Can anyone recommend a PC in the $500 range ? Its for my mother in-law, doesnt need anything fancy, but Id sooner avoid buggy crap if at all possible. Prefer 512 RAM and monitor included, plus it needs NIC.

Try Dell Outlet

Take a look at www.gotapex.com for good deals too.

Check out the reconditioned systems at www.pcmall.com

Never received a bad one and get more bang for yuor buck for a descent home PC.

I’d never buy a dell because some of their parts are preparatory (power supplies), and I’d stay away from Emachines too because the parts that they use are just junk. HP, gateway, anything else is fine.

I would stay away from HP. CDOT just did a large roll-out, 500+ computers and their hard drives are failing 1-2 per day. Seems HP decided to use them cheap Samsung drives.

Thanks for the suggestions.

You're joking, right?

Gateway used to be decent, they completely fallen by the wayside. Compaq and HP suck ass.

I'm not saying Dell is the cream of the crop, but the three above just stink, period.

I think that was supposed to be proprietary, folks.

There is not a thing wrong with any of the major vendors. They all suck equally, but at the current prices PC's are disposable anyway. If you get a couple of years out of 'em, your probably doing good.

Personally, no harder than it is these days to just snap the parts together, I would look at this system guide and just build one. You would end up with a system that has a lot better quality parts, and allot more functionality.

My eMachines T4200 bought two years ago still works fine! I even threw it on the floor and the only damage it sustained was the casing, CD & disk drives which I replaced with parts from my older computer. I'm pretty satisfied with it.

Everybody uses proprietary equipment. Dell uses the least amount and thier stuff is cheaper to replace than compaq, hp, or Gateway.

get a Dell.

There's nothing wrong with eMachines. Their laptops are apparently pretty damn decent, and a really good bang for the buck.

Still, your best get is to go to one of those non-chain computer stores and see what they have. I just bought seven PCs at $309 CDN each. They aren't for gaming, but will be great in the office they're headed for.

our family has 3 hp desktops and 2 hp laptops... no complaints.

Get a Dell. Visit www.gotapex.com for almost daily deals on plenty of models under 500 dollars. Dell using a proprietary power supply is a total non-issue, especially compared the junk Compaq and now HP are dumping on the market.

I'm typing this reply on my almost 3-year-old Dell Latitude laptop. This is the laptop that I carry back and forth to work every day. This is the same laptop that I've banged around outside at jobsites, worked with in moving cars, dropped a couple of times (in carrying case) at airports, etc.

Aside from the F12 key popping off the keyboard one day (Dell came to our office the next day and replaced the keyboard right at my desk), I've not had problem one.

We have a Dell Dimension desktop in the guest room that the family uses. I've had it about 2 years and haven't had a problem except my daughter broke off the flip-up door that covers the front-mounted USB ports.

I will say that their tech support/service is running downhill at the moment, though.

i think all computers are relativly decent, it just depends on the user how long the computer will last. I still have a 6 year old compaq laptop that still works great. It might be slow as hell but it still runs great. I just got a new compaq laptop and i love it. I also have a couple dell and emachines desktops. No complaints

I just sold and installed a handful of "ultra cheap" PCs for a client. Each box cost me $325 Canadian (built and OS installed), came with a Celeron 2.4ghz, 256MB, 40GB drive, cd burner, onboard sound and video. They're pretty snappy systems for regular business apps, I'd easily recommend anything this cheap and 'low end' for non-hefty-3d-gaming environments. Truth of the matter is, even today's slowest systems are stupid-fast. They all boot up in a jiffy, everything runs like a champ, and everybody's super happy.

Go with a Dell and pay for a long warranty, its worth it. They have very good turnaround time and EVERYTHING is covered on the warranty: if she spills water all over the computer and fries a ram chip, its covered.

That's only with their Complete Care Warranty isn't it? Last time I checked it was pretty expensive (cost me $400 for 3 years on my new funky laptop, the mini 700m).

Otherwise it only covers defects, not fuck ups.

Why do people bash Gateway systems?
I've had a Gateway 510 professional for a little over year now and I love it. Here's the system specs:
Intel MicroATX motherboard
Intel P4 2.6ghz 512k L2 cache
512megs Samsung Ram
Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 Video Card
Foxconn M-ATX Case
creative soundblaster audigy2 sound card
Delta 300W PS
I have yet to get one single blue screen or lock up since I've had this computer.
The best part is none of the parts are proprietary, there's nothing in this case that I can't get from Newegg.com.

And the 2nd best part is when I call Gateway tech support I can talk to an American voice that I can understand.

The secret is to know exactly whats in the computer your buying not just the processor speed and if it has a DVD-RW.