From buying this system, I firmly believe that Dell makes great computers. I had bought a Pentium I system running at 133MHz about four years ago. It worked great for 2 years, and then it lagged behind the competition. After 4 years, I just couldn’t do anything with it anymore. I needed something powerful enough to edit my movies digitally, and something that could also be an entertainment center. I looked around and compared prices with most of the major brands (Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, Quantex, Cybermax, Gateway, and Micron). The package and price that Dell was offering was better than any other computer maker.

Features:
- Intel Pentium III 933Mhz Processor
- 128 MB 133MHz SDRAM
- 45 GB ATA100 7200 RPM Hard Drive
- 8x DVD-ROM Drive
- 32 MB Geforce 2 GTS Video Card
- Sound Blaster Live Value Edition
- 19” Sony Flat-Display Monitor
- Altec Lansing Dolby Digital THX-Certified Surround Sound Speaker System with Subwoofer
- FREE 8X/4X/32X CD-RW Drive
- FREE Visioneer USB Scanner

I got this entire package for only $2700. Other computer makers had similar configurations for prices nearing $3400, with no CD-RW Drive and no scanner. I was going to get the 1 GHz processor, but that was $150 extra and would take another month. $150 for 67 MHz? I didn’t think it was worth it. This system is wonderful: it has a beautiful 19” monitor, sound that engulfs you, and the ability make your own CD’s and scan your pictures. Paired with my cable modem, this is an MP3-lover’s dream. I added an IEEE 1394 Firewire PCI Card, and edited my first digital movie recently. Out of 18000 frames that were captured, the system only dropped 3. That statistic clearly exemplifies the system’s raw power.

On the other hand, the system has some negative aspects. The main con with this system is the lack of expandability. There’s room for an internal zip drive, but there isn’t another 5 ½” bay. Also, there are only two slots for the SDRAM, which makes the limit of the system 512 MB with 256 MB Simms. Those wanting the ability of having 1 GB of RAM need to look elsewhere. There are also not enough PCI slots. I only have one left, and may have to sacrifice one of my cards to put other things in the future.

Overall, my Dell Dimension 4100 system is amazing. A FREE CD-RW and a FREE Visioneer USB Scanner round out this package. DVD playback is almost theater-like due to the large and amazingly flat 19” monitor coupled with the Dolby Digital THX-certified surround sound speakers from Altec Lansing. It’s a great system for the family, for a computer junkie, a music aficionado, a movie buff with a collection of DVD’s, and basically anyone looking for a computer with enough brains and power to carry them into the next millennium and beyond.




Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 2700.00
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Pentium III
Processor speed: 801-900
RAM: 128
Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD
Hard Drive (GB): 41-50