Need a good boat anchor?

[LoneGman]

Or maybe a good computer (for a PC, at least) to handle any extra stuff you might need to do: Gaming, web design, etc. (Macs aren't so good at those two things, unfortunately; although they're pretty @#$@ great at everything else!) I've been bitten by the "Switcher Bug", and it's unfortunate that I had a buyer pull out at the last minute, because then I'd be posting as another Mac user... Not a PC user trying to ditch his PC and buy a Mac. And honestly, I'd like to try selling it here first, since I've never been a big "eBay-er". The machine is a BTO HP Pavilion desktop, bought 6 months ago, and still under warranty. Here's the specs:

Processor: Intel Pentium 4 running @ 3.06Ghz (With 800Mhz FSB)
Operating System: Windows XP Professional
Memory: 1GB DDR PC 3200 SDRAM (FYI, It's fairly cheap to upgrade to 2GB) Also, if you're uncomfortable about upgrading the memory yourself, I'll be more than happy to install as much additional memory as you like, and only charge you what it cost me to buy it.
Hard Drive: 160GB Ultra DMA (@ 7200 RPM)
Multimedia Drive 1: 16x DVD-ROM
Multimedia Drive 2: 4x DVD+RW/CD-RW (4 x 2.4 x 8 DVD+RW; 16x10x40 CD-RW)
Graphics Card: 128 MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200XT graphics card with TV-out; occupies 8x AGP slot
Monitor: HP Pavilion f70 17" LCD with integrated Polk-Audio speakers; capable of 1280 x 1024 resolution @ 75Hz, and has a contrast ratio of 350:1
Media Card Reader: Integrated 9-in-1 media card reader (SD, floppy, Memory Stick, etc.)
Access Ports: 8 USB 2.0 (4 front & 4 rear); 2 FireWire; headphone & mic jacks on the monitor and on the tower; Ethernet; 56K modem
Extras: If you're interested, I also have a printer available, an Epson C84, which has been described as "The Little Inkjet That Can, and DOES". Rated 4.09/5 stars according to 21 consumer reviews at Amazon.com. I'm also willing to part with my 12" x 9" drawing tablet, as well as my LinkSys 802.11b Wireless router, a LinkSys USB 802.11b Wireless network adapter and a D-Link PCMCIA Card, in case you ever feel the urge to get online with your laptop from your bathroom. I'll even help you set it up, if you'd like, if you're within driving distance. Most original boxes and packaging materials for the original components are included.
Software: If you need a specific piece of software, please let me know, as I have most anything you could ever possibly want. (Seriously folks, it's almost disgusting...) However, for purposes of legality, I will perform a clean install before shipping.

Any reasonable offers will be considered, of course!

Please direct all inquiries to [email protected]; I will make every effort to respond within an hour, if possible. You can also leave me a message at 818-825-5448 if you're local to Southern California, or if you just want to give me a ring from the UK.

Pictures available upon request... I'll just have to take some!

[this thread is also posted at forums.macrumors.com, just in case you're having Deja Vu...]

 

[Murlyn]

Where in Southern California?

 

[witeshark]

Will it be possible to have Linux instead?

 

[LoneGman]

Murlyn: Los Angeles - 213 Area Code... Echo Park, more specifically. My cell phone number is in the Valley, since that's where my GF lived before I moved down here.

witeshark: If you're interested, I'll burn you a copy of whatever distro you want... Seriously, if you'd rather have another OS, I can setup it up in a dual boot configuration pretty easily; or I can uninstall Windows and install Linux instead. Doesn't really matter to me, since it'll be your machine. You really can use it as a boat anchor if you want, but I wouldn't recommend it. *grin*

 

[Murlyn]

I need a PC since I am a web developer and sometimes do design.. and I don't know how many times what I did, didn't quite look right on a PC, but looked excellent on a mac.. so I have to buy a PC for just that tiny little reason.. it's kind of sad Your PC is probably a lot more power then I need for just checking sites on PC browsers though, unless of course you offer me a great price and I just meet you in the middle of san diego and LA, or head up to LA to pick it up myself

 

[LoneGman]

I'd love to just give it away, but then I'll never be able to afford a Mac, will I...? If I were you, and you need something just to check sites on multiple platforms, I'd go with a low-end HP. You can probably find one (2.0GHz) for around $300. Also, here's a website to check out: www.craigslist.org There's a link on there to the San Diego version of the site, and just click on 'Computers' in the For Sale section. Hope that helps, and of course, you can always make me an offer, no harm in that.

-- Michael Bankston, AKA "LoneGman"

 

[Murlyn]

What are you thinking you'll get for it? I havent been in the PC market for years.. so no clue on prices anymore

 

[LoneGman]

Well, do you want to know what I paid for it, or what I'm hoping / expecting (which aren't the same thing, strangely enough) to get...? I've used a lot of different machines, Macs included, and I know that this one more than holds its' own. I'm hoping to get around $1500 for it, honestly. I had a guy contact me this morning wanting to trade for his 15" 1.5GHz PB, so I know it's desirable to someone! (Still debating that, just because it almost seems like one of those "too good to be true" situations; we've all been there...) But I'm not too proud to tell you where the money from the sale is going, either. *cough, cough* I'm gettin' a Mac! *cough*

murlyn: If you happen to know anyone (perish the thought) that might be in the market for a good machine, could you please pass this along?

-- Michael Bankston, AKA "LoneGman"

 

[LoneGman]

Also, like I mentioned before, I'm more than willing to take offers... The worst I can do is say no, right?
-- Michael Bankston, AKA "LoneGman"

 

[Murlyn]

Ill see if there is anyone.. I doubt it though since the people that I know.. that run PC's like putting their own together. Yeah a little over my budget for a simple use like I need it for.. like you said Eventually Ill look at getting an HP or something like that.. I didn't think I would ever have to buy a PC again.. it makes me cringe just thinking about it

 

[WilliS]

murlyn...what about throwing virtual pc on your computer?

i know i do some web design here and there, and they do look different from pc to mac and such... would it look like a pc if it was run on a pc os?

 

[Murlyn]

If IE for windows renders the same on VPC as it does on windows.. then I would definitely go for that, but I have no experience with that.. Does anyone else know about this?

 

[LoneGman]

It has more to do with how the monitor renders it than how the OS does. Since Apple monitors are set at different resolutions than standard, and traditionally use different color palettes. (Some would say better, but that's why they have a web safe palette) Running VPC, even the OS doesn't look the same as it would if you were actually running it on a PC. Just those little differences.

-- Michael Bankston, AKA "LoneGman"

 

[Murlyn]

Somewhat.. some of the problems that have occured is tables shifting, regardless of resolution. Plus IE not recognizing width="85%" within table tags, etc etc. And so of course you have to do all these workarounds that way IE for PC renders correctly. All the other PC browsers seem to render things correctly, just not IE, even IE on mac renders a little better.. not much better.. but a little better

 

[LoneGman]

Hehehe... And do they have Opera on a Mac, by the by? Honestly, do you think it would be better (I.E. More successful) to offer to trade my PC straight across for a comparable Mac? Cause I really don't want to even try to sell it on eBay... Especially considering I've never used it before, except once to buy something, I'd get about zilch for it, if anyone even bid. Also, on a side-note, do you know of any other way to finance a Mac, other than through their program? I'm just trying to come up with solutions to my problem here...

-- Michael Bankston, AKA "LoneGman"

 

[Murlyn]

yeah we have opera.. mozilla is still the best though Im really not sure on the whole trade.. it might work out.. all you can do is try

No idea how old you are, but if you are young.. try through your parents.. if you are past that, then get a loan, sell your computers, sell your bedding, sell your furniture *hehe* Not all the ideas are good ones, but you should be able to figure out a way of raising some dough.

 

[LoneGman]

Sell my car... Just for future reference, I'm 22. I did have another question; what's a good price for a 17" 1.33GHz PB, still sealed in the box?

-- Michael Bankston, AKA "LoneGman"