This thread contains two subjects for the price of one.

One of my brothers alerted me to an online ad for a Dell Vostro computer for $399. I looked it over and liked what I saw, so I bought it via the Dell website. It arrived yesterday. The actual model is a "small business" Dell Vostro 200 Mini Tower. 1.80 GHz Pentium Dual-Core, Windows XP Home Edition, 2GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive but I chose to upgrade to 320 GB for an extra $70. It also came with a 19" flat panel monitor.

This will replace my eMachines computer which is showing its age (bought in April, 2002). I haven't owned my new one long enough to post an opinion but I noticed right away that it is very quiet. Makes only about 1/4 the noise of my eMachines. And it works fast, of course.

I was researching on this board a few days ago and it's been a while since there has been a "What computer do you own" question. So, for those interested in replying... what type of computer do you own? How much Hard Drive and RAM?

And what would it rate on a scale of 0-10? (0= Poor; 10= Excellent).
The rating for my former computer (eMachines), overall, 7; a preliminary rating for my new one (Dell), 9.

I hope to be able to get myself a Macbook by the end of this year. MAYBE. We'll see. I'm gonna have to sink about $1500 in it (the model I want is 1k, and I'd like to purchase an extended warranty for it and that is like an additional $300. Before taxes, of course).

Right now, I have a Dell desktop... I don't even remember what the model is anymore. I just know it's a Dell Dimension from November of 2003. And right now I'm on my 3rd monitor for this desktop. :mad: These things aren't cheap...

Anyway. Yeah. This computer still runs just fine, but I'm ready to upgrade. And this would be my first laptop ever.

Gateway Something Laptop. I recently upgraded it to 1GB RAM cuz the 256 that was in it was just ridiculously slow. It's been good to me, considering how many time it's hit the floor. :blush: Only thing is that the fan wore out and now I'm afraid to sit it flat on anything cuz I think it will wear out another fan, so I have it sitting up on a roll of masking tape. I'm probably paranoid, but the fan cost $160+.

PZelda,
Well, if you wait until the end of this year, the prices are more likely to drop somewhat.

I'm surprised about the monitor. Those usually don't have problems.

I have a Dell Dimension 2400 with a 19" flat-screen moniter, I've had it since 2004 and it's hardly given me any trouble.

PZelda,
Well, if you wait until the end of this year, the prices are more likely to drop somewhat.

I'm surprised about the monitor. Those usually don't have problems.
It probably has to do with the fact that my mom's cats destroyed the power cord to the first one. :lol: Then the second monitor just freaked out and killed itself one day when we had a guy come over to do some work on the roof. He had to turn the electricity on & off. He did this so many times without warning that it just fried the monitor.

I'm not getting a whole lot of refund money back, but it'll be an OK amount. Plus the rebate (hopefully). So that should give me a boost in getting there in regards to getting a Macbook before the end of the year. :)

I have a Dell Dimension 2400 with a 19" flat-screen moniter, I've had it since 2004 and it's hardly given me any trouble.
That is the monitor I have... 19" flat-screen.

And I'm glad to hear yours hasn't been trouble-prone.

I have a Dell w a 13'' flatop monitor. I think for my next computer, and God willing, my Dell will last for a while (got it in '04) I'll get an Apple laptop (at least I'm leaning that way)

I have a Macbook Pro.

But I'm currently using my mom's Dell Inspiron E1505 while I'm abroad.

I have an emachine and for what I use it for(nothing fancy) it's great!

i've got a toshiba laptop that i've had for about three years now. i've never had any problems with it or anything. but i would like a newer laptop mainly because this one is so big. i'd like to take my laptop to class next year for lectures, but it would be nice if it was smaller. so we'll see if i get one. i would LOVE a macbook but that is way out of my price range. lol.

I have a pink Sony VAIO laptop. I got it in Xmas 2006. It's been running trouble-free to this day.

Apple iMac.

I got a Compaq Presario last November, and so far, so good. I don't know about RAM or anything, but it's a fast little bugger. I will say though, that I liked Gateway better, but their support system is straight out of hell, so this will do just fine. Congrats on your new computer, Tony.

:typing:

Then the second monitor just freaked out and killed itself one day when we had a guy come over to do some work on the roof. He had to turn the electricity on & off. He did this so many times without warning that it just fried the monitor.
A roofer turned off your electricity? Are you sure he wasn't an electrician? :lol:

A roofer turned off your electricity? Are you sure he wasn't an electrician? :lol:
Yeah... I seem to remember him needing to do some other things too. Not just put down a new roof.

Either way, my monitor freaked out that day and fried itself. :(

Yeah... I seem to remember him needing to do some other things too. Not just put down a new roof.

Either way, my monitor freaked out that day and fried itself. :(
I know when my maintenance guy has had to turn off our electricity when he was installing something, my boyfriend would tell me, "Unplug all the appliances." I was like, "Huh?" He told me it was bad to have the electricity turned off and then have it turned on, something abt a surge. I don't know. :lol: He said it is bad for the appliances like the computer and the tv. I remember during a storm the electricity turned off, my boyfriend immediately unplugged the microwave, the tv and the computer.

I'm currently on my third desk top PC which is an Acer Aspire with 320GB. The previous 2 were an E-Machines and a Dell and I have to say I prefer the Acer over the others so far.

I don't know all the techical stuff, but the brand of mine is Dell.
(laptop and desktop)

I have a purple Dell Inspiron 1720, I just bought it last month and I love it :D

I have a Dell Laptop

I know when my maintenance guy has had to turn off our electricity when he was installing something, my boyfriend would tell me, "Unplug all the appliances." I was like, "Huh?" He told me it was bad to have the electricity turned off and then have it turned on, something abt a surge. I don't know. :lol: He said it is bad for the appliances like the computer and the tv. I remember during a storm the electricity turned off, my boyfriend immediately unplugged the microwave, the tv and the computer.
every single one of my computers is plugged into an uninterruptible power supply (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninterruptible_power_supply) - if the power goes out, I can finish what I am doing and shut it down, or the software that comes with it will save everything and shut it down automatically.

I also have one on each TV/cable box/dvd setup I have.

I know when my maintenance guy has had to turn off our electricity when he was installing something, my boyfriend would tell me, "Unplug all the appliances." I was like, "Huh?" He told me it was bad to have the electricity turned off and then have it turned on, something abt a surge. I don't know. :lol: He said it is bad for the appliances like the computer and the tv. I remember during a storm the electricity turned off, my boyfriend immediately unplugged the microwave, the tv and the computer.
Let's just say, because of what he did, you still have a working computer


Thats what my parents have said if the power goes out or something and the computer is on, its ruined and bye bye computer :(

I got a Compaq Presario last November, and so far, so good. I don't know about RAM or anything, but it's a fast little bugger. I will say though, that I liked Gateway better, but their support system is straight out of hell, so this will do just fine. Congrats on your new computer, Tony.

:typing:I have a Compaq also. I'd say it's six yrs old now, and trouble free
'knocks on wood" I just bought a HP laptop and so far so good.

every single one of my computers is plugged into an uninterruptible power supply (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninterruptible_power_supply) - if the power goes out, I can finish what I am doing and shut it down, or the software that comes with it will save everything and shut it down automatically.

I also have one on each TV/cable box/dvd setup I have.
I really should get one of those. The power out here went off suddenly 3 times in the last 3-4 months and I don't like it when the computer goes off without giving it time to shut down.

every single one of my computers is plugged into an uninterruptible power supply (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninterruptible_power_supply) - if the power goes out, I can finish what I am doing and shut it down, or the software that comes with it will save everything and shut it down automatically.

I also have one on each TV/cable box/dvd setup I have.
How much do those things cost? We have two computers and that sounds like a good idea. I mean, that is great for when the power is interrupted for something we have no control over.

I have a purple Dell Inspiron 1720, I just bought it last month and I love it :D

how cool! purple's my favorite color. lol. i was browsing the dell website lately, pondering about whether or not i should buy a new laptop. how much did yours cost, if you don't mind me asking?

I have a Dell that I bought back in 05.

how cool! purple's my favorite color. lol. i was browsing the dell website lately, pondering about whether or not i should buy a new laptop. how much did yours cost, if you don't mind me asking?


My laptop cost a little over $1,400. The reason for the cost is because I got a lot of extras added on, like Anti theft insurance, extended warranty, webcam, Microsoft Office a carrying bag and some other things

But my mom just bought a Dell laptop a few weeks ago and she only spent $520 something.

So it's all about what you get added on to your computer.

There is a website that will customize the color of your Macbook, but I think only rich people use it because it can cost upwards of $3000 to have a customized Macbook.

http://www.colorwarepc.com/products/customize.aspx?configid=1228 (under site maintanence at this posting; check back later)

You can even customize the apple on the laptop lid as well as the keyboard color. :D

My laptop cost a little over $1,400. The reason for the cost is because I got a lot of extras added on, like Anti theft insurance, extended warranty, webcam, Microsoft Office a carrying bag and some other things

But my mom just bought a Dell laptop a few weeks ago and she only spent $520 something.

So it's all about what you get added on to your computer.

oooh...i see. i remember my friend got a dell a couple of years ago & she said the same thing; it depends on what you get added to the laptop. thanks!

There is a website that will customize the color of your Macbook, but I think only rich people use it because it can cost upwards of $3000 to have a customized Macbook.

http://www.colorwarepc.com/products/customize.aspx?configid=1228 (under site maintanence at this posting; check back later)

You can even customize the apple on the laptop lid as well as the keyboard color. :D

i saw that online a couple of days ago. THAT was tight. expensive as heck, but pretty tight. lol.

i saw that online a couple of days ago. THAT was tight. expensive as heck, but pretty tight. lol.
I know, right?! If it were up to me, I'd have a purple Macbook with a hot pink keyboard and a hot pink apple. :D

I know, right?! If it were up to me, I'd have a purple Macbook with a hot pink keyboard and a hot pink apple. :D

:lol: that would be very cooool. your own color customized laptop. i would definitely get a purple one, if i could afford it.

Since laptops were mentioned, I must note that all of you people who need (or will need) to consider laptops in the future may want to check out the Asus EEE PC. It's a modern-day ultraportable 'subnotebook' that almost fits in your hand (reminiscent of the Windows CE palmtop systems of the late 90's) only it runs a full blown copy of Linux or Windows XP. The drawback is the tiny screen (800x400) & the limited hardware - it runs an underclocked Celeron M (which can easily be re'overclocked' back to the stock 900MHz - is it still overclocking when you are just moving it back to the default setting? ;p) to achieve maximum battery life. The tradeoff for the fact that they use last generation hardware is the fact that you can get one quite cheaply by 'laptop' standards - anywhere from 300 to 400 dollars.

You won't be doing any 3D gaming or CAD work on this system but they can be extremely useful in their own right - the portability is unbelievable.

http://eeepc.asus.com/us/index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASUS_Eee_PC

I have an iMac. I just bought it a month ago.

How much do those things cost? We have two computers and that sounds like a good idea. I mean, that is great for when the power is interrupted for something we have no control over.
depending on how big of a battery and what extra features it has, you can spend anywhere from about $40 to upwards of $200.

I have an iMac. I just bought it a month ago.

*Sniff*

I miss mine. I returned mine a week after I bought it for the $$ infusion.

I have an iMac. I just bought it a month ago.

I love my iMac!

Here is a photo of my new computer:

Here is a photo of my new computer:
That site looks a lot like SO

That site looks a lot like SO
Really? I guess it has a lot of similarities.

I'm using an IBM ThinkPad R51. Had it for a few years, it's not bad.

I'm using an IBM ThinkPad R51. Had it for a few years, it's not bad.
One of my car friends used to have an IBM. He used it mainly for business purposes (he is a CPA).