Where to buy the simplest desktop in the world

[PrIsMaTiC]

I like powerful desktops, or at least powerful enough to do what I have
to do.

My dad needs a desktop to run 98SE with Word and Excel 97. That's it!!
I wish today was April 1st and this was a practical joke. Unfortunately,
this is not a joke.

Here is what he needs:

1. A small box with a 5 gig hard drive.
2. A floppy disk drive.
3. A motherboard with integrated (or not) sound and video. He needs
the sound so he can hear those one or two second wav files assigned
to program events.
4. Keyboard and simple mouse. He says double clicking is too difficult,
so he selects what he wants and hits the enter button.
5. At least a 17" CRT or LCD monitor.

The desktop he's using now is an old Gateway that has been upgraded
several times by me. I thought I was doing my dad a favor. The thing
is big, heavy, and completely useless to him. Please don't recommend
a laptop, he has one collecting dust in a closet. He hates them with
a passion!

Why did I leave a printer off the list? My dad has had three printers
over the last few years. He neglects them to death. (My sister or I
keep popping in ink cartridges when we visit because he says
changing the cartridge is too difficult.) When he want something
printed he goes to OfficeMax with a floppy disk and they print it for
him.

I guess the question I have is where can I find this little gem? If I spend
more than $400 I feel like I've been ripped off. At the same time, I don't
want to buy junk. Putting it together from components is ok, although
a prebuilt system would save me a lot of time.

128 megs of RAM is probably enough. He never uses the internet. When
I say never, I mean absolutely never! What about processor speed?
I guess anything over 400 Mhz would be adequate.

Everything is about power and speed these days. Its not that easy to find
the simplest desktop in the world.

[JPKNHTP]

-JPKNHTP

[rshayes]

Try looking in the Salvation Army and Goodwill thrift stores. They get a fair number of the older, small systems. Price would probably be about $100 or possibly less.

They also get the smaller monitors when people upgrade to larger sizes. A 17" CRT monitor is pretty cheap these days, even when new.

Sometimes the plain mice (no wireless or optical) show up in the 99 cent stores.

[PrIsMaTiC]

Thanks guys!

I've purchased a lot of used computer hardware for myself over the years.
I know exactly what I'm doing and if the hardware is junk I take the loss.

I don't think I could give my dad a used PC. I would worry for several
weeks after setting the thing up that it might crap out. My dad would be
miserable, and he would spread his misery around liberally!

Anyway, I'll check out the sites you suggested. With so much old, but
unused hardware out there I'm bound to find what I'm looking for.

[Chris Smith]

I build them all the time.

Their foot print is called "MICRO" and its very small, and it wont take much expansion.

Their out side print [size] is apx 12" X 12" X 4", give or take 1/2"?

It doesnt get much smaller while speed, type of mem, and HD etc., is not an issue.

You can place in the latest types of MBs [3g etc] , any HD size, all the mem you need up to 3 or 4 gigs, a floppy drive and a DVD/CD-RW or ****Operating system if they allow***. Newer ones like XP!

They come with built in USB, 10/100 lan, Audio, Video, etc., etc., etc.,

[Newz2000]

Dell has their B110 right now for $279. Another $29 for shipping. Go to officemax or tiger direct or compusa and you should be able to get a 17" lcd for a little over $100.

New. Warranty. More hardware than necessary. A license for XP (which you can make look like Win 98) in case he ever wants it. If he gets stuck and you can't help, he can talk to a nice dell rep in the Philippines for help.

Keep your eyes open and you may find a special offer for a Dell with a 17" lcd for $399 (I saw one recently).

[Chris Smith]

What you have to watch for with dell is the hidden charges. [timing is everything with dell]

At times you can get free or cheap shipping, at times they do have deals, and at other times a $300 dollar computer will cost you $200 more? The deal starts off sounding great until you reach the customize line where all the hidden charges may or may not pop out. My deal in the end for a friend made me custom build his computer cheaper and better in the end, so keep an eye on the specials, they aren’t soo special?

Also the Dell is a tower and its much bigger compared to the Micro which lays down.

And remember the basics...

Intel®® Celeron®® D Processor 325 (2.53 GHz, 533 FSB)
Genuine Windows®® XP Home Edition
256MB DDR SDRAM at 400MHz
80GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive
Single Drive: 48x CD-RW / DVD-ROM Combo Drive
No Monitor
Accessories
No speakers (Speakers are required to hear audio from your system)
Dell USB Keyboard and Dell 2-button Scroll Mouse
No Floppy Drive Included

[Timothy Rasch]

Hi, try Goodwill,or Vincent Depaul stores . The second store I found many computers for about $150 in good working condition that would suit your needs .Some thrift stores or yard sales might be a good thing to check out too. Tim Rasch [email protected]

[bodgy]

I think the easiest thing to do would be to trade in your father

Anyone who is technophobic'ish these days and picky to boot, does not deserve dutifull children.

Therefore I would declare 'Be off with you, you Luddite'ish person you!'. After all, why should you go around wearing out your synapses - you'll need them later in life.

Colin

[Timothy Rasch]

Hi again, I don't agree with Bodgy. Treat your Father with respect and incorrage Him to move up to a better computer . That is only if you can't find Him a cheep computer. I am positive there are hundreds or thousands thrown out every day .The library is another source for used computers when They upgrade about every couple of years.You can ask them when they have a computer sale. I made a mistake Vincent Depaul should be Saint Vincent Depaul . They seem to be mostly in Wisconsin , and Green Bay where I live. I could be wrong .
Tim Rasch [email protected]