Well - I'm not sure I would pay a nickel premium for an Intel processor - but to each his own.
There is a Presario 5009CL with 1 GHz Intel PIII, 128 RAM, 60GB hard drive, DVD, CD-RW, 10/100 NIC, 56K modem and 17 inch monitor for 1,099 on the Compaq web site.
The same configuration on the DELL web site - a 4100 with identical options - came up $1,647... So Intel to Intel there seems to be nearly $600 difference. So maybe I chose the wrong DELL model. I went back and tried the Dimension L - the "affordable" desktop. You can't quite get there - the biggest hard drive is 40GB, and it is a "value" drive, not an Ultra. No ability to add a CD and also a CD/RW - so no way to direct copy CDs. But it is a lot cheaper - $1,298, only $200 more than the Compaq. But the Dimension L has almost no room for expansion - that's why you can't add a second CD, for example. In terms of available slots and expansion bays, the 4100 is closer to the Presario.
As far as shipping, I can pick up the Compaq at 3 stores locally and have it tonight for zero shipping. It seems that I pay sales tax either way - maybe because I live in Texas. So the DELL comes up almost $300 more even if I go for the cheapie that doesn't really have the features I want, or over $600 if I go for the equivalent model.
I don't really understand this - I have not comparison shopped these systems in a while and expected DELL to be less expensive. |
