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Subject: Tremendous Deal on a DELL Computer!!!!
Posted by: MadDOG
- [41143108] Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 13:12
I just ordered this computer for my mother. I think it is an outstanding system for a really good price. Anybody see anything wrong with it? If you're interested, go to Dell's website (Dell.com) and type in this E-Value Code 02018-D51219H, you can customize it the way you want.
Order detail - order placed 2004-12-15 10:05:29
Dimension 8400
Pentium® 4 Processor 540 with HT Technology (3.20GHz, 800 FSB), Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition Qty: 1
Unit Price: $2,274.00
Dimension 8400 Pentium® 4 Processor 540 with HT Technology (3.20GHz, 800 FSB)
D51219H
[463-6113]
Memory 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz (2x512M)
1GB5
[311-3978]
Keyboard Dell Wireless Keyboard and Optical Mouse
WIREKM
[310-4164]
Monitor SAVE $150! 17 in 1704FPT Ultrasharp™ Digital Flat Panel
1704FPP
[463-3160]
Video Card 256MB PCI Express™ x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI Radeon™ X800 XT
X800XT
[320-3936]
Hard Drive 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)
250S
[341-1058]
Floppy Drive and Additional Storage Devices 3.5 in Floppy Drive
FD
[340-8628]
Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
WHXP
[412-0409]
[412-0688]
[463-2282]
[420-4834]
[420-4927]
Mouse Mouse included in Dell Wireless Package
N
[310-1966]
Network Interface Integrated Gigabit Ethernet
IN
[430-0742]
Modem 56K PCI Data/Fax Modem
DFAX
[313-2279]
Document Management Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0
AAREAD
[412-0705]
CD ROM/DVD ROM Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 16x DVD+/-RW w/dbl layer write capability
DV16DVR
[313-3008]
[420-4919]
Sound Card Sound Blaster Audigy™2 ZS (D) Card w/Dolby 5.1, and IEEE 1394
SBA2
[313-3039]
[313-2720]
Speakers Dell 5650 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System with Subwoofer
D5650
[313-2246]
Productivity Software WordPerfect®, Powerful Word Processing
CORELM
[412-0701]
Security Software No Security Subscription
NS2
[412-0754]
Digital Music Dell Jukebox - easy-to-use music player and CD burning software
MMBASE
[412-0741]
Digital Photography Paint Shop™ Pro® Studio trial, Photo Album™ Starter Edition
DPS
[412-0744]
Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options 1Yr Ltd Warranty, 1Yr At-Home Service, and 1Yr Technical Support
S111OS
[950-1260]
[950-3337]
[950-9797]
[412-0360]
[960-2800]
Dial-up Internet Access 6 Months of America Online Membership Included
AOLDHS
[412-0585]
[412-0625]
[420-3224]
[412-0687]
Dell Media Experience Dell Media Experience™
DMX
[412-0749]
Dell Home Customers: Save 25% off this Dell Dimension 8400!
Expires on 2004-12-16 05:59:59 - $568.50
Dell AIO Inkjet 942
Dell Photo All-in-One Printer 942 Qty: 1
Unit Price: $79.00
Dell All In One Inkjet 942 Dell Photo All-in-One Printer 942
UP942
[463-5308]
Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options 1Yr Ltd. Warranty- Advance Exchange
AE1YR
[960-4638]
[902-7310]
[960-2840]
ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTS AND COUPONS
Dell Home Customers: Free Ground Shipping on all Electronics and Accessories!
Expires on 2005-01-06 05:59:59 - $14.00
Dell Home Customers: FREE 3-5 day shipping with purchase of ANY new Dell Home System! Limited time offer.
Expires on 2004-12-23 06:00:00 - $99.00
Sub-Total $1,784.50
Shipping Discount -$113.00
Shipping $0.00
Tax $99.95
Total $1,884.45
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| 1 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 13:14
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BTW, I forgot to order it thru Guru's website. Sorry Guru.
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| 2 | Razor
ID: 221033012
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 13:22
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I don't think this is that good of a deal. Your mother doesn't need a 256 MB vid card. Get the DVD drives from New Egg for cheaper. Wait for a good coupon. You should be able to get that rig for ~$1300. Cancel that one and wait it out.
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| 3 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 13:29
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She's got grand children who play games on her computer. That is a top of the line video card.
Check out the sound system, the digital monitor (13ms response time, 500:1 contrast ratio), printer with an 2.5 inch LCD screen, 2 DVD drives one with RW capability, Wireless keyboard and mouse.
This system has everything Razor, except the chip is a 3.2 GHZ not a 3.6 GHZ. That's the only problem I see with it. No way in hell I am cancelling this.
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| 4 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 13:30
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Oh I forgot the 250 gig SATA hard drive, 3.5 Floppy drive, and PCI data fax modem which can by used with the printer to send faxes.
I dare you to find a system better than this for the price.
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| 5 | biliruben
ID: 599422311
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 13:40
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What an incredible waste of money. Unless your ma's some kind of hacker genius, you should be able to get her more machine than she can use for 5 hundy plus tax.
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| 6 | Perm Dude
Dude
ID: 030792616
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 13:41
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I ordered a Dell (through the Guru Sponsors page just a bit ago. With free shipping and other goodies it was a very good deal.
Also got a free (cheap) printer from them.
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| 7 | WiddleAvi
ID: 4356159
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 13:47
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I have to agree with razor & bili - No way in hell she needs a computer like that. Send me $1500 and I'll send her a great computer that will meet all her needs.
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| 8 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 13:58
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Just forget about what my mother needs or not. Like I said, she has grandchildren who use her computer.
Just analyze the computer for the price and show me a better computer for that price, which btw I am getting over $100 bucks off for free shipping.
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| 9 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 13:59
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And $100 bucks of the final $1884 is taxes. So the system actually costs $1784.
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| 10 | Tree
ID: 76471215
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 15:07
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Just forget about what my mother needs or not.
but isn't that who the computer is for?
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| 11 | Razor
ID: 581046117
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 19:40
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Even for what you got, it is too expensive. You can literally get it for $500 cheaper for identical performance with the same or similar parts. Buy a Dell, but get the vid card, DVD players, and other big upgrades aftermarket. And wait until Dell has a good deal/coupon. I priced out an 8400 at $1200 or something with a 20" LCD.
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| 12 | Twarpy
Leader
ID: 386242821
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 19:54
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Well Dell has been increasing it's prices upto Xmas day so this 25% off sounds like a lot but you lost out.
Not to mention unless her grandchildren are installing 60 games, and downloading mp3's everyday the hard-drive is way too big.
The graphics card is not worth it for the price, unless her grandchildren are hardcore gamers and are going to be playing online in the max resolution its pointless.
The wireless keyboard and mouse are not necessary and either is a sound system with a subwoofer etc.
Youd have been much smarter to wait till after Xmas, when prices fall if you're still inclined to get a Dell at least.
On another note a friend of mine told me that circuit city has a computer that's much more in line for you.
Upgrading the screen is not worth it either when you get a fine flat screen standard with that deal.
Computer
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| 13 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 20:13
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$1784 for that system is a good deal. I don't know what planet you guys are living on.
The monitor alone is worth close to $500 bucks. That's a digital LCD with DVI capability and 13 ms response time and 500:1 contrast ratio. I know for a fact that a similar Samsung monitor costs 475 bucks.
The flat screen that is standard with the above deal is not nearly as good as the monitor I got.
Razor, I don't want to go thru the hassle of installing all kinds of parts by myself. And my mother only has room for a 17" monitor.
You say you can save another $500 bucks and get this same system? I would like to see you do that. I think you're out of your mind.
Of course the sound system isn't necessary but it's still an outstanding sound system. That thing comes with 5 speakers. And it only cost an extra 75- 80 bucks or something like that.
I'm sure if you guys dug around and cut every corner you can find, you can shave the price below $1784. But I just don't want the hassle and either does my mother.
And I seriously doubt you could save another $500 bucks for the same system.
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| 14 | Farn
Sustainer
ID: 451044109
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 20:16
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MadDog, you ask people what they think of the system you purchased. They tell you and you get mad at them? If you don't want other people's opinions why did you ask in the first place?
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| 15 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 20:18
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And another thing. That video card is not only good for games. It makes the picture for DVD's and Movies ten times better. That card along with the DVI capability of the monitor and the sound system is gonna make for a great DVD watching experience.
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| 16 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 20:19
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I'm not mad at anybody Farn. Were just discussing the system.
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| 17 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 20:24
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WHAT IS DVI ?
DVI stands for (D)igital (V)ideo (I)nterface.
DVI is a new form of video interface technology made to
maximize the quality of flat panel LCD monitors and high-
end video graphics cards. It is a replacement for the P&D
Plug & Display standard, and a step up from the digital-only
DFP format for older flat panels. DVI is becoming increasingly
popular with video card manufacturers, and most cards
purchased include both a VGA and a DVI output port.
In addition to being used as the new computer interface,
DVI is also coming out as the digital transfer method of choice
for HDTV, EDTV, Plasma Display, and other ultra-high-end video
displays for TV, movies, and DVDs. Likewise, even a few of
the top-end DVD players are now featuring DVI outputs in addition
to the high-quality analog Component Video. Don't expect to throw
away all your old video cables just yet, but keep an eye out for
DVI availability in the future.
WHAT ARE THE DVI FORMATS ?
There are three types of DVI connections:
1. DVI-D (Digital)
2. DVI-A (Analog)
3. DVI-I (Integrated Digital/Analog)
DVI-D - True Digital Video
DVI-D format is used for direct digital connections between
source video (namely, video cards) and digital LCD (or rare
CRT) monitors. This provides a faster, higher-quality image
than with analog, due to the nature of the digital format.
All video cards initially produce a digital video signal, which
is converted into analog at the VGA output. The analog signal
travels to the monitor and is re-converted back into a digital
signal. DVI-D eliminates the analog conversion process and
improves the connection between source and display.
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| 18 | C.SuperFreak
ID: 361013021
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 20:30
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Me too! I bought a Dell with a very similar offer. I'm happy with it. $$$ was not the factor.
My wife was getting tired of the 'custom built' DIY PC's. She knows we could have bought a similar PC a lot cheaper. I was allowed some luxuries in order to offset the impending "build it yourself" restraining order.
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| 19 | culdeus
ID: 43112649
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 20:32
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I guess that's great if you want to watch DVD's on a 17 inch screen.
*rollseyes*
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| 20 | Perm Dude
Dude
ID: 030792616
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 20:35
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You can also watch VCDs.
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| 21 | Farn
Sustainer
ID: 451044109
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 20:35
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yeah, I know my mother is only 55 and she has no interest in watching DVDs with her grandkids on a 17" computer screen. Most people outside of college don't watch DVDs on their computer. So that shouldn't have been a consideration unless your mother is a rarity.
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| 22 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 20:40
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I just went to Dell's website and it actually says that the monitor above has a 1000:1 contrast ratio.
I'm not sure I believe that but that's what says. It also says that the price to purchase it seperately is $369 bucks. Guess I was off on that.
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| 23 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 20:54
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Farn, this system also has S-Video. I believe that you can output digital video to a TV with that.
So my mother could watch digital DVD's on her TV? I think that's right.
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| 24 | Farn
Sustainer
ID: 451044109
Wed, Dec 15, 2004, 21:05
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oh ok, if that's what you intend to do then it makes sense. Although you would have to run a cable from your PC to your TV to make that work. Might look a little funny to do that year round. And most PC's aren't in the living room.
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| 25 | xpdurmind
Sustainer
ID: 319471922
Thu, Dec 16, 2004, 02:57
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Besides the fact that you're paying for a cadillac to drive on dirt roads, you might want to think about forking over a few more bucks and get a security suite( AV and firwall) with at least a 1 year automatic updates. Especially when kids are in the car!
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| 26 | MadDOG
ID: 207246
Thu, Dec 16, 2004, 07:51
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Windows XP has it's own firewall now. Security Pack 2 contains it.
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| 27 | MadDOG
ID: 207246
Thu, Dec 16, 2004, 08:03
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You guys think I'm buying too much computer for my mother but have you ever been to a Circuit City or Best Buy store?
Go in one and check what kind of computer your going to get for $1500, $1600, $1700. It's going to be a far worse computer than the one you see above.
Millions and millions of computers are bought at these stores everyday with the same price tag of the one above that aren't nearly as good.
Some of it might be a bit excessive for my mother, I will admit, but it's still a damn good deal. And she might enjoy the sound system, the video card is good for more than just games as I have already pointed out. The hard drivie is huge but if your only saving $20-$30 bucks for a smaller one, why not go with the big one.
The one thing I should have done is go with the 3.6 gig processor and cut some money some where else to do it.
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| 28 | Tree
ID: 76471215
Thu, Dec 16, 2004, 09:53
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from the first post in this thread:
I think it is an outstanding system for a really good price. Anybody see anything wrong with it?
a lot of people have seen things wrong with it, yet you've come back combative and nasty.
did you really want other people's thoughts, or was it just a rhetorical question?
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| 29 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Thu, Dec 16, 2004, 09:57
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Combative and Nasty? Huh? Where?
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| 30 | Farn
Sustainer
ID: 451044109
Thu, Dec 16, 2004, 10:03
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post #3
No way in hell I am cancelling this.
post #4
I dare you to find a system better than this for the price.
post #13
I don't know what planet you guys are living on.
I think you're out of your mind.
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| 31 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Thu, Dec 16, 2004, 10:13
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#3 is true, the deal is now expired and this same system costs $2200 bucks.
#4 nobody has taken me up on that offer
#13 mean nothing really, related to post 4
I'm not being nasty with anybody. In fact I appreciate the feedback. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to present my side of the discussion.
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| 32 | Razor
ID: 221033012
Thu, Dec 16, 2004, 10:18
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The onboard vid card that comes with these things is fine for running most anything, much less the 128 meg card, much less the 256 meg card. 256 meg is only for the latest games and beyond. 128 will do nearly everything for everyone except hardcore gamers.
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| 33 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Thu, Dec 16, 2004, 10:19
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BTW, that link in post 12 was pretty funny. I think some of you guys missed that one.
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| 34 | Perm Dude
Dude
ID: 030792616
Thu, Dec 16, 2004, 10:19
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Down the line, though, that is apt to change quickly. In computers it's far better to have more than you need right now so you're not already outdated next month.
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| 35 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Thu, Dec 16, 2004, 10:20
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Exactly, Perm Dude.
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| 36 | Mike D
Sustainer
ID: 41831612
Thu, Dec 16, 2004, 16:41
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This is a heckuva deal....you can say it's apples and oranges, but man, a lot for the money. My local store has it in their circular too.
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| 37 | Mike D
Sustainer
ID: 41831612
Thu, Dec 16, 2004, 16:47
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And if you insist on the Pentium 4, my local Best Buy has this model for $449.97 after mail in rebates. Local store even has color printer included in that price. Post 36 had a printer thrown in too.
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| 38 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Thu, Dec 16, 2004, 17:04
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Those computers aren't even in the same league as the one I bought from Dell.
It's like comparing Kevin Garnett to Moochie Norris.
You don't want me to start picking those things apart and telling you what's wrong with them do you?
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| 39 | Mike D
Sustainer
ID: 41831612
Thu, Dec 16, 2004, 17:10
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I couldn't care less.
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| 40 | beastiemiked
ID: 4310501610
Thu, Dec 16, 2004, 17:23
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$2274.00!!!!
You're crazy. Instead of buying her a high end computer, get her a middle tier computer $1000, middle tier camcorder $500, middle tier digital camera $300, and a middle tier mp3 player $300.
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| 41 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Thu, Dec 16, 2004, 18:02
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It cost $1784 not $2274.
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| 42 | RecycledSpinalFluid
Dude
ID: 204401122
Thu, Dec 16, 2004, 23:27
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MadDOG, where did you get this:
"Dell Home Customers: Save 25% off this Dell Dimension 8400!
Expires on 2004-12-16 05:59:59 - $568.50"
Thats a nice chunk of savings. I went to my companies "Employee Discount" sight and linked to the Dell Deals. It had additional $200 off and then 12% more off, but if it could be combined with your discount code (there is a field for it, I think), it could be had for $200 bucks less...
Therefore beating your "I dare you to find a system better than this for the price." sorta... I found "a better price for this system." :)
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| 43 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Fri, Dec 17, 2004, 00:41
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I don't think you can combine all those deals and discounts but nice try anyway.
:)
My brother actually is supposed to get some employee discount on Dell computers too. But I forgot about it.
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| 44 | RecycledSpinalFluid
Dude
ID: 204401122
Fri, Dec 17, 2004, 01:02
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It reminded me that the "Company Discount" usually equals "Plus 50%".
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| 45 | MadDOG
ID: 207246
Fri, Dec 17, 2004, 08:42
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You want to order me a Dell Notebook with your "Plus 50%" Employee Discount?
We can work out some way that I can get you the money or pay for it.
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| 46 | MadDOG
ID: 207246
Fri, Dec 17, 2004, 10:12
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I just priced a Dell Inspiron Notebook at $1300 bucks. If you aren't lying about your discount, you should be able to get it for $650 bucks.
I would even shoot you $50 bucks if you could get it for me for $650. Call it a kickback.
:)
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| 47 | RecycledSpinalFluid
Dude
ID: 204401122
Fri, Dec 17, 2004, 10:59
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I think my joke was too subtle..."Plus 50%" as in "What Joe Normal pays Plus 50%"...ie, bad deals.
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| 48 | MadDOG
ID: 207246
Fri, Dec 17, 2004, 12:55
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Damn, and here I was getting really excited about getting that laptop for $650.
:)
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| 49 | Razor
ID: 221033012
Fri, Dec 17, 2004, 17:48
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There's a deal out now using a Dellf coupon, an early bird coupon and the employee purchase program that has your box at least $500 cheaper.
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| 50 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Fri, Dec 17, 2004, 18:19
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I'll tell you what Razor. If you can get that computer above for $1284 bucks, you better jump on that immediately. That's the deal of the century.
If you don't want it, you can turn around and sell it in your local paper or whatever and make yourself a tidy profit.
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| 51 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Sun, Dec 26, 2004, 19:12
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I found out that the video card alone that I got with this system is worth close to $500 bucks.
If you don't believe me, go to Pricewatch.com and price it.
So the video card and the monitor are worth $850 bucks by themselves. The rest of this system I got for $700 bucks. Hell of a deal.
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| 52 | Razor
ID: 581046117
Tue, Dec 28, 2004, 22:40
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I can buy that $500 video card in six months for $300, I bet.
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| 53 | MadDOG
ID: 41143108
Tue, Dec 28, 2004, 22:45
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What's your point? Every computer system you buy is gonna lose value over 6 months. And I mean every part in it.
You can say that about the processor, the DVD players, the hard drive or whatever.
If I would have gotten a NVidia 6800 video card that would lose value too.
You know of some computer parts that don't lose value over time? Please let me know if you do.
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| 54 | C.SuperFreak
ID: 361013021
Mon, Jan 03, 2005, 11:21
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MadDog, any followup to the purchase? I'd like to hear some feedback (good or bad) regarding the system. I have very few issues, albeit the system is so new nothing much is going wrong.
My only beef with the system(not really Dell's fault) is the Mcafee personal firewall. It taxes the CPU and makes a few programs behave strangely. I eventually disabled it.
The flat screen monitor is really fantastic.
Thumbs up to the usb and headphone jack that are hidden at the front. Makes my life easy.
I had a tough time figuring out where the subwoofer should go.
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| 55 | Perm Dude
Dude
ID: 030792616
Mon, Jan 03, 2005, 12:34
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I set up mine already, but ditched the McAfee for the Norton I was already using.
The flat screen is very cool.
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| 56 | MadDOG
ID: 15040116
Mon, Jan 03, 2005, 23:51
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RE 54
Yea, there's a few things I'm a little disappointed in with this system.
The Subwoofer is huge but the 4 surrounding speakers look cheap and small. I thought they were going to be better speakers.
I didn't like the optical mouse either. When you use the scroll wheel it's like a step scroll wheel it scrolls in steps, it's not smooth.
I was missing a bracket that lets me attach the 5th speaker to the bottom of the monitor. I am contacting Dell about that.
And lastly, did you guys get some kind of screw or latch that closes the Tower tightly after you open it up in the back. There is those 2 steel protruding circles that come together when you close the tower but I couldn't find a screw or whatever to put in there to close the tower tightly. I'm also going to contact Dell about that.
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| 57 | Razor
ID: 221033012
Tue, Jan 04, 2005, 10:32
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If I would have gotten a NVidia 6800 video card that would lose value too.
You know of some computer parts that don't lose value over time? Please let me know if you do.
The point is that some components lose value less rapidly than others, specifically, non-bleeding edge components. I think you're much better off buying $150 video cards every couple of years than buying one $500 video card. A $150 vid card right now will do everything, save play the very newest games at very high resolutions. It will play them well, though.
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| 58 | WiddleAvi
ID: 5470911
Tue, Jan 04, 2005, 10:47
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MadDog - The latch in the back has no screw or anything. When the case is closed you can slide the latch over which locks the case.
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| 59 | MadDOG
ID: 1205648
Tue, Jan 04, 2005, 13:37
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Widdle you may be right that nothing goes in there.
One more thing I have found out since buying this computer.
DELL SUPPORT SUCKS BIGTIME.
Long hold times, constantly transferred, the calls are going to Panama to representatives who seem like they would rather jump off a cliff then help you. I AM EXTREMELY PISSED ABOUT THIS SUPPORT. Gateway's support was and is 100 times better.
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| 60 | Mike D
Sustainer
ID: 41831612
Tue, Jan 04, 2005, 15:10
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Widdle is right about the case. No screw.
Regarding the optical mouse, you can usually change the scroll settings. You can have it scroll a page at a time etc (typically) if you so desire. Just access the mouse properties and check the tabs that come up.
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