Dell v. Gateway

[sevenal]

The graphics listed on the DELL you priced out are lame and will not even play the newer games.If you watch Doc's online deals and steals forum here you can get this machine delivered for under $800.
Think along these lines


Dell Dimension 4550 Series
Pentium® 4 Processor at 2.0GHz w/ 512K L2 Cache

Qty: 1
SALE PRICE
Price: $997.00
[save $100.00]


Date: Monday, November 11, 2002 11:31:21 PM CDT
Catalog Number: 29 19
Dell Dimension 4550 Series: Pentium® 4 Processor at 2.0GHz w/ 512K L2 Cache DA4520H [221-1020]
Memory: SAVE $50! (savings included in price)512MB DDR SDRAM at 266MHz 512MP [461-7781]
Keyboard: Dell® Enhanced Multimedia Keyboard EMK [310-1696]
Monitors: No Monitor N [320-3000]
Video Cards: New 64MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce4™ Ti 4200 Graphics Card with TV Out and DVI 64T4200 [320-0461]
Hard Drive: 80GB Ultra ATA/100 7200 RPM Hard Drive 80 [340-2963]
Floppy Drive: 3.5 in Floppy Drive 3 [340-1927]
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional WPXP [313-7222] [412-0306] [420-3080]
Mouse: Dell® 2-button scroll mouse SM [310-1871]
Network Interface: Integrated Intel® PRO 10/100 Ethernet IN [430-0412]
Modem: 56K PCI Telephony Modem 56KWS [313-1583]
CD or DVD Drive: 48x Max CD-ROM Drive CD48 [313-2561]
Sound Card: Integrated Audio IS [313-0847]
Speakers: New Harman Kardon® HK-206 Speakers HK206 [313-0954]
Software Bundles: Microsoft® Works Suite 2002 with Money Standard WORKS [412-0133]
Virus Protection: Norton AntiVirus™ 2002, 90-day introductory offer NAV2002 [412-0259]
Digital Music: Dell Jukebox powered by MusicMatch MMBASE [412-0298]
Digital Photography: Dell Picture Studio, Image Expert Standard DPS [412-0271] [412-0273]
Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options: 1 Year Limited Warranty plus 1 Year At-Home Service S111OS [950-1260] [950-3337] [950-9797]
Internet Access Service: 6 Months of America Online Membership Included AOLDHS [412-0279] [412-0287]
Protect Your System: Belkin Surgemaster Gold Power BELGOLD [A0004763]
CD or DVD Burner for 2nd bay: 40x/10x/40x Max CD-RW Drive with Roxio's Easy CD Creator® 40CDRW2 [313-1131]
Special Offer: $100 Special Offer CP100 [460-9055]






Price
Sub-total: $997.00

<<<<<This is without a moniter>>>>>>>

[PSU2Fan]

My $.02
Once black Friday hits, both Dell and Gateway will have great deals (maybe better than we've seen) as their "Back-to-school" sales were very low.
IMO, the quality of both Manufacturers NOW is very comparable. Price out your system with both companies and pick the cheaper one,

That's my $.02.....
okay it was short, maybe only worth a penny... hmm...

PSU2Fan

[Dourden]

I never buy OEM systems always build your own you are better off in the long run however if you are dead set on going OEM thats fine but please for the love of all that is holy in the computer world don't get a Gateway they suck and the parts they use to build their systems are beyond junk. The video card you spec'ed out is very lacking I will agree with others there you need a better one especially if you are doing this for kids. Dell is by far the way you should go for a desktop, laptop on the other hand I prefer Toshiba but that is a different story.

[Sweet]

Thanks to each of you who replied!!!! Thanks!!!!

This is going to be interesting, this is the before Christmas stuff... A few months can make alot of difference.

I appreciate all of your input.... (BUT I think my son will appreciate it more!!)

a little c bill will be going out in the next few months, taking some time, looking at everything, trying not to be influenced by the holidays.......

excersising patience can be rough work out!!!!

Every word of advice here, is helpful.....

[sevenal]

Dude!

You could-da built your own?

good luck and remember the big kick off the holiday shopping sales starts Thanksgiving day and the day following, so be sure to check all your bookmarked retailers.

[howste]

I think the consensus above is all for Dell. Still I'll add my $.02. I used to work for an OEM supplier to both Dell and Gateway. Dell definitely has higher standards, and makes their suppliers jump through more qualification and compatibility testing hoops to get into their machines.

But I still build my own.