OT? Need recommendation on PC purchase for my small business that is Y2K compliant and ready. Experts please help.

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Our printer died today, it's an old one and my wife hates it. We find ourselves unable to send out invoices at this time. We've decided to purchase a complete new computer with printer and bells and whistles since they are relatively cheap compared to just purchasing a new printer. I don't need a Cray or anything big. We're just a mom and pop shop. Anybody out there deal with Dell? thanks in advance.

-- dozerdoctor (dozerdoc@yahoo.com), December 04, 1999

Answers

Apple would be a good choice.

-- Maggie (song bird@iwon.com), December 04, 1999.

I don't have the answers on the y2k probs with PC's (see Gary North), but if you want a Dell, I bought a refurbished Dell w/3 year warranty and really like it, the prices on refurbs are great.

http://www.dell.com/html/us/outlet/index.htm

-- impala (impala@wild.com), December 04, 1999.


Maggie, what kind of apple do you recommend? I've no experience with them.

Impala, I've been looking through Dell's web site. Their refurb's don't look bad. I've owned a cannon printer and had terrible trouble with it. Any printer advice? thanks again

-- dozerdoctor (dozerdoc@yahoo.com), December 04, 1999.


I had a Canon printer. It died on me. The repair shop said it was best to bury it, since they'd had lots of problems with them. Now, I have a Hewlett-Packard DeskJet, I've carted it all over the east and southeast, and it's still clunking along. Just FWIW.

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), December 04, 1999.

Dozerdoctor,

The reason I suggested an Apple,was because I saw a program on TV in which an independant agency tested pc's that were Apple's and IBM's or IBM compatables.They tested them for any gliches do to y2k problems and I believe Apple was the only one that passed their testing.I have a friend who owns a chemical testing lab,she swears by her Apple computer that she uses in her business.

I have a Lexmark color ink jet printer.I really like it and have had no problems with it.You may check around tho and see what others say.

I don't know what type Apple computer to suggest,I'm sure their are others that know alot more then I do when it comes to which of the Apple's to select for your business,if that is what you decide to do.

-- Maggie (song bird@iwon.com), December 04, 1999.



The company I work for mostly gets dells. They generally work ok.

If you are comfortable with PCs, stay with a PC. If you are uneasy with normal maintenance tasks on a PC, a MAC could be better, depending on the availability of suitable applications for your business.

There are many other brands of computer available as well. I would tend to look for a decent price on a Celeron of any speed with a larger hard disk than you ever expect to use.

The most important part is backing up your critical data often.

I would not expect a Y2K hardware problem with any Pentium or AMD K6 based computer. WIndows 98 would likely come with it, and you would need to check Microsoft's web site regularly to ensure there are no updates. I use Win95, and there have been several updates to it.

The important question is the individual applications you use, and checking each one is needed. No easy answer there. Good Luck!

-- Peter Attas (pattas@ricochet.net), December 04, 1999.


First, find the software that best fits your needs, regardless of what platform it runs on. It's your business that's important, not the computer.

Then, find the best deal on a computer that runs that software. Prices are really good right now.

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), December 04, 1999.


Thanks everyone, The software that we use is simple office type stuff. We currently use Quicken, but I'm not real thrilled with it. My wifey has to work with it everyday while I'm out bustin my knuckles. I use the machine to surf the web and goof around. Our tax accountant uses quicken so to be compatible with her system I guess thats what we'll stick with. Thanks again, all input will be considered.

-- dozerdoctor (dozerdoc@yahoo.com), December 04, 1999.

My company has been buying Gateway for the past year or so, because they offered us a better deal than Dell. But we did buy a half dozen or so Dells a while back. Both are just fine.

I'm not an Apple guy, so I really can't comment there. But the real question is software. If you plan on moving any of your existing databases to the new machine, you may have some problems going from a PC to an Apple. <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), December 04, 1999.


If ya need a cheap refurb solution, go to:

http://www.intellesale.com

Lower grade Pentium machines are cheap. I'm buying a 133 IBM for $650.

Cheap Kook

-- Y2Kook (y2kook@usa.net), December 05, 1999.



Dozerdoctor,

In case you decide to go with a Pentium III,QVC (a home shopping program on TV)is now featuring a computer by Pionex Intel,Pentium III with 56 K modem,USB PC cam--640 by 640 resolution,500 MHz,20 GB HD with 44 programs.The printer that comes with it,is a Lexmark 1200 by 1200.Price $1,448.Oh,it also includes a 17 inch monitor.It has alot of other features.I am only a long time customer of QVC.I always watch to see what the special value of the day is and this is todays special value.

-- Maggie (song bird@iwon.com), December 05, 1999.


Peter Attas:

We use both Mac and Win machines. We have been working with Win updates for some time. I would check the MS site every day. There are many patches. Most of these don't [at least rationally] effect our operations. Knowing is really a crap-shoot.

Best wishes,,,,

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), December 05, 1999.


I've never had a problem migrating PC files to a Mac. On the other hand, I just bought a new PC box to keep up with PC systems in general... I gave up on them last year.

I haven't done any work on it yet. All my time has been spent rebooting, downloading drivers that don't work, rebooting, installing and uninstalling software that crashes my system (if you can call it one), rebooting, taking aspirin, trying to understand what possible 'illegal operation' I performed and, of course, rebooting.

I'm still using my Mac to do any work because I don't have the time to do blitz the hard disk, repartition in DOS and clean install everything then start rebooting again and again and again...

What pathetic people we are to accept such indignity heaped on us by Microsoft and Intel.

I now have to add a line in case Micorsoft IE cuts off the last characters when I hit the Submit b

-- PNG (png@gol.com), December 05, 1999.


Howdy PNG, long time no see! So how's it going? I was asking about you just a few days ago. Glad to see that you are still checking in once in a while.

Yes, you do have some very valid points. Things were so much nicer, and easier, in the old DOS days. Even Win/3.11 wasn't too bad. Throw in a Novell server, and wou had a nice stable environment. The price of progress I guess. Maybe someday they'll have this new technology figured out.

Give me a big old mainframe, and a bunch of dumb 3270 terminals any day...

Tick... Tock... <:00=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), December 05, 1999.


Hi Sysman... I'm doing OK here in Japan and thanks for asking. How's life for you?

I still check in here sometimes, but not too often. It's hard to believe we're only a few weeks away from rollover time, isn't it? This last year has flown by...

I'm going to post something here around 6PM (US-EST) on New Year's eve about the rollover in Japan. It will be about 7 AM New Year's Day here. I hope it's a boring report!! Take care.

-----

-- PNG (png@gol.com), December 06, 1999.



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