eMachines 330

I got mine as a Christmas present in 2002 and it is still running as well as it did back then. Some programs load a bit slowly but that can be expected for such an old desktop. It's had its memory upgraded from 128MB to 256MB, it's had an additional 20GB hard drive installed (the original is still running fine), the CD-RW has been upgraded to a DVD-RW and the floppy disc drive had to be replaced. In the space of a year my laptop had six new hard drives but the one in my eMachines keeps going. It reminds me of a Toyota Hilux (Top Gear) because it is so robust!

This is the best machine I have owned. I got into the computer thing way back in 1986, so the speakers do look naff. The screen was tiny, so I have just zipped down to PC world and got me a 19 inch LG Flatron L1952s for £159.99. Over the years my 330 has acquired a Belkin 5 slot USB2 card for broadband and other peripherals. Also a 100Mb Ethernet connection. If I can get the ram to 512Mb or there abouts (DVMT accepted), I will put a cheap DVD writer in. I run XP Home with XP Office. Using processing of large spreadsheets linked tables with Access databases and DAO and Microsoft query with spreadsheets. Just for a laugh I installed Oracle 8i and Apache Server to do some development work. Visual studio 6 is also installed, although I only use VB6. So it's a great little computer, and don't knock it. ONE THING IT HATES is the NORTON anti virus/download/spy/remote access concoction, so use an alternative kit.

As I say, if I get 500Mb working then she would have a life of 8 years or more. If not, then because I am so in love with the thing, I might get her a new motherboard, but I will need to investigate that too.

About the memory - if it works I will let you know. The website for it is www.ebuyer.com. - about £17.99 per stick.

Does the phrase reconsituted underpowered, gonna have to replace in two years, subpar crud mean anything to anyone. Emachines will be proping the doors and filling the junk piles of the world. Oh and there customer service is as bad or worse then HP and that is saying something.

The emachine is a good machine over all, i have had mine two years, but the main problem i have had is the hard drive went on me. It beginning two years i thought it should in reality last a bit longer then that...

I have been running mine for a year now. I had problems with XP to start with but that is now fine after a couple of on line updates. I mainly use it for digital printing and it has been great. I would like to upgrade it to 256k memory soon for this reason. I would have to say I was advised not to buy it at the time due to quality concerns but I have had hours of fun on it and hope to have many more for the forseeable future. I think it was exc value overall.

The emachines 330 pc system is an excellent starter pc for people on a tight budget. the pc came with windows xp home edition, microsoft money 2002, microsoft works preinstalled. The only downside i have encountered is the rather tinny sounding speakers, but obviously these can be replaced for minimal outlay. The built in cdrw and dvd player are excellent.