Time for some purchases to help out the US economy and pull us out of the coming recession.

Desktop PC is a Dell but it's six years old - any ideas for a good deal on a new desktop PC that can be used for digital photography (wife's main hobby is photography)?

I've been reading that Dell's customer service has gone to hell recently so I'm thinking another brand or just going down to local MicroCenter.

My TV is old cathode ray 36" (8 years old) so we're looking at 40" plus plasma/LCD/DLT etc. etc. - so many acronyms which are confusing (what's the best value right now). Also, is HDTV included or just HDTV compatible (need to buy digital tuner) a better idea?

Any suggestions would be appreciated - I plan on doing some research this weekend but figured I'd start here

I'm also in the market for a new desktop and I've been looking around quite a bit. Bad customer service or not, Dell is pretty much impossible to beat in terms of value. If you want to avoid their c.s. department you could always buy it off ebay instead. Shipping is almost always more expensive via ebay, but you can usually shave a few dollars off the sale price so it pretty much evens out.

Edit: if the monitor isn't too important to you (the best you can get with this deal is a 19-inch analog flat), I think this is the best deal they have going:

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/con...s50604f&x=7&y=7

A few necessary upgrades and you've got yourself a really nice pc for $600.

Dell XPS


And the XPS customer service is separate from regular Dell, and you get a special customer number and whatnot. Hoosier used it once and said they were unbelievable.

Get HDTV Tuner included. HDTV comp just means you'll have to buy a tuner at a later time to get HD. If you're gonna spend $1800-2000 for a TV, the $300-400 (just throwin out numbers from memory) is by far worth it.

I got a 56" (or 57"?) Toshiba HD rear projection, which I am very happy with, after much research a few years ago. A buddy of mine got the same model recently which had some nice new features added.

edit, I didn't like my joke



Buy 3 hookers

that is a night that will live in infamy.

You haven't lived until you have one sucking the head, one doing the harmonica on the shaft and one with your sack in her mouth, all the while, you are palming their asses_

some people just don't know how to spend money

Computer?

:shaking my head in disgust while laughing at you:

Ron, that's our Gold package here at the brothel and it retails for $899


I would suggest upgrading to the Platnum for just $200 more though...




It includes all the above plus:


tongue studs (spiked or round) and Pop-Rocks candy

personal lubricant package (ran out of KY... offering Ben Gay now, burns a little but no extra charge)

full access to the S&M room (voted loosest sluts by CasinoPlayer mag)




On a happier note, I'm proud to announce the opening of my newest buisness venture...



Beans-n-Icewater proudly presents....

PU' at the Western Casino

Where the night comes alive... but you'd swear something died

The place to be in downtown Vegas...

No dress code...

Great food and drinks at Beano's Cellar and Icewater-n-hole

Please... no shopping carts or wool coats on the dance floor

Free admission...




Oxygen bar $5 a minute










*edit*


I took this pic on the way to the grand openiong of PU'.... Its kinda my hangout

Where else can you buy HOT bottled beer for just 99 cents??? Vegas Baby!!!!

The whole post was funny, but that is just pure comedic gold right there.

The customers are piling in like flies!!!!




..or something like that

note to self...



maybe I do need a dress code after all

Thanks for the advice - Dell it is and I'll spend the extra $ for HDTV to avoid buying the tuner at a later time.


And Ron and Beans..

You two are both so good looking...

Still buying TVs and computers huh?



I figured the Pop-Rock candy might "sweeten the pot"...



...so to speak

Group: Members
Posts: 1,274
Joined: May 2nd, 2005
From: Las Vegas Where the men are men..and the women could be
Member No.: 5,513

beans i just noticed this..



i love you.

Flattery will get you everywhere...


I'm sending you 2 VIP passes to PU' along with a RFB comp to Beano's and the Icewater-n-hole bar and grill...


30 minutes free oxygen bar time...



AND...



You can bring in your shopping cart!!!!



*side note*


I fired my janitor a few minutes ago... It seems the high percentage of homeless clientel keep the ashtrays and trash cans cleaned out for me...

I disagree with this. All satellite or cable providers encode their programming so you have to use of their HD boxes anyway, so unless you are just trying to watch the HD programs using rabbit ears, you're paying for a box twice. This happened to my parents when they bought their HDTV.

Although, things may have changed in the last 8 months since I left the industry, but I doubt it.

Yeah, this is why the whole Cable Card idea is so good, and will therefore fail.

I have a 2-yr old Sony 57" hdtv without built-in, I pay $5 per month for Comcast's HD converter

Dell customer service sucks unless you speak Indian or Arabic or W-everTF, it took over 5 months of haggling to get my rebate and 3 months to get the printer cable they "forgot" to send, still a little bitter.

Regarding Dell XPS, I don't know what that is, but almost anything is better than "regular" Dell customer service because that sucks ***

edit#1 -- a.ss is censored?

edit#2 -- Beans, $899 a little steep, but would like to see a full-fledged "menu" someday

I think if you're planning to use Direct TV, or Digital cable with a DVR, those boxes are equipped with a HD tuner. I don't know why you'd need an in TV HD tuner, unless you're expecting to watch some stations over-the-air.

As has been previously mentioned you only need HD compatible as you are probably not going ot be picking up HD over air anytime soon.

I bought a 50" Samsung DLP and love it.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetai...666&catid=23528

PLasma is obviously better but the cheap plasmas aren't up to snuff and I don't know if your willing to spend for a decent one.

As for a PC your better off reading up a little and making your own. It's really not as difficult as you might think. and much more rewarding. not to mention cheaper
But assuming that's not an option the new XPS series has been getting excellent reviews.

I'm trying to figure out the movie that's quoting. I think I watched it last week, but I've watched a brazillion movies recently.

side note:

Ron Mexico is gay.