Basic Computer - Recommendations?

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H

HarrY

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I need to assemble a couple of basic computers to replace some aging
ones. I would like to run Win98SE on these because that is the OS on
the old machines, the users are familiar with Win98, and I wouldn't
have to purchase a new OS.

The computers will be used as follows:
- email
- web browsing
- basic word processing (MS Works)
- light graphics
- playing music CDs
- one machine will connect to the 'net via a LAN
- other machine will connect to the 'net via a modem

I suspect a mobo which has onboard video, audio, and 10/100 LAN
hardware would help reduce costs. I'm assuming that 256MB RAM would be
adequate. What might be the best bang for the buck? Recommendations
for either a bare bones system or just a mobo and processor would be
most appreciated.

TIA,
Harry
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Harry" <harryvdb@bellsouth.net> wrote...
>
> The computers will be used as follows:
> - email
> - web browsing
> - basic word processing (MS Works)
> - light graphics
> - playing music CDs
> - one machine will connect to the 'net via a LAN
> - other machine will connect to the 'net via a modem
>
> What might be the best bang for the buck?

The cheapest you can find. You have no high-power demands, so cost is the ONLY
factor here!
 
B

BigJim

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Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

without a monitor you could probably be looking at something like a
athlon xp 2200, with onboard everything and 256 megs of ram for under 300
dollars.
no operating system and that should include a dvd cdrom player. shop around
"Harry" <harryvdb@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:uh5vr0huq5u49bclf27ocgiqp3r3e0i8s2@4ax.com...
>I need to assemble a couple of basic computers to replace some aging
> ones. I would like to run Win98SE on these because that is the OS on
> the old machines, the users are familiar with Win98, and I wouldn't
> have to purchase a new OS.
>
> The computers will be used as follows:
> - email
> - web browsing
> - basic word processing (MS Works)
> - light graphics
> - playing music CDs
> - one machine will connect to the 'net via a LAN
> - other machine will connect to the 'net via a modem
>
> I suspect a mobo which has onboard video, audio, and 10/100 LAN
> hardware would help reduce costs. I'm assuming that 256MB RAM would be
> adequate. What might be the best bang for the buck? Recommendations
> for either a bare bones system or just a mobo and processor would be
> most appreciated.
>
> TIA,
> Harry
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

John R Weiss wrote:
> Harry" <harryvdb@bellsouth.net> wrote...
>
>>The computers will be used as follows:
>>- email
>>- web browsing
>>- basic word processing (MS Works)
>>- light graphics
>>- playing music CDs
>>- one machine will connect to the 'net via a LAN
>>- other machine will connect to the 'net via a modem
>>
>>What might be the best bang for the buck?
>
>
> The cheapest you can find. You have no high-power demands, so cost is the ONLY
> factor here!
>
>
>
Pick a FREE, LiveCD distro, that runs from the CDrom, in RAM, and can
write and save files to a FAT32 partition on the small hardrive! My
favorite is Knoppix, but her are all 190 versions!
http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php

FREE advice, 24/7/365, from 672 Linux Users Groups (probably one nearby
you!) many host Installfests, http://lugww.counter.li.org

Computers under $198...
many, many, vendors of new, used, open box, refurbished, and etc.,
stuff! Comparison listings of sales, item by item!
http://www.pricewatch.com/

Used systems for $29.00 and up!
http://www.isellsurplus.com/

Check out the ratings of vendors at http://resellerratings.com
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Can one even BUY a computer loaded with Win98 any more? Even Dell has
stopped shipping with Win2K now, I believe.

I'd get their okay to get WinXP Home Edition machines and go with that.

-Pat

Harry wrote:
> I need to assemble a couple of basic computers to replace some aging
> ones. I would like to run Win98SE on these because that is the OS on
> the old machines, the users are familiar with Win98, and I wouldn't
> have to purchase a new OS.
>
> The computers will be used as follows:
> - email
> - web browsing
> - basic word processing (MS Works)
> - light graphics
> - playing music CDs
> - one machine will connect to the 'net via a LAN
> - other machine will connect to the 'net via a modem
>
> I suspect a mobo which has onboard video, audio, and 10/100 LAN
> hardware would help reduce costs. I'm assuming that 256MB RAM would be
> adequate. What might be the best bang for the buck? Recommendations
> for either a bare bones system or just a mobo and processor would be
> most appreciated.
>
> TIA,
> Harry
 
H

HarrY

Distinguished
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Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 15:35:20 -0500, Pat Coghlan <coghlan@sympatico.ca>
wrote:

>Can one even BUY a computer loaded with Win98 any more? Even Dell has
>stopped shipping with Win2K now, I believe.
>
>I'd get their okay to get WinXP Home Edition machines and go with that.
>
>-Pat
>
>Harry wrote:
>> I need to assemble a couple of basic computers to replace some aging
>> ones. I would like to run Win98SE on these because that is the OS on
>> the old machines, the users are familiar with Win98, and I wouldn't
>> have to purchase a new OS.
>>
>> The computers will be used as follows:
>> - email
>> - web browsing
>> - basic word processing (MS Works)
>> - light graphics
>> - playing music CDs
>> - one machine will connect to the 'net via a LAN
>> - other machine will connect to the 'net via a modem
>>
>> I suspect a mobo which has onboard video, audio, and 10/100 LAN
>> hardware would help reduce costs. I'm assuming that 256MB RAM would be
>> adequate. What might be the best bang for the buck? Recommendations
>> for either a bare bones system or just a mobo and processor would be
>> most appreciated.
>>
>> TIA,
>> Harry

One of the users is my father who is in his mid to late 70's. He has
had his present computer for 6 years and is reasonably comfortable
with his present OS. I have discovered no advantage that XP offers
him, so why would I subject him to something new? Besides, recycling
the "old" OS saves money.

Harry
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Harry:

> One of the users is my father who is in his mid to late 70's. He has
> had his present computer for 6 years and is reasonably comfortable
> with his present OS. I have discovered no advantage that XP offers
> him, so why would I subject him to something new? Besides, recycling
> the "old" OS saves money.

If he likes it and isn't very computer literate and wants to keep it then
that's what I would do; however XP offers many advantages over 98, not the
least of which is stability and security. Just something to think about.
--
Mac Cool
 
F

frank

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0
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Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

"Mac Cool" <Mac@2cool.com> wrote in message
news:Xns95C1DD557F9BAMacCool@24.25.9.43...
> Harry:
>
>> One of the users is my father who is in his mid to late 70's. He has
>> had his present computer for 6 years and is reasonably comfortable
>> with his present OS. I have discovered no advantage that XP offers
>> him, so why would I subject him to something new? Besides, recycling
>> the "old" OS saves money.
>
> If he likes it and isn't very computer literate and wants to keep it then
> that's what I would do; however XP offers many advantages over 98, not the
> least of which is stability and security. Just something to think about.

This is a given. with the stability and security of WXP. There is a choice
to use the Windows classic look. I have never had much success loading
W98SE on a newer machine. It can be done but there is too much tweaking
involved, then it is not very stable. When you look at the facts W95 a, b,
c,
W98 gold, SE all had to be purchased in a 4 year period. I bought a copy
of WXPH nearly 3 years ago and it is being upgraded and patched for free.
Longhorn is not expeced out for at least 2 more years. This is a plus side
to windows activation. My mother is 89, will be 90 in January and she has
went through the changes from W98 to XPH with no ramifications. Most
of our parents are just old, not stupid.
 
H

HarrY

Distinguished
Dec 31, 2007
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Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

On Fri, 17 Dec 2004 13:28:31 GMT, "Frank" <bbunny@bqik.net> wrote:

>
>"Mac Cool" <Mac@2cool.com> wrote in message
>news:Xns95C1DD557F9BAMacCool@24.25.9.43...
>> Harry:
>>
>>> One of the users is my father who is in his mid to late 70's. He has
>>> had his present computer for 6 years and is reasonably comfortable
>>> with his present OS. I have discovered no advantage that XP offers
>>> him, so why would I subject him to something new? Besides, recycling
>>> the "old" OS saves money.
>>
>> If he likes it and isn't very computer literate and wants to keep it then
>> that's what I would do; however XP offers many advantages over 98, not the
>> least of which is stability and security. Just something to think about.
>
>This is a given. with the stability and security of WXP. There is a choice
>to use the Windows classic look. I have never had much success loading
>W98SE on a newer machine. It can be done but there is too much tweaking
>involved, then it is not very stable. When you look at the facts W95 a, b,
>c,
>W98 gold, SE all had to be purchased in a 4 year period. I bought a copy
>of WXPH nearly 3 years ago and it is being upgraded and patched for free.
>Longhorn is not expeced out for at least 2 more years. This is a plus side
>to windows activation. My mother is 89, will be 90 in January and she has
>went through the changes from W98 to XPH with no ramifications. Most
>of our parents are just old, not stupid.
>

My father is far from stupid, but neither is he very computer
literate, and computers do tend to get him confused quite easily. He
enjoys booting up his computer every couple of days, reading his email
and doing a little web browsing. It gives him an escape from dealing
with my mother's complicated medical issues. For reasons that I won't
mention here, he doesn't need any additional complications in his life
right now, and a new OS would be a problem. If WinXPH can be made to
"feel" just like W98 that would be helpful for him.

In looking at the reviews of some mobos, I now see where a number of
people, like you, have had problems loading Win98SE on newer machines.
I'll have to do some more research about that. I have the patience to
do a lot of fiddling and tweaking, but my father needs as stable a
computer as possible. I'll see if I can find a newer mobo that works
well with Win98SE. If not, XP may be the way to go.

Thanks,
Harry
 
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