Wanted - PC for my daughter

[Simon]

I am looking to setup a PC in my daughter's room as a surprise when she gets home in a couple of weeks. She is 11 and just needs to be able to do her homework in MS Office, Surf the net, chat with friends, store pics, play music and bomb up her MP3 player. She doesn't play high end games or the like.

I have a LCD screen and keyboard etc and just need a box that is fast enough to handle a wireless connection and the sort of tasks above.
I have been surfing eBay and will get something second hand easily enough but knowing you lot I figure someone has something sitting around that they don't want anymore.

I will prob add a large drive or an external one for her.

I can do minor repairs and am happy to pay a reasonable price and shipping.

Thanks

[Davidr]

Hi Simon,

If you can do repairs etc, then you can build a box. It is more economical to do so. Spend a little time researching compatibility of components (eg here (http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/index.cfm?a=wiki&tag=rmp_sg_whirlpoolpcs_boxes) to start to get an idea). A local store may offer some good advice as well.

It really is very easy to do. I built my last one, for the first time, having never tried it or even assisted before. If you have changed in or out components, then you can build it.

Sorry my old ones are canabalised and components used to upgrade the boys'

Cheers,
David

[Simon]

I have built one from scratch before - but she really just needs something a few years old.

someone will have one in their spare room or I will see one in the paper for $100

[Sunfish]

I'm told the Mac Mini is no longer sold new but they were never expensive (provide your own screen etc) and with the Intel chipset they run windows well but the Mac o/s and browser can save money and effort by not having to keep up to date with security.

I do it with two 'puters. The Mac for all general work and web surfing, the win-box for all the important things I do that they don't provide Mac compatability for. Sadly that's all share trading and book-keeping packages. :( But the Mac allows you to boot in either o/s.

[long88]

i have one that will suits you, pity that i am melbourne. otherwise i can help you out.

[Raddles]

Hi Simon
can I perhaps suggest a rider for a computer in a bedroom
as I think you should have any computer in a more public spot such as a study or in a family room
The reason I suggest this - is a family member more recently had a bad wake up call when her 9 year old boy was found to have been searching "naked ladies" on the computer in his bedroom then selling his print outs to his friends at school.
Obviously there was very bad consequences when this was discovered - and the computer has been removed from the bedroom.
It also means there is no distraction in a bedroom when it is time for sleep - the kids can read - but then it is bedtime.
Anyway it is off topic - but it is a problem with the surfing, chatting etc that girls can get involved with
thanks
Robyn Davis

[softmonkey]

hi simon, why not put together a NEW box thats likely to last a couple of school years and actually has enough RAM.

SHAW Xtreme-550 case = $39
ASUS M2N-MX SE motherboard with onboard video/sound/network = $59
AMD Athlon64 AM2 x2 4000+ CPU = $72
2GB Generic DDR2 800 ram = $48
W.D. 250GB IDE Hard Drive = $82

Total = $300

brilliant box for a student i reckon

cheers

[Spectre]

Simon

graysonlineis having a clearance on refurbished dell laptops if that helps ya

http://www.graysonline.com.au/sale.asp?SALE_ID=61797

[sue78]

yeah...it's so cheap nowadays I'd get a new box. I guess a few yrs old is ok...as long as it's fast. Try the trading post.

[Glebe]

The reason I suggest this - is a family member more recently had a bad wake up call when her 9 year old boy was found to have been searching "naked ladies" on the computer in his bedroom then selling his print outs to his friends at school.

I'd be proud of the little entrepreneur! ;)

[Raddles]

Hi there
did bring a smile to our faces but given it resulted in a suspension at school and John Laws sprouting about pornography on his radio show
not something that could really be condoned
thanks