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Home-office PC bargains |
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 Dan Ackerman Senior associate editor |
Updated February 1, 2006 While specialized business PCs are a must-have for all but the smallest IT setups, the casual home office or retail shop might not need all those advanced security and recovery features. For basic business computing, a lot of us can get away with using an everyday consumer PC. Even machines on the low end of the price scale offer enough computing power for Web surfing, working on spreadsheets, and running other small-business apps. If you get a budget PC with some room for expansion, it can even grow along with your small business. The petite SuperDrive Mac Mini won't get in your way, and it's about as cheap as Apple systems get. Also good for cluttered workspaces is the Dell XPS 200, only slightly bigger than a small-form-factor box. Inexpensive but perfectly usable midtower desktops such as the Dell Dimension E510 are easy to find. If you're looking at a budget Gateway system, you'd do well to skip the uninspiring DX series and go with Dell's sister brand, eMachines. The eMachines T6524 is one of our current favorite budget desktops, thanks to the expandability offered by its open PCI and PCIe slots. More resources
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| Remove from list | Remove from list | Remove from list | Remove from list | |
| Product name |
Apple SuperDrive Mac Mini (1.42GHz) |
Dell XPS 200 |
Dell Dimension E510 (Pentium 4 630 3GHz, 512MB RAM, 80GB HDD, XP Media Center 2005) |
eMachines T6524 |
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| Review date | September 19, 2005 | October 4, 2005 | November 2, 2005 | October 20, 2005 |
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Editors' rating (Editors' rating explained) |
7.1
Very good |
7.4
Very good |
6.7
Good |
7.0
Very good |
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| Buying choices |
Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data... |
Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data... |
Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data... |
Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data... |
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 Watch video |
Watch video |
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| Review summary | The Apple SuperDrive Mac Mini addresses some of the shortcomings of its $499 predecessor, making it a well-rounded home PC at its base configuration. | The Dell XPS 200 delivers the latest mainstream technology in an attractive, space-saving chassis that will keep home and office users humming along at a productive clip. | Dell's mainstream Dimension E510 looks good from the outside, but surprisingly limited configuration options dampen our enthusiasm. | The versatile, expandable, reasonably powerful eMachines T6524 is a solid family computer and a perfect dorm-room companion that gets mainstream jobs done with aplomb. |
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| Product series | See all products in this series | See all products in this series | See all products in this series | See all products in this series |
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| My Products | ||||
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| User comments | Average user rating from 28 CNET users: Very good - 7.9 out of 10 | Average user rating from 28 CNET users: Average - 5.7 out of 10 | Average user rating from 44 CNET users: Very good - 7.1 out of 10 | Average user rating from 20 CNET users: Very good - 7.8 out of 10 |
| Basic Specs | ||||
| Product Description | Apple Mac mini SuperDrive - PowerPC G4 1.42 GHz | Dell XPS 200 - Pentium D 820 2.80 GHz - 20 in TFT active matrix | Dell Dimension E510 - Pentium 4 630 3.0 GHz - 17 in CRT | EMachines T6524 - Athlon 64 3500+ 2.2 GHz |
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| Type | Personal computer | Personal computer | Personal computer | Media center |
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| Product Form Factor | Desktop slimline | Tower | Tower | Tower |
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| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 6.5 in x 6.5 in x 2 in | 3.6 in x 14.3 in x 12.2 in | 7.4 in x 18 in x 16.3 in | 7.2 in x 16 in x 14.3 in |
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| Weight | 2.9 lbs | 16.3 lbs | 28 lbs | Info unavailable |
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| Localization | Info unavailable | English | English | Info unavailable |
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| Processor | 1 x Motorola PowerPC G4 1.42 GHz | 1 x Intel Pentium D 820 / 2.80 GHz ( Dual-Core ) | 1 x Intel Pentium 4 630 / 3.0 GHz | 1 x AMD Athlon 64 3500+ / 2.2 GHz |
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| Processor Main Features | Info unavailable | Intel Execute Disable Bit , Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology | Hyper-Threading Technology , Intel Execute Disable Bit , Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology , Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology | Info unavailable |
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| Cache Memory | 512 KB L2 cache | 2 MB L2 cache | 2 MB L2 cache | 512 KB L2 cache |
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| Cache Per Processor | 512 KB | 2 MB ( 2 x 1 MB ) | 2 MB | 512 KB |
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| RAM | 512 MB (installed) / 1 GB (max) - DDR SDRAM - 333 MHz - PC2700 | 1 GB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - Non-ECC - 533 MHz | 512 MB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - 533 MHz | 1 GB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR SDRAM - 400 MHz - PC3200 |
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| Storage Controller | IDE ( IDE/ATA ) ; None | Serial ATA ( Serial ATA-300 ) ; IDE | Serial ATA ( Serial ATA-300 ) ; IDE | IDE ; None |
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| Floppy Drive | None | None | None | Info unavailable |
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| Hard Drive | 1 x 80 GB - Standard - IDE | 1 x 250 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-150 | 1 x 80 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-150 | 1 x 200 GB - Standard |
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| Hard Drive (2nd) | - None | - None | - None | - None |
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| Optical Storage | DVD?RW | CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo | CD-RW / DVD-ROM | DVD?RW (?R DL) |
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| Optical Storage (2nd) | None | None | None | CD-ROM |
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| Card Reader | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | 8 in 1 card reader |
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| Storage Removable | None | None | None | None |
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| Monitor | None. | DELL E196FP - Flat panel display - 20 in - TFT active matrix | DELL E773 - Display - 17 in - CRT | None. |
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| Printer | None | None | Info unavailable | None |
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| Graphics Controller | AGP 4x - ATI Radeon 9200 - 32 MB | Intel GMA 950 - 224 MB | Intel GMA 950 | PCI Express - ATI Radeon Xpress 200 |
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| TV Tuner Type | Info unavailable | None | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
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| Audio Output | Sound card - Stereo | Sound card - 7.1 channel surround | Sound card - 7.1 channel surround | Sound card - 5.1 channel surround |
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| Communications | None - 56 Kbps | Fax / modem - Integrated - 56 Kbps | Fax / modem - PCI - Plug-in card - 56 Kbps | Fax / modem - 56 Kbps |
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| Voltage Required | AC 120/230 V | AC 120/230 V | AC 120/230 V | Info unavailable |
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| OS Provided | Apple MacOS X 10.4 | Windows XP Media Center 2005 | Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 | Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 |
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| Manufacturer Warranty | 1 year warranty | 1 year warranty ( On-site ) | 90 days warranty ( On-site ) | Info unavailable |
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| Product name | Apple SuperDrive Mac Mini (1.42GHz) | Dell XPS 200 | Dell Dimension E510 (Pentium 4 630 3GHz, 512MB RAM, 80GB HDD, XP Media Center 2005) | eMachines T6524 |
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| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
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| Price range | Email me when this product is available |
This product is no longer available.
View all Dell Consumer Desktops View all Dell Business Desktops |
This product is no longer available.
View all Dell Consumer Desktops View all Dell Business Desktops | Email me when this product is available |
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©2007 CNET Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. CNET, CNET.com and the CNET logo are registered trademarks of CNET Networks, Inc. Used by permission.
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Home-office PC bargains |
|
||
Dan Ackerman Senior associate editor |
Updated February 1, 2006 While specialized business PCs are a must-have for all but the smallest IT setups, the casual home office or retail shop might not need all those advanced security and recovery features. For basic business computing, a lot of us can get away with using an everyday consumer PC. Even machines on the low end of the price scale offer enough computing power for Web surfing, working on spreadsheets, and running other small-business apps. If you get a budget PC with some room for expansion, it can even grow along with your small business. The petite SuperDrive Mac Mini won't get in your way, and it's about as cheap as Apple systems get. Also good for cluttered workspaces is the Dell XPS 200, only slightly bigger than a small-form-factor box. Inexpensive but perfectly usable midtower desktops such as the Dell Dimension E510 are easy to find. If you're looking at a budget Gateway system, you'd do well to skip the uninspiring DX series and go with Dell's sister brand, eMachines. The eMachines T6524 is one of our current favorite budget desktops, thanks to the expandability offered by its open PCI and PCIe slots. More resources
|
|||
| Remove from list | Remove from list | Remove from list | Remove from list | |
| Product name |
Apple SuperDrive Mac Mini (1.42GHz) |
Dell XPS 200 |
Dell Dimension E510 (Pentium 4 630 3GHz, 512MB RAM, 80GB HDD, XP Media Center 2005) |
eMachines T6524 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Review date | September 19, 2005 | October 4, 2005 | November 2, 2005 | October 20, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Editors' rating (Editors' rating explained) |
7.1
Very good |
7.4
Very good |
6.7
Good |
7.0
Very good |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Buying choices |
Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data... |
Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data... |
Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data... |
Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Product videos |
Watch video |
Watch video |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Review summary | The Apple SuperDrive Mac Mini addresses some of the shortcomings of its $499 predecessor, making it a well-rounded home PC at its base configuration. | The Dell XPS 200 delivers the latest mainstream technology in an attractive, space-saving chassis that will keep home and office users humming along at a productive clip. | Dell's mainstream Dimension E510 looks good from the outside, but surprisingly limited configuration options dampen our enthusiasm. | The versatile, expandable, reasonably powerful eMachines T6524 is a solid family computer and a perfect dorm-room companion that gets mainstream jobs done with aplomb. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Product series | See all products in this series | See all products in this series | See all products in this series | See all products in this series |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| My Products | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| User comments | Average user rating from 28 CNET users: Very good - 7.9 out of 10 | Average user rating from 28 CNET users: Average - 5.7 out of 10 | Average user rating from 44 CNET users: Very good - 7.1 out of 10 | Average user rating from 20 CNET users: Very good - 7.8 out of 10 |
| Basic Specs | ||||
| Product Description | Apple Mac mini SuperDrive - PowerPC G4 1.42 GHz | Dell XPS 200 - Pentium D 820 2.80 GHz - 20 in TFT active matrix | Dell Dimension E510 - Pentium 4 630 3.0 GHz - 17 in CRT | EMachines T6524 - Athlon 64 3500+ 2.2 GHz |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Type | Personal computer | Personal computer | Personal computer | Media center |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Product Form Factor | Desktop slimline | Tower | Tower | Tower |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 6.5 in x 6.5 in x 2 in | 3.6 in x 14.3 in x 12.2 in | 7.4 in x 18 in x 16.3 in | 7.2 in x 16 in x 14.3 in |
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| Weight | 2.9 lbs | 16.3 lbs | 28 lbs | Info unavailable |
|
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| Localization | Info unavailable | English | English | Info unavailable |
|
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|
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|
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| Processor | 1 x Motorola PowerPC G4 1.42 GHz | 1 x Intel Pentium D 820 / 2.80 GHz ( Dual-Core ) | 1 x Intel Pentium 4 630 / 3.0 GHz | 1 x AMD Athlon 64 3500+ / 2.2 GHz |
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|
|
|
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| Processor Main Features | Info unavailable | Intel Execute Disable Bit , Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology | Hyper-Threading Technology , Intel Execute Disable Bit , Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology , Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology | Info unavailable |
|
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|
|
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|
| Cache Memory | 512 KB L2 cache | 2 MB L2 cache | 2 MB L2 cache | 512 KB L2 cache |
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| Cache Per Processor | 512 KB | 2 MB ( 2 x 1 MB ) | 2 MB | 512 KB |
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| RAM | 512 MB (installed) / 1 GB (max) - DDR SDRAM - 333 MHz - PC2700 | 1 GB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - Non-ECC - 533 MHz | 512 MB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - 533 MHz | 1 GB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR SDRAM - 400 MHz - PC3200 |
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| Storage Controller | IDE ( IDE/ATA ) ; None | Serial ATA ( Serial ATA-300 ) ; IDE | Serial ATA ( Serial ATA-300 ) ; IDE | IDE ; None |
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| Floppy Drive | None | None | None | Info unavailable |
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| Hard Drive | 1 x 80 GB - Standard - IDE | 1 x 250 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-150 | 1 x 80 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-150 | 1 x 200 GB - Standard |
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| Hard Drive (2nd) | - None | - None | - None | - None |
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| Optical Storage | DVD?RW | CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo | CD-RW / DVD-ROM | DVD?RW (?R DL) |
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| Optical Storage (2nd) | None | None | None | CD-ROM |
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| Card Reader | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | 8 in 1 card reader |