New PC Required

gizmoleeds

Yes, evalue is a voucher code. You enter it at the top of the https://www.dell.co.uk website when you first get htere and it takes you straight to the related offer.

Miroslav

smashed wrote:

For an example on a better spec.. that you could sell part of..
D11115a..
Intel® Celeron® D Processor 325 (2.53GHz, 533fsb, 256K cache)
Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition, SP2
512MB Dual Channel DDR400 (2x256MB)
Dell 15" Value Flat Panel (E153FP)
80GB (7,200rpm) Hard Drive
48X DVD/CDRW Combo Drive

£299 delivered from Dell.
If you sold the 15" flat screen.. for say £70...
it would cost £230..

If it comes with a monitor, for within my price range, I'd keep it. I have one of the white block ones (CRT?) so would just use the flat screen instead. The Monitor is just not a neccessity.

gizmoleeds

Miroslav wrote:

£50 sounds good, I take it, it installs easily for a PC novice?

Would upgrade the CD Rom to DVD R/W too - will they do that before shipping, or would I have to do it?

If it is OEM it would not include a manual, but should be relatively easy to use (just put it in the CD rom before starting up the computer then follow the instructions on screen.

You would probably have to install the DVD drive yourself, but if you take out the CD rom and put all the wires in the same places then it shouldn't be too hard to do.

gizmoleeds

gizmoleeds wrote:

Yes, evalue is a voucher code. You enter it at the top of the https://www.dell.co.uk website when you first get htere and it takes you straight to the related offer.

Oops - should've mentioned, click on "Home" first, then the option to "Shop with evalue code" appears near the top.

smashed

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/default.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs

Go there.. then click on "Shop by E-value code".. its near the top on the right side of the screen...
you then fill out the box that appears..
put in ANY in the left box.. and the code D11115a or D1111 in the right box..
this will take you to the PC in question.
It then gives you lots of options to change... you would want to downgrade the warranty to 90 day as it saves you £110 after VAT is added.

If you wanted to blow more of the £450 you could have a very good spec... but you need to remember WHY you want the PC.
There is little point buying more power than you need..
if you dont think you will ever need to seriously use the PC.. then the spec you stated is adequate for everday requirements.. and the rest could be better spent on another luxury.
If you spent £250 for instance.. you could buy yourself something else u want with the other £200.

Its very easy to go for a very good machine.. when you dont need 1

smashed

Beat me to it :P
Remember, dont upgrade things on Dell.. only downgrade,,
If you want a DVD writer for instance.. its always cheaper to buy 1 seperately.. then fit it yourself.. its actually very easy.
A 2minute job.

Miroslav

gizmoleeds wrote:

If it is OEM it would not include a manual, but should be relatively easy to use (just put it in the CD rom before starting up the computer then follow the instructions on screen.

You would probably have to install the DVD drive yourself, but if you take out the CD rom and put all the wires in the same places then it shouldn't be too hard to do.

It would have to be exceptionally easy

But, I do have that little extra to spend, so we're not close to the budget yet.

I need to look around, but I take it PC World, Dixons etc are a no no?

A friend got a PC last month from Comet for £350.....230GB HDD, 504MB Ram (I thought that an odd number) and 2.9ghz processor

Miroslav

smashed wrote:

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/default.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs

Go there.. then click on "Shop by E-value code".. its near the top on the right side of the screen...
you then fill out the box that appears..
put in ANY in the left box.. and the code D11115a or D1111 in the right box..
this will take you to the PC in question.
It then gives you lots of options to change... you would want to downgrade the warranty to 90 day as it saves you £110 after VAT is added.

If you wanted to blow more of the £450 you could have a very good spec... but you need to remember WHY you want the PC.
There is little point buying more power than you need..
if you dont think you will ever need to seriously use the PC.. then the spec you stated is adequate for everday requirements.. and the rest could be better spent on another luxury.
If you spent £250 for instance.. you could buy yourself something else u want with the other £200.

Its very easy to go for a very good machine.. when you dont need 1

Good points. No point having something I don't use. HDD space for downloaded music etc, processor speed for erm......speed and ram for memory. Just want good memory/speed, internet access, enough space to have decent storage.

I don't play major games or do major things, so simple, cheap, but worth it.

Miroslav

smashed wrote:

Beat me to it :P
Remember, dont upgrade things on Dell.. only downgrade,,
If you want a DVD writer for instance.. its always cheaper to buy 1 seperately.. then fit it yourself.. its actually very easy.
A 2minute job.

DVD RW not essential, CD RW will do

gizmoleeds

Miroslav wrote:

It would have to be exceptionally easy

For the Windows installation you would just have to read each screen and fill in any necessary boxes (eg. what is your time zone, what language settings do you want) then click buttons which say things like "next", "ok" and "default settings".

I would leave installing the DVD drive until after you have XP up and running. Then just get the CD rom out (unscrew it and it will slide out the front) and take the wires out of it and put them in the same slots in the DVD drive.

If you have any trouble doing that just switch the computer back on and come on MSE (it will work fine with the cover hanging off and a DVD drive hanging out the front - trust me) :rolleyes: :rotfl: