I'll get them that. Don't need a monitor they can make do with what they got.

The thing you seem to forget is that im buying this for my parents. They will want peace of mind that its from a reputable company that is well known. And i want to know i can give them the receipts and leave them with it, not get involved everytime there is a little problem.

Plus the Dimension 5150 thats has been running for the last 5/6 years has been a bloody good computer, so perhaps people shouldn't be so hasty to slag Dell off..... Only had 2 problems on it, one was the speaker power pack cracked (overheated, ooh)and they just sent a new one and cant remember what the other problem was. Now it's just dying.

[NItro{IRE}]

suppose so but im never geting anyone a dell i know computer knowedagable or not!

[skeletor]

With the Zino HD, I would recommend upgrading to Windows 7 Professional rather than Windows 7 Starter.

I would say upgrade the memory, but the amount they are charging for the upgrade is extortionate, perhaps go with the 2GB then maybe upgrade yourself later on (simply case of pushing stuff in to slots).

Everything else can stay at the minimum spec, although you can upgrade the hard drive but it probably isn't worth it.

Don't get McAffee, if you need security get AVG/Avast for free or buy Eset Smart Security/Kaspersky.

All that comes out at £309.01(unless you change the colour).

[sparksy]

but for the rents
bugger

My Dad bollocks
porn

OO ER