The person who originally posted the question was doing her homework. 
She was researching what was considered best and she wanted more control 
by having a custom built system. Like I suggested, she should contact 
someone in her area that builds adaptive computers and JFW. Companies 
like Dell have no clue when it comes to adaptive technology and should a 
problem arise you have to call the company that makes the technology 
that you are using. These companies can't send out a tech so you are 
trouble shooting over the phone. In having a pc custom built you decide 
what goes into it and most come with a year free tech support. Remember, 
I said contact someone who builds adaptive computers.

She suggested an Intel motherboard which Dell uses. Dell also uses name 
brand components such as Creative, Linksys and USRobtics to name a few. 
Dell also uses Pentium, AMD, Maxtor, Microsoft, etc. The only generics 
they use are their drives and some video cards. If someone decides to 
have a pc built with the same specs then they have more control over 
their computer. Dell is great, I have one actually, but they put a lot 
of needless software on their systems. I use Zoom Text and Zoom Text and 
the video card in my Dell machine have a computability problem. I always 
have to remove Dell's video drivers once installed and let Zoom Text 
instal the drivers it wants. If you purchase your motherboard 
independently then you will receive a disk with all the appropriate 
drivers for that motherboard on it. Dell puts it's operating system and 
motherboard drivers on one disk and picking out which is which can get 
difficult if you don't know what you are doing. Some computer 
manufacturers don't even give you an operating system disk instead 
having it partitioned right on the hard drive. Having a pc built by a 
reputable tech or company (not Comp USA)  also insures that you are not 
calling India when tech support is needed. By the way, the person who 
had all the problems with Comp USA should have demanded their money 
back, you purchased a lemon. The person who builds you a system will 
give you all the disks I mentioned.

In this case building a pc with a Creative sound/video card and also 
Creative dvd/cd drives would be more beneficial. Drivers and updated 
software for name brand components are easily downloaded for free from 
the manufacturers web site. A base computer can cost around $500.00 to 
$800.00 but this doesn't include all the peripherals. If you are going 
to get a new system you might as well go all the way.

These are only my opinions and by no means recommendations. I mean no 
offense to anyone who has commented on this topic.

Mick


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