Help selecting desktop from many models/series available

[Sand]

I have been searching through the desktop models online, and got so confused, I just printed them all out so I could compare them easier, but that didn't help to narrow it down much.

I'm trying to decide what basically is the difference between the A , M and S Series. I read that the S series is the smallest, but other than that, some of the prices in each category are higher than some in the other.

But I guess my question is, what is it that puts them in these separate categories because if taken singly, there are some with the same specs in one series as others in another series?

Is the Pentium 4 processor always a better choice than the Celeron?

After choosing the tower system and specs, then you have to start over with the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers.There doesn't seem to be any packages where they all come together for one price.

I don't need it for gaming, music or movies; just word processing, email, research at home.

Would I basically choose the same specifications for the desktop as I did for the ThinkPad, because I just did this, or would this be comparing apples to oranges?

It seems like many here have the A Series, so maybe this would narrow it down, how did you settle on this one ?

So basically, would the difference in prices and quality be simply higher processor, memory and hard drive numbers, and everything else is pretty much equal?

Thank you,
Sand

[jdhurst]

I chose the A series because, at the time: (1) it was commercial with a three-year warranty; (2) it was cost-effective (there were pricier machines but I didn't need them; (3) it continues to do everything I want (see my list in the Desktop forum - includes VMware and multiple virtual machines). ... JD Hurst

Note to Bill (the only moderator) - please move Sand's post and my reply to the Desktop forum and we'll pick it up from there. Thank you.

[Sand]

Thanks for moving that post, so that it can be read, and also for the replies.

I think the A series will probably be my choice, but since there are so many different model numbers, I'm still trying to decipher the differences.

Tell me if I'm wrong, but it seems the increase of price is mainly the size of processor and hard drive and amount of ram. But is there anything that you would want different in the desktop from the laptop, other than size of monitor because I just did all this for the notebook. I could just select the same features/specs.

The one you recommended, Sasha, I noticed did not have the DVD. I was originally singling out the DVD models , but maybe I would not need it anyway since I have it in the T42, and Tivo?

I've noticed that some models that are less expensive have a 3 yr warranty, while other more expensive models have only a 1 yr, Seems like it would be the other way around.

I'm probably anguishing over this a little, but it may have to last me a long time, and since I'm not technologically gifted to add/or repair components and parts, I would like to have something that will last me a long time without problems. I have learned more about computers than I ever wanted to know since I got started ,due to so many problems with the first one. So I'm choosing IBM for their quality and good reputation and hopefully less troubles.

I keep wondering why they say computers only last about three years or so. If after that time it stills does everything you bought it for, isn't that all you care? I mean, are they just talking about software ?

Thanks for your help,
Sand

[Sasha]

No, typically speaking you would want the same things in your desktop as you want in your laptop. Howevre, desktops are much cheaper for the same specs as a laptop, because they are not miniauterized (spelling ) and also sell in larger volumes.

Prices are driven in computers higher because of an increase in the following (only a brief listing):

Slower vs. Faster processors
Smaller vs. Larger hard disks
Slower vs. Faster hard disks
Lesser RAM vs. More RAM
Slower RAM vs. Faster RAM

The three year period is only for determining the technology. Things are changing so fast in the electronics industry that by the end of three years, new formats arise which are not always backward compatible. However, it doesn't mean that computers stop functioning. Like you mentioned, a computer will still be able to do the things it was supposed to, even after three years of purchase. But after three years, it may not do SOME things which are new. You need to determine you current and expected usage from you proposed computer, and finances permitting, go some steps beyond what you require, hoping that the computer you purchase will not be made obsolete in the near future.

And as far as other desktop manufacturers go, I have an Dell Inspirion (PIII 800 MHz, 128 MB RAM) bought 4 years ago and still going strong . You can explore other manufacturers too, since most of the reputed manufacturers have appreciable quality (atleast in the desktop arena) vis-a-vis IBM (Disclaimer: I am not associated with any computer manufacturer).

When you say DVD, do you want the capabilites to play a DVD or do you want to record DVDs?

[Sand]

Sorry so late getting back to your question.

About the DVD, I'm not sure if I would use it as much for recording, as for playing, but I thought the unit was both anyway. I have recorded programs from TV and played on the notebook. For some reason, it would not play in the DVD drive on the desktop. I probably wouldn't record as much from the computer, as I guess I could just go back to the website. I'm not really into any of this too much yet, it is still all pretty new to me, but I am just trying to think ahead, like you say, and have read that DVD's are becoming more the thing for the future. I suppose it wouldn't be a big deal to just get it, because I noticed that some of the models that feature it already installed are not more expensive than some that don't. This is partly what confuses me about the choices.

Maybe you could tell me this, too. When I go to IBM online and customize a desktop model, does this mean that the choices I make will be already installed in the pc when I get it, like extra memory, or hard drive, or are these sent separately for me to put them in myself? If the machine comes with 256 Ram, and I select that I want 512, will it arrive with the 512 already installed?

I know that there is also a choice further down the page to order more things externally, but that is aside from the customizing part. I guess I should call IBM and ask them.

Thanks,
Sandra

[mattfromomaha]

Maybe you could tell me this, too. When I go to IBM online and customize a desktop model, does this mean that the choices I make will be already installed in the pc when I get it, like extra memory, or hard drive, or are these sent separately for me to put them in myself? If the machine comes with 256 Ram, and I select that I want 512, will it arrive with the 512 already installed?

If you order a customized PC, everything should be installed from the factory. However, if you just upgrade something simply like memory on a "floor model," my experience is they ship it to you to install, which is pretty simple to do.

I agree with the consensus to look for an A series. The S is "small form factor" and made for when you need to put it in a very tight space. The M is pretty similar to the A. In fact, my understanding is that the only difference is that 1) all M series come with a 3-year warranty while only certain A series do, and 2) the individual models of the M series are kept in production over a longer time period to allow companies buying a large quantity over six months or a year to get the identical computer. I may be wrong here, though.

With that said, the IBM website isn't the greatest at listing all models. I would venture to CDW.com and search "ThinkCentre A50 tower" and then sort by lowest price to get a good look at the models available.

As for some specific models that you may look into, I pulled the following off the CDW site: the 809022U is pretty good at $700 with 3 gHz with a CD-RW/DVD. It only has a one-year warranty, but you can purchase the upgrade to 3-year onsite for $140 and buy a 512 memory stick for $75. All in all, that would be a pretty decent system.

I guess we'd need to have a better idea what you are planning to do with your machine. Once we know that, we could make some specific recommendations.

Some intial things to consider, though, are as follows:
-I would make sure to get a three-year onsite warranty. If you aren't comfortable working on things yourself, it is much easier to have the technician come to you to fix any potential problems than to ship it to IBM. My parents have an A50 with a power supply that crapped out, and I just told them to call IBM and send someone out. Two days later, a knock at the door and a quick fix.
-I would try to get a Pentium 4 with no less than 3 gHz. I think with that much power you should be pretty happy.
-It is typically far more cost-effective to purchase a model with as little RAM memory as possible and then buy more RAM from a different source, such as crucial.com. I know you're not comfortable with tinkering inside the box, but adding memory is truly almost as easy as pushing the power switch to turn on the computer. I'd even be happy to send you a step-by-step photo tutorial.
-There is a free external bay on the comptuer, so should you purchase a CD-burner that is not able to burn DVDs you can always add the capability down the road. Again, not a hard upgrade, but more involved than adding memory. You could purchase the burner at a local store and have them install it.

So, Sand, I guess the next step is to describe exactly what you want to do with your computer to us, and we can make some specific recommendations as to that you should do.