Is THIS a good deal??

rizla01

This looked impressivge.

Will it replace an aging 'puter and will it do all of the things that most computers will do and is it worth the money?

Elonex ProSentia 2500 Media Centre

* Driven by the powerful Intel Pentium 4 630 Processor, the exclusive ProSentia 2500 is the ideal entry into Microsoft Media Center home computing. Supports TV with time shift recording, CD AND MP3 player, DVD player and recorder.
* The underlying technology of the ProSentia 2500 is an stable home PC which allows you to play the latest games and surf the internet. Media Centers really do make computers sociable.

* Features:
* Burn Films
* Show Photos
* Pause & Record TV
* Play Music
* Full Function Remote Control

* Specifications:
* Intel Pentium 4 630 Processor (3Ghz, 800 Mhz FSB, 2Mb L2 Cache)
* Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre Edition 2005
* 512 Mb DDR SDRAM PC3200 Memory 400Mhz (1 x 512)
* 200 Gb Serial-ATA 150Mbps 8MB Cache (7200 rpm)Hard Drive
* NVidia GeForce FX 5200 128Mb RAM Graphics Card
* DVD+/- R/RW Dual Layer Burner
* 7.1 Surrond Sound
* 802.11a/b/g Wireless Network
* Digital Freeview TV Tuner + Electronic Program Guide
* Wireless Multimedia Keyboard with joystick-mouse

* Monitor Not IncludedMID

Price:
£519.99 (excl. VAT)
£610.99 (incl. VAT)

tomstickland

Just looks like a computer to me with a Freeview box added. No monitor included. You can buy good PCs from Dell for about that or less.

Mark_LJ

It depends what you're after - Elonex make nice Media Centre PC's which are quite well regarded. If you're looking for a PC system that'll replace your DVD recorder and centralise a variety of functions its spot on. If you're only after a PC to use as a straightforward computer you would do better to look elsewhere. Mesh had a system for sale a few days ago that was as powerful, yet included a 19" TFT and the whole thing was only £499 .

rizla01

See what you mean Mark.

I am in no particular hurry to get a new system.

Doesn't this one (499.00) compare pretty much with the Dell offer of two weeks ago? Can't see a lot of diff but then again I don't know what i'm looking for.

Are there likely to be better than the Mesh one coming up soon or is this about as good as it's likely to get. I know you don't have a crystal ball but based on past experience?

Anyone else have an opionion?

rizla01

opi onion = opinion.:)

TheChillPill

If you just need a system to replace an aging system, then Dell would be a better place to look (or similar).

If you specifically want a media centre pc (and I think you'll only really get the benefit of that if you hand it in the lounge hooked up to your TV) - it's an excellent price and well worth the money.

If you're not going to put it in the lounge hooked up to a TV though, you won't benefit enough from it to justify going for that over a complete Dell system.

TheChillPill

Sorry - just realised that I basically said the same thing as Mark did.

rizla01

Hmmm. Dilemna.

I intend moving soon and would like latest technol;ogy in my lounge. Plasma Etc.
I don't have any Films on DVD but intend to replace video with DVD recorder/hard drive.

Problem is that I often want/need to escape up on to the 'puter whilst OH is watching Grease or Dirty Dancing Etc.or whatever comes on the box.

Would this be a sensible option? Hook up main system in lounge to Broadband and have another system connected via router to this system, in another room?

Would this have any drawbacks? Would the main system be able to do whatever while I am accessing the web from my system?

TheChillPill

Well, one option you could have is to use this system as your home computer, and use a media-centre extender (either a new xbox360 or I believe you can modify the regular xbox) in the lounge. That effectively gives you the full media centre capability in the lounge via the network, without having to buy 2 seperate systems.

I'll add a disclaimer to this that I haven't actually used a system in that way - but I do know a few people that do just that.

Mark_LJ

TheChillPill wrote:

Well, one option you could have is to use this system as your home computer, and use a media-centre extender (either a new xbox360 or I believe you can modify the regular xbox) in the lounge. That effectively gives you the full media centre capability in the lounge via the network, without having to buy 2 seperate systems.

I'll add a disclaimer to this that I haven't actually used a system in that way - but I do know a few people that do just that.

This way of doing things is probably the way I would do it - My kids are just getting to the gaming age and this gives you the best of both worlds, without having to get a PC that plays all the latest games and therefore costs the earth.

rizla01

Thanks for the advice.

problem is i could do with an update NOW and won't need lounge system for 12 - 18mths by which time this system will probably have been superceded by something much more up to date.

Still, you can always say that I suppose.

Other than this choice - which is reckoned to be the better buy.

Dell or an equivalent Mesh?

I seem to note that with their specials Dell seem to give better value.