Go Banana's !!

Hi folks,

As you know Jill and I will be going over in a few weeks but I need to buy a reasonable computer that will be good enough for web camming back to England so that I can still keep in touch from my office or at home !!

Are there are any IT guru's out there who can give me some advice on the following:

a) Good place to buy a computer to do the job in Perth ? I need to be able to go in an pick it up and be up and running within 1 week !

b) What specification do you think I will need - cash will be limited on the validation trip until we sell the house so I don't want to over-spec it ?

c) How much should I expect to pay (not sure wther to get a desktop or a laptop ?)

c) Which is the best ADSL/Broadband tariff to go on if most of the traffic will be webcam and unlimited access day or night - I have looked at Telstra's website but would welcome your own comments ? Plus Jill will be phoning the UK at least once a week !

In the past I have specced a Dell up on the internet for the UK but this time it is for specific short term need ie. communicating with the family !!

I look forward to your help

Best wishes

Warren
Perth 2004.....twice !! :scared: :scared:

PommieLeague

What Id like to ask is, will a TFT flatscreen 17" monitor work ok in Aus if i ship it over as ive heard CFT monitors dont work there?

wmoore

Yes, TFT will be fine. The problem you've seen mentioned is something to do with the earth's magnetic field ( ) and it only affects CRT's

wmoore

Most people worry about spec but really, an average machine will do most people. For a PC, I would say 2.4GHz processor, 512Mb RAM, are the important things. Oh, and a modem and LAN (for broadband).
I wouldn't personally spend the exrta on a lappy unless you really need to be mobile with it. I've seen PC's for about $800 and lappy's for $2100 but can't remember where now.

MarkMyWords

One cheap way to do this is to buy a phonecard from the corner shop / newsagent / wherever. They offer really good international rates and you obviously pay in advance so you know how much you're spending, no nasty surprises at the end of the month.

MarkMyWords

Perhaps true when you buy it, but software gets greedier all the time and the average machine may start to struggle in 2 or 3 years. Just wait until Mad Bill brings out Microslop TNG (whatever it's called)! So get the best you think you can afford now. Of course that definitely rules out laptops as you will get so much more for your money if you buy a desktop, as wmoore points out.

Go Banana's !!

Thanks for the info guys but does anyone know the best place in Perth to go to buy a computer now I know the spec I need ?

Here's hoping someone can give me a clue ? :lecture:

Thanks

Warren

keel

Hello Warren

Osbourne park in North Perth is a good area for buying PC's as well as around the carousel shopping centre on Albany highway in South Perth. Both of these areas are good for other household shopping.

When you arrive get a copy of the West Australian (sats the best) and there'll be loads of adverts for computers.

Where abouts in Perth are you stopping?

Keel

jerzy

Any more info on how it effects CRT's, is it worth ditching them before departing from the UK ?

JaneandJim

It doesn't affect all CRTs. It doesn't affect either of mine.

Jane

lostkiwi

Banana's - you may be able to find a better deal on-line rather than through retailers... Maybe Dell? There are a number of electrical retailers in Oz, but I mainly know the ones in Melb so I don't know if they are the same in Perth. I'd visit one - get a quote on the most relevant machine then ring all the others to get comparisions & check online.
Myer sometimes tell elec/comp staff to price match, so if you find a good deal at a retailer you aren't sure about ask if Myer/Grace Bros will match....

keel

I' don't think it makes them unuseable just distorted.Plasma screens have a similar problem as thre're shielded for magnetism for the northern hemisphere and it's different down here.

I don't know how much it gets distorted.

Keel

bondipom

As said earlier laptops are pricy and I would not buy one without a 3 year international parts warranty. Those screens have a habit of going and can cost 1000 - 2000 AUD to replace. Laptop parts are not standard and the manufacturers charge a lot for replacements.

For broadband avoid hellstra and checkout www.whirlpool.net.au

for providers check out
www.exetel.com.au
www.swiftdsl.com.au

iinet and internode are a couple of others. Watch out for excess rates, minimum terms and unless you are a file sharer or very heavy downloader I doubt you will use more than a GB a month.

Vegemite Kids

Have you thought about second hand ? If you do you could get copy of Quokka and say quite a bit of money.

Other than that all I can advise is we got our computer from WA Computer Specialists (will try to find the website for you cos we saved almost A$1000 from the next most competitive quote, although there was a flat screen monitor that had to be taken out of the equation also, so maybe only A$500-600 saved) and took our computer away with us (including modifiactions for extra RAM, DVD Burner etc...) 40 mins after walking in the door. Having said that we dont have webcam facility but they were v.helpful so I'm sure could sort something out)

The delay factor was the internet connection. We ended up going with westnet, but also looked at bigpond.

The delay factor was the house we are renting didnt have ASDN so we had to wait about a week (I think) before it was all connected and working

Go Banana's !!

Thanks for all the advice so far and the PM's I have stored all the info away ready for the trip in less than 4 weeks.....ahhhhh !!

Best wishes
Warren
Perth 2004....twice !!!
:scared: