e-machines

Hey all, I have a friend (I use the word friend loosely. More like a nice person who lives near me for another month or so) who is looking to get a PC for under $1000. I know that building a computer is probably her best option, but I don't want to be responsible for tech support for her. So I did some browsing. Dell is out. HP/Compaq is out. I considered Gateway, but can't find anything suitable in her price range. Found an emachine that seems too good to be true.

As I understand it, emachines has obtained new management in the last year or two and has significantly improved their tech support and quality of their hardware. So I'm wondering if anyone has had recent experience with emachines. Because we're talking about an Athlon 64 3200+ system for under $700 w/out monitor. But that's still one hell of a price. Thanks in advance for any insight.

 

Dell is out? have you looked at their site

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/dimen_4700c?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
$749.00 .. and I would think that if you were considering an e-machine that this pc I posted would be more than suitable.

 

I bought an emachines notebook M6805
Right out of the box it had problems with freezing up on AC power.
I sent it in to emachines. after a few weeks I was wondering where my laptop was staying so I called them. No clue. After many frustrating calls of nobody knowing what was going on and numerous escalation orders I found out that the parts had been ordered 5 weeks after they received it. 9 weeks after they got it and many many phone calls I finally got it back(yesterday). All excited to finally have it back I turned on only to have it freeze up on me right away. After nine weeks I got it back without it being fixed how frustrating
I called the corporate office and they called me back today afternoon to tell me they will send me a replacement in 7-10 days.
Hope that helps answer your question about emachines.
And by the way emachines and Gateway are the same company.

 

Kodo@ "Dell is out? have you looked at their site"

Yeah. I know their prices. I also am familiar with their hardware-- which never runs as fast as it should based on its specs. I don't know if they put false labels on parts or what, but I know what a 2.6ghz machine should run like. I know what a 1.6 ghz machine should run like. They never do. Not out of the box, not after a format, not after throwing it out a 3rd story window. I won't buy from Dell because I don't trust them. Not to mention the fun stories I've heard about their tech support as of late.

Dynamite@ "Hope that helps answer your question about emachines.
And by the way emachines and Gateway are the same company."

hm. That doesn't sound too promising... I suppose I'll continue to look into it. While I would dread going through what you went through, and sympathise, there's no garuntee that your situation is typical for Gateway/emachines. That will weigh heavily on my decision though. Thanks for your comment.

 

I have had 4 E machines, A friend has 1,and my local union bought one last year. Havent had any problems with any of them.
For the price they are a good deal. Please note these are all desktops. I havent owned one of the notebooks.

 

Try, [H]OCP $1000 upgrade guide....

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NzY5

 

Thanks, theefool, but you have to start with a PC to upgrade it. That guide not only doesn't account for a case, a hdd, or a ROM, it is already above the $1000 mark they were shooting for. Granted, I can easily build a comparable computer for under a grand, I mentioned in my first post that I didn't want to build the machine for her. However, that could be a useful guide for someone who isn't all that into computers and wants an idea of what upgrades are key. In 3 months having selected specific parts will be a null factor, but the key ideas are there too.

Anyway, I like what I'm hearing from tarsenault. Again, you can't base your decision on a couple computers, but I think for what I'm looking to do, this emachine may be a fairly safe bet.

Thanks all! My friend won't be buying for another couple weeks, so if anyone else has anything to add, feel free.

 

Yup. That computer is really nice for the price.

It's roughly what I'd build if I were in the market to do so... and I might be in the near future. I was thinking I'd get a Mac since I'm going into graphics design, but I don't want to buy a Power PC based Mac now only to have Intel based Macs and software out in about a year or two-- leaving my Mac useless. I was just starting to build confidence in Mac only for them to do this screwball decision. I'm starting a thread to bitch...

Anyway, now I'm not sure I shouldn't stick with a Windows PC. I don't really game anymore. I just want a GOOD computer for my graphics work...stupid apple.

 

Dell is out? Priced too high and looking for something under the $1000 range?
I have personally & company-wise purchased from Dell, Gateway, Acer and small computer shop assembled. There was always something that just wasn't right according to my specs or the way I set a system. (Hate pre-loaded software).

We all have our favorites and those we steer clear of and I am always getting asked "what should I buy"; and when I toss out this item or that, they wonder why I chose that system/company.

Right now, I think that your "friend" could find many well-equipped systems from Dell and Gateway or you could build one all for under a $1000. But then it also depends on what your "friend" is planning on using the system for that determines how much of a system they should buy.

Finacee's son had an E-machine... hated it. Comes (or did) pretty as is without the real possiblity of upgrading.

But that is just my two-cents worth.