### Author:  [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/1 "2000-03-16T01:58:00Z")
heh…errr umm sorry for the BBQ thread k?
Now please tell me if this computer is worth the money…
AMD K6-2 300 Processor with 3D Now!
TX Pro chipset, 512 pipeline burst cache
32MB PC 100 SDRAM
4.3GB Ultra ATA 33MB/s Hard Disk Drive
3.5 floppy disk drive ( duh)
PCI 4MB Shared 64bit SVGA Controller
36X EIDE CD\_ROM
15" .28MM SVGA color monitor
500W Multimedia Speakers
Sound 32 Wave Table 3D & PnP
104 Win 98 Keyboard and Mouse
Minitower case w/250W P/S
Rockwell 56K PCI V.90 MODEM
Windows 98 second edition
1 year parts and labor warranty
Setup and Delivered
TOTAL COST: $735.00
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Yours truly,
aha
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### Author:  [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/2 "2000-03-16T02:15:00Z")
aaaaah I see, now you want our advise?
Cuz I am the nice girl I am, the deal sounds pretty okay. I would not go with less than 64 MB of RAM though, specially if you use most Microsoft products. Even then, I think Win98 will be hogging up resources and you will really want to have that extra memory.
Provided you aren’t going to use any graphics programs, your video card is minimal.
For a basic user that surfs the net, sends email and does occasional word processing (no gamers should have this system) it’s okay.
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### Author:  [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/3 "2000-03-16T02:19:00Z")
yeth you is a nice girl techchick thanks 😛
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Yours truly,
aha
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### Author:  [@Lexicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lexicon)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/4 "2000-03-16T02:23:00Z")
## Yeah, iut probably is, but you’ll need a better video card if you want to do any serious gaming. And your hard drive could stand to be a lil bigger, but depending on what you want to do, it should be okay. For that price, I think you should get at least a 17" monitor, as 15 is really cheap nowadays. And you definitely need at least 64 meg of RAM. Oh, and since I am supposed to be stuck-up: ;)\ You moron! Anyone knows this stuff, I can’t believe you don’t know this. 😉
“Winners never quit and quitters never win, but those who never win and never quit are idiots.”
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### Author:  [@dragonfly98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonfly98)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/5 "2000-03-16T02:32:00Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Originally posted by techchick68:
> Even then, I think Win98 will be hogging up resources and you will really want to have that extra memory…Provided you aren’t going to use any graphics programs, your video card is minimal…For a basic user that surfs the net, sends email and does **occasional word processing (no gamers should have this system)** it’s okay.
[innocent query]Alright I’ll bite. I hope that this is not too direct, but what would be the minimum I would need to acquire if I wanted to use my pc for gaming?[/innocent query]
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“What’s right is only half of what’s wrong and
I want a short-haired girl who sometimes wears it twice as long.”
George Harrison - _Old Brown Shoe_
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/6 "2000-03-16T02:39:00Z")
For where I’m at you could do just a little bit better for that price. It’s not bad for the price range you stated. At least it’s not one of those stupid adds claiming that price, and then you find it’s a $400 dollar rebate on a $800 dollar contract with a ISP that’s not local.
Try [http://www.milwaukeepc.com](http://www.milwaukeepc.com)
They are the largest custom built cumputer dealer in Wisconsin. They do have a better deal. [http://www.milwaukeepc.com/home/desktops/value/netpack.asp](http://www.milwaukeepc.com/home/desktops/value/netpack.asp)
Note the video and sound card are built into the motherboard. I get parts from them when I need a thing other stores don’t have, and they won’t screw you over.
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### Author:  [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/7 "2000-03-16T03:06:00Z")
aha, sorry but that is a horrible price.
I’d spend a few minutes in Best Buy if I were you. On their website for a price range from $600-900 I can’t find a computer with anything close to as low of specs as you have found.
For that price you should get a **minimum** of a Celeron 466 Mhz processor (don’t get anything slower than that), a 17" monitor, 64MB RAM, a if you shop at the right time get a printer included, and I can’t find anything with a lower than 10GB hard drive. I’d definately shop alot more!
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### Author:  [@M2Lepton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/M2Lepton)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/8 "2000-03-16T03:08:00Z")
sounds ok, i’d save $500 bucks more and get something twice as good
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### Author:  [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/9 "2000-03-16T03:23:00Z")
Some examples, I’m making no opinion on brand choice, or shopping method.
[Compaq 1](http://www.directplus.compaq.com/systems.asp?ProductLineId=35&FamilyId=120)
[Compaq 2](http://www.directplus.compaq.com/systems.asp?ProductLineId=35&FamilyId=121)
I’d say this next one looks like a great deal.
[IBM limited offer]([http://commerce.www.ibm.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce/ExecMacro/generic.d2w/report?cntry=840&lang=en\_US&cgmenbr=1&cgrfnbr=2045480&pth=pr\_Aptiva\_limited\_time\_offer&nam=pr\_Aptiva\_limite](http://commerce.www.ibm.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce/ExecMacro/generic.d2w/report?cntry=840&lang=en_US&cgmenbr=1&cgrfnbr=2045480&pth=pr_Aptiva_limited_time_offer&nam=pr_Aptiva_limite) d\_time\_offer&cat=Aptiva)
Just a few better deals I found in a 10 minute web search, I’d visit some stores and look at all the flyers in the paper.
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### Author:  [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/10 "2000-03-16T03:29:00Z")
I can’t see why that damn link didn’t work…
Lets try again:
[IBM limited offer]([http://commerce.www.ibm.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce/ExecMacro/generic.d2w/report?cntry=840&lang=en\_US&cgmenbr=1&cgrfnbr=2045480&pth=pr\_Aptiva\_limited\_time\_offer&nam=pr\_Aptiva\_limite](http://commerce.www.ibm.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce/ExecMacro/generic.d2w/report?cntry=840&lang=en_US&cgmenbr=1&cgrfnbr=2045480&pth=pr_Aptiva_limited_time_offer&nam=pr_Aptiva_limite) d\_time\_offer&cat=Aptiva)
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### Author:  [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/11 "2000-03-16T03:30:00Z")
Thats annoying…errrrr
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### Author:  [@Dr.Watson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Watson)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/12 "2000-03-16T03:43:00Z")
It wasn’t me! I swear! I have an alibi this time!
Dr. Watson
“Not writing my memoirs.”
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### Author:  [@TheNerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheNerd)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/13 "2000-03-16T03:57:00Z")
Try this then:
[http://commerce.www.ibm.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce/ExecMacro/generic.d2w/report?cntry=840&lang=en\_US&cgmenbr=1&cgrfnbr=2045480&pth=pr\_Aptiva\_limited\_time\_offer&nam=pr\_Aptiva\_limite](http://commerce.www.ibm.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce/ExecMacro/generic.d2w/report?cntry=840&lang=en_US&cgmenbr=1&cgrfnbr=2045480&pth=pr_Aptiva_limited_time_offer&nam=pr_Aptiva_limite) d\_time\_offer&cat=Aptiva
and I agree that’s overpriced. shop around, especially at small local shops.
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### Author:  [@TheNerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheNerd)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/14 "2000-03-16T03:58:00Z")
well, crap. that’s the first time i’ve screwed up the URL code.
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### Author:  [@Lexicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lexicon)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/15 "2000-03-16T07:46:00Z")
Let’s try this:
[The link you meant to post]([http://commerce.www.ibm.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce/ExecMacro/generic.d2w/report?cntry=840&lang=en\_US&cgmenbr=1&cgrfnbr=2045480&pth=pr\_Aptiva\_limited\_time\_offer&nam=pr\_Aptiva\_limite](http://commerce.www.ibm.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce/ExecMacro/generic.d2w/report?cntry=840&lang=en_US&cgmenbr=1&cgrfnbr=2045480&pth=pr_Aptiva_limited_time_offer&nam=pr_Aptiva_limite) d\_time\_offer&cat=Aptiva)
Did it work?
* * *
“Winners never quit and quitters never win, but those who never win and never quit are idiots.”
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### Author:  [@Lexicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lexicon)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/16 "2000-03-16T07:48:00Z")
hmm. nope. What’s up with links, then?
Let’s try something simple:
[pics of me](http://communities.msn.com/lexicon)
Did this work? Or is the UBB hosed or something?
* * *
“Winners never quit and quitters never win, but those who never win and never quit are idiots.”
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### Author:  [@EnigmaOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnigmaOne)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/17 "2000-03-16T08:01:00Z")
I tend to agree with techchick.
8MB on the video as an absolute minimum, and go for 64 - 128MB on system memory. The modem is kind of sucky in that it has a Rockwell chipset–if you can, get a 3COM modem. As well you could use a roomier hard drive–10GB is decent for starters.
If you really get 500W multimedia speakers, then the price isn’t all that bad. Just don’t crank that sucker up in my neighborhood! 😃
* * *
– **Kalél**
[TheHungerSite.com](http://www.thehungersite.com)
“Well, there was that thing with the Cheese-Wiz…but I’m feeling **much** better now!” – John Astin, Night Court
“If ignorance is bliss, you must be orgasmic.”
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### Author:  [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/18 "2000-03-16T15:36:00Z")
You might want an ethernet card if there’s any chance of getting cable modem where you live, or if you’re going to be doing some home networking.
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### Author:  [@\_WAR\_Firesong\_TCA\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_WAR_Firesong_TCA_1)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/19 "2000-03-16T16:11:00Z")
I dunno if this is relevant, but if you are interested in hardcore gaming, then you probably want to build your own computer. If you are interested in gaming, but not interested in constructing your own, however, then you should get a Mach V. They are REAL expensive but they’re the best non-custom computers for gaming.(Although personally I think their prices are ridiculous).
* * *
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### Author:  [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2000, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-techies-a-formal-apology/14926/20 "2000-03-16T16:13:00Z")
Did you even try it out yet? You better cause one man’s monitor is another guys flickering monitor.
K2 chips are cheap. 450hz chips are about $45 now.
Doesn’t seem very fast, probably not even better than an Emachines 400hz. So, maybe $500.00
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