Gowd Dang it Matt,
I was going to say that!!

RoostKing...

 

Dude - Get the Dell

eRAPTOID,

I just purchased a new 8200 series desktop as well. Great computer, no problems thus far. I went for the 17" flat panel LCD monitor and love it. No glare, period. Here's something worth checking on. I work for a university and was able to purchase my computer cheaper because my job relates to education. Saved about $400.00. No extra hassle or special forms to fill out or anything. When you go to Dell's web page look for a tab that says something like "Education" (I'll look it up later and update) then build the computer you want through that section.

By the way, some of Dell's offers state they are valid only with online purchase, however I had a couple of questions and called Dell. Once I had my questions answered the lady ask if I wanted to go ahead and place the order for the computer. I told her I was going to order online so I would get the online purchase offers. She gladly took my order over the phone and gave me all of the online offers and prices as well. I felt a lot better about actually walking through the entire system rather than ordering it online anyway.

I've a had a couple of "home brew" machines and have been through the compatibility issues as well. Like someone else already stated, go with the complete system from a well known company. That way you have the tech support if you need it.

 

I just recently got the latest Dell Latitude laptop.

For now its really fast......0 to 100 instructions in 0.0001 ms
My raptor will soon be faster.

 

go with the dell. Great service, fast and reliable. I built mine on the internet and have never had a problem. make sure you get the Nortan Anti-virus package too. You can't go wrong !!!

 

Thanks to everyone for all the great feedback! There is only a million diff ways to go, and only one I can take. I'm thinking of building my own Dimension 2350....

And WV, you're right, I see that![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

Thx,
"TOID"

 

I used to have one and may never buy another. It was only a 66 mhz processor (dinosaur). I started having problems with it from the get go. Dell offered no support what-so-ever. I accused them of taking customer returns, re-conditioning them and selling them as new. They of course denied my claims. But low and behold, 6 months later, there was a class action suit against Dell for doing just that.

Go Figure.

 

Another benefit to building your own is that you don't have that proprietary equipment.

3 years from now you "could" have to buy a power supply from Dell b/c a standard one doesn't fit and pay three times as much for it.

Upgrades can be a hassle too. Not to mention a bios that you usually can't tweak.

You said that you could do it, so just do some research before you buy. I just built this machine to replace my dell for less than $1400

AMD XP 2600+ processor
Gigabyte GA-7VAXP Motherboard with onboard Raid controller
Antec Case
ATI Radeon 9500Pro Video with 128MB DDR memory
512 Corsair DDR PC3200 Ram
2 120GB Western Digital Hard Drives setup as a striped drive with the raid controller = smoking!
Logitech wireless keyboard/mouse combo

Build that at Dell and compare.

I recommend Dell to novice users b/c of their support and we use them here at the school where I am employed as a computer support specialist, but if you are a fairly skilled user, build your own. You still have a warranty on the parts.

 

Im a Computer Tech. for M-DCPS and have worked on many brands and types, and from a technical stand point there's no manufacture built computer currently that compares to a Dell (in $$$ ), there database of info on there computers that's web based gives you every specification, and download a tech needs. There support is competent, next day service if ordered before 3:30. I currently work on 250+ computers 80+ being dells.
My personall favorite is a home built computer for myself if you know what your doing and what to buy. But it can get expensive and not to mention software licenses.....if needed???

 

love the computer's,hate the commercials really bad DUDE!

 

I have a Dell Inspiron 8200 1.8GHz P-4M and I love it. It has wireless internet, wireless keyboard and mouse (Logitech), and a Altec 2100 2.1 stereo system... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]