A Disappointed eCustomer
Written: Aug 21 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Inexpensive, easy to use
Cons: Breaks down, cheap modem, terrible speakers
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| Hikki's Full Review: eMachines etower 400i PC Desktop |
I bought this computer a while ago simply because my old one was out of date (90 MHz…can you imagine that?). I wasn’t looking for anything very fancy, just something that I could write my reports with and do a little Internet browsing. I decided on the eMachines etower 400i. At that time, a rebate was being offered for $400 if you signed up for 3 years of the Internet. I, not having access to the Internet at the time, bought the computer, thinking I had gotten a good deal.
I was fairly impressed with my spiffy new computer, especially when compared to my old hunk-o-junk computer.
FEATURES:
-Intel Celeron Processor 400MHz
-32 MB SyncDRAM /128KB L2 Cache
-4.3 GB Hard Drive
-56K (V90 Compatible) Data/Fax Modem
-Microsoft Windows 98, Works Bundled
-ATI 3D Rage Pro Turbo 2X AGP Graphics with 4MB SGRAM
-2 USB Ports (1 in front)
-Standard Sound Card
-Speakers
After a few months of use, the power supply started making loud grating noises. After calling their technical support line twice, they told me to mail back my computer and they would mail back a new computer. This wasn’t a real problem for me because I have a CD burner and I just burned the files I needed onto a CD, though I could see how this could affect users without a burner or a ZIP drive.
Note: My cousins bought an eMachine as well, and they told me that their eMachine made the same noises. Theirs, however, failed to turn on after a while. They informed me that all eMachines made before October 1999 (I think) had a problem with the power supply and that eMachines would give you another computer.
After a while of Internet usage, I became obsessed with downloading things and found that the 4GB that came with the computer just wasn’t enough. After Windows and the other programs that came already installed into the computer, I really only had 2.5GB to use freely. I was lucky that I could take the things I wanted to keep and burn them onto CDs, but many people don’t have the burner that is required to do this. Also, 32MB of RAM is not that much. If you want to use some newer programs, you’re going to have to upgrade so they can run faster.
The etower 400i isn’t all bad, though. It’s not hard to use, and it would be a good 1st computer--something that you can experiment on or let your kids play with. If all you wanted to do was e-mail with your friends and write Epinions all day long (and Highly Recommend all my opinions =)), then this is the computer for you. And most of all, it’s CHEAP.
My overall impression: really not that bad. Sure, it’s got cheap parts, but that just means that they’ll be cheaper to replace. Plus, it’s a good computer for students who just want to write reports and go on the Internet a little. It could also work as a transition computer, when you want to wait until the newer technology becomes cheaper. The etower 400i definitely would have gotten a better rating if it didn’t break down on me like that.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
Hikki
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Location: Bay Area, California
Reviews written: 11
Trusted by: 58 members
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