New Dell desk-top computer.

[William33 110]

Please check this final system build. We are going to order tonight.

My Components

PROCESSOR Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600 (8MB L2 cache,2.4GHz,1066FSB) edit

OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium edit

MONITOR 24 inch E248WFP Entry Widescreen Digital Flat Panel Monitor edit

MEMORY 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz- 4DIMMs edit

HARD DRIVE 500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™ edit

OPTICAL DRIVE Dual Drives: 48X CDRW/DVD COMBO Drive + 16X DVD+/-RW Drive edit

VIDEO CARD ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO 128MB edit

SOUND Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio edit

KEYBOARD & MOUSE Logitech Cordless Desktop S 510 Keyboard and Mouse - Arctic Silver edit

BLUETOOTH OPTIONS Dell Bluetooth Wireless Media Hub (13-1 Media Reader w/Bluetooth 2.0 EDR) edit

FLOPPY & MEDIA READER Dell Media Card Reader included in Dell Bluetooth Package edit

MODEM No Modem Option edit

My Software & Accessories

PRINTER Dell AIO 926 - Includes Media Card Reader edit

SERVICE & SUPPORT 1Yr Ltd. Warranty, 1 yr HW Warranty Support, 1 yr Advance Exchange edit

DELL 926 PRINTER Dell All-In-One Printer 926 edit

SPEAKERS Dell A525 30 Watt 2.1 Stereo Speakers with Subwoofer edit

ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, 30-Days edit

OFFICE SOFTWARE Microsoft Works 9.0 edit

My Service

WARRANTY AND SERVICE 1Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor, 24x7 Phone Support edit

DATASAFE ONLINE BACKUP Included 3 GB DataSafe Online Backup for 1Yr edit

ALSO INCLUDED WITH YOUR SYSTEM

Miscellaneous Award Winning Service and Support

Mouse Mouse included with Keyboard purchase

Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 8.1

Network Interface Integrated 10/100 Ethernet

Labels Windows Vista™ Premium

PHOTO AND MUSIC SOFTWARE No Entertainment software pre-installed

Sadly, this will cost $1438.00 Perhaps we should reconsider something?

It really depends on what you're using the computer for - but the most expensive components in the build are the processor, memory and the monitor. Cutting back to 22" would save you $150 at least. Also agree with the other poster that dropping the quad core would save you a lot too. Dual Core is decent enough for most things.

One final piece of advice - don't order it on the website. Save the spec, get the reference number and order over the phone. Mine cost about $200 less than the website quote.

6,

I have heard that statement for the third time now. I will now call Dell for a comparative price. Thanks for that.

Thanks everyone for the advice.

Please keep it coming...We will order later tonight for a 7 May ship date.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Odd. I thought the bug fixes are inherently ported over into VISTA.

I've not seen bugs on it, yet. I deal with many circuit analysis running on multisim, and experimenting with prototype boards with another software from Xilinx. It's giving me error-free operation, no crashes yet. Get this, a system designer level 1, using a celeron laptop! Get real!

Note: On the software programming side, the team needs to use advanced hardware. Weird. I don't get the good stuff.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Please check this final system build. We are going to order tonight.

My Components

PROCESSOR Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600 (8MB L2 cache,2.4GHz,1066FSB) edit

OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium edit

MONITOR 24 inch E248WFP Entry Widescreen Digital Flat Panel Monitor edit

MEMORY 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz- 4DIMMs edit

HARD DRIVE 500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™ edit

OPTICAL DRIVE Dual Drives: 48X CDRW/DVD COMBO Drive + 16X DVD+/-RW Drive edit

VIDEO CARD ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO 128MB edit

SOUND Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio edit

KEYBOARD & MOUSE Logitech Cordless Desktop S 510 Keyboard and Mouse - Arctic Silver edit

BLUETOOTH OPTIONS Dell Bluetooth Wireless Media Hub (13-1 Media Reader w/Bluetooth 2.0 EDR) edit

FLOPPY & MEDIA READER Dell Media Card Reader included in Dell Bluetooth Package edit

MODEM No Modem Option edit

My Software & Accessories

PRINTER Dell AIO 926 - Includes Media Card Reader edit

SERVICE & SUPPORT 1Yr Ltd. Warranty, 1 yr HW Warranty Support, 1 yr Advance Exchange edit

DELL 926 PRINTER Dell All-In-One Printer 926 edit

SPEAKERS Dell A525 30 Watt 2.1 Stereo Speakers with Subwoofer edit

ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, 30-Days edit

OFFICE SOFTWARE Microsoft Works 9.0 edit

My Service

WARRANTY AND SERVICE 1Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor, 24x7 Phone Support edit

DATASAFE ONLINE BACKUP Included 3 GB DataSafe Online Backup for 1Yr edit

ALSO INCLUDED WITH YOUR SYSTEM

Miscellaneous Award Winning Service and Support

Mouse Mouse included with Keyboard purchase

Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 8.1

Network Interface Integrated 10/100 Ethernet

Labels Windows Vista™ Premium

PHOTO AND MUSIC SOFTWARE No Entertainment software pre-installed

Sadly, this will cost $1438.00 Perhaps we should reconsider something?

It really depends on what you're using the computer for - but the most expensive components in the build are the processor, memory and the monitor. Cutting back to 22" would save you $150 at least. Also agree with the other poster that dropping the quad core would save you a lot too. Dual Core is decent enough for most things.

One final piece of advice - don't order it on the website. Save the spec, get the reference number and order over the phone. Mine cost about $200 less than the website quote.

6,

I have heard that statement for the third time now. I will now call Dell for a comparative price. Thanks for that.

Thanks everyone for the advice.

Please keep it coming...We will order later tonight for a 7 May ship date.

The build I worked out cost about the same as yours - but I ended up paying around $1200 (rather than $1400) and got the same spec with a 3 year warranty for no extra cost.

[William33 110]

Well CS is closed for today.

Tried to chat with some CS rep from (Bangalore or Hyderabad) and was advised that my build would cost the same...

I will call tomorrow.

6,

When did you score the deal over the phone?

Edited May 3, 2008 by William33

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well CS is closed for today.

Tried to chat with some CS rep from (Bangalore or Hyderabad) and was advised that my build would cost the same...

I will call tomorrow.

6,

When did you score the deal over the phone?

It was back in October. I ordered quite late on a sunday night.

Something you might want to do also is check with your or your wife's work, as most large companies seem to offer Dell discounts.

Edited May 3, 2008 by Number 6

[William33 110]

Well CS is closed for today.

Tried to chat with some CS rep from (Bangalore or Hyderabad) and was advised that my build would cost the same...

I will call tomorrow.

6,

When did you score the deal over the phone?

It was back in October. I ordered quite late on a sunday night.

Something you might want to do also is check with your or your wife's work, as most large companies seem to offer Dell discounts.

Look what I found....an additional $300 discount coupon, on top of the regular Dell discounts...

http://www.cheapstingybargains.com/

Seems Dell now collects tax for every state....that was another $92.

However, I got the aforementioned build for $1218. Shipping 7 May!!!!

Edit to add: I went for the 4GB DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz...included in the price!!

Edited May 3, 2008 by William33

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Well CS is closed for today.

Tried to chat with some CS rep from (Bangalore or Hyderabad) and was advised that my build would cost the same...

I will call tomorrow.

6,

When did you score the deal over the phone?

It was back in October. I ordered quite late on a sunday night.

Something you might want to do also is check with your or your wife's work, as most large companies seem to offer Dell discounts.

Look what I found....an additional $300 discount coupon, on top of the regular Dell discounts...

http://www.cheapstingybargains.com/

Seems Dell now collects tax for every state....that was another $92.

However, I got the aforementioned build for $1218. Shipping 7 May!!!!

Edit to add: I went for the 4GB DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz...included in the price!!

William,

You will be very happy with that computer! Congrats!

I would recommend not spending anything just yet regarding downgrading to XP. For about a week you will be calling me a chop%$@$, and wondering what kind of sick joke Vista is, but when the dust settles, really, you won't likely be wanting or needing to go back to XP. [before I get flamed with Vista Sucks! responses, believe me, I dearly love Windows XP.]

Vista, once you have run it about a week or two, will figure out your hardware, how you like to compute, and things will settle down to the point where it works great.

If I am wrong, going back to XP won't be difficult. But you won't need to go there.

[Marilyn. 340]

I actually got used to Vista faster then I did when I first starting using XP....

[William33 110]

Well, I changed the order to an XPS 420 for $200 more, with 12 months zero interest:

http://www.dell.com/content/products/produ...;l=en&s=dhs

1 223-2365 XPS 420, Intel Core2 processorQ6600 (2.40Ghz,1066FSB) w/QuadCore Technology and 8MB cache

1 311-7667 4GB DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz

1 310-3798 No Keyboard Requested

1 320-6086 24IN(24in viewable) E248WFP Flat Panel Display

1 320-5954 256MB Radeon ATI HD 2600 XT

1 341-5334 320GB NCQ Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM) w/ 16MB DataBurst Cache

1 341-5593 Dell 19 in 1 Media Card Readerincluded in Dell Bluetooth Package

1 313-5656 Dell Resource DVD with Application Backup

1 420-5769 Internet Search and Portal

1 420-5924 Icon Consolidation Application

1 420-6436 Vista, PC-Restore, Dim/Insp

1 420-6718 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, English

1 420-7622 DELL SUPPORT CENTER 2.0

1 463-2282 Dell Owners Manual installed on your system,click on icon after system set-up to access

1 412-1054 Turbine Lord of the Rings Online,XPS

1 310-8647 Dell USB 4 Button Premium Optical Mouse with Scroll

1 313-3607 No modem requested for Dell Dimension

1 420-7468 ADOBE ACROBAT READER 8.1 DIM/INSP

1 313-5831 48X Combo and 16X DVD+/-RW

1 420-8153 Roxio Creator 10 Premiere Standard Definition, Preload

1 313-2758 Integrated Audio

1 313-4032 Dell A525 30 Watt 2.1 Stereo Speakers with Subwoofer

1 420-6916 Network Associates McAfee 8.0 English, 2-Year Subscription

1 412-0148 No Internet Service Provider Requested

1 420-8103 Microsoft Works 9.0, English

1 988-2217 Dell Hardware Warranty PlusOnsite Service, Initial Year

1 983-9470 Type 3- Third Party At Home Service, 24x7 Technical Support, Initial Year

1 950-9797 No Warranty, Year 2 and 3

1 960-8700 Warranty Support,Initial Year

1 990-8029 1 Year Limited Warranty and Next Business Day,Desktop

1 960-2697 XPS Specialized Support, DHS

1 320-6117 Multimedia TV TUNER,TVT9 + Basic Remote

1 464-9572 No Entertainment software pre-installed

1 310-8626 You have chosen a Windows Vista Premium System

1 420-7091 DataSafe Online Dim/Ins/XPS

1 420-7092 DataSafe Online Dim/Ins/XPS 1YR-FREE

1 987-4817 Insp Datasafe 3GB,1YR(Incl in price),DHS

1 988-0099 To activate your online backupaccount, go to Start, Programs, DataSafe Online

1 341-5701 Dell 19 in 1 Media Reader withBluetooth 2.0

Along with a cordless desktop wave keyboard, premium mouse and printer.

As shown in the link, this computer has 5 more expansion bays, 2 front/4 rear usb ports, front lcd display for config changes and picture viewing and so forth. I cannot wait for it to arrive!!!

[GaryC 7]

Now you got a kick azz machine! Congrats!

[William33 110]

Now you got a kick azz machine! Congrats!

Thanks Bro. Given the Dell "Mother's Day" discounts, I saved $440.00 over the list price. Total damage is $1550.00, offset by the $1200 stimulus package.

I may utilize the stimulus money for something else and pay the zero interest loan off instead.

[Caladan 19]

XP is an average operating system and being canned June. The biggest complaints about Vista are because of people trying to use 5 year old hardware with a new operating system designed for the latest hardware. My Vista ultimate 64-bit machine kicks ### over my XP PC. Using it for over a year now..

I have a new machine running Vista and the operating system for a while refused to play nice with the video card, until the most recent SP update. Vista was a royal pain in the butt. I have no idea what the hell they were thinking. It's like they decided to get the worst of both worlds: reduced backwards compatibility and still very bloated.

That said, I agree that XP might not be the way to go since MS is discontinuing support.

[GaryC 7]

XP is an average operating system and being canned June. The biggest complaints about Vista are because of people trying to use 5 year old hardware with a new operating system designed for the latest hardware. My Vista ultimate 64-bit machine kicks ### over my XP PC. Using it for over a year now..

I have a new machine running Vista and the operating system for a while refused to play nice with the video card, until the most recent SP update. Vista was a royal pain in the butt. I have no idea what the hell they were thinking. It's like they decided to get the worst of both worlds: reduced backwards compatibility and still very bloated.

That said, I agree that XP might not be the way to go since MS is discontinuing support.

Eh, I remember when XP first came out it refused to work on my then top of the line video card. They eventually came up with working drivers for it. My old computer isn't even close to being capable of running Vista so at some point I will be taking the cue from William. We don't do much on it other than chat, internet and editing movies that we shoot on our camera. It's getting somewhat buggy right now but it still works. But I know the day will come when I gotta get out the wallet and spring for a new computer. Maybe by that time they will have the bugs worked out of Vista.

[Dan J 277]

XP is an average operating system and being canned June. The biggest complaints about Vista are because of people trying to use 5 year old hardware with a new operating system designed for the latest hardware. My Vista ultimate 64-bit machine kicks ### over my XP PC. Using it for over a year now..

I have a new machine running Vista and the operating system for a while refused to play nice with the video card, until the most recent SP update. Vista was a royal pain in the butt. I have no idea what the hell they were thinking. It's like they decided to get the worst of both worlds: reduced backwards compatibility and still very bloated.

That said, I agree that XP might not be the way to go since MS is discontinuing support.

Support wont be discontinued for quite some time. The only thing thats changing in June is Retail and OEM Availability.

Mainstream support ends 14/04/2009 but Extended support wont end until 08/04/2014.

http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?LN...=12&C2=1173

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Now you got a kick azz machine! Congrats!

Thanks Bro. Given the Dell "Mother's Day" discounts, I saved $440.00 over the list price. Total damage is $1550.00, offset by the $1200 stimulus package.

I may utilize the stimulus money for something else and pay the zero interest loan off instead.

The XPS 420 is what we got last month, and it does indeed kick some serious azz! You will be quite happy with your new machine!