Need help choosing a new computer...

[Buckeye_Sean]

...unfortunately it has to be a PC.

(I know I should mark this OT, but how else could I get anyone to open this thread?)


Need to replace my aging PC here at work - boss finally gave me the OK. (BTW - I do prepress/design for a small printshop.) It's an old IBM PIII 1.2ghz that is way past it's prime. Now, I only use this beast to run Publisher and to process Adobe files that were setup natively on the PC side. READ - it doesn't have to be a powerhouse type of system - think functional with a little zip. Budget will be in the $500-$700 range, don't need a monitor, keyboard, mouse etc. although I know most PC dealers dump this crap on you to jack up the price anyway. Again, this computer is only used about 10-20% during the day compared to my mac.

I don't know much about Windbloze boxes, and need some help recommending the best bang for the buck. Again, this will be primarily for these Apps. (Publisher, Acrobat, Indesign, Illustrator, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.) Just need enough "oomph" to get the files open, make a few adjustments and fire them off to the RIP.

Here are a breakdown of my requirements:

- Must run all Adobe CS apps "decently".

- Would prefer to have a separate video card vs. on-board video

- Must have at least a 1 year warranty

- Would prefer to have separate media for Windows XP, instead of just installed on the hard drive

I was looking at some of the current deals from Dell and came across these:
(Particularly the 5150 and the Optiplex 170L)

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products...rs_dt?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

Can anyone tell me if these would be sufficient, point me to any other deals out there, or perhaps define for me a little better what I "really" should be looking for?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

-TIA-

[dotman]

check fatwallet. If there's a dell deal, it will be there. Just stay clear of celeron and integrated video, and you should be fine.

dot.

[mikebw]

This might help you get a feel for what components to look for-
http://arstechnica.com/guides/buyer/syst...200601.ars

It sounds like you won't be putting it together yourself though.

I would imagine anything new from a vendor like Dell would be great in comparision to what you've got now. Steer away from the Celeron procesors though, they're really not that fast anymore.

Get at least 512MB RAM, bare minimum. 1GB would be much better.

You'll probably want to get a 100GB hard drive, or bigger, depending on how long you think you'll be stuck with this PC.

Don't be swayed by the 'free' DVD-ROM/CD-RW upgrade bull. Any decent computer has had that standard for YEARS.

[Buckeye_Sean]

Yeah, don't plan on building it - and the boss wants at least a 1-year warranty for peace of mind. I do want a P4 - I've read the Celeron's aren't great. I've got some misc. IDE drives around here a couple 80's 60's and I think a spare 120GB that I'm not using, so storage isn't a huge issue - as long as it will still take IDE drives. I also agree that I need about 1GB or ram, and could cheaply upgrade that beyond a stock 256 or 512 offering.

I guess the thing that ticks me off is that most of these places (esp. Dell) want to throw in a 17-19" LCD that I really don't need and would gladly give it up to save $100 or so.

Thanks so far, anyone else please chime in with your .02¢...

[samintx]

I posted some great prices on TOshibas at CC and Office Depot last week. check my posts. Also watch the sunday paper...prices coming down. Check TOshiba website, too.
I have 3 Toshibas...one that is ancient and love them all.

AND they have internal modems! ! ! ! !

[OWC Jamie]

No decent local computer guy that will build you what you want out of decent components?
And be there for potential problems down the road ?

I'd rather pay my guy a fifty bucks more than what I could buy it from Dell for, than have to call Dell/CC/BestBuy etc. for tech support, or any kind of support.
Course, my guy doesn't charge for stopping by or charge for lots of things anyone else does, so maybe I should count my blessings.