Where Can You Buy Low-End Computers? 30
yamla asks: "These days, just about the slowest computer you can buy new runs at 600 Mhz. For a lot of people, this is overkill, a waste of money. Are there any online sites in Canada (or elsewhere) that specialise in selling new, low-end systems for bargain prices? Any other alternatives I haven't considered? I am thinking of two situations specifically here. I would like a firewall to place in front of my LAN. Now, I know there are products like FreeSco and the like that can run comfortably on a 486 with a floppy, but I'd rather run something like Storm Firewall and so I need a bit more power. I am also thinking of my mother who wants to upgrade her 200 Mhz system a little but needs neither the power nor the price that $600 Canadian would get her." Aside from surplus shops like Computer Surplus Outlet where can you find new or used older computers at decent prices?
If you're not in a hurry... (Score:1)
I have picked up a few 400mhz Celeron emachines for about $300 each to use as simple web/email access nodes on my home network. A lot of folks will trash emachines but I haven't had any problems with them and they have suited my purposes just fine. Like you I wanted something fairly recent - mainly cuz I also wanted each node to have USB support. All the emachines I have bought have also had Win98SE so USB support is pretty solid.
egghead.com [egghead.com] also usually has some other brands such as Compaq or HP available but they often get bid up to the point where you really aren't saving much/any money.
Again, as long as you're not in any hurry (availability and prices varies from week to week) you may be able to snag a good deal on a fairly recent pc there.
Re:.. (Score:1)
For those who don't like subtlety, these (or the local equivalent) are more good places to look for dealers close to you.
Don't go with Computer Surplus Outlet (Score:2)
I sold them a large amount of computer surplus recently and I was originally quoted $1909 for all the parts. After repeatedly sending emails and bieng told "the check will go out tomorrow", I finally got paid $1800 almost a month after I sent the parts. I've emailed them several more times asking about the rest of my payment and they refuse to answer my emails.
Apparently I'm not alone in my hatred for this company. Check out Reseller ratings [resellerratings.com]. They have a very low score compared to many other retailers.
LiNT
Definitely check out colleges-- (Score:1)
It's going to be difficult to get new - old (Score:3)
Essentially you want to find new parts of older equipment. However, the older equipment is not produced for consumers. It is produced to maintain older more expensive installations (gov't, industry, science, etc) which can handle the fact that it costs the same to produce a PIII 900 as it does to produce a PII 300. They pay more for their chips becuse they have to maintain their current equipment, consumers, however, won't buy something so low-powered becuase it is the same cost as something higher powered.
It's a basic question of capitalism. Intel cannot sell the older chip for much more than it costs them to make, but they can sell the higher chip for a higher margin. Which do you think they will sell then? This is why cyrix and other low-end cheapo processor producers fell out of the consumer market.
So, you have a choice. You can have low-power used equipment, or higher power new equipment. It is not going to be worth your time to find someone selling cheap low end new equipment. To paraphrase a common saying: "Cheap, Low End, New. You can have any two at once."
-Adam
My users already cower in fear before me. Now I'm working on the gifts and offerings...
One word..... (Score:1)
Check out schools (Score:2)
JNS
Here's One (Score:2)
Imagine, an entire aisle of VT terminals. Not sure if they have that many anymore, but it was a nice sight.
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Canada (Score:1)
Re:Check out schools (Score:3)
-Vercingetorix
486 is fine for a firewall (Score:1)
But on the helpful side, you should look into auctions. I'm looking for cheap computers (pentium 1s). There was an action here where they went for $30 per pallate with 6 computers per pallate. So you can get older stuff very very cheap if you know where to look.
Don't go for the laptops or anything over 233MHz since everyone else will be fighting over that.
Old Stuph (c) (Score:1)
mod up! (Score:1)
.. (Score:2)
I know that Seattle's got at least 2 large used computer stores, look around, and see if you do. (I wouldn't reccomend buying a whole used system through the mail... shipping a $20 comp. is just rediculous).
You might wanna try getting friendly with the staff of a local computer store that does a bit of business in system upgrades; all those old P-166s have to go -somewhere-.
Finally, don't forget about usenet. Your local forsale newsgroup is a good place to look for 'obsolete' systems...
The Show (Score:1)
www.itxchange.com (Score:2)
And no, I don't work for them !
Does it have to be new? (Score:2)
You can usually find fairly good used computers if you look in the classifieds or on the *.forsale newsgroups. If you format and re-install the software you want, you're usually okay.
For example, I bought my P90 ThinkPad last year from a PennySaver ad. $600 CDN, runs fine and in a year or so I'll probably sell it.
Also, if you're near a University or College, check the for sale bulletin boards. Students are often selling off systems in order to buy cooler ones. (Or in order to pay tuition.)
Pricewatch (Score:1)
Fawking Trolls! [slashdot.org]
Re:Canada (Score:1)
VNC / PCAnywhere (Score:1)
Besides that, I've seen VNC almost cripple a 500 MHz NT server, these software packages would be almost useless for low end systems
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pricewatch, and you just might be in luck (Score:2)
I just happened to have gotten an ad for a sale:
Celerys:
466/64/8.4 onboard everything... $295
333/32/2.1 onboared lots.. HP Brio $195
both USD
I sent you he whole email... but apparently it didn't have (at least in the plain txt)
www.imaxx.net or
815 578 1000 All in USD and US phone numbers... *shrug * they were the ISP of a company I worked for, and at least they used linux servers.
goodwill (Score:1)
Re:Check out schools (Score:1)
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Have you looked at Computerstrippers? (Score:1)
Re:Have you looked at Computerstrippers? (Score:2)
Of course, if they're actually selling stuff at those prices, more power to them. I should switch my line of work. I can make a 10 fold markup on some of the products they're selling and still undercut them.
-Restil
Computer Geeks Outlet has some cool stuff cheap (Score:1)
Re:Have you looked at Computerstrippers? (Score:1)
Computer Renaissance (Score:2)
My friends bought their machine new from the local CR shop, and haven't had any trouble with it. I will note that they put a "Warranty-void-if-removed" sticker on the case seam, so you may be concerned if you like to swap HW around. And, of course, they preinstall Windows. But if there's one in your area I think they're worth looking at.
Re:Does it have to be new? (Score:1)
> $600 isn't a TERRIBLY bad deal.
He said $600 Canadian.
1$ Can == 0.65 $US
Re:Does it have to be new? (Score:1)
It was a notebook. A Pentium classed ThinkPad for $600 isn't a TERRIBLY bad deal.