Browser Blues

[Van Canna]

Hi Meta,

After considering all that has been discussed, I ended up going for a Dell XP 400 as follows:

~~

Intel Pentium D 820 (2.8GHz) w/Dual Core Technology Qty: 1

[221-9946] Intel Pentium D 820 (2.8GHz) w/Dual Core Technology

[311-5362] 2GB DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz

[310-5234] Dell USB Keyboard

[464-6873] 19 in (19 in viewable) E193FP Flat Panel Display

[320-4293] 256MB PCI Express x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) nVidia GeForce 6800

[420-5455] Dell 924 Printer Driver

[341-1056] 160GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)

[341-2457] No Floppy Drive Requested

[420-5585] Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, English without Media, for Dimension

[412-0688] Image Restore

[412-0721] Dimension Dell Support

[420-4927] Windows Media Player 10

[463-2282] Dell Owners Manual installed on your system, click on icon after system set-up to access

[420-5460] Complimentary courses: Look for EU icon

[420-5476] Dell Direct Download

[310-6264] Dell USB 2-button mouse

[430-1455] Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet

[313-2279] 56K PCI Data Fax Modem

[412-0705] Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0

[313-3737] 16X DVD-ROM and 16X DVD+/-RW

[420-5079] PowerDVD Software Decoding forDVD

Drives

[313-3773] X-Fi PCI Sound Card

[313-3807] Dell A525 Speakers

[412-0853] Network Associates McAfee 7.0 English, 3 Year Subscription

[412-0687] NETZERO ISP

[412-0625] Dell/My Way Home Page

[420-3224] Broadband Icon for Inspiron

[412-0787] AOL for Broadband

[420-5256] Netscape ISP

[412-0449] Microsoft Office 2003 Basic Edition,Dimension,DHS

[950-3339] 3 Year Limited Warranty

[412-0359] Soft Contracts - Qualxserve

[902-4502] Type 15- Third Party At Home Service with Nights and Week ends, 24x7 Technical Support, 2 Year Extended

[960-6160] Type 15- Third Party At Home Service with Nights and Wee kends, 24x7 Technical Support, Initial Year

[960-8680] Warranty Support, Initial Year

[960-3642] Warranty Support, 2 Year Extended

[981-0418] Home PC Installation plus File and Setting
Transfer

[320-4157] Multimedia TV Tuner with Remote Control


[412-0865] Basic digital Music, Photo and Game experience

[420-5139] QuickBooks 2005 Special Simple Start Edition

[310-5408] Free Recycling Kit

[464-5503] PC Restore Recovery System by Symantec



$2,192.00
Shipping and Handling: $0.00
Tax: $9.95
Total: $2,201.95

Order detail

Dell Photo All-In-One Printer 924 Qty: 1 Unit Price: $75.00

[221-9696] Dell Photo All-In-One Printer 924

[310-4168] Dell USB Printer Cable - 10 ftblack

[960-4638] No Warranty, Year 2 and 3

[960-2840] Warranty Support, Initial Year

[960-8500] Type 11 Contract-Printer Advance Exchange Limited Warranty

[983-2207] Thank You for buying Dell

~~

Not sure if I have made the right choice but I liked the XPS better support technology, and quiet running.

Here is what I want to bring to your attention for comments:

Home PC Installation plus File and Setting Transfer

~~

When ordering on the phone, I was assured that this is a ‘no lifting a finger’ service, whereby the technician dispatched to my home, will remove the old system from my cabinet, open the boxed new system, install it and do all files and SETTINGS transfer from my ’98 to the new one, with no gig limits.

Does that sound plausible?

~~~

And

Free Recycling Kit

They will take my old PC and components and ‘cart them' away for recycling.

Question: When the transfer of files and ‘settings’ is done_ will the old hard drive be empty? Or will it need to be ‘wiped clean] and shredded nevertheless?

If so, what do I tell the technician or do?


Again, many thanks for your education and advice.

[f.Channell]

Last time I ditched my computer I opened it up and drove the head of my axe up and down until everything was dust inside.

I'm assuming this rendered my old info useless?
I also saved the cost of software.



F.

[Van Canna]

[-Metablade-]

When ordering on the phone, I was assured that this is a ‘no lifting a finger’ service, whereby the technician dispatched to my home, will remove the old system from my cabinet, open the boxed new system, install it and do all files and SETTINGS transfer from my ’98 to the new one, with no gig limits.
Does that sound plausible?

Meta:
On the computer:
Sounds like a nice setup. It should serve you well.
Hardware looks good. However,
I won't comment on the price you paid.
Value differs for each of us.

Yes, in theory, it is possible, but remember, "settings" = Registry entries. XP and '98 are two different animals.
Also, your hardware is different.
There isn't any way to do a fire and forget method of complete settings transfer from two separate O/S's
Files, yes. Settings, no.
What is involved is manually editing the Registry, and duplicating it within XP's. The problem is, unless the tech knows every detail of your hardware and software setup from a Registry point of view, this really isn't possible.
Besides, the "techs" who work for Dell, or "Best Buy" etc, etc,...usually are unseasoned kids. (Otherwise they'd be working for a large corporation) Get my drift?

I think what they probably mean by "settings" is that they'll
Transfer the files, and your Favorites, and set up your email and Desktop the way you like it. Simple stuff.


And

Free Recycling Kit

They will take my old PC and components and ‘cart them' away for recycling.

Meta: What they mean is, they'll take it away, and sell it to a clearing house. Sheesh..what a racket. I must be in the wrong business!


Van Canna wrote:
Question: When the transfer of files and ‘settings’ is done_ will the old hard drive be empty? Or will it need to be ‘wiped clean] and shredded nevertheless?
If so, what do I tell the technician or do?

Meta: My advice, tell him (The tech) to take the Hard Drive out, and give it to you. Don't depend on his word.
Think about it: You are trusting someone you don't know, is probably just skilled enough to be dangerous, makes a bit more than minimum wage, and now has access to years of your personal info.
I'll let you decide.
But if it were me, yes, I'd force him to give me the HD, and then use it for target practice.
BTW, physically destroying the HD will negate the extra work involved with "wiping" it.

Always a pleasure!

[-Metablade-]

Last time I ditched my computer I opened it up and drove the head of my axe up and down until everything was dust inside.

I'm assuming this rendered my old info useless?
I also saved the cost of software.



F.

Schwweeet! My kinda guy!


BTW: Yes.
Hard Drive utterly smashed = safe method for a "wipe."

[Van Canna]

You are correct Meta. I expect surprises all the way around, and We know that what a salesperson tells us to make a buck, is not necessarily reflected by an independent contractor when he shows up at the house.

Transfer the files, and your Favorites, and set up your email and Desktop the way you like it. Simple stuff.

Yes, what I intend to do_ only.

As to the price_ a hose job_ on this stuff is part of my ongoing education.

I mostly pay for convenience when I buy stuff, one of my serious flaws.

As to recycling_ they will provide me with a ‘sticker’ for me to place on boxed old stuff and to call a recycling company to cart it away. What I have done is calling my kids and friends and asked them to take whatever they can use of the old stuff.

Meta: My advice, tell him (The tech) to take the Hard Drive out, and give it to you. Don't depend on his word.

True. On a follow up call, I was told the tech would not take the old stuff, since it belongs to me to do as I wish.

I will have my kid take out the old hard drive and then place it at my gun club’s 100-yard range, and kiss it goodbye with a .300 _ Nosler partition bullet_ from my Weatherby Magnum.



Again, many thanks.

[-Metablade-]

I will have my kid take out the old hard drive and then place it at my gun club’s 100-yard range, and kiss it goodbye with a .300 _ Nosler partition bullet_ from my Weatherby Magnum.



Again, many thanks.

Best Laugh I had all day!
Right on!!!
I can see it now: Weatherby 's Disk wipe!
Now in 5.56mm!!