15 replies to this topic

[Mcdougle]

Now that I've sent back my 360 to be fixed, I'm was really bored and starting to wonder about computers... Ok, so it's my b-day soon, and I got a $600 dollar budget. What's the best computer on the market for that cheap. I've been looking at a lot of HP's. I want a computer that had Media center, and of course that free upgrade for Vista whenever it comes out. What are ya'lls suggestions...?

I miss my xbox...

[tommie gorman]

SO I guess you have already checked out the HP Pavilion Desktop PC (A1720N)
• Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
• 320GB hard drive
• LightScribe-enabled  • 1GB of DDR2 memory
• Burns DVDs and CDs
• Windows Vista Home Premium 

Circuit City hasit for Price after rebate:  $679.99
http://www.circuitci...roductDetail.do

OR

HP Pavilion Desktop with AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Processor 3800+ (a1700n)
Smarter Digital Entertainment; AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 dual-core processor 3800+; 1GB DDR2 memory; DL DVD±RW/CD-RW drive; LightScribe labeling; 250GB hard drive; Windows Vista Home Premium
Our Price: $564.99
http://www.bestbuy.c...1&type=category

Just a thought. 

[Mcdougle]

Thanks for your help. So will these pc's have windows media center as along w/ vista?
And what about other pc's? I don't like dell's at all. What do other companies got going? I'm on dial-up so it's insanely hard to be clicking all around the web...searching for a new computer.

[ninjageek]

You could always go with a barebones. Then add the other stuff later. You can build yourself a super nice setup. Myself or someone else may give a link if you can give a bit more info, Whats the computer gonna be used for, I mean are you a gammer, or Burn tons of music? Or do you just use the computer to surf the net and thats it?

You sure would learn allot. I sure did.

[dlewis23]

you could probably get a decent dell, or build one for that price.

[Swimmer]

sub $600 dell isnt going to be pretty lacking in the video hardware dept for running any type of media center apps...

HP is a good start... The other place you might want to check would be gateway..  They have a pretty decent model that is priced at $550?  That is without a monitor.. but still

[tommie gorman]

After looking a bit more, if you want it all you might need to add a bit to it for all of it.
HP Pavilion Media Center Desktop PC (A1740N)
HP   A1740N 
• Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
• 320GB hard drive
• LightScribe-enabled  • 2GB of DDR2 memory
• Burns DVDs and CDs
• Windows Vista Home Premium 
Price after rebate:  $849.99
http://www.circuitci...roductDetail.do

HP Pavilion Media Center TV PC (M7750N)
HP   M7750N 
• AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+
• 400GB hard drive
• TV tuner/recorder  • 2GB of DDR2 memory
• Burns DVDs and CDs
• Windows Vista Home Premium 
Price after rebate:  $899.99
http://www.circuitci...roductDetail.do

Checking bestbuy only made it worse, they wanted more. Starting at $900. So unless you can build it the way you want, or save some more bread, or lower the satndards a bit. Something will have to go. Sorry. Maybe someone can do better. WAIT, hold the phone.

Office DepotGateway® GT5224 Media Center Desktop Computer With Intel® Pentium® D Processor 915  w/ FREE Express Upgrade to Windows Vista

Intel Pentium D dual-core processor 915 operating at 2.8GHz
1.0GB of PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM (2 x 512MB), expandable up to 4.0GB
250GB 7200-rpm SATA II hard drive, with 8MB cache
DVD±RW drive with Double Layer capabilities (16x DVD±R max. write speed)
56K V.92 modem
7 USB 2.0 ports (2 in front, 4 in back, 1 in media card reader)
3 FireWire (IEEE 1394) ports (2 in front, 1 in back)
1 parallel port
1 serial port
9-in-1 memory card reader
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 graphics with up to 224MB of shared memory
8-channel (7.1) High Definition Audio, with 7 audio ports (2 in front, 5 in back) and 1 SPDIF digital audio port
Amplified stereo speakers (USB powered)
Premium multimedia keyboard
USB optical 2-button wheel mouse
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 with Rollup 2 comes installed. The GT5224 is also Windows Vista™ Premium ready.
The Gateway GT5224 is backed by the manufacturer's 1-year limited warranty on parts and labor.
$619.99
http://www.officedep...65489&An=browse

That should totally do it for you. 

[Mcdougle]

Dude, awesome.That gateway sounds great. Yea, I got a butt load of music. And downloaded TV clips. But I do want to do a little light gaming. No F.E.A.R. or Crysis. You know, nothing it can't handle. Just the casual bit. I'll just use my 360. But I was mainly concerned w/ media center being on Vista. What's the point of having a 360, which uses Media center to connect to PC's, but have all Vista, and no Media center. I trust HP. But I can't go higher on price. As for the gateway, it's practically the same as the HP, but has media center. Some friends of mine have the new HP slimline, 200gb hardrive media center pc. It's really nice, I just wanted a little bigger harddrive. B/C My current 250 gb is pushing it. So the 320gb would be a great addition. I don't care about the video input interface, or the extra hardrive bay. The upgrade of my current computer now, has that. I just want a big hd, w/ media center, and the new OS. All for around $600. Is it that hard....

Anyways, I'll take a look at the Gateway, and compare to the HP.
Thank's for all the help...

[Mcdougle]

The gateway is looking great. If i need more storage, I'll just buy a 80-100 gb portable drive. Then I won't have to worry about people constantly wantig me to burn cd's for them. I'll just take the drive to their house, and they can get it, and burn their own. Awesome. Go gateway, thanks!

[tommie gorman]

For that price and what you want, it was hard to find for me.

And knowing who it was being bought from and the decent brand. By the way, Gateway is a pretty decent brand and has been arouund quite a bit. It is the cadillac of over e-machines ( e-machines is what I have )

And you are welcome. 

[Mcdougle]

So it's the caddy, over the oldsmobile's....sweet. Yea, my friend who is really into computers, told me that that's really a good deal. (2nd opinion) Of course the HP has a bigger hd. But I really need to pick up a portable drive anyways. It's just annoying having to burn countless cd's. And double copying them onto my ipod is just too complicated. It's a waste of space. (Off subject*) I tried to use my ipod at school w/ realplayer, but I copied all the songs to the pc's hd. And now, when I deleted them, I accidently deleted most of them off my ipod. So...I now have to wait until I get back home to re-update it. But it was my fault. I can take care of that later. (back on subject*) But as for the computer it seems to be the exact same as the HP. Except for the bigger hard-drive. the 320 is nice, but I can get by w/ a 250, and just buy an add-on drive. Everything else seems identical. I now will have VISTA and MEDIA CENTER....face. 

[Mcdougle]

Hey, I found out that Vista has an integrated media center. So I'll bump up that price, and get the HP. Instead of the Gateway.
More harddrive for me....

[Mcdougle]

Do you think that's a good decision?
Honestly, which computer would you get if you were in my shoes? HP, or Gateway?

[tommie gorman]

Me, I would save the $200+ and buy some accessories. I know you want to. 

[Mcdougle]

Go barebones...then. I'd rather go HP. B/C I already have an HP.

[tommie gorman]

Quote

Go barebones...then. I'd rather go HP. B/C I already have an HP.

I meant the gateway was $200 cheaper, for accessories.

Hey, HP is good too.