eMachines T3304 Desktop Computer desktop computer Review

I always like to buy the lowest-price item, and when it comes to computers, I go with Emachines desktops which comes with the printers and CRT screens. The printer can be any brand, and I've had Hewlett-Packard and Lexmark so far. They are usually available in a store like Circuit City or Best Buy. Not only is the price good, but you can send off for rebates to get money back. While the overall price may be $800, you can get back half that in rebates. To get rebates, you have to send in forms, receipts, and proof of purchase labels from the boxes. There is usually a rebate for each item that makes up the computer set like the printer or monitor, and a rebate usually averages around $50. Send in all the rebates, and you can get several hundred dollars back. This is done through the mail and can take up to a few months. Another way to save money is resist any extras the salesperson tries to sell you.

As for the quality of the computer, it varies. Since 1999, I've had three Emachine computers. One lasted only a year while another lasted five years. One had trouble turning off before it died, and I had to a backup one with the backup disk after a crash. The one I use now has just celebrated its first birthday, and so far so good. The only thing I regretted about this one is I did not notice it did not have a place for floppy disks(I know things can be saved to CD's, but I prefer the floppies) so I got a separate floppy disk drive. Important computer buyer lesson: Make sure the computer has all the features you want before you buy it. So if you're like me and just want a basic computer at a low cost, try Emachines.