Oh, come on....a friend has to have a newer version you can bootleg...right? :laugher:

 

Hey Kid,
PM me and I think I can hook you up. You really dont want to load an old version like 97 on a new unit. I work with computers every day. Unfortunately, I am a network administrator/ Consultant.

My puter is an old Windows98. Sucks for pictures, slow, out dated, bla bla bla.... Been thinking of getting a new one so I stopped in at Best Buy on my way home tonight. Salesman told me that computers don't come with stuff like Word, or excel. He said if I wanted word processing or excel, I'd have to pay extra for them. I was looking at hp's. He said Dell, Compaq, etc. were the same.

I have a set of two disks that came with my old Windows98. They say... Micosoft office 97 Small Business Edition... Would Word and Excel work if the disks were loaded into a new/XP puter ?? :confused1

Thanks -

 

Should work fine. I've been useing 97 in Xp/pro.

 

They would work. Microsoft has what they call a "home use" program. I got Office 2003 for $23. You might want to do a search on the Microsoft site. You may need to be affiliated with certain employers.

 

Hey Bill, go to Dell.com and order up a new "package deal". It'll be shipped to your door in no time.

 

Wow....thanks for the quick responses!!

Other thing that the sales guy said, the new computers can't be plugged right in to the internet. They have no built in virus or spyware protection (if I understood him correctly). Also they have a chit load of temporary programs installed. Sounds like the programs can be used on a trial basis for 30-60 days, then you have to buy them if you want to keep them. He basically said most of them are a pain is the ars. And for a fee, the "geek squad" can remove them from the computer.

So according to this sales guy, to get virus protection, wipe out the temp/trial programs, and get a few basic programs installed, it would be close to $300.00 on top of the cost of the computer.

I don't do videos, games and that kind of stuff. So I was thinking/hoping I could get into a new computer and monitor for around $600.00 or $650.00.

btw...I'm pretty much computer illiterate so I really appreciate the input from ya'll

 

I think you should be able to do the computer/monitor for 5-600 easy. an addtional $300 is total BS in my opinion.

I think you should have some virus and spyware software but you are talking about $75 and even a novice should be able do do the install without too much trouble.

 

Check with your ISP they should offer free virus protection. Our's does and it also comes with a firewall & spyware protection.

Call DELL and tell them what you want. That's what they are there for.

I just got my wife a new DELL loaded 19' Flat Screen with a free printer for around $750 including tax.

Dimension E510

 

New here, but since I do this stuff for a living…I’ll chime in. IMO Dell is the best deal on the market…and their support is spot on. They also sell refurbs for a fraction of the price that under go more release testing than their new ones do. Spend the extra 2oo for the tree year warranty and your all set. I got a 3K Latitude notebook for 1300 last year. I travel all over the country and she is rock solid…even with airport abuse.

As for security…I use/recommend Norton Internet Security. Antivirus & Firewall in one product that is easy to install and has good AI (artificial intelligence). The damn program learns as you work and surf the net. New computers come with all kinds of crap on them…called Trialware. Install your OS CD and do a new install…when it asks you, tell it to format the disk and install. You will have a nice clean install ready for you to configure any way you like.

By the way Kidnova, I like the pic of the block dangling from the bucket…looks like something I would do…lol

 

i use this ant-virus softare on all 4 of our computers.. used it for years.. its free, and updates all the time...

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

 

Why not check out your local computer store. I'm not talking about Best Buy or Circuit City a regular build and repair computer store. You can normally purchase "name brand" computers or have them customize a system. If you customize you can specify all componets to have at least 3 year warranties though the mfg. (most computer stores will handle the replacement and only charge labor) Most stores offer free tech support,unlimited and are very reasonable for setup and/or data transfer. These are all extra charges with Dell. Dell has a standard 1 year warranty, if you want tech support for one year its $150 extra and after 30 days you are limited to 5 incidents during the year. Add setup with internet $150, when a computer store will be around $75. Add a 3year warranty, I think somewhere in the $200 plus range. If they are any good they should also be able to get you AV and other software at a very good price that is called OEM software. Plus you support a local business and you can complain directly to them instead of someone over the phone

 

i have a bootlegged xp office 2003 cd i can burn for you.

 

Why not check out your local computer store. I'm not talking about Best Buy or Circuit City a regular build and repair computer store. You can normally purchase "name brand" computers or have them customize a system. If you customize you can specify all componets to have at least 3 year warranties though the mfg. (most computer stores will handle the replacement and only charge labor) Most stores offer free tech support,unlimited and are very reasonable for setup and/or data transfer. These are all extra charges with Dell. Dell has a standard 1 year warranty, if you want tech support for one year its $150 extra and after 30 days you are limited to 5 incidents during the year. Add setup with internet $150, when a computer store will be around $75. Add a 3year warranty, I think somewhere in the $200 plus range. If they are any good they should also be able to get you AV and other software at a very good price that is called OEM software. Plus you support a local business and you can complain directly to them instead of someone over the phone

Wife did that yesterday. WMIS in Cedar Springs MI STUCK it to us. Should have just went to BestBuy. Ended up with a Dell that we could get direct from them cheaper, a whole 90 day warranty, and they were nice enough to KEEP my old computer. Told me over the phone it was worthless, no usable parts, give nothing on "trade in". I get home with new hard drive and "they kept it". Week old modem in it, 2 burners, a floppy, a gig of ram, TV tuner graphics card etc. I built it I know. Call them and ask for it...$ 100 if you want it back now. We upgraded your new one to 1/2 gig RAM and did data transfer in exchange. Not what I was told on the phone, that was included with the new purchase. New one:single CD burner, no modem, no floppy, after they tell the wife: it will do everything the old one did plus. New owners at this store-used to be Magnus now West Michigan Internet Service. Anyone in the area STAY AWAY!!!!

 

With any new PC, i would wipe it clean and put XP professional on it..

The new PC's come so loaded with crap the things can barely get out of its own way..

Reload it, then get a nice free spyware / virus protection off the web.

If you can't find it for free just ask, i got just about everything you can imagine and then some..

Good luck --Craig

I like the dell's they are nice... (but i would build my own pc) unless your getting a laptop, then i would get a dell...

 

I would agree completely about all the crap they load onto it now.
However, I think I saw that Kidnova was not really experienced enough to reload his system. I also really agree with you about getting a Dell. I am a reseller for HP and Dell. Dell has THE BEST Warranty and service hands down.
If Craig cant help ya out with Software, I can or someone else can too.

With any new PC, i would wipe it clean and put XP professional on it..

The new PC's come so loaded with crap the things can barely get out of its own way..

Reload it, then get a nice free spyware / virus protection off the web.

If you can't find it for free just ask, i got just about everything you can imagine and then some..

Good luck --Craig

I like the dell's they are nice... (but i would build my own pc) unless your getting a laptop, then i would get a dell...

 

I got a DELL - Love it.

I'd recommend buying right from Dell, check out the website, good deals.

 

I'll be able to help you out. Are you going to be at Club V this Sat? If so talk to me then. I can give you a hand and or what you need.

 

My puter is an old Windows98. Sucks for pictures, slow, out dated, bla bla bla.... Been thinking of getting a new one so I stopped in at Best Buy on my way home tonight. Salesman told me that computers don't come with stuff like Word, or excel. He said if I wanted word processing or excel, I'd have to pay extra for them. I was looking at hp's. He said Dell, Compaq, etc. were the same.

I have a set of two disks that came with my old Windows98. They say... Micosoft office 97 Small Business Edition... Would Word and Excel work if the disks were loaded into a new/XP puter ?? :confused1

Thanks -

Hey Kid,

Go to www.openoffice.org and download it.

Open Office is shareware and is free. It's MS Office complete. It looks and feels just like office. It's stable and you can save any of your files in MS Office formats.

It has their versions of Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.

They allow for donations in support of the product but it's strictly opitional.

Download it and give it a try. I'm sure you'll be impressed.

:bigsmile:

 

"Wife did that yesterday. WMIS in Cedar Springs MI STUCK it to us"

Sorry about your experience, they probably will not be in business long. Not to defend them but do a search on Dell complaints and there are a ton of them. Here is a link

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/computers/computer_complaints.html

They have their share of problem.

I own a company that sells computers and we are HP and Lenovo authorized. I believe if you need a little more hand holding than Lenovo is the way to go for a name brand.

Saying that I still believe when we make a white box using an Antec Case,Intel motherboard, name brand ram, etc. you have a very reliable computer. In the 900 plus systems we built so far in 06 there have been 3 failures, 2 motherbd's and 1 power supply. People get free tech support, call as many times as you want and because we have low overhead we have very competitive pricing. We are not a retail store but I know that most of the retail computer stores in our area are pretty much the same.

 

I agree with P928…not All computer stores are ripps. But you know the saying “Buyer beware”? It’s true…there are some very unscrupulous people out there and if you walk in without doing your research first they will gank you! Just look what happened to RSCHAP1 (RS, I would talk to someone about what happened to you…sounds like theft to me.). Now I am in no way a Dell fanboy…I build my own systems (mostly water cooled) but having worked on & owning (through work) them, I like them above all others. As P928 points out, there are a lot of disgruntled Dell owners out there. But you need to take into account…just how many Dells are sold in the world. When you look at it that way, the amount of people that complain about Dells is quite small. I only recommended a Dell because you state that your computer knowledge is limited and Dell support is very good…and they speak English!

Also, P928’s statement about pay for Dell support is correct. But for a lousy $200, you get 3yr. next day onsite support. A few months ago I flew out to Connecticut for a contract and my notebooks motherboard took a dump. I called Dell, took 5min. for them to confirm the MB was fried and they had a Tech at the hotel the next morning with a new motherboard for my system (a better one too ). The best advice I can give is to do your research…just like you told that guy that was looking to buy that 23 Nova…knowledge is power.

 

I can program a Haas, and surf porn sites with the best of 'em...

 

Are there any employees over the age of 21 that work at Best Buy ?

Atleast on the floor anyway ?

Not near me. Same goes for Circuit City.

Sometimes I swear I have acne when I walk out of those places. :laugher: :laugher: :laugher:

 

Check with your ISP they should offer free virus protection. Our's does and it also comes with a firewall & spyware protection.

Call DELL and tell them what you want. That's what they are there for.

I just got my wife a new DELL loaded 19' Flat Screen with a free printer for around $750 including tax.

Dimension E510

19' Flatscreen......I want one of those for my house - I would have the best superbowl party in the state!!

 

what's a computer?

 

"Wife did that yesterday. WMIS in Cedar Springs MI STUCK it to us"

Sorry about your experience, they probably will not be in business long. Not to defend them but do a search on Dell complaints and there are a ton of them. Here is a link

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/computers/computer_complaints.html

They have their share of problem.

I own a company that sells computers and we are HP and Lenovo authorized. I believe if you need a little more hand holding than Lenovo is the way to go for a name brand.

Saying that I still believe when we make a white box using an Antec Case,Intel motherboard, name brand ram, etc. you have a very reliable computer. In the 900 plus systems we built so far in 06 there have been 3 failures, 2 motherbd's and 1 power supply. People get free tech support, call as many times as you want and because we have low overhead we have very competitive pricing. We are not a retail store but I know that most of the retail computer stores in our area are pretty much the same.

"P" you have a PM!