Basic Computer - Recommendations?

[Harry]

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

 

[John R Weiss]

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!

 

[Mac Cool]

Harry:

Recommendations

http://arstechnica.com/guides/buyer/system-guide-200411.ars/2

 

[BigJIm]

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

 

[Matt]

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

Linux would be a free and legal possibility for the OS. I would
recommend you give it a try if you are so inclined. Fedora is one of
the best Linuxes.

 

[patrick]

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

 

[Pat Coghlan]

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]

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

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

 

[Mac Cool]

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.

 

[Al Smith]

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

My thinking on OS upgrades is, why wait until technology pushes
you off the cliff? Better to jump yourself, and that way you can
position yourself to avoid the rocks and land in the water.

I was perfectly happy with Windows 98, just like your father. Even
so, I upgraded to Windows XP. It caused me some minor problems.
For example, I will have to buy a new printer, because Hewlett
Packard refuses to write new drivers for its older printers under
XP, and the driver supplied by Microsoft sucks. Am I sorry I
upgraded? No, because there is *no way* to avoid it. Upgrading the
OS is just a question of when, it's not a question of if.

 

[Harry]

My thinking on OS upgrades is, why wait until technology pushes
you off the cliff? Better to jump yourself, and that way you can
position yourself to avoid the rocks and land in the water.

I was perfectly happy with Windows 98, just like your father. Even
so, I upgraded to Windows XP. It caused me some minor problems.
For example, I will have to buy a new printer, because Hewlett
Packard refuses to write new drivers for its older printers under
XP, and the driver supplied by Microsoft sucks. Am I sorry I
upgraded? No, because there is *no way* to avoid it. Upgrading the
OS is just a question of when, it's not a question of if.

I'm afraid I must disagree with this thinking _in these situations_.
My father lives off his social security check and needs to stretch
each dollar as far as it will go. If I assemble a new box with Win98SE
for him which lasts another six years, in light of his computer usage,
what won't he be able to do in six years that he can do now? And if,
in six years time (when he will be in his early 80's) and he needs a
new computer, and Win98SE won't work at all, we can decide which OS to
use then. I'm sure by that time XP will be obsolete and we'll have to
purchase the new OS, whatever that might be.

The other user needs a new computer which will last about 4 years
until she retires and goes full-time RVing. At that point she will
purchase a new laptop and so will need something entirely new. I think
that in her case she will also be well served by Win98SE. Neither user
is at a high security risk since I have them run Zone Alarm and AVG
(fully up-to-date) on their computers. From what I have read, I doubt
WinXP is more secure than Win98SE with the mentioned security
programs.

Harry

 

[Frank]

Harry:


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.

 

[Frank]

I'm afraid I must disagree with this thinking _in these situations_.
My father lives off his social security check and needs to stretch
each dollar as far as it will go. If I assemble a new box with Win98SE
for him which lasts another six years, in light of his computer usage,
what won't he be able to do in six years that he can do now? And if,
in six years time (when he will be in his early 80's) and he needs a
new computer, and Win98SE won't work at all, we can decide which OS to
use then. I'm sure by that time XP will be obsolete and we'll have to
purchase the new OS, whatever that might be.

The other user needs a new computer which will last about 4 years
until she retires and goes full-time RVing. At that point she will
purchase a new laptop and so will need something entirely new. I think
that in her case she will also be well served by Win98SE. Neither user
is at a high security risk since I have them run Zone Alarm and AVG
(fully up-to-date) on their computers. From what I have read, I doubt
WinXP is more secure than Win98SE with the mentioned security
programs.

Harry

In addition to what the above poster says (not a matter of if but when).
There is not a significant performance gain with W98xxx past a P3
slot 1 with 128 MB RAM.

 

[Harry]

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

 

[Harry]

In addition to what the above poster says (not a matter of if but when).
There is not a significant performance gain with W98xxx past a P3
slot 1 with 128 MB RAM.

I'm assuming that the 56k dialup modem connection to the 'net that my
father uses would be the bottle neck rather than an older and slower
mobo/CPU/RAM combo like you mentioned. Am I wrong?

The main priority for my father's computer is to provide him with the
lowest cost box that will accomplish what he needs, which is
occasional email and web browsing with a dialup connection.

Harry