Dell- $299 desktop

[EJBasile]

No need to worry apple that the Mini is to cheap at $499. From dell you can get the following computer.

Dell 2400
Celeron 2.4Ghz
256mb RAM
40gb
CD-ROM
17" CRT
Dell Printer
$299

I had see $400 dell computers but this is amazing how cheaply dell can sell computers for.

[Sun Baked]

No need to worry apple that the Mini is to cheap at $499. From dell you can get the following computer.

I had see $400 dell computers but this is amazing how cheaply dell can sell computers for.Well, once Apple dropped the price of their low-end machine, Dell had to retaliate just to keep expanding their education share.

This still keeps Dells low-end "system" at half the price of a Mac, unless Apple has something up their sleeve for the eMac -- like $499 well equiped education model.

[MoparShaha]

Celeron jokes aside, that really is a good deal. For the average user, that's all they need, sans CD-R perhaps.

[ham_man]

First off, I must say "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...a Celeron... :rolleyes:"....

The Mini would own on that Dell any day of the week. Hell, the Mini owns on any of Dell's budget models. My Dad was looking at getting a new desktop and customized a 750 Dell. Then I navigated him to the Apple site, where, with his edu discount, he could get a computer that just as fast, with more RAM, more HDD, and a much smaller footprint for 75 dollars less. He wound up getting a 630$ AMD 64 at Office Depot in the end. I guess that my reasoning didn't win out with him...

[miloblithe]

small print:

*no free shipping on items under $499

printer cable to connect "free" printer (not included) $25

1 yr warranty (only 90 day included) $19

DVD and CD-R will cost you $79, DVD alone $20, CD-R alone $40

It comes with no security software. $69

Looks like it will run you more than $500.

[maya]

How low can a computer be sold for, I predict that within ~5 years time you will see these computers GIVEN away for FREE. As in history calculators used to cost a bit for basic functions and now you can pick one up for free as an Office Give Away. Same will happen with computers, we are well on course. :)

[maya]

small print:

*no free shipping on items under $499

printer cable to connect "free" printer (not included) $25

1 yr warranty (only 90 day included) $19

DVD and CD-R will cost you $79, DVD alone $20, CD-R alone $40

It comes with no security software. $69

Looks like it will run you more than $500.

What do you expect from Dell's BUDGET offerings?

They usual blind sight the ignorant consumer seems to give them an upper hand. :(

[wrldwzrd89]

What do you expect from Dell's BUDGET offerings?

They usual blind sight the ignorant consumer seems to give them an upper hand. :(
Dell can do better than that. Throw a 733 MHz Transmeta Crusoe CPU (PDF) (http://www.transmeta.com/pdfs/TM5800_productbrief_030206.pdf) in that $299 PC, and the price will probably drop quite a bit just from that. Even more will be saved with the slower components that CPU requires.

[maya]

Dell can do better than that. Throw a 733 MHz Transmeta Crusoe CPU (PDF) (http://www.transmeta.com/pdfs/TM5800_productbrief_030206.pdf) in that $299 PC, and the price will probably drop quite a bit just from that. Even more will be saved with the slower components that CPU requires.

Heck by the end of this year Dell will sell a $199 USD computer. For Surfing, Email, typing a few Word documents one does not need a 64MB GPU or PCI-e.

Free x86 computers in the future, mark my words. :)

[iSaint]

I would expect ISPs to be giving away computers for signed contracts. I'm surprised it already hasn't happened.

[maya]

I would expect ISPs to be giving away computers for signed contracts. I'm surprised it already hasn't happened.

Won't happen till ones ISP gives away a Free Modem. Maybe a Free Modem and Dell. Some local stores have that sort of offer here in Canada. :)

[Inspector Lee]

small print:

*no free shipping on items under $499

printer cable to connect "free" printer (not included) $25

1 yr warranty (only 90 day included) $19

DVD and CD-R will cost you $79, DVD alone $20, CD-R alone $40

It comes with no security software. $69

Looks like it will run you more than $500.

And from what I've heard, all those free dell printers require dell ink cartridges that cannot be bought at any office supply/electronic megalopolis. So that is more shipping plus the hassle of the wait.

[miloblithe]

And from what I've heard, all those free dell printers require dell ink cartridges that cannot be bought at any office supply/electronic megalopolis. So that is more shipping plus the hassle of the wait.

That makes sense. That is the fun of the inkjet market.

[maya]

That makes sense. That is the fun of the inkjet market.

Don't even open it until you have to actually use the thing. And when storing it place the ink cartridge in a air tight container. That is what any Mac user would do. ;) :)

[Doctor Q]

Just in the last month, I've been given a free very-low-end digital camera and a free very-low-end PDA from companies I do business with. The low end products have gotten cheap enough for this to happen. So I'll try not to be surprised when I'm given a free computer sometime in the future.

[maya]

Just in the last month, I've been given a free very-low-end digital camera and a free very-low-end PDA from companies I do business with. The low end products have gotten cheap enough for this to happen. So I'll try not to be surprised when I'm given a free computer sometime in the future.

Scary where Technology in the West is heading. :)

[Apple Hobo]

I saw a recent Ford commercial that advertised giving away free Dulls if you buy a Ford (Ford Freestyle maybe?).

Then there's this thread. (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=91386)

[dotdotdot]

Won't happen till ones ISP gives away a Free Modem. Maybe a Free Modem and Dell. Some local stores have that sort of offer here in Canada. :)

My ISP gave us a free modem... and free installation...

[wrldwzrd89]

My ISP gave us a free modem... and free installation...
I got a free modem too, and a free "self-installation kit", which isn't as bad as it sounds. The self-installation process is surprisingly simple.

[yg17]

No need to worry apple that the Mini is to cheap at $499. From dell you can get the following computer.

Dell 2400
Celeron 2.4Ghz
256mb RAM
40gb
CD-ROM
17" CRT
Dell Printer
$299

I had see $400 dell computers but this is amazing how cheaply dell can sell computers for.


Is that price after rebates or something? My grandpa bought an HP desktop last year and it wasnt a bad price after the several hundred dollars in rebates. He had so many rebate forms for each component and receipts and other proofs of purchase you almost needed a good lawyer to figure the damn thing. If this Dull is after a few hundred in rebates, its easier for a lot of people to spend 500 on the Mac mini then spend, say 700 on the Dull and wait around for eternity for a rebate.

If there's no rebate involved, then it still has the problem that nothing is included with it

[Abstract]

Celeron jokes aside, that really is a good deal. For the average user, that's all they need, sans CD-R perhaps.

Agreed. Maybe you see no use for this, but for someone like my mum, I feel that she'd be more than okay with this system. She doesn't need anything techy. The only person she has in her Address book is me. :o
She just needs a machine for email and to upload pictures from her digital camera to her computer.


small print:

*no free shipping on items under $499

printer cable to connect "free" printer (not included) $25

1 yr warranty (only 90 day included) $19

DVD and CD-R will cost you $79, DVD alone $20, CD-R alone $40

It comes with no security software. $69

Looks like it will run you more than $500.

So? I don't think you get the true purpose of the budget machine. Some of the things listed wouldn't come with a Mini either if it was priced at $299. You're listing those things above as if these are faults. A free printer is not a "fault" of a $299 computer. They give you a printer. No printer comes with a cable. In fact, the printer and 17" monitor are things that aren't even included in the Mini, which is TWICE as expensive. Look at what the better deal is now if Apple were to provide things to a basic user, like the monitor and printer.

The Mini would own on that Dell any day of the week. Hell, the Mini owns on any of Dell's budget models.

So the Mini would dust a Dell that's a fraction of the price? SHOCKER!!! :eek:

[Chappers]

I know what I can do with a Mac mini but what can I do with a Dull at this price? Is it any good? Ignoring the fact that its a PC.

[EJBasile]

I know what I can do with a Mac mini but what can I do with a Dull at this price? Is it any good? Ignoring the fact that its a PC.

For basic tasks its fine. Internet, word processing, etc. Its nothing special but its not that bad of a computer especally for $299 with a monitor and a printer (They are horrible, my sister got one for free with her dell and its the cheapest printer I've ever seen/used. And yes you can only order the ink online. She ended up buying an HP).

[Thomas Veil]

small print:

*no free shipping on items under $499

printer cable to connect "free" printer (not included) $25

1 yr warranty (only 90 day included) $19

DVD and CD-R will cost you $79, DVD alone $20, CD-R alone $40

It comes with no security software. $69

Looks like it will run you more than $500.I'll add to that. I can get generic ink cartridges for my Epson printer for about $6 apiece online. I recently tried finding the equivalent for my daughter's Dell printer. Best price I could find: $20 apiece. So the continuous cost-of-use is higher.

[miloblithe]

"So? I don't think you get the true purpose of the budget machine. Some of the things listed wouldn't come with a Mini either if it was priced at $299. You're listing those things above as if these are faults. A free printer is not a "fault" of a $299 computer. They give you a printer. No printer comes with a cable. In fact, the printer and 17" monitor are things that aren't even included in the Mini, which is TWICE as expensive. Look at what the better deal is now if Apple were to provide things to a basic user, like the monitor and printer."

I'm pretty sure the last printer I bought came with a cable, but perhaps I'm wrong. The shipping not being included certainly is a real factor. I'm pretty sure even the budget conscious want the computer to leave the factory and arrive at their house. As Thomas Veil ellucidates (the point I was alluding to) the free printer is actually a liability: it's a poor quality printer that ropes those who don't know better into buying very expensive ink cartriges.

On the math side, $299 plus shipping (which I maintain is something you want) is more than half of $499.

We could also mention the lack of a graphics card...

But the basic point is, I don't think this would end up being a very good computer for those who would buy it, nor would it save them lots of money.

[jayscheuerle]

Hey, THAT'S a CHEAP computer!!

Get what you pay for. Move along folks...

[miloblithe]

Hey, THAT'S a CHEAP computer!!

Get what you pay for. Move along folks...


You're right, but moving along doesn't satisfy my need to babble about innane crap.

[scem0]

small print:

*no free shipping on items under $499

printer cable to connect "free" printer (not included) $25

1 yr warranty (only 90 day included) $19

DVD and CD-R will cost you $79, DVD alone $20, CD-R alone $40

It comes with no security software. $69

Looks like it will run you more than $500.

Bah. That doesnt add up to $500. Let's get realistic:

no free shipping, true.

printer cable, 25 bucks? That must be a damn nice printer cable. They are $8.99 at my local electroncs store.

Most hardware problems will happen within the first 90 days, so I wouldn't purchase the 1 year warranty anyways.

Eh. Anyone using this computer won't need more than a CD-ROM, IMO.

No security software? If it comes with XP, it comes with windows Security System on it. Granted, it's a joke, but if you really want to protect yourself just download Zone Alarm and Ad Aware.

First off, I must say "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...a Celeron... :rolleyes:"....

The Mini would own on that Dell any day of the week. Hell, the Mini owns on any of Dell's budget models. My Dad was looking at getting a new desktop and customized a 750 Dell. Then I navigated him to the Apple site, where, with his edu discount, he could get a computer that just as fast, with more RAM, more HDD, and a much smaller footprint for 75 dollars less. He wound up getting a 630$ AMD 64 at Office Depot in the end. I guess that my reasoning didn't win out with him...

And the G4 is an amazing processor? Speedwise, I think they are very comparable. A 2.4Ghz Celeron to a 1.25Ghz G4. Oh, and the computer with the G4 will cost him twice as much.

As for your father and his customizing a computer, he must have customized it wierdly, because I want to see what $575 Dell couldn't compare to an Mac mini.


If there's no rebate involved, then it still has the problem that nothing is included with it

As I understand it, the Dell comes with a printer, a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse. A Mac mini comes with, hmmmm, a Mac Mini.


I just want to be fair about this, people. The truth is, that Dell is an awesome deal, especially given that it is almost half the price of a Mac Mini. Quit acting like that computer can't hold its own next to a mini, when it is more than sufficient to do that.

scem0

[jayscheuerle]

I just want to be fair about this, people. The truth is, that Dell is an awesome deal, especially given that it is almost half the price of a Mac Mini. Quit acting like that computer can't hold its own next to a mini, when it is more than sufficient to do that.

scem0

You get what you pay for.

What you don't get (and can't add) is a graphics card or firewire or OSX, etc.

By the time I took the monitor off this system and added everything that would get it remotely close to the specs of the mini (software too my friend), it was almost $600.

It can't compare to the mini directly, but on its own right, it is what it is: a basic, functional computer for $300 that runs XP Home Edition.

If that's what you're looking for, you've found a deal. - j

[ziwi]

is it even worth it to Dell to sell the $299 job? The margins must be low - and based on the above the add ons will up the price to something more conventional, but $299 is still quite a hook for a 2.4 GHZ machine. Add the software that would equate to the suite one gets with a Mac and maybe that inches it up closer.

[Bibulous]

But the basic point is, I don't think this would end up being a very good computer for those who would buy it, nor would it save them lots of money.

I have two people in my extended family still using old P2 350's with win98 for email, web shopping, office and digital point and shoot pictures. One did not have any antivirus software for a year and a half and was fine. Sure she types in web addresses and does not "surf", but these anti power users would be fine with a machine like this, and it comes with a monitor, keyboard and mouse!

There is a market for people who will never appreciate or care about the differences between osx (or even win98) and XP. They will be glad that they can get this for under $400, it will work, and their kids will get off their backs.

[Mantat]

I would just like to point out how bad some people are with maths here...

Saying the Dell crap is half the price of the mac mini is totaly untrue. Its 300$ vs 500$.

This mean that the mac mini is 300/500 * 100 = 60% more expensive than the Dell

And I am not talking about all the hiden cost (shipping, wasted time, etc..).

I think this Dell crap will do well with its target audience: people who dont know anything about computers and only want to go on the internet.

As for the waranty, its true that most computer problems show within the first 90 days of use. But thats if you use the computer a lot. For a casual user to reach the equivalent time usage of 90 days, it might be 6 months or more.

My guess is that Dell doesnt make any money with this computer, maybe they dont even brake even. But they know they will make money on the long run with the ink and support.

[jayscheuerle]

I would just like to point out how bad some people are with maths here...

Saying the Dell crap is half the price of the mac mini is totaly untrue. Its 300$ vs 500$.

This mean that the mac mini is 300/500 * 100 = 60% more expensive than the Dell


Heh... the Dell is 60% the price of the mini, but the mini is 67% more expensive than the Dell. $300 + (.67x300)=$500... ;)

[kosmo]

Heh... the Dell is 60% the price of the mini, but the mini is 67% more expensive than the Dell. $300 + (.67x300)=$500... ;)

Hey...he was just trying to correct your "maths." :rolleyes:

[mac-er]

small print:

*no free shipping on items under $499

printer cable to connect "free" printer (not included) $25

1 yr warranty (only 90 day included) $19

DVD and CD-R will cost you $79, DVD alone $20, CD-R alone $40

It comes with no security software. $69

Looks like it will run you more than $500.

Yeah, but the average person (ie grandma) is going to happily buy that $299 computer and not get any of the add-ons.

Then they wonder why the computer is a piece of crap 3 months later when its bogged down with spyware, viruses, etc, etc. (And, wonder why someone has stolen their identity after putting keystroke spyware on there).

The average person, that knows nothing about computers, thinks all those accessories (ie. security software) are gimmicks, and he/she doesn't know to put Zone Alarm or AdAware on his/her computer.

I think I saw in Time that about 67% of computers (Windows) are not secure.

[mac-er]

I would expect ISPs to be giving away computers for signed contracts. I'm surprised it already hasn't happened.

PeoplePC did that when they first started up. You paid like $24.95/month for the computer and ISP.

And Best Buy/Circuit City used to give away huge rebates (almost made the computer free) for signing up for whatever ISP they were dealing with at the time (Compuserve and MSN mostly).

[BornAgainMac]

I would like Dell to not selll the monitor, printer, keyboard and mouse. I want to use my own. Make that price under $150. I don't want to use that junk that give you with the computer since I have a better mouse, keyboard, networked printer, and flat screen monitor that I can toggle with an A/B switch.

Replace the Celeron with an AMD. The Celeron makes the G3 look like the Pentium M in comparison.

[mkrishnan]

I'm pretty sure the last printer I bought came with a cable, but perhaps I'm wrong.

I don't know if this has always been or is always true, but in Dec. '03, when I bought my iBook, and Apple was giving away free Epson printers with purchase, I didn't get a printer cable for my free printer from Apple either. But yes, paying $25 for a USB cable is seriously getting pwnd. I paid $18 for three, and gave one to a friend when *her* printer didn't come with a cable either. ;)

[aswitcher]

small print:

*no free shipping on items under $499

printer cable to connect "free" printer (not included) $25

1 yr warranty (only 90 day included) $19

DVD and CD-R will cost you $79, DVD alone $20, CD-R alone $40

It comes with no security software. $69

Looks like it will run you more than $500.


Lets not forget what it costs to really match iLife 05' as well.

[pseudobrit]

I just want to be fair about this, people. The truth is, that Dell is an awesome deal

It runs Windows.

Hearing "awesome deal" in regards to a Windows machine doesn't seem quite right, unless you're getting a dual 4 GHz machine for like 5 bucks and some cereal box tops.

[Mav451]

Its sad that Intel is still distributing the bad Celerons. The Celeron D's off the Prescott core (533FSB << that's how you can tell they are D-core) aren't so bad. And they are hardly that much greater in cost.

Well Intel's loss there.

(Haha, and checking NewEgg, the old Celerons are actually $5 more. Truly laughable).

They say #'s do the talking right? http://anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2093&p=10
If Intel wanted there opportunity to shed the Celeron's "craptacular" reputation, they had it here with the $299 Dells. Again, its their loss.

[coolsoldier]

See the product page at http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/low_price_dimen?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

Notice that the $299 price tag is a promotion and that the regular price is $449 -- the difference in MSRP is less than the cost of the mini's CD burner.

[Thomas Veil]

My apologies if this was mentioned before, but the current edition of MacWorld addresses a very similar subject: comparing a $399 Dell to the $499 Mac mini (http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/editors/2005/01/miniapplesandoranges/index.php).

As the article notes, comparing a $399 Dell and a $499 Mac mini is highly misleading. Even when you allow that the Dell could sell for $344 when you take away the monitor, keyboard and mouse, you'd still have to add a combo drive, a Firewire drive, a wireless card, a dedicated video card, iLife-equivalent software and a longer warranty to the Dell to make it a true comparison. In addition, anti-virus protection would be mandatory for the Dell. Where's the savings?

And imagine how much more must be lacking in a $299 Dell.

[MoparShaha]

I'm actually contemplating getting one to run as a cheap linux/windows box. $250 without monitor isn't bad. Just wish you could get it without Windows XP, it'd be even cheaper.

[deputy_doofy]

No need to worry apple that the Mini is to cheap at $499. From dell you can get the following computer.

Dell 2400
Celeron 2.4Ghz
256mb RAM
40gb
CD-ROM
17" CRT
Dell Printer
$299

I had see $400 dell computers but this is amazing how cheaply dell can sell computers for.

Admittedly, the Dell wins on price, but that's it. I have never used a Celeron that could process anything as smoothly as my G4 (1GHz). Even my old G3 @ 600MHz put Celerons to shame. All the Celerons I've used have been above 2GHz and had 384mb of RAM or more. They are just crappy, crappy chips. That is just the beginning of why this particular (Dell) spec sucks...

[1macker1]

The mac mini doesn't come with a
monitor
keyboard
mouse
printer
speakers

so what's you point?
small print:

*no free shipping on items under $499

printer cable to connect "free" printer (not included) $25

1 yr warranty (only 90 day included) $19

DVD and CD-R will cost you $79, DVD alone $20, CD-R alone $40

It comes with no security software. $69

Looks like it will run you more than $500.

I'd love to have 1 of these machince just to have 1. I just dont have space for another desktop....wake me when the laptops drop down to 500 bucks.

[SFVCyclone]

Lets not forget what it costs to really match iLife 05' as well.

Daium, that came out of no where, pretty harsh once you start using Life 05 to windows stuff, lol, cause you just cant match it. it's almost priceless. and it comes working out of the box too, but hey i have to admit, i wanna get one of those dell's just to see how fast i can get a virus on it by simply surfing, or how many pop-ups does it take to crash it, lol. :D

[wrldwzrd89]

I'm actually contemplating getting one to run as a cheap linux/windows box. $250 without monitor isn't bad. Just wish you could get it without Windows XP, it'd be even cheaper.
At $250, the price of Windows approaches or equals 50% of the cost of the computer...think about the effect on price that removing Windows would have at these low price levels.

To give an example:
For a $250 computer with Windows, I'd estimate the contribution of OEM Windows to be $100-$125. That makes the price without Windows $125-$150...pretty good deal, don't you think?

[Mantat]

To give an example:
For a $250 computer with Windows, I'd estimate the contribution of OEM Windows to be $100-$125. That makes the price without Windows $125-$150...pretty good deal, don't you think?

OEM windows is less than 10$ its not what it used to be a few years ago. MS is too scared that manufacturers start selling linux systems insted of windows (btw how are the walmart linux pc sales? didnt heard about it in a while)

[wrldwzrd89]

OEM windows is less than 10$ its not what it used to be a few years ago. MS is too scared that manufacturers start selling linux systems insted of windows (btw how are the walmart linux pc sales? didnt heard about it in a while)
Why don't I ever find OEM versions of Windows for that price on sites that offer OEM Windows? I'll admit that I haven't looked at these sites for OEM Windows in over a year - maybe my information is simply outdated.

[Mav451]

I'm actually contemplating getting one to run as a cheap linux/windows box. $250 without monitor isn't bad. Just wish you could get it without Windows XP, it'd be even cheaper.

Most people I know build their Linux box to avoid that. Heck, building it you may even be able to drop one of those beastly 90nm Sempr0ns in there =D.