Dude, You're Getting A Dell! (And Saving a Lot of Money, too)
Written: Jan 08 '04 (Updated Dec 31 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great computer
Cons: CD drive problems.
The Bottom Line: A great deal.
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| Bruguru's Full Review: Dell Dimension 2400 (2400-PROMO) PC Desktop |
It’s simply amazing how much computing power you can buy for just a little money these days. Not long ago, you couldn’t touch anything approaching the latest in computer technology for under $1000; many systems cost at least twice that much. And today, of course, you can still spend that much and more if you want to. But before you do, I strongly suggest that you stop and ask yourself just what you’ll be using your computer for. Unless you’re a hardcore gamer, chances are you don’t need a state-of-the-art system. You can, however, save yourself a lot of money and still buy a very nice computer.
There are certainly plenty of brands to choose from. Dell, Gateway, HP-Compaq, Alienware, Emachines, and many more. I’ve never been a fan of Emachines. I have had good luck with Compaq computers, but they were recently bought out by HP, a company I also would rather avoid. My last two desktop systems have been Gateways, and I loved them. I also currently own a Dell laptop that has performed admirably.
So, when the time came to buy a new desktop system, I decided it was going to be either a Dell or Gateway. In the final analysis, price became the final determinant between the two, and the Dell Dimension 2400 got the nod.
Computers change quickly, and so a bit of an update is in order: Epinions lists the processor as a 2.2 gigahertz Celeron, but this has recently been upgraded to 2.4. In addition, promotions seem to be the norm nowadays in the computer business, and the 2400 I purchased from Dell included a free memory upgrade and a free DVD burner. So, to start, lets cover some of the features the Dell 2400 currently includes:
-Intel Celeron Processor 2.4 Ghz
-40 GB Hard Drive
-256 MB RAM
-CD ROM Drive Bay 1, CD/DVD RW Drive 2
-6 USB 2.0 Ports, two front, four rear
-Standard I/O port, parallel port, serial mouse keyboard interfaces
-56K modem
-Network Interface Card
-Keyboard, mouse, speakers
-Backup software on CD
-17 Inch monitor
Ordering
Amazingly, all this comes for an incredible $499 with a $100 mail in rebate, bringing your total cost down to $399 before shipping. Of course, you can customize your computer, and I suggest you do so. I didn’t need the monitor, so I removed it for a savings of $50. I upgraded my hard drive to a 40 GB 7200 RPM Ultra DMA model for just $10 more. You can also add RAM, hard drive capacity, or upgrade to a Pentium processor for additional cost. You’ll note that a standard floppy disk drive is no longer included. It too can be purchased at extra charge, but the 1.44mb file size of the format has rendered it virtually obsolete.
Software
The Dimension 2400 comes preloaded with the Windows XP operating system. Additional software includes Money 2004, Encarta 2004, Corel Wordperfect, Musicmatch Jukebox, and other programs. Trial versions of MaCafee antivirus and Paintshop Pro are included too along with six free months of AOL or Earthlink for new accounts.
You can add software at the time of purchase if you like, but this will increase the cost of your system. Overall, the software included with the 2400 is limited, but adequate to get you started.
Shipping
Free shipping was not included with this offer, and was $99 for ground, $120 for second day air. I opted for the latter and got my system in a very short period of time. I placed my order on a Thursday and received my computer the following Tuesday.
Performance
My system has worked just fine so far, and I’m very happy with it overall. Although the video memory is shared (64MB), I haven’t had a problem. All of my games, including a few fairly recent memory hogs like Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds, run very smoothly with beautiful graphics even at the highest detail settings.
I have had a problem with a few older games and programs. The system might just be too fast for them, since some overload during install attempts. This is not likely caused by any flaw in the 2400, however. Aside from games, just about everything runs smoothly, especially AOL 9.0, which wreaked havoc on my laptop and old desktop.
DVDs and CDs burn easily and quickly with the included software. And that brings me to the one flaw I have so far encountered. For some reason, both drives have a hard time reading CDs burned on another computer. I’ve tried disks recorded on three separate systems, and all take an inordinate amount of time to be read. Some can’t be read at all.
Multitasking has not been a problem, either. I can easily run AOL 9.0, six or seven windows of Internet Explorer, Microsoft Word, and Musicmatch Jukebox without even the slightest hiccup. Likely this might not have been so easy with 128 MB of RAM, so the free upgrade is a welcome plus. Of course, you can upgrade the RAM yourself up to one Gigabyte total. This should not void your warranty, either: the users manual gives clear and concise instructions on the procedure.
The speakers are standard and while they don’t sound bad, they don’t sound all that great either. Best to replace them or order a better set, if you don’t already own a decent pair. The keyboard is easy to the touch if limited in extra functions. The mouse is standard with two buttons and scroll wheel. A Dell mouse pad was also included.
Tech Support
So far, this is an unknown. But that may well be a compliment to Dell. Truth be told, setting up and operating the computer are simple operations. In fact, my beloved Barbara already had the entire system set up when I got home from work on the day of delivery. Dell includes easy online support, an easy to read manual and assembly chart, and software tutorials on the hard drive.
Important Hint
if your system includes a rebate, get cracking on it as soon as you receive your system. You only have thirty days to send in the forms, after which time your request will not be honored.
Servicing
If you need to gain access to the inside of the computer to add RAM, clean the interior, upgrade a video card or the like, you'll be happy to know removing the cover of your PC is a piece of cake. There are no screws, instead the side panel of the computer easily slides off once a latch is released.
Overall
This is a great computer at a great price for most household users. My final price breakdown was $499 - $50 for the monitor -$100 rebate $10 hard drive upgrade $120 shipping for a grand total of $479. That’s not bad at all for a computer with a DVD burner. It’s perfect for our needs, and as we like to say, Dude, we’re glad we got a Dell!
Please Note: The amount paid figure I have given for the system includes shipping, since I believe the total price paid should reflect this figure.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 479
Operating System: Windows
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