2.4 celeron on Mobo is $109, a 2.8 is...well...do they even make a 2.8 chip? If there was one, the comparable price would be about $180. So, you were $100 off, still, which is a substantial difference (from $400 to $500)
You were talking earlier about being able to build two *high end* systems for what one Dell would cost. Cheap RAM and an 80 gig drive do not make up a "high end" system.
And, if you use the same copy of XP running on two machines at the same time, it's illegal (against the EULA)
That is through MSDN. You still need a valid serial number, which they will look for, when updating (like to install SP1).
I doubt that Kona has MSDN (since it is some serious cash... thousands per year). He has a single user license, which should only be on one machine......I wonder if any of our MS reps snoop these boards
uh...you are comparing apples to oranges. Just doesn't make any sense. The comparable Dell to your "$500" system would be $899. Except it comes with a keyboard and mouse, full XP install plus other preloaded software, and a free palm pilot. (Not to mention a sound card, speakers, Pentium processor, etc....) You can't compare a high end PC w/ monitor to a budget box. It's like comparing a loaded Mustang to a base Focus...just can't compare them that way.
uh...Dell losing money? Huh? What? You need to research Dell a bit more. Besides, why do you think that they cater to the little guy? It's the companies that standardize on them that bring them the cash. The end user is just a bonus. People buy a Dell because they want a dependable, licensed PC that all you have to do is plug in and use. You don't have to mess with fans and hooking up USB. You don't have to mess with a sound card (which you left out of your machine specs, btw) and you don't have to spend hours installing the OS and all the programs and drivers that you need. (Not to mention the hassle that you have if you get a faulty part for your home built machine).
