Looking for a CHEAP desktop for the kids

9 and 6. They mainly play flash games on the internet. Also email and Itunes.

What do I need? How much do I need to spend?

 

with or without a monitor?

 

Need a monitor as well.

My wife thinks a netbook is the answer.

 

iMac the best thing you could buy them, the one in my daughter's room is 4 yrs old and it still runs solid and gets a ton of use... just saying, they have refurbs on apple.com, same warranties... not that you want to spend that much, but a 21.5" iMac was $999...

other than that, try craigslist for something cheap

 

good lord no. He's talking spending around 300-400 and you're suggesting a $1000 piece of crap?!?

 

Thanks.

Starting to lean towards the netbook. I'd like to find one with an HDMI out, but not really sure how often I'd need it.

I see HP/CPQ has them for under $300 with 1.6 processors 1 gig of ram and 160-250 gig harddrive. May go that route.

 

I found this. Its the desktop version of a netbook. It even has HDMI out like you like, only problem is no monitor.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883103228

This could actually make a really cool media center PC.

 

Actually looked at this one and have almost pulled the trigger. Still might do it.

 

lmao

 

i recently built a little media box based on a shuttle case w/ an intel atom processor (same as used in the netbooks). frys had a great combo deal at the time so it was only about $200 for the memory, case and board.

that acer thing is popular. you might also look at the msi wind. in fact, look into "nettop" pcs in general.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nettop

there's a partial list of the players in that market. some are kooky and aimed at specific markets, but others are general case mini pcs.


the ION chipset ones have built-in graphics that are pretty good, but it runs a premium. the normal atom boards (non-ION) are still capable of surfing the net and playing games, but probably not suited to high-end gaming.

dunno much about the VIA stuff, other than VIA is a dedicated low-power consumption intel clone that used to rule this market. intel just got into it a couple years ago, but i'd go with their stuff i think over VIA.