Looking for new computer purchase suggestion

I'm looking to buy a new desktop computer for my young kids. Basically, they'll use it to play games over the internet, such as at http://www.nickjr.com/playtime/cats/games/index.jhtml?=
and
http://disney.go.com/games/#/games/

I would like to spend no more than $1000. Any suggestions?

 

Why not build one, you can spec out a pc & have it built for you cheaper than a brand, that way you get exactly what you want with no sucky programs such as Macafee or Norton *shudder*

You can save on everything you don't need too, if you know how to build a pc you can save on that cost too

:major2-Bit-Geek:major

 

honestly for internet and kid use, dont look any further than this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883103175

something like that is all they going ot need, to get a quad-core processor and 6GB of ram for a webgame seems waaay overkill.

note you might need to purchase a video card but thats only another 100dollars.

then you need a monitor, again can get a decent 17inch widescreen for around 100. and speakers, cheap set for maybe 75.

all in all its around 700-800.

PS: Newegg is absolutely amazing, if you ever want to buy anything online, go through them i would bet my life on them, they are 100% awesome.

 

Thanks for the replies. Both the above dell and newegg (Acer Veriton) suggestions look promissing. I would spec out a pc except that the choices befuddle me. I've read some posts where others have created their own spec pc. I need a monitor, keyboard, mouse, harddrive, speakers, video card, operating system ... everything typically used. I really don't want to have to put too much thought into this ('cause I can't!) If you recently created a spec for a pc system and purchased the same, please let me know. I'm willing to spend up to $2000 for a system that will last a few years w/o a need to buy more.

 

i relooked over your post and did a little bit of more shopping around and i came up with this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16883113078

already has a video card in it(depending on how graphic heavy the games they are playing, might need to upgrade) And it comes with speakers and keyboard and mouse, now these speakers are not gonna shake your whole house and make music sound like a concert but i mean hey its sound right?

i dunno what kind of monitor you need but here are a few cheap suggestions:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009127
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009158
and i personally use this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009145

Hope this helps!!

 

Hmm, NickJr. and Disney eh? What are they 6 or 7? Here's one for $400 including monitor less speakers and even this is overkill IMO. Should be good for them for three or four years at least! Now if you're going for a future proof, think of what you will be using it for first, e-mail and general browsing and letter composition or heavy state of the art computing like photo or video-editing etc.

Heck, my 7 year old Celeron can do what you currently want for your kids and perhaps yourself. Please don't forget that we are 'geeks' and love new hardware and use it for the most part. Halo's XPS is a nice machine, similar to what I built, but I can't see you needing it, not yet anyways.

EDIT: Oops, Borsung stole my thunder!

 

Uhmmmmm. The hardware will certainly last a few years whatever you buy. BUT, will the desire to use it last more than 18mo / 2yr as the pace of change
speeds up. And, of course as the kids demands grow.

Possibly cheaper and often may be better.

 

i reccommend the dell studio 15 or the dell inspiron for a reasonable budget

Studio : From 449

Inspiron : From 329

 

The "Gateway DX4720-03" recommended by Borsung (04-29-09, 15:26) above (and augiedoggie) is a deactivated item on the newegg.com site (see http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16883113078 ). Also, Gateway no longer lists DX4720-03 in its DX series. (see http://www.gateway.com/systems/series/529598086.php ). I located refurbished Gateway DX4720-03s via Google, but couldn't find any new Gateway DX4720-03s. I prefer new. My present computer runs at 3.20 GHz (1.00 GB ram), so I'm hoping for something as fast or faster (Actually, I'm not sure whether 2.50 GHz would be sufficient for my kids needs. I know that my 3.20 GHz will work, but it could be overkill).

 

Wow thats basic specs? Nice ... I'd go for that ... with perhaps an upgrade of the Graphics Card.

 

The "Dell XPS 430" recommended by Halo (04-24-09, 12:18) above is a deactivated item on the dell.com site (see http://www.dell.com/content/product.../desktop-xps-430?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=mn) ("The page you have requested may no longer exist on Dell.com"). Dell XPS 430 was released on November 11, 2008. As of May 25, 2009, it appears Dell no longer carries the XPS 430. (See http://www.dell.com/home/desktops#subcats=xpsdt&navla=&a= ).

 

If your running a dual core 3.2 or even a pentium 4 3.2 a quad core 2.4 will perform faster than both of those CPUs due to it having more cores, sometimes you cant just look at the ghz of a cpu but the L2 cache cores ect ect, they have gotten more complicated.

Really any decent modern computer is good for kid video games like zoo tycoon roller coaster tycoon, or web games like runescape or something, unless they are gonna start playing WoW or Left 4 Dead of Call of Duty 5 i would not spend much money on a uber PC if its not gonna be used. :|

 

My desktop is runnung at 3.19 GHz/1.00 GB RAM and is good for the Internet game. My other computer (1999 laptop) is running at 448 MHz/224 MB RAM, which isn't so good for the internet games. Any those two pretty much are my base lines. Borsung's probably right in that any decent modern computer is good for kid video games. I plan to use newegg.com to put together a side by side comparison.