buying a pc off gumtree

[kevh_uk]

Have seen this advert on gumtree for a pc tower for �80, this is quite a good deal right?

Pentium 3
800MHz processor
512 RAM
40 GB HDD
DVD CD ROM
Floppy drive
2 USB � Broadband Ready
Sound on board
1 Network Card
Include power lead, mouse

Software installed:
.Win XP Pro SP2
.Microsoft office Pro 2003 which includes (WORD,OUTLOOK,POWERPOINT,EXCEL and ACCESS)
.Symantec AntiVirus 10.0 Corporate Edition
.ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall which includes(Identity Theft Protection, Anti-Spyware,Spy Site Blocking and Privacy Protection)

[vehelpfulguy]

Two things:

One, the CPU is only a Pentium 3 800Mhz. This is now a few years old and I do not think cuts it for todays needs. It will probably run OK, but thats about it, OK

Secondly, for the money I think the Windows XP and Office 2003 are pirate copies. They may work OK at first, but once the Microsoft genuine advantage kicks in it will say they are not counterfeit.

You may well have to fork out more money for a genuine Windows XP and a genuine Office 2003.

[vehelpfulguy]

Sorry, above I said NOT COUNTERFIET.

I should have said NOT GENUINE or ARE COUNTERFIET.

[fo3nix]

I'd agree with vehelpfulguy's thoughts. The RAM is perfectly acceptable, but the hard drive and processor are a little on the small side. For instance, my old PC, that we bought back in September 2001, had a 1200MHz Athlon processor, 40GB hard drive and 512MB RAM. While it was a pretty decent spec at that time, given that it's now 5 years later, that computer will be pretty slow running XP.

[kevh_uk]

Ok, understood...the reason i'm thinking of buying this computer is because my trustee old e-machine of 6 or so years old has finally died so i just wanted a little run around like that one at a cheap price really as can't afford to upgrade particularly and just need it for internet and stuff. The spec of my old comp is 900Mhz, Intel Celeron Processor, 128MBSyncDRAM, 128KB L2 Cache, 20GB Hard Drive, 16x DVD rom, which one do you reckon would work faster old or new? Am i getting an ok deal?

[fo3nix]

It'll definitely be faster, yes. But as vehelpfulguy says, you may get Microsoft asking you for money. This can be stopped, you can google "wga crack", or something like that.