Yes, I know this is a linux related group, but some of
you are very hardware orientated and hopefully can
help me and a friend's sister make a decision.

The following questions/opinions is to help someone
who needs to buy a new machine to work on at home and
stay up-to-date M$ software wise for several years
into the future to keep her job. See explanation at
bottom.

I took a friend's sister over to Elitepc yesterday to
look at the '32 bit' machines and we got 'side
tracked' looking at the new xp3200+ 64 bit as it is
only about $200 more than a 2600 with upgrades. She
and I were impressed with price/value? of the basic
xp3200+ 64bit machine there.

She is a 'pc/web training coordinator' for a local
governmental function. She is looking at getting a
better home pc than the k6-2 333 so she can do work at
home as it is almost impossible to do at work due to
everyone walking in and distracting her. Closing door
doesn't do any good...they will just see the light is
on and pound on door till she answers!!!

My thougths were since it looks like 64 bit processing
is coming that she might want to get one of the
'bottom' line 64 bit amd's that they sell. Believe it
or not, the machine is under $1k in minimum config. It
is the xp-3200+, not the fx51 version. It will have
512k, 80gb wd hd, use old monitor and kb, mx440-8x
video.

We know that 512K ram is 'choking' it some, but $$$ is
the problem. She has to borrow just to purchase it at
about $1150 tax and all out the door.

Searching the web, it looked like the motherboard and
chipset on the ecs 755-a mb is new enough that I could
not find a review where they had shook it out. Glowing
writeups on the sis 755/9xx chipset tho.

What if any is your opinion on it? If you know
anything or anyone that has one that is up and running
some insite would be helpful?

I hear that windows xp-64 is coming and you know that
within probably a year or so after its release, she
will be asked to 'train' or setup training sessions
for it.

The way she got 'stuck' with this function was the
former 'doer' of it had the 'function/office'
surplused and ceased to be. They then stuck her with
it as she had 'helped' with the overflow from the now
defunct office!! So she really has to make sure she
gets the work done or they will do that to her
position possibly. 

=====
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accommodation on our public roads, 
just as does every other user.  

Nothing more is expected. 

Nothing less is acceptable!

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