Libra
Premium
join:2003-08-06
USA
| Would this be a decent computer?
Although I have stayed away from Vista I have to either purchase a new monitor for my 98se computer or purchase a new computer. Since I'm afraid 98se won't be supported after the end of the year for an Av I'm wondering if I should just get a new computer. I got advertisement from Dell in the mail for this computer and would like to know if it would be okay:
Price $499 after $210 savings)
Inspiron 530 Qty 1
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E7400 (3MB L2 Cache,2.80GHz,1066 FSB), Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Service Pack 1 Unit Price $719.00
Save $220 off this Dell Inspiron Desktop!
Limited Time Offer!
- $220.00
Catalog Number: 29 DDPCDS2
Module Description Show Details
Dell Inspiron 530 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E7400 (3MB L2 Cache,2.80GHz,1066 FSB)
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Service Pack 1
Memory 3GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 4 DIMMs
Keyboard and Mouse Bundles Dell Entry USB Keyboard and Laser Mouse
Monitor 19 inch SE198WFP Widescreen Digital Flat Panel Monitor
Video Cards Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100
Hard Drives 500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™
Floppy Drive and Media Reader Dell 19 in 1 Media Card Reader
Mouse Mouse included with Keyboard purchase
Network Interface Integrated 10/100 Ethernet
Modem No Modem Option
Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 9.0 Multi-Language
Optical Drive 16X DVD+/-RW Drive
Sound Cards Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Speakers No speakers (Speakers are required to hear audio from your system)
Office Productivity Software (Pre-Installed) Microsoft Works 9.0
Security Software No Security
Warranty & Service 1Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis
Datasafe Dell Online Backup 10GB for 1 year
Entertainment and Editing Software WildTangent Games
Dell Digital Entertainment No Entertainment software pre-installed
Labels Windows Vista™ Premium
DataSafe Online Backup Dell Remote Access, free basic service
TOTAL: $499.00
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I didn't add speakers because I have Polk speakers that I think I could use. Also, the only burning software they offer is Roxio 10 and I'm not sure about that. They also didn't offer any mp3 player - I currently have Musicmatch on both computers, but after seeing the software compatibility info for Vista it seems what ever I have (for XP) won't work.
If you want to make an ISO disk, can that be done with one optical drive?
I'd appreciate any thoughts.
Sincerely, Libra |
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Chrno
join:2003-12-11 | The price can't be beat. Comes with a LCD display and OS. |
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Gooiool
May God bless you.
Premium
join:2006-11-27
Roland, OK
clubs:
| reply to Libra
Video Cards Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100
As long as you don't wish to play Computer games ,Meaning games like bioshock , Left 4 Dead ,Cryostasis.
Games like WOW yes, or server games in Java yes.
--
Team DiscoveryJoin us help fight cancer.
Gooiool©2005 My Photo Site |
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Libra
Premium
join:2003-08-06
USA | reply to Libra
Thank you both very much. The price is what drew me to it.
I don't play those games, so that won't be a problem.
Sincerely, Libra |
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Chrno
join:2003-12-11
| reply to Libra
I didn't answer your other questions in my initial post but I will now... or try my best to...
If you just want to play mp3 files on your computer there's no need to "pay" for software to do that for you. There are lots of freeware programs out there that you can download for free (legal) that will let you enjoy mp3's on your PC:
»www.foobar2000.org/
»www.winamp.com/
Yes, you can make ISO files with a single optical drive. If your question was can you copy a DVD with a single optical, the answer is still yes. What your CD/DVD writing software will do is it will first use the optical drive to make a copy of the CD/DVD onto the hard drive and then make you insert a blank media to copy the image from the hard drive. |
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jouno53
Palin 2012
join:2006-03-04
United State | You could simply use windows media player which is built into Windows. |
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Kiwi
Premium
join:2003-05-26
USA | reply to Libra
So, end result is $500.00. It's a very good deal at that price point. Only thing I can't see is if the DVD is dual layer capable or not, but I'm sure the specs speak to that.
Good general light to light/moderate use system. |
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Smith6612
Premium
join:2008-02-01
united state
 ·Dish Network
 ·Verizon Online DSL
·FrontierNet Intern..
| reply to Libra
Pretty good computer you have there. Don't be afraid of Vista at all. It's quite good despite the nonsense that people spit out (at least from what I've heard for people who I've set up with Vista, as well as with my own experiences on my gaming rig). I see that it has one of those Intel Media Accelerator cards, so don't expect to be playing anything graphics demanding on the system such as 1080p video or games such as shooters without seeing some possible jumping/low framerates.
FYI: Windows Media Player which comes built-in with Vista will play MP3 files. Also, I've never had issues with compatibility on Vista. I've gotten old Windows 98 programs running on Vista without issues, and certainly anything made for Windows XP should run fine. It's the 16-bit applications that I can't run though since I'm in 64-bit Vista (need 64-bit anyways, as I have 4GB of RAM + 3GB of dedicated video memory + whatever else is in the system). But as said above, there is tons of open source and free software that can be downloaded and used.
--
It's all fun and games in a Team Fortress 2 battle until your sentry gun is sapped by the Spycrab! |
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Libra
Premium
join:2003-08-06
USA
| reply to Chrno
Hi Chrno,
I appreciate your explaining how one optical drive works (on both of my computers I've always had dual optical drives).
I was browsing the software forum for burners and saw imgburn, cdburnerxp, BurnAware, and infrarecorder. When I read the faqs for infrarecorder it said you need a recorder. I thought that was the recorder, so I'm quite confused about that. In any event are any of the burners I listed above good and easy to use? (I can order Roxio Creator 10 Premier Ultimate Burn/Authoring for $79 with this computer. I don't know if Roxio is good or not).
I notice a few people are recommending using Windows Media Player for my MP3s. Will it allow me to play my MP3s since I downloaded them but don't have a license for them? I think WMP has DRM in it.
Thank you.
Sincerely, Libra |
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Chrno
join:2003-12-11
| reply to Libra
Windows Media Player does support DRM. I believe the key here is that you should _backup_ your DRM license from whoever you are purchasing the music from and have the backup restored on the new system. Otherwise you will not be able to play these music files. |
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Libra
Premium
join:2003-08-06
USA | Thank you. I'll try one of the other MP3 players you suggested.
Sincerely, Libra |
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teccrr
join:2002-06-18
Apo, AE | reply to Libra
wow, 19" monitor and vista SP1?
Im wondering how they have 3gb of dual channel DDR2 4xdimms?
looks like a steal, is this refurbished or something? |
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Libra
Premium
join:2003-08-06
USA
| Hi,
This is a brand new computer. I received a booklet in the mail from Dell and they are having a 25th Anniversary Sale. The E Value Code is 6F976-DDPCD52. You would put that into the advertised sales category. It says offer good while supplies last.
I ordered mine yesterday. Believe it or not, it even has free shipping.
I appreciate everyone's help.
Sincerely, Libra |
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Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL | reply to Libra
look for a amd system as you can find better on board video and maybe even gig-e for about $500 |
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Libra
Premium
join:2003-08-06
USA | Hi Joe,
Thank you for your advice, however I already ordered the computer.
Sincerely, Libra |
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Kiwi
Premium
join:2003-05-26
USA | Let us know if it fits your need, kind of like the end result 
Cheers |
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Somnambul33t
L33t.
Premium
join:2002-12-05
Mullica Hill, NJ
clubs:
 ·Comcast
| reply to Libra
i did read the whole thread and i still can not believe uve been using win98 for this long. uve been seriously missing out on what computing really feels like. ftr, 98 has not been officially supported since roughly 2004 and no modern software is developed for 98 compatibility. slow adapter but welcome to the party of real computers! if you dont have newer printers/scanners/etc you may need replacements.
its worth it in every way though
--
Somnambulator - t3h 5133pw41k3r
The Stolen Eye TF2 Server
~Choosy moms choose Jif~ |
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Kiwi
Premium
join:2003-05-26
USA
·Comcast
·Aristotle Internet
| I still use '98 and WIN 3.11, depends on what I want, just throw another drive in, drives are ridiculously cheap now.
Got used to WIN 7 and like it, missed VISTA entirely along with ME. Linux is another fun thing. But, sure there are some nice things missed on an older OS. |
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Libra
Premium
join:2003-08-06
USA
| reply to Libra
I've been using Windows 98se and I'm fine with that. The only reason I ordered the Vista computer is because my monitor is going and I think the AV's won't be supporting it after the end of the year.
Hi Kiwi,
I will let you know what I think of the new computer. Since I'm totally unfamiliar with Vista I'm not looking forward to it, but I hope it all goes well.
Sincerely, Libra |
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Libra
Premium
join:2003-08-06
USA
| reply to Libra
Hi everyone,
I'm back to say that I like the new computer. Smith6612 told me not to be afraid of Vista. I was afraid, and he was right. 
I had to get new speakers - my old ones worked fine on my 98se computer, but not on Vista. I also got an HP Officejet 6500 printer. I've been using WMP for my mp3's because when I copied them into the computer, WMP associated itself with them, and it's worked out okay.
I had a difficult time putting my bookmarks into Seamonkey, but searching its forums I found instructions that worked. I've needed advice and gotten help here on various things.
Thank you everyone for helping me decide on this.
Sincerely, Libra |
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