Here is info from an ad for a recycled computer shop.
Pentium3 650 Mhz, 128 MB, 10 gig, DVD, CD-RW, FDD $305
Pentium2 233 Mhz, 96 MB, 4 gig, CD, FDD $70
Laptop Pent2 300 Mhz, 128 MB, 6 gig, CD, FDD $285
19" CRT $75
It wouldn’t be difficult to get 3 desktop computers and a laptop for less than $1000. So you could have a server and 2 workstations and be able to work remotely. All This would have been more than $4000 3 years ago.
I have been in computers since 1978. I am not a newbie. I have an idea what the coumpters can do and what I know how to do with them. The only thing a 3 Ghz machine can do that my 500 Mhz can’t is play some high rez descendents of DOOM. If I need a bigger hard disk I can install it.
Computers are somwhat like buying stereos now but there is one big difference. I could buy a decent used stereo for $400 or I could buy a great new one for $3000. There is no way the used one will sound as good as the new one. But if I do that with computers there is almost nothing I can do, that I want to do with the $3000 computer that I can’t do with a $400 used one. Bragging rights are worth nothing, $2600 is significant. The limiting factor on computers these days is between the users ears.
Dal Timgar