Desktop - cheap but reliable for my children

Nick42_2

Hi

I am after a desktop for my children to use.

It won't be for gaming just:

internet
homework
itunes
photos

Ideally want it to be able to read camera cards, and to connect wirelessly to our broadband.

Already have monitor so just need desktop, keyboard and mouse.


Mesh have advised me to look at their Matrix 255-V. This can come with multi-card reader and wireless card for £363.98, delivered 3 year warrnty.

Is this good deal?

Am I better off finding cheaper make and adding card reader and wireless options by USB?

Thanks in advance.

KillerWatt

An extra £60 for a card reader and wireless card???

For £363, I'd want a monitor with that (VERY) basic bundle as well.

Nick42_2

the price on their web page doesn't include delivery - threw me! This was their quote but I need keyboard and mouse.

Matrix 255 - V System Base Price: £ 254.47
AMD Athlon™ II X2 250 Dual Core Processor AM3 (3GHz, 2MB Cache)
Microsoft® Windows® 7 Home Premium pre-installed
Mini-Tower uATX Chassis - Black
300W Desktop Power Supply
ASUS M2N68-AM SE2 Mainboard, AM2+ with integrated Graphics - MATX
2GB DDR2 800MHz Memory (1 x 2 GB)
500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive with 16MB Buffer
22x Dual Layer DVD Writer Super Format +R/-R/RW/RAM
256MB NVIDIA GeForce 7050PV GPU - Integrated Graphics (M2N68-AM)
Multi-Format Memory Card Reader -(52-in-1 Internal) [upg £ 8.51]
5.1 High Definition onboard sound card - 6 Channel Cinema sound
Free Microsoft® Office 2010 Starter Edition
Free Cyberlink Video Editing Suite - 7 titles (oem)
BullGuard Internet Security ver. 9 - 90 Day Trial - AntiVirus/Firewall/Backup/Spamfilter
Supports up to 10 USB 2.0 ports (6 ports at mid-board, 4 ports at back panel) -
Network Ready integrated 10/100 Ethernet
ASUS WL-138g V2 internal IEEE802.11b/g PCI adapter [upg £ 17.02]
Free 3 Years Gold Warranty - inc 3 Months Free Collect & Return

£ 280.00

Nick42_2

Delivery Charge: (8am - 6pm) - Mainland UK (O Service) Standard£ 21.26, Subtotal £ 301.26, VAT £ 52.72, Total £ 353.98

Nick42_2

now finding lots of built to spec companies - not sure if any are recommended???

Hi

Please could you offer some advice on a system for my requirements?

I am after a basic computer.

I have a monitor with included speakers already.

I would like a desk top, key board and mouse.

Its use will be:

mainly internet and email - ideally linked wireless to my existing router (54 mbps Netgear wireless ADSL modem router DG834g v3)

word / excel etc for 12 year olds homework

photos - uploading from camera and storing (no fancy editing) - so card reader reqd.

itunes.

The current computer I use is a laptop with the following spec which has been fine - windows xp, 1GB RAM, intel 1.66 cpu, 150 GB hard drive (used 77 GB in 5 years).

Not sure what system I want but really looking at keeping price down if possible.

Knarf44

How about this?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zoostorm-2-4ghz-Windows-Premium-7871-0031/dp/B002UXQN5G/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1283723454&sr=1-1

Nick42_2

looks pretty good, but I have never heard of Zoostorm?

I wonder if the mesh name/warranty is worth the extra odd £45?

THe mesh also comes with wireless and card reader for that price.

spakkker

Zoostorm well known- check out ebuyer.

Wireless and card reader- just bought w/less USB for £4.99 del. ebay (yes it works as well), card readers are in the pound shops nowadays- have been for years- only cost a few quid at most ,unless its for those rip-off sony cards.

Not worth a penny for a branded pc -it is more likely they will have skimped somewhere to save money and used components that have very limited upgrade options, even bios and operating system, so you have to buy a new pc sooner than otherwise. HP and Dell are the two biggest brands by far and are masters at the above practices.

Have you looked on ebay?

TwistedPsycho

Another company that are good with "custom" built computers is Novatech. I use them a lot for my components (partly because they are a 2 mile drive away in portsmouth) but I have never had a problem with them.

If you have any level of competency in computer building, then their motherboard bundles/barebones bundles offer a good way to get a litle spec flexibility; but they do offer complete units.

A bit of advice though, if your kids are young, they will one day want to start playing games, so try and steer cleer of the Atom processors as not always suitable.

Nick42_2

spakkker wrote: »

Zoostorm well known- check out ebuyer.

Wireless and card reader- just bought w/less USB for £4.99 del. ebay (yes it works as well), card readers are in the pound shops nowadays- have been for years- only cost a few quid at most ,unless its for those rip-off sony cards.

Not worth a penny for a branded pc -it is more likely they will have skimped somewhere to save money and used components that have very limited upgrade options, even bios and operating system, so you have to buy a new pc sooner than otherwise. HP and Dell are the two biggest brands by far and are masters at the above practices.

Have you looked on ebay?

no didn't think of ebay - was just bit wary.

spakkker

If you use paypal and a credit card there's extra protection. Also check out feedback comments. Make sure any pc comes with an operating system, windows etc. -unless you already have your own copy to install. Any dual-core will be ok for your needs ,the Atom ones are a bit wimpy as mentioned above