New Desktop for Christmas

Jamesdeer001

Dear Techie People

My sisters and I are all clubbing together to get my mum a new desktop for Christmas as her current one is dieing a long and painful death!

Between us, we can raise about £230. She already has a monitor, keyboard and mouse so this wouldn't be required. While she does have a desktop currently with windows XP on, I am unsure if she still has the installation CDs.

Therefore, I'm wondering if I can pick your collective brains to get the best desktop for that price! She doesn't play games or do any video editing. Her needs are mostly itunes, internet surfing and word processing.

It would be best if there was an OS installed as I am unsure whether she still has the XP installation CD (and I live nowhere near to be able to check!)

One of my sisters is at University though so would she be able to get windows 7 through software4students or would this not be possible because we potentially wouldn't be upgrading?

Thanks in advance for all your advice and suggestions

macman

Any new base unit you buy will normally come with W7 pre-installed and a valid licence key. You are at the bottom end of the budget, but absolutely any modern PC will do all the tasks you mention with ease.
Pointless buying a modern PC and then installing an obsolete OS on it.

SailorSam

There was a thread on here last week, someone posted you could get refurbished PCs for around £120 or even less if your Mum was on benefits. Someone will no doubt know some more details.

Jamesdeer001

Hi,

Thank you both for your responses. My mum is not on benefits so I don't think that will help!

Also I've seen this PC

http://www.ebuyer.com/251310-zoostorm-desktop-7873-1036

But it doesn't contain an OS but does seem to have a decent setup and reviews!

TakeThis

Jamesdeer001 wrote: »

Hi,

Thank you both for your responses. My mum is not on benefits so I don't think that will help!

Also I've seen this PC

http://www.superdry.com/womens/hoods/details/29686/orange-label-hood

But it doesn't contain an OS but does seem to have a decent setup and reviews!

Drinking at this time of the morning?! That is a 'hoodie', not a PC.

Jamesdeer001

Not anymore!

Many christmas searches going on at once!

Thanks for spotting obvious mistake!

TakeThis

macman wrote: »

Any new base unit you buy will normally come with W7 pre-installed and a valid licence key. You are at the bottom end of the budget, but absolutely any modern PC will do all the tasks you mention with ease.
Pointless buying a modern PC and then installing an obsolete OS on it.

Don't really agree with this.

One should stick to one's means. XP SP3 still has some life and you can dual Boot with Ubuntu.

So whilst I would agree that it is preferable to have Windows 7 preinstalled, I would not agree that a new PC is pointless without it.

Of course I would not suggest that someone double install their Upgrade disc...

Jamesdeer001

So would you suggest the desktop I suggested and then not double install the upgrade disc? All comes then within my budget of £240!

I've had a look through the dell outlet store which I know changes hourly but I think a decent one there is frustratingly just out of my price range. Shame there are not free delivery/discount codes as I think they'd be affordable then!

macman

XP Extended Support will end in April 2014. That's a little over 2 years away now.

gonzo127

not a big fan of the company but this is pretty damned good for the money

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/acer-aspire-m3910-2-refurbished-desktop-pc-11102614-pdt.html

yes its a refurb but with yoru limited budget you will get a whole lot more and a refurb like this should be in as close to 'new' condition as you can get

Jamesdeer001

Dear gonzo127

Thank you for that link, I like the look of it for that value. I have no problem with a refurb assuming the build is still there.

Do you or anyone have any experience with PC world Refurbs and whether they are a risk? I see it has a 12 month warranty which must be worth something!