[LazyPup]

Two years ago I set out on the quest of a new computer. While I am by no means a computer geek, I have been tinkering with computers since the late 1960's when I was a remote terminal operator on a Univac 1050-II mainframe, and having run the full gamut of home computers from the Comodore 64 to the present IBM compatible PC's I pretty much knew what I would demand of my new machine.

I am not a gamer. My goal was productivity, productivity and more productivity. On average I have five or six productivity programs such as MS Works (word processor), MS Home Publishing (Graphics), MS Paint (graphics), Windows Media Player (music library which currently has over 5000 songs on the computer) Bible Library (18 versions of the Holy Bible plus a number of references), and the Internet and Ghost Surf, which is a firewall program.

My parameters at the time were
1. a fast processor (Preferably a Celeron Processor.) (2.8gig was state of the art at that time)
2. minimum of 512mb of memory with provision for expansion (I have added two additional 512mb cards).
3.Combo drive (DVD/CD/CD_RW)
4. Built in memory reader
5. a floppy disc. (The computer did not come with a floppy drive but I added it for $30).
6.LAN card (Local area network) because we have three computers in the house all networked.
7.high speed graphics card
8.A minimum of 4 USB ports (This one has 5 ports)
9.Audio jacks on the front panel
10. 17" flat panel monitor

Once I had decided what I wanted my computer to do, i then set out searching all the websites to see what was available. Dell, Gateway, hewlitt-Packard, Accer, IBM, Compac (from previous experience I am not a big fan of compac computers).

After nearly three months of searching I had still not found what I wanter at a price I could afford.

In addition to checking the online sources I checked all the local electronics retailers, Circuit City, Office Depot, Staples Office supply and a half dozen computer stores, but still not finding what I wanted at a price i could afford. (I had targeted $1000 for the package).

One afternoon contrary to habit, I ended up at Walmart with my girlfrined. I am not a big fan of walmart, and usually I bow out when she wants to head that way, but somehow I ended up there anyway. After nearly an hour of aimlessly wandering the aisles she decided to go look at the ladies unmentionables, and not desiring to hang around that dept. I told her I was going to check out the electronics dept and meet her in the coffee shop in half an hour.

Imagine my surprise when I found Walmart had an Emachines W2888, fully loaded with all the features i had been looking for, with the exception of the floppy drive for only $599. At first I thought the price must be miss marked or perhaps this was the processor less the monitor, surely something was amiss because that price was 35% under the manufacturers direct price from the factory. Maybe this is a lost leader come on deal and they really don't have one other than the display model in stock, i thought.

The sales girl came over and assured me they had ten in stock at that time, and that was the regular everyday price. WEll, it didnt take me long to pull a couple hundred out of my wallet and toss one in layaway to be sure I locked in the price. I figured I would have it paid off in about three weeks.

Three days later I got a letter from a client who had stiffed me on a bill about four years before that. To my utter amazement the letter contained a check for $500, the balance on his job. Needless to say, i tore up the road shooting off to wallyworld to grab my new computer.

It is now nearly two years later and this machine has performed flawlessly, aside from the fact that I did once have a serious problem with viruses, but thanks to Troy, that problem was corrected quickly.

I normally do not turn my computer off, so this machine has basically ran 24/7 for two years without a hitch.

As I said before, I am not a big fan of Wally World, but I would certainly check them out when looking for a computer.