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[mr_chris]

I've just noticed that they've got the same PC on the same offer again this Sunday, as well as this rather snazzy looking laptop for £499 - not the cheapest laptop out there, but wow, it's well-specced for a desktop, nevermind a laptop!

Where's the drool smiley?

[roseway]

I was severely tempted by the desktop machine. The only thing which always puts me off buying ready-made machines (apart from the fact that I'd be paying for Windows, which I don't want) is that there's no way of knowing whether the components are of good quality. In particular, they're quite likely to skimp on the power supply, which is exactly what failed after a year in the one ready-made PC which I bought in the last 10 years.

[mr_chris]

Medion PCs usually have fairly ok power supplies... and a replacement doesn't cost THAT much.

They usually use MSI components inside, and the last offers they had Western Digital hard drives inside.

Unless they've changed, they don't use totally budget-end components - but unfortunately as you say there's no way of telling, as they don't give specific details anymore (which perhaps begs the question - why not! )

[oldfogy]

... unfortunately as you say there's no way of telling, as they don't give specific details anymore (which perhaps begs the question - why not! )

Complacency?

All it took was a phone call to the Medion tech guys and they told me everything I either asked or wanted to know, including the make and model number of the MB without any problems.

If you go to buy a new car, do you not,
1) Take it for a test drive.
2) Look under the bonnet (regardless of what we know) not forgetting to give at least one of the tyres a good kick.
3) Make sure the boot is big enough for what we want.

So why would I not be entitled to know what's either inside by make or model of my possible new PC.

*******************************************************************

edit:
Just received the latest email from Aldi/Medion.
If you scroll to the bottom of the Medion PC page, there is a further link to a few more specifications of the unit, although I don't really think they are that much more informative.

[kitz]

>> as they don't give specific details anymore (which perhaps begs the question - why not! 

Indeed
In the past all the specs have usually been very good or at least half decent ones.   The reason Ive purchased a couple of their systems over the years is cause I couldnt even match on price of buying the parts if I was to build myself.

[oldfogy]

  The reason Ive purchased a couple of their systems over the years is cause I couldnt even match on price of buying the parts if I was to build myself.

Not forgetting the 3 year warranty with on-site repairs, which I must say have been pretty good and quick for a couple of minor problems I have had and no more than the usual run of the mill problems that any one can have with any new piece of equipment.

***********************************************************************************

And their latest next offer is a "Multi-media Quad core"

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/2867_5335.htm

Coming soon from a store near you:

[roseway]

Oh, dear me, I'm drooling again. It's so undignified. Here are the details:

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/58_5285.htm

[oldfogy]

Judging by the spec info it would appear also to have the usual hidden drop-down cover revealing front USB, Card reader etc connections.

But Oh what a dilemma.

This is a Q6600 2.4GHz quad processor, but if you follow the links on the performance it also shows a Q6700 2.66GHz quad processor.
That means there will soon be another bigger one out in the near future (but how near) 

However, what is the actual TOTAL processing power? is it 4x2.4 = 9.6GHz ?

[guest]

The price difference between a Q6600 and a Q6700 processor is about £170 right now so I think you'll be waiting quite a while for the offer to change to Q6700

I'd just get the Q6600 if I was buying now. There are currently very few applications which will max out 4 cores and you should be able to plug a Q6700 into the machine later if you wanted to.

[oldfogy]

This new PC has a few people disgruntled over on the Aldi-Medion forum, because they purchased the last one only a couple of weeks ago.
(mind you, I nearly did to) 

I was looking at the MB spec earlier and very impressive it is to. " MS 7502 "
6 off Sata sockets
1 off FDD
1 off Scart
4 off Memory slots (capable of holding 8 GB)
3 + 1 off PCI slots. (bit on the low side)


Is it Thursday yet! 

[kitz]

I was looking at the specs between the 2 the other day.. and it does seem that this latest offer is a pretty good buy with a much better spec.

[roseway]

Having had a look at the Aldi/Medion forum, I've just gone off the idea. Apparently Medion PCs have locked BIOSes, which quite possibly means that you can't install Linux on them.

[mr_chris]

Locked bios? How does that prevent you installing Linux? :-/

[roseway]

I don't know, but someone on the forum asked about installing Ubuntu, and got the answer that the locked BIOS might make it not possible. I don't know why, or even if the person giving the answer knew what he was talking about.

[oldfogy]

and got the answer that the locked BIOS might make it not possible.

Surely Medion "should" tell you how to unlock it.
What happens if and when new drives or equipment is installed?
Or you want to change or disable the boot sequence.?

 or even if the person giving the answer knew what he was talking about.

Maybe we just had the same person reply to both our questions.
(Again it goes to show that points/posts are not always a measure of ones ability to give correct or even helpful suggestions)

"did you know that the amount of watts don't matter in a PSU"  (well that was the reply I got to a question)