Dell vs. eMachines T6420

My one Windows computer is a Dell, now six years old. The whole setup
including monitor cost around $1800 in early 2000 when we got it, and
then I've since added a second hard drive, USB 2 ports, and a DVD writer
drive (had to go to a new case), plus bumped the memory to 512 meg.

This computer works fine, except for doing things involving graphics
(I'll occasionally do photo slide shows or very simple video editing).
Highly-touted software like ProShow Gold just runs like sludge on this
computer. Probably this is because I still have the original graphics
card, plus the original 550 MHz CPU.

Money's tight and I don't really want to spend the $2000-3000 extra that
I figure a decent PC would set me back. But then a friend mentioned the
eMachines option.

A T6420 eMachine comes with a gig of memory, 200 gig HD, speedy graphics
card, plenty of decent-sounding hardware, all for $550 right now after
rebate.

How can they sell this machine for basically 70% less than what I'd
expect to spend on a comparable Dell? I realize that it comes with
Microsoft Works rather than Office, and I assume that there are several
other shortcuts they took to get the cost down.

But can someone knowledgeable compare this computer - see more at
http://emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=T6420 - vs. a
comparable Dell? Is the eMachines model a good buy at $600? Is there
room for more hardware in there if I want to configure it that way?

The eMachine looks VERY tempting. I'm just afraid it might look too
tempting to be true.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Dell vs. eMachines T6420
    ... including monitor cost around $1800 in early 2000 when we got it, and then I've since added a second hard drive, USB 2 ports, and a DVD writer drive, plus bumped the memory to 512 meg. ... But then a friend mentioned the eMachines option. ... A T6420 eMachine comes with a gig of memory, 200 gig HD, speedy graphics card, plenty of decent-sounding hardware, all for $550 right now after rebate. ... How can they sell this machine for basically 70% less than what I'd expect to spend on a comparable Dell? ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)
  • Re: I need to buy a new computer
    ... Dell has a few things going for them. ... Of all the competition you've mentioned so far, Lenovo is a close ... Also, when I contacted technical support, I talked to people ... I've had good reliability from eMachines products, ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)
  • Re: OT - Which Desktop
    ... I even have all my video editing equipment hooked up to ... >> neighbor bought a Dell. ... > At one time 6 year ago emachines were know POS's. ... I had 2 disks fail at the same time on a mission critical 3 disk ...
    (rec.outdoors.rv-travel)
  • Re: OT - Which Desktop
    ... I even have all my video editing equipment hooked up to ... >>> neighbor bought a Dell. ... >> At one time 6 year ago emachines were know POS's. ... We had some real reliability issues, especially with our servers (all ...
    (rec.outdoors.rv-travel)
  • Re: OT - Which Desktop
    ... I even have all my video editing equipment hooked up to it. ... I edit and created DVDs. ... Our company will never own another Dell as long as I am there, unless Dell changes in some way. ... At one time 6 year ago emachines were know POS's. ...
    (rec.outdoors.rv-travel)