Is this a good computer?

[Guest]

Is this a good computer? Emachine T3302 Desktop AMD 3300, 1GB RAM ,160 GB
Hard drive capacity ,2 GHz Processor speed, Processor type AMD sempron. Just
wanted to upgrade my computer to something faster. I will be using it for
surfing the net and printing photos and that's about it. Adding a few
programs.

 

[Dave B]

Depends on your definition of "good"
Emachines doesn't have a reputation for quality.

 

[Guest]

Okay, what do you consider as good? I'm just looking for something basic and
I don't know what to buy. And my price range is under $400. Thanks.

 

[paulmd]

Is this a good computer? Emachine T3302 Desktop AMD 3300, 1GB RAM ,160 GB
Hard drive capacity ,2 GHz Processor speed, Processor type AMD sempron. Just
wanted to upgrade my computer to something faster. I will be using it for
surfing the net and printing photos and that's about it. Adding a few
programs.

The other specs are good, except the Emachine part. You might get away
with the emachine if you replace its power supply with a good quality
one. Otherwise, it'll be dead in a few (3) years.

Suggest going with another brand. Dell is OK, Hp has lousy support.
Small computer shops are generally OK, but you can get bit by them if
you're not careful.

 

[Guest]

I don't really like dell, is there anything else that is better?

 

[paulmd]

I don't really like dell, is there anything else that is better?

Your major ones are Dell, Hp/Compaq, and Emachines. Alienware is top
quality, but expensive. IBM was once king, but lately they suck in the
home PC market.

HPs work, but their support is a nightmare.

If you go to a small shop, you can specify your parts and brands (they
may have to order). And have someone to properly shake down if there's
trouble. This is your best option, but do your homework in advance.
Make sure you get a good power supply, and a good motherboard. The rest
of the components you can skimp on if you aren't a gamer.

 

[justme]

Is this a good computer? Emachine T3302 Desktop AMD 3300, 1GB RAM ,160 GB
Hard drive capacity ,2 GHz Processor speed, Processor type AMD sempron.
Just
wanted to upgrade my computer to something faster. I will be using it for
surfing the net and printing photos and that's about it. Adding a few
programs.

I would disagree with the other responses concerning Emachine. They have
come a long way in the last few years and I know at least a 1/2 doz owners
that are totally satisfied. In the arena of entry level computers, be it
HP, Compaq, Dell, etc there are no real winners or losers, they all use the
bare minimum to keep costs down. For what you want to use it for the machine
you mentioned will do just fine. Just take a look inside an Emachine and a
HP of like performance and you will find that the emachine is easily
upgraded with more memory or a 2nd hard drive, it has a removable drive tray
with the power and ide cable just sitting there. With a HP you'll be lucky
if you can find a place to put a 2nd drive and will probably have to take
the machine half apart to add memory. Stick with the emachine.

 

[JS]

Gateway is another vendor to consider, have owned them in the past but not
lately. Dell's quality is still acceptable but their tech. support has gone
down hill over the last few years. If you do buy from a major vendor then
make sure you get at least a two or three year warranty.

Jim

 

[paulmd]

I would disagree with the other responses concerning Emachine. They have
come a long way in the last few years and I know at least a 1/2 doz owners
that are totally satisfied. In the arena of entry level computers, be it
HP, Compaq, Dell, etc there are no real winners or losers, they all use the
bare minimum to keep costs down. For what you want to use it for the machine
you mentioned will do just fine. Just take a look inside an Emachine and a
HP of like performance and you will find that the emachine is easily
upgraded with more memory or a 2nd hard drive, it has a removable drive tray
with the power and ide cable just sitting there. With a HP you'll be lucky
if you can find a place to put a 2nd drive and will probably have to take
the machine half apart to add memory. Stick with the emachine.

I've seen lots of dead emachines come in with the exact same failure:
dead motherboard+ dead power supply. 1 month to three years out of
warrenty. The last 8 in a row.

 

[Guest]

which is better, dell or compaq?

The other specs are good, except the Emachine part. You might get away
with the emachine if you replace its power supply with a good quality
one. Otherwise, it'll be dead in a few (3) years.

Suggest going with another brand. Dell is OK, Hp has lousy support.
Small computer shops are generally OK, but you can get bit by them if
you're not careful.

 

[paulmd]

which is better, dell or compaq?

Dell. But there have been a few good compaq models. Hp recently bought
compaq, however. So compaq users have to put up with HP support....

 

[Guest]

I sugest buying a New model Dell. Don't buy the old models, they are very
loud. Alien ware is also another solution. Both can be custimized. Get
Aienware if you want a good comp for gaming, get Dell if u want a good
computer for simple tasks and little gaming. Hp is also good, bad support. DO
NOT GET EMACHINES, COMPAC, OR GATEWAY. Quality of those are not really good.

 

[Leythos]

Is this a good computer? Emachine T3302 Desktop AMD 3300, 1GB RAM ,160 GB
Hard drive capacity ,2 GHz Processor speed, Processor type AMD sempron. Just
wanted to upgrade my computer to something faster. I will be using it for
surfing the net and printing photos and that's about it. Adding a few
programs.

If you gave me an E-Machines computer I would sell it to someone I
didn't like. Friends don't let friends use e-machine computers.

 

[Guest]

what about acer? Is that computer pretty good?

 

[Guest]

also consider getting a mac, can also run windows with bootcamp. ACer I'd
say not as good quality as alien ware, but better than emachines

 

[Leythos]

also consider getting a mac, can also run windows with bootcamp. ACer I'd
say not as good quality as alien ware, but better than emachines

It would be best to define the exact computing needs, type of
applications, etc... Now go find a computer shop that can custom build
you a computer so that you get what you need without a load of crap or
custom parts. Yes, it will cost more than a brand named computer, but,
in most cases, you get a better computer.

 

[NoNoBadDog!]

The other specs are good, except the Emachine part. You might get away
with the emachine if you replace its power supply with a good quality
one. Otherwise, it'll be dead in a few (3) years.

Suggest going with another brand. Dell is OK, Hp has lousy support.
Small computer shops are generally OK, but you can get bit by them if
you're not careful.

\
Dell does not offer AMD processors, so going from the model posted to a Dell
will be a step backwards.

Bobby

 

[NoNoBadDog!]

what about acer? Is that computer pretty good?

Acer makes very good computers...at least as good as HP and Gateway. They
also offer a wide selection of AMD processors, which is another advantage
they have over Dell.

Bobby

 

[Richard Urban]

The part that everyone is missing is that the O/P likes the $400 price of
the e-Machine.

I don't know about others, but I would be hard pressed to build a machine of
comparable specs for anywhere near that price using off the shelf
components. Remember, the manufacturers buy components by the hundreds of
thousands and likely pay $20-25 for a motherboard and another $20 for a CPU.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Richard Urban]

I have had "many" people bring me a brand new e-machine computer still
sealed in the box. I spend a couple of hours cleaning it of the un-necessary
garbage and set it up for them, adding the necessary anti-spyware and
anti-virus programs. When I give it back to them it is set up to do
everything automatically, as long as they leave it running on Friday night.
That is when I have everything scheduled to run, starting at 1:00 am.

I have not had any more of these come back to me than Dell's, Compaq's, HP's
etc.

If the e-Machine will do what you want, go for it. You will likely want a
newer computer in 2-3 years anyway, no matter what brand you buy.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!