Post by mikkh on Apr 13, 2009 8:55:16 GMT
Just flicking through Ebay's 'bargains' and the computer section is always entertaining for cynical old me.
I won't name the guilty party, but this is a 'power seller' who obviously does lots of business and this type of hype is fairly commonplace and must trap plenty of people
Lets run through one of his 'superb' refurbished base units
I would call it borderline useful myself with it's 2.8 single core CPU, but our hero declares it fantastic and highlights that HT does in fact means Hyper Threading. In other words it's not dual core, but I am going to pretend it's something special over a normal P4 2.8 CPU - it's not!
He doubly emphasises the **2.8** like that to assure you that it's a big number - or at least it was 5+ years ago anyway
Next 'high spec' component is 512 MB RAM - suitably enlarged and declared 'Massive'.
For Windows 98 or a 'lite' version of Linux 512 MB RAM would indeed be massive, but for the supplied Windows XP it's barely adequate and made worse by on-board graphics stealing some of that.
Which brings me to the next feature. It has on-board Intel graphics! There you go, not your normal non Intel stuff, this is 'proper' Intel graphics to match the Intel CPU, so therefore it runs much better
On-board graphics is a burden not a feature - whether it's Intel or not
And now we see the awesome storage capacity of 80 GB. It is, at least a SATA drive, which is a small compensation for upgrades, but with 500 GB more the norm for modern PC's and pen/thumb drives available in 64 GB or bigger, it looks a little on the weak side.
And now the optical drive.... This beauty contains a single CD ROM drive, no DVD and no chance of even burning a CD. It must be more than ten years since PC's only came with a CD
I forgot to mention it's a 'micro desktop' Impress all your friends, become instantly attractive to the opposite sex with your PC that lays down flat and can even be used as a platform for your monitor. Bask in the glory of owning a smaller than normal PC - and try to forget it's cramped space is probably running your components too hot
It has a spare low profile PCIeXpress slot. No, really ? Wow, you mean I can add a hideously expensive real graphics card to make up for the yukky on-board graphics - brilliant
That's if I can find a shop that actually sells them
Superb high spec Desktop with fantastic specification - it says!
Oh and I nearly forgot, it has a printer port *and* a serial port. And you were going to throw away that ten year old printer because modern printers all use USB - shame on you
3.0GHZ P4 HT Processor, Massive 512MB DDR Ram
Whoa, hang on there matey, weren't you selling me a 2.8 with DDR2 before ?
I like the faster CPU, but downgrading me to DDR is just not on old bean
Yours for just £99.75, what you waiting for ?
I won't name the guilty party, but this is a 'power seller' who obviously does lots of business and this type of hype is fairly commonplace and must trap plenty of people
Lets run through one of his 'superb' refurbished base units
I would call it borderline useful myself with it's 2.8 single core CPU, but our hero declares it fantastic and highlights that HT does in fact means Hyper Threading. In other words it's not dual core, but I am going to pretend it's something special over a normal P4 2.8 CPU - it's not!
He doubly emphasises the **2.8** like that to assure you that it's a big number - or at least it was 5+ years ago anyway
Next 'high spec' component is 512 MB RAM - suitably enlarged and declared 'Massive'.
For Windows 98 or a 'lite' version of Linux 512 MB RAM would indeed be massive, but for the supplied Windows XP it's barely adequate and made worse by on-board graphics stealing some of that.
Which brings me to the next feature. It has on-board Intel graphics! There you go, not your normal non Intel stuff, this is 'proper' Intel graphics to match the Intel CPU, so therefore it runs much better
On-board graphics is a burden not a feature - whether it's Intel or notAnd now we see the awesome storage capacity of 80 GB. It is, at least a SATA drive, which is a small compensation for upgrades, but with 500 GB more the norm for modern PC's and pen/thumb drives available in 64 GB or bigger, it looks a little on the weak side.
And now the optical drive.... This beauty contains a single CD ROM drive, no DVD and no chance of even burning a CD. It must be more than ten years since PC's only came with a CD
I forgot to mention it's a 'micro desktop' Impress all your friends, become instantly attractive to the opposite sex with your PC that lays down flat and can even be used as a platform for your monitor. Bask in the glory of owning a smaller than normal PC - and try to forget it's cramped space is probably running your components too hot
It has a spare low profile PCIeXpress slot. No, really ? Wow, you mean I can add a hideously expensive real graphics card to make up for the yukky on-board graphics - brilliant
That's if I can find a shop that actually sells themSuperb high spec Desktop with fantastic specification - it says!
Oh and I nearly forgot, it has a printer port *and* a serial port. And you were going to throw away that ten year old printer because modern printers all use USB - shame on you
3.0GHZ P4 HT Processor, Massive 512MB DDR Ram
Whoa, hang on there matey, weren't you selling me a 2.8 with DDR2 before ?
I like the faster CPU, but downgrading me to DDR is just not on old bean
Yours for just £99.75, what you waiting for ?
