Can you build a decent PC on a budget of $500?” (NOTICE, $500)?

I would suggest that in building any computing aparatus, one first selects the software required, and then builds the rest of system around that.

At the center of this choice would be the Windows Vista of course - preferably in the Business edition, at a low price of $299.

That leaves $200 left, and for that money one could purchase a quality case for about $50, a Microsoft keyboard and Mouse combo .. another $50, and a Motherboard for $100.

Now - anyone with experience in the computing IT industry would know that prices for CPU’s, RAM memory, and Hard Disk memory always drop significantly over time.

A top of the line processor, RAM memory and Hard Disk memory may cost $1000 at today’s prices - however, in a short time frame, these will cost only $200. And so, the wise buyer, by strategically delaying their purchase order, will save $800.

A good quality 19″ monitor - another $200.

Microsoft Office - add $400

Now lets do the figures :$499 for the purchase of the initial equipment.+ $200 for the upgrades later on.- $800 savings by delaying the CPU / RAM / Disk purchase+ $200 for a monitor+ $400 for Microsoft Officce=$499 total

There you have it - a perfectly ‘decent’ computing machine with a legal and licenced copy of operating software (and $1 in change) vs $500 for a somewhat hobbled Ubuntu machine that leaves its user with undeclared balance sheet liablity for patent infringements.

38 Responses to “Can you build a decent PC on a budget of $500?” (NOTICE, $500)?”

  1. IT Guy Says:

    Jerry.. Frigtard. If you were to use that hotly contested arithmatic you would see that your total comes to about $1400. You can’t just subtract and arbitrary $800. If you were to do that, you would need to add the $1000×2 for Top of line processor and HDD. You sir, are a moron. Please someone take away this guy’s keyboard, he’s gonna hurt himself

  2. Jeanph01 Says:

    For the sake of history, i suggest that a reference be added to each article so that we can see the context of the Jerry’s comment. They are well really funny and a little disturbing too !

  3. Alex U Says:

    wow… just wow…
    This laptop I’m typing this on cost me $500
    1.9ghz dual core AMD Athlon
    1 gig of ram
    ATI X1200 Video card (crappy)
    Windows Vista (and I put a dualboot into Ubuntu on there too, for good measure)
    140gb SATA HDD

    I don’t know where you are buying computer parts from, but they are screwing you. Don’t feel bad, it’s probably been happening for a number of years now.

  4. coit Says:

    Are you guys humor impaired or what?

  5. Don Says:

    Originally appeared here:
    http://talkback.zdnet.com/5208-12554-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=34307&messageID=632185&start=-9800

  6. Justine Says:

    We’re on the edge of our seats waiting to learn about your morning commute and the weather in your locale.

    Perhaps you should stick to writing about pointless irrelevant things like me, and leave the IT commentary to people with at least a vague grasp of what’s going on, or at the very least have a basic understanding of mathematics and the concept of money.

    If you are serious about improving your IT knowledge, and lets face it, you need to, I suggest you get a copy of OS/2 Warp 4 to play with. It is, after all, the professional’s choice.

  7. nomad_inv Says:

    The maths is genius, and very funny !

    + $299 Windows Vista
    + $50 case
    + $50 MS Keyboard Mouse
    + $100 Mother Board
    + $200 processor, RAM memory and Hard Disk…
    - $800 saveing on the ram processor etc (this had me weting my self)
    + $200 19 inch monitor
    + $400 MSOffice
    = $ 499

    Now done properly

    + $299 Windows Vista
    + $50 case
    + $50 MS Keyboard Mouse
    + $100 Mother Board
    +( +$1000 processor, RAM memory and Hard Disk
    -$800 Saveing)
    + $200 19 inch monitor
    + $400 MSOffice
    =
    $ 1199

  8. darthludi Says:

    http://www.linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2003-09-17-013-26-NW-DP-SV-0005

  9. Phil Says:

    In all of your math, you added Microsoft Office but not the OS itself (you know… that thing known as MS Windows, which by your own words “windows is more than just Office”). You have about $100-250 in added costs.

    Plus I am not sure where you are getting this “liability” issue just because someone chooses something other than Microsoft. You can still download AND USE Redhat and SuSE for free.
    Please point to links concerning this so called “liability” as I am sure these companies would want to know so they can address them.

    I am sure if the links check out, you might end up with a check. If not, you’ll just get e-mail from the companies about how silly your claims are.

  10. Aaron Kulkis Says:

    Alex…

    And if you bought that same system with Linux and NOT paying for Windows, that same system would have cost you $300 or less.

  11. elliott Says:

    Aaron…
    but didn’t you read his previous post, you cannot put linux on a system without buying windows. god forbid you put open office on it without paying microsoft for office 2007 first.

  12. Dscho Says:

    *LOL*! You made my day… ;-)

  13. dinotrac Says:

    How long can a pulled leg get before it snaps back?

    For the humor-impaired, the answer seems to be mighty long indeed.

    On another topic –

    I suggest you aim high in your career. With math skills like yours, you’ve got a future in politics.

  14. DrJeep Says:

    Ahh but the best bit is that if I *do* run Linux I don’t need the windows or the office because this company do a thing called Office Opener that is like shareware and therefore free (I will live with pirating Windows for the drivers and services..because really windows is only the internet and the card games) then I can build the same rig for minus £200 right ?

  15. Nick Says:

    I can’t decide which is funnier: the post or the comments :)

  16. raiden Says:

    Well I build my PC under $500.. and that work perfectly fine with me..

  17. Mohan R Says:

    JerryLeeCooper… I am loving you… whether you wrote for fun or real stupidity.

  18. Some Dude Says:

    First of all… I’m 100% sure this guy is kidding/trying to be funny… no one is that stupid… :)

    On the other hand if he’s not:
    Jerry…I have something I’d like to ask you? Could you help me purchase one of these computers? You said it all costs 499$ including the 299$ for Vista and 400$ for Office… what I’d like to do is purchase it without the Vista OS and the Office suite..so it’s gonna be like 499$ - $299 - $400 = - $200 (so for each computer i buy i get 200$ right?) Jerry can you please contact me so I can give you the shipment details for about 10.000 of these computers? Heck…you can keep the computers just send me the cash..:)

  19. discomeats Says:

    Are these prices with or without taxes? I feel this is the most important thing

    and, as nick says, I can’t either :)

  20. Heya Says:

    What a fuckin retarded moron, some
    should hack this site, its not fair for people to read this crap or find on the internet.

  21. Mel Says:

    Oh god, Jerry, where on earth did you learn whatever it is you think you know about computers from? Did you do one of those training courses they advertise in magazines that will supposedly allow you to get that ‘high paid’ job in IT or something? How is the job search going?
    I’m a psychologist, yet I know more about every aspect of computers that wise old Jerry has discussed! That said, I must admit that I’m also a Linux pirate who uses windows without a valid licence to run ubuntu.
    *shudder*

  22. Michael Z. Williamson Says:

    Right, Heya. Tell us what we should read. None of us can deduce it for ourselves.

  23. Arie Says:

    Me thinks JerryLee is using Microsoft Office to do his math?

  24. Bill Says:

    Jerry, you’ve managed to find an even nerdier way to say “lol M$ iz xpensive and stupid m i rite guyz?”

    I’m impressed.

  25. Charles Xavier Says:

    Wow, Microsoft always has the best deals. It is a mystery how anyone will use Linux when Microsoft can offer both their operating system AND Office for the extremely low price of $699. This guy truly is a master to be able to not only get his RAM and CPU for the low price of $200, but with the extra savings, the company is actually paying him $800 for his purchases. Getting rich has never been easier!

  26. Believer Says:

    I don’t see what ANY of this has to do with the Redwings in the playoffs.

  27. KEAVEN Says:

    I just bought a ps3 for 399.00 and installed ubuntu on it. After reading Jerry’s post i feel so ripped off!

    ;)

  28. Terramel Says:

    OMG! I never read some many shits in any blog in my entire life!

  29. digitalmouse Says:

    I really hope no-one takes this guy seriously. I have yet to find anything accurate or truthful about his so called ‘articles’ - well expect the parts where he says Vista is made by Microsoft.

    Jerry, my boy, please take your fingers out of your ears and actually *learn* something about the IT industry and Linux (and Microsoft and Apple, for that matter).

    Save our bandwidth, and stop spouting rhetoric - you sound like a badly informed salesman for Microsoft. Heck, you are even making Microsoft look bad.

  30. timmy Says:

    i really dont know what to say about most of this wheather or not its for fun, or that some how you (referring to everybody who does not know anything about linux) are serious. i just dont know what to say, and let me say that i built a better machine, for less, and i used linux, it has never seen the horrid light of windows, have a nice day.

  31. Smarter Than The Other Guys Leaving Comments in Here Says:

    Only you can make a website where the comments are just as funny as the original post Jerry.

    Also I love the people trying to disarm their posts before making themselves look just as stupid.

  32. Jorge Boosh Says:

    @Charles Xavier

    Didn’t anyone tell you that money grows on trees?

  33. mr k Says:

    i meant pissed off

  34. mikebeck Says:

    “Save our bandwidth, and stop spouting rhetoric - you sound like a badly informed salesman for Microsoft. Heck, you are even making Microsoft look bad.”
    I think I just wet myself.

  35. I dont understand anything about computers but this is fun Says:

    Reading this blog have made me understand why people paying with $ is considered stupid.

    I love your blog. Keep up the good work

  36. Jedakiah Says:

    Dear Jerry Lee,

    You have brought tears to my eyes. You’re the greatest thing that happened to the internet since Google. These tidbits of wisdom are the most joyous thing I’ve read in years.

    In addition to your delightful banter, you’ve highlighted the vast sum of immaturity and insolence that the internet culture displays. Half the people who reply, take your posts so personal and insult you in kind. As if hundreds of people calling you names or lecturing you on the same thing would help anymore than 10. This too is like a golden dubloon amidst great poverty. That combination of satire has made more than one of my days. Good work.

    Whoever runs this blog, please tell me you have contacted Jerry and informed him about his fan site. For not all of us are here to mock and deride him, some of us are true fans.

    BTW, why is there no Wikipedia article about him yet?
    http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jerry_Lee_Cooper&action=edit

  37. Freston Says:

    I’d like to order 10 :-D

  38. tenthone Says:

    Jerry! My friend you great!!! really! I’m speechless!

    Can you quote a Server configuration? I believe it can be adjusted between $1000 to $1500 for maintaining a website just as google?
    I wanted a choice between My server operating systems should I use Internet Explorer 8 beta or Internet Explorer 7 the final version?

    No IT technician could solve my problems and I hope I make sense to you just as you make sense to me.

    you can visit my website at yahoo

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