[quote name='Admiral Ackbar']If you're willing to deal with rebates this actually looks like one of your best system bets.
http://officedepot.crossmediaservic...id=2279247&offerid=&L1CatID=5208&L2CatID=5209[/QUOTE]
Devils advocate time. First, this deal is YMMV. It depends on your local ODepot if you can score it at this price. My OD ad has it a different config on sale but its $700 AR and no so hot.
Processor = $200
HD = $30?
Win MCE OEM = $130
Mem = $45
DVDburner = $70
Vid = $50
9 in 1 = $15
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$540 with just the big stuff. Case, warranty,extras make $500 a very warm to hot deal. I hate the rebate aspect though.
Some thoughts however:
This is an MCE machine. I have no experence using MCE in a non HTPC way so I dont know how easy/difficult having it instead of XP would be for a pure use as a desktop user.
DVD burner with Lightscribe is a total waste. Light scribe-onable DVDs are outragously expensive for what they are. (so you wouldnt use it much until/if prices come down) Also, it bumps up the cost of the drive $25. (great drives can be had for $45-$50) I freaking hate lightscribe and I wouldnt spend $5 extra for it.
The video card listed isnt on HP'site at all. They list it as a 128MB DDR ATI Radeon X300 SE with TV-Out. Its about $50 I think.
Im guessing IDE hard drive. They cheap now. If SATA, add $ to my estimate.
I hate HPs. Nothing but nightmares in my experence.
Ok, so the deal hinges on the MCE aspect really. If MCE can be run as normal XP then this deal is pretty good. You have to front a lot of cash up front and keep up with rebates but it seems worth it. I still like other options better but this is a very warm deal for most, darn near hot for an MCE'er