What shall we buy?

saintscouple

Hi,
Help required from all you techie minded guys.
We are enrolled in a tax-free purchase of computers through a work scheme - system is we have agreed to purchase pc equipment to the value of £1199 at PcWorld and have a monthly amount deducted from our salary.
But this is where we need your help -
We have decided on the PACKARD BELL IXTREME GOLD MC 1919 which is about £750 for the base unit, and have added a 19' widescreen monitor taking the total to £950.
Leaving £250 left to spend - if we don't spend this amount we still pay the same monthly amount.
So what do we buy???
We can only purchase products directly related to the pc i.e. modems, routers, printers, etc and not cameras, office furniture, mp3's, games systems.
We already have an all in printer which we don't use often - so don't need an upgrade on that.
We will have the old pc in the kids bedroom - so thinking perhaps a wireless network - we have bulldog connected to main pc through a usb modem at the moment.
Any ideas??

bighonestjohn

Just a few suggestions...

1. 2 wireless cards and a wireless router to connect to 2 PC's up.
2. you could always get another flat screen tft monitor for the other PC
3. a PC speaker surround sound system - Make it like a home cinema!
4. Stock up on printer cartridges for you printer
5. another cheaper laptop?

saintscouple

bighonestjohn wrote:

Just a few suggestions...

1. 2 wireless cards and a wireless router to connect to 2 PC's up.
2. you could always get another flat screen tft monitor for the other PC
3. a PC speaker surround sound system - Make it like a home cinema!
4. Stock up on printer cartridges for you printer
5. another cheaper laptop?

Many thanks for the suggestions -
1. sounds good - any recommendations which is best with modem included for bulldog?
2. already have one.
3. good idea - any suggestions which is best?
4. already have plenty.
5. i wish, but their cheapest is £400.

zappahey

This is a similar spec and a bit cheaper http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/506871

It would just about leave you enough for a laptop too.

saintscouple

zappahey wrote:

This is a similar spec and a bit cheaper http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/506871

It would just about leave you enough for a laptop too.

many thanks,
will have to take the OH instore to view this one - she likes the other one as it has the short-cut buttons for music, etc on the unit itself, also has a digital tv/radio tuner - but will certainly have a look at this

Joe_Bloggs

I hope the 'Tax Free' Scheme involved was not the Home Computer Initiative ,HCI. This was scrapped in the last budget on 6th April. There are no additional tax consequences to those who participated before that date. There is a pro HCI campaign site here.
J_B.

saintscouple

Joe_Bloggs wrote:

I hope the 'Tax Free' Scheme involved was not the Home Computer Initiative ,HCI. This was scrapped in the last budget on 6th April. There are no additional tax consequences to those who participated before that date. There is a pro HCI campaign site here.
J_B.

Hi, thanks for the info - it is this initiative we joined through work, and signed up before the deadline of 6th april - all confirmed on 30th March, and awaiting the computer voucher from our employer. As HMRC states -
"Following the Chancellor's budget announcement abolishing the tax exemption on the provision by employers of computer equipment for private use with effect from 6 April 2006, in response to a number of enquiries, HMRC confirm that anybody who has had a computer made available for private use before 6 April 2006 will not be affected by the change. If an employee entered into an HCI scheme arrangement with their employer before 6 April 2006, and under that arrangement the employer is committed to provide a computer to the employee, but for reasons beyond their control the employee cannot take physical possession of the computer until 6 April or later, HMRC accepts that the computer exemption will apply to the provision of that computer."

So we basically got in through the skin of our teeth.

bighonestjohn

saintscouple wrote:

Many thanks for the suggestions -
1. sounds good - any recommendations which is best with modem included for bulldog?
2. already have one.
3. good idea - any suggestions which is best?
4. already have plenty.
5. i wish, but their cheapest is £400.

For the router i would suggest buying the netgear bundle which gets you a usb adaptor to connect to your pc. Then all you need is one more to connect both pc's up. You should then just need your connection details such as username and password from from bulldog which gets entered into the router.

Router:
Netgear DG834G

Extra wireless USB adaptor.
Belkin F5D7050UK USB adaptor

I'd suggest the usb wireless adaptor rather than the card as its easier to install, but there is a internel card for the same price. It requires you to open up the case, but its just a matter of plugging it in. (Sorry not sure about your technical knowledge!)
Belkin F5D7000UK

I think that brings to the cost to about 80 pounds. That is a bit pricey for this stuff in my opinion.

As for the speakers, depending on what your computer supports which is likey to be either 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound. Check this with the PC you are getting.

But looking on the website, i could only find 5.1 speakers. As for which ones? I'm not sure but these look good!

Logitech 5.1 speakers

Good luck in your decisions!

albertross_2

Curry's are currently selling the Netgear router and usb dongle for £59.99. It says sold out on the website, but they have them in the shops.

NETGEAR DG834G
54MBPS WIRELESS ADSL ROUTER & 54MBPS USB ADAPTOR

I haven't looked on pcworld, but you could ask them to price match if it's any more (It's the same company after all..)

saintscouple

This is the router/modem that bulldog suggest to use, and they have the full instalation guide on the homepage - so will go for this. Thanks.

I already have a WifiMax 802.11g wlan compact usb adapter which i use for connecting a psp, so i'll have a go at using this as the extra usb adapter - if that doesn't work will go for the card.

I've never done the networking thing before - your help is much appreciated

moonrakerz

Am I missing something here ?

Even with the tax saving advantages of HCI, it does seem a little strange to go to PC World, when a similar spec system could be obtained from many other places at a much better price.
It also seems odd that to get the maximum benefit from this the purchaser is now scrabbling around trying to find something to spend £250 on because he is tied to a fixed spend !!
I thought this site was about "Money Saving".