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My first problem is I bough an eMachine

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bkenobi:

EMachines are great for Xmas pressents.  I say that in plural because they only last you about a year before it's time to upgrade.   :banghead:

Actually, although they do use some of the most budget components, the machines can last quite a while.  The problem with them IMO is that they were sold to the market segment that didn't know anything but were more built for someone that could tinker with them...cause you know something will break and need fixing.  For a non-geek to fix a computer that "just stopped working", they would either need to pay the Geek Squad half the value of the computer or just pony up for a new one.  My inlaws had a couple budget machines that I kept going for a few years with 2-3 simple fixes (PSU, BIOS battery, HDD, etc).  BUT, every one of the problems I fixed for them has happened to at least one of my custom rigs over the years, so...  :dunno

smalltownguy:

I totally agree with bkenobi. Low Budget usually = low tolerance for maintenance and/or repair. These machines were targeted for the disposable computer crowd.

99% of the hardware issues with these machines could haven been avoided if the Bestec power supplies they used would have been a TAD more robust. I've got 8 fried motherbaords to attest to this.  :badmood:



Silly Burrito:

And that is the huge problem. When the motherboard goes, it's usually $150-$200 to replace it, assuming you don't have to swap a power supply too. If you try to replace it with another motherboard, you might have to reactivate or buy another copy of Windows. So, you could theoretically be out $300 for this piece of crap PC, when for another $100-200, you can get a brand new one that is faster, has a warranty, etc. Usually, if it's a vendor's PC and the PC is past the two-year period when the motherboard goes, you're almost always better off buying a new PC.

I used to have an eMachines PC back in 2000, and it worked well for roughly three years before I sold it to someone else. Now they all seem to have been bought at Wal-Mart for $399 and are truly disposable if anything more expensive than $100 breaks.

Namco:

My sister in law's emachine bombed out last year. It was the power supply, and it took out the motherboard with it. Replaced it with the athlon 64 rig out of my arcade cab and replaced it with a nice core2duo setup.  ;D

Masterful Gaze:

I picked up an emachine myself a while back. The onboard video didn't even survive 12 hours before giving out. I returned it and haven't looked back.

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