old computer

[stevieboy]

hi
  ive got a 3 y o desktop pc an acer aspire duel core with 2 gb of ram but alas with no keyboard or anything to go with it ,just the tower itself. i was told its not worth buyin all the guff to go with it as its pretty old, which was a surprise cos i bought it 2 or 3 years ago as i said, but my thoughts are now, is there anything i could use it for, and what would i need

[kiddo1972]

This is what I would do with it. I would turn it in to a Linux machine, preferably Ubuntu 10.04 or Linux Mint 9. Any version of Linux would run beautifully on that Acer

[I Shooter]

It is a base computer. The stuff to make it work will cost you about $150.00. I would say that it is worth getting the stuff. With Linux Mint it will surf the net play DVDs and Mint comes with Open Office and it is a lot like Windows. The biggest difference is Mint will not cost you $100.00 plus. If it was mine I know I would do it. You can pick up a cheap flat screen for less than $100.00. A keyboard and mouse for $30.00 and a cheap set of speakers for less than $20.00. All of them should come with needed cables. As I said be for I would go for it. Three years is old tek yet they are still selling it. Most people like me don't need top of the line computers to do what they want to do with a computer. Good luck with what ever you decide. Oh if you want to sell it it is worth at least $200.00.

[Geek-9pm]

Does he need only a monitor and a keyboard?
Got to a local repair shop and they just might give you both. It now costs money to dispose of old CRT monitors. They will let you have it if you promise not to pollute a landfill. 

[rthompson80819]

3 years is not that old.

I would at least buy a keyboard, mouse and monitor just to see what's is got.  See if it's already got an OS on it.

I've seen 17" flatscreen monitors in pawn shops for $30.

Of course, the best choice, if you can borrow all that stuff, you can find out if it even works.

[talontromper]

well its kind of a buyer beware....but i didn't wanna spend much for parts for a computer that i was giving away so i went to good will and they usually have an abundance of computer peripherals.... a mouse was like 2 a keyboard was 3 if i remember right