Thinking of UPGRADING... wouldn't "anything" be better?

I have an older machine. I have a DELL PIII 450MHz computer which
runs Win98se.... and aside from the slow dial-up connection I am more
than happy with it. I have a modest 13g HD and 128meg of RAM.

The reason I am thinking of upgrading is because I love to download
newer programs and very few of the newer programs are compaitable
with
WIN98.

Now.... I have about $400 or $500 for this purpose. I do not need a
newer monitor and am very pleased with my Sony Trinitron 17incher.
My
PC was purchased in 1998.

OK.... so here goes. Wouldn't just about "anything"" out there be
better than what I now have. I even see E-machines and lower end
Celerons that have way more "punch and power" than my old machine.

Again.. I am absolutely limited to the aforementioned $$$ range and
although I am looking for some bang for my buck... I don't want the
process to atke to long.

So... would I notice big difference in performance if I were to get
one of those E-machines with a celeron processor?

Thanks in advance

NJA

On Fri, 7 Dec 2007 23:00:48 -0800 (PST), wrote:

>So... would I notice big difference in performance if I were to get
>one of those E-machines with a celeron processor?

Please post a specific configuration that you are considering -- your
query is too general. If you are seriously considering an e-machine,
please post both the e-machine and the Dell model you are comparing it
to.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [private.php?do=newpm&u=]
> Posted At: Saturday, December 08, 2007 2:01 AM
> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> Conversation: Thinking of UPGRADING... wouldn't "anything" be better?
> Subject: Thinking of UPGRADING... wouldn't "anything" be better?
>
> I have an older machine. I have a DELL PIII 450MHz computer which
> runs Win98se.... and aside from the slow dial-up connection I am more
> than happy with it. I have a modest 13g HD and 128meg of RAM.
>
> The reason I am thinking of upgrading is because I love to download
> newer programs and very few of the newer programs are compaitable
> with
> WIN98.
>
> Now.... I have about $400 or $500 for this purpose. I do not need a
> newer monitor and am very pleased with my Sony Trinitron 17incher.
> My
> PC was purchased in 1998.
>
> OK.... so here goes. Wouldn't just about "anything"" out there be
> better than what I now have. I even see E-machines and lower end
> Celerons that have way more "punch and power" than my old machine.
>
> Again.. I am absolutely limited to the aforementioned $$$ range and
> although I am looking for some bang for my buck... I don't want the
> process to atke to long.
>
> So... would I notice big difference in performance if I were to get
> one of those E-machines with a celeron processor?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> NJA

Best bang for your buck is the Dell outlet. http://outlet.dell.com

Look at the E520 and the XPS 410. 410 is better, but E520 is excellent.
Right now there are some of each under $500. Core 2 Duo is better than
Pentium D, but both are good.

I'm particularly fond of the XPS 410. I have four.

Tom

anything would be better performing, but nothing is better than a reliable
system and the cheap off-brand systems are cheap and will more likely have
hardware failures than higher quality made units. but having said that, i
would suggest that you check out the link below to a $279 dell, add the $30
modem option and consider another $30 upgrade toa dvd recording drive. all
in $339 plus $30 shipping plus sales tax. so under $400. this is not the
best deal by any mean but one of the few systems that you can actually
purchase without a monitor from dell and with windows xp rather than windows
vista (that requires more performance and memory to work correctly). but
keep an eye out for deals on xpbargains.com. only regularly shopping will
let you know when something is a deal when you see it.
http://tinyurl.com/2pkdwp


<> wrote in message
news:76abc2dd-d2b8-457e-9c2e-...
>I have an older machine. I have a DELL PIII 450MHz computer which
> runs Win98se.... and aside from the slow dial-up connection I am more
> than happy with it. I have a modest 13g HD and 128meg of RAM.
>
> The reason I am thinking of upgrading is because I love to download
> newer programs and very few of the newer programs are compaitable
> with
> WIN98.
>
> Now.... I have about $400 or $500 for this purpose. I do not need a
> newer monitor and am very pleased with my Sony Trinitron 17incher.
> My
> PC was purchased in 1998.
>
> OK.... so here goes. Wouldn't just about "anything"" out there be
> better than what I now have. I even see E-machines and lower end
> Celerons that have way more "punch and power" than my old machine.
>
> Again.. I am absolutely limited to the aforementioned $$$ range and
> although I am looking for some bang for my buck... I don't want the
> process to atke to long.
>
> So... would I notice big difference in performance if I were to get
> one of those E-machines with a celeron processor?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> NJA

Tom Scales wrote:
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: [private.php?do=newpm&u=]
>> Posted At: Saturday, December 08, 2007 2:01 AM
>> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
>> Conversation: Thinking of UPGRADING... wouldn't "anything" be better?
>> Subject: Thinking of UPGRADING... wouldn't "anything" be better?
>>
>> I have an older machine. I have a DELL PIII 450MHz computer which
>> runs Win98se.... and aside from the slow dial-up connection I am more
>> than happy with it. I have a modest 13g HD and 128meg of RAM.
>>
>> The reason I am thinking of upgrading is because I love to download
>> newer programs and very few of the newer programs are compaitable
>> with
>> WIN98.
>>
>> Now.... I have about $400 or $500 for this purpose. I do not need a
>> newer monitor and am very pleased with my Sony Trinitron 17incher.
>> My
>> PC was purchased in 1998.
>>
>> OK.... so here goes. Wouldn't just about "anything"" out there be
>> better than what I now have. I even see E-machines and lower end
>> Celerons that have way more "punch and power" than my old machine.
>>
>> Again.. I am absolutely limited to the aforementioned $$$ range and
>> although I am looking for some bang for my buck... I don't want the
>> process to atke to long.
>>
>> So... would I notice big difference in performance if I were to get
>> one of those E-machines with a celeron processor?
>>
>> Thanks in advance
>>
>> NJA
>
> Best bang for your buck is the Dell outlet. http://outlet.dell.com
>
> Look at the E520 and the XPS 410. 410 is better, but E520 is excellent.
> Right now there are some of each under $500. Core 2 Duo is better than
> Pentium D, but both are good.

I'll 2nd that even though I have only one.

It's been a solid workhorse from the day it was delivered (and I bought
it from the Outlet).
>
> I'm particularly fond of the XPS 410. I have four.
>
> Tom
>

<> wrote in message
news:76abc2dd-d2b8-457e-9c2e-...
>I have an older machine. I have a DELL PIII 450MHz computer which
> runs Win98se.... and aside from the slow dial-up connection I am more
> than happy with it. I have a modest 13g HD and 128meg of RAM.
>
> The reason I am thinking of upgrading is because I love to download
> newer programs and very few of the newer programs are compaitable
> with
> WIN98.
>
> Now.... I have about $400 or $500 for this purpose. I do not need a
> newer monitor and am very pleased with my Sony Trinitron 17incher.
> My
> PC was purchased in 1998.
>
> OK.... so here goes. Wouldn't just about "anything"" out there be
> better than what I now have. I even see E-machines and lower end
> Celerons that have way more "punch and power" than my old machine.
>
> Again.. I am absolutely limited to the aforementioned $$$ range and
> although I am looking for some bang for my buck... I don't want the
> process to atke to long.
>
> So... would I notice big difference in performance if I were to get
> one of those E-machines with a celeron processor?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> NJA



Tom and Chris have given some good advice above. Since you appear to be in
the NE U.S., I wonder if our own Mr. Myers (Ben) might not have a pre-owned
upgrade machine that might not meet your needs as well.

If you buy new or from the outlet, please don't get either a Celeron or
Sempron processor. While it will be faster than what you have, it will
almost guarantee the need for earlier system upgrade years from now.


Stew

On Sat, 08 Dec 2007 04:12:49 -0500, Tony Harding <>
wrote:

>> Look at the E520 and the XPS 410. 410 is better, but E520 is excellent.
>> Right now there are some of each under $500. Core 2 Duo is better than
>> Pentium D, but both are good.
>
>I'll 2nd that even though I have only one.
>
>It's been a solid workhorse from the day it was delivered (and I bought
>it from the Outlet).

I love my XPS 410 too. It has 4 hard drives in it. Unfortunately,
they are 250GB drives. If I could do it over again I would have paid
the extra $ for the 500GB ones. Moving data around is a hassle.

Sounds like a DELL DIMENSION XPS-T450...

Wow... that has to be one of the oldest machines that is still
functional and able to connect to and browse the internet. There are
VERY FEW older machines than that Annie.... At least ones that are in
everyday use.

While I agree with most of the replies, I do believe that in spit of
you being on dial-up... I DO think you would notice somewhat of a
difference in your browsing experience.

You most likely have an older WinModem... and believe me, the newer
modems are much more efficient than that dinosaur. Add tothe the
added memory and overall functionality of a newer maching... again,
YOU WILL notice a browsing difference. Of couse, nothing like
broadband though.

Good Luck : - )

Dave

Well, anything will do, but only if it's reliable. From what I have seen,
eMachines are not all that reliable. I have a stack of nice eMachines cases in
the garage complete with XP Home sticker, and nothing respectable from emachines
to put in them. When the cheap Bestec power supply fails for whatever reason,
it invariably takes out the motherboard along with it. Forget eMachines.

I am less than excited about HPaq, because there are often maintainability
issues, and, oh, yes, HP Pavilion and Compaq Presarios use many of the same
parts as eMachines, and have done so for years.

What other name-brand does that leave? Not Sony, which is the pits for spares
and repairs should any be needed.

White-box computers are OK, as long as the system assembler uses good quality
parts and assembles and tests carefully.

I do refurbed Dells and occasional IBM/Lenovos for people within short driving
distance. I need to set up two of them for delivery to a client on Monday. With
UPS and USPS parcel post shipping costs ever rising, it hardly makes sense for
us small folks to ship a computer. The large volume shippers get big discounts,
but that is another story. Prices start at $250 for a Pentium 4 with a 2+GHz
CPU. My white-box offerings are black, and are in the $750 range with an XP Pro
sticker. I am WNW of Boston, about 30 miles out, just off I-495... Ben Myers

On Sat, 8 Dec 2007 10:40:07 -0600, "S.Lewis" <> wrote:

>
><> wrote in message
>news:76abc2dd-d2b8-457e-9c2e-...
>>I have an older machine. I have a DELL PIII 450MHz computer which
>> runs Win98se.... and aside from the slow dial-up connection I am more
>> than happy with it. I have a modest 13g HD and 128meg of RAM.
>>
>> The reason I am thinking of upgrading is because I love to download
>> newer programs and very few of the newer programs are compaitable
>> with
>> WIN98.
>>
>> Now.... I have about $400 or $500 for this purpose. I do not need a
>> newer monitor and am very pleased with my Sony Trinitron 17incher.
>> My
>> PC was purchased in 1998.
>>
>> OK.... so here goes. Wouldn't just about "anything"" out there be
>> better than what I now have. I even see E-machines and lower end
>> Celerons that have way more "punch and power" than my old machine.
>>
>> Again.. I am absolutely limited to the aforementioned $$$ range and
>> although I am looking for some bang for my buck... I don't want the
>> process to atke to long.
>>
>> So... would I notice big difference in performance if I were to get
>> one of those E-machines with a celeron processor?
>>
>> Thanks in advance
>>
>> NJA
>
>
>
>Tom and Chris have given some good advice above. Since you appear to be in
>the NE U.S., I wonder if our own Mr. Myers (Ben) might not have a pre-owned
>upgrade machine that might not meet your needs as well.
>
>If you buy new or from the outlet, please don't get either a Celeron or
>Sempron processor. While it will be faster than what you have, it will
>almost guarantee the need for earlier system upgrade years from now.
>
>
>Stew
>

"Ben Myers" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Well, anything will do, but only if it's reliable. From what I have
> seen,
> eMachines are not all that reliable. I have a stack of nice eMachines
> cases in
> the garage complete with XP Home sticker, and nothing respectable from
> emachines
> to put in them. When the cheap Bestec power supply fails for whatever
> reason,
> it invariably takes out the motherboard along with it. Forget eMachines.
>
> I am less than excited about HPaq, because there are often maintainability
> issues, and, oh, yes, HP Pavilion and Compaq Presarios use many of the
> same
> parts as eMachines, and have done so for years.
>
> What other name-brand does that leave? Not Sony, which is the pits for
> spares
> and repairs should any be needed.
>
> White-box computers are OK, as long as the system assembler uses good
> quality
> parts and assembles and tests carefully.
>
> I do refurbed Dells and occasional IBM/Lenovos for people within short
> driving
> distance. I need to set up two of them for delivery to a client on
> Monday. With
> UPS and USPS parcel post shipping costs ever rising, it hardly makes sense
> for
> us small folks to ship a computer. The large volume shippers get big
> discounts,
> but that is another story. Prices start at $250 for a Pentium 4 with a
> 2+GHz
> CPU. My white-box offerings are black, and are in the $750 range with an
> XP Pro
> sticker. I am WNW of Boston, about 30 miles out, just off I-495... Ben
> Myers
>


May not be practical for the OP, but was certainly a thought. The only box I
have here would be a P4 in the $300+shipping range, so it's not a candidate.

Thanks for responding.