Joined on 03/21/05
Not bad
Pros: These do pretty well using them to view youtube videos and other general use that doesn't include listening to music (for which I prefer to use a decent pair of headphones). Voices are clear, and stereo imaging is surprisingly good.
Cons: These work only through USB, and have no line-in. The speakers use their own sound driver, which if you're using a separate line out for headphones means that managing which is being used can be somewhat of a pain. The max volume is still pretty low, I'm assuming in part because of the limited draw from USB. There's not a lot of bass response, which is to be expected given the size and use.
Overall Review: It would be nice if there were either a 3.5mm line in, so that these could be used with an existing audio output, or a headphone out.
Decent case, after some work
Pros: This case has a nice look to it. It is relatively sturdy and is constructed pretty well for a budget case. I liked the optical drive door - it's nice if you have a white optical drive that would otherwise not match with the case.
Cons: When I received the case, the power button was off and knocking around in the box. I had to pull the front panel off the case and use a couple of screws with large heads in order to secure it. They should definitely address this - it's something most people would not put up with. I would have sent the case back, but I couldn't as the computer wasn't for me and I was on a time budget.
Overall Review: There are better cases out there, and this case is not worh it unless it's on sale. If you have the money, the Antec 300 is a much nicer case and it's on sale sometimes for what this case sells for normally.
Excellent value
Pros: Price, performance, stability, overclockable
Cons: cheesy heatsink connectors
Overall Review: This processor is an incredible compared with the equivalently clocked core 2 version. The smaller L2 cache doesn't really make that much of a difference. The biggest problem I had was that after overclocking it, the heatsink connector cracked and is loose and my temps shot up like crazy. Now I've dropped it back to 2GHz until I can get a better heatsink (temps are still in the high 30s at idle). If you're bulding on a budget, get this and spend the money you save on a good video card.
Very disappointed
Pros: None so far
Cons: Isn't working. I plug my stuff into it, it detects the volume labels but freaks out when I try to browse. Not good. My drives are good, they work with the onboard USB. This, on the other hand, is a piece of junk, and will continue to be unless the included drivers prove otherwise.
Overall Review: I guess you get what you pay for. In my case, I got less than that, because this thing's a steamer.
Please excuse my ignorance
Comments: I'm giving this card a 5 to counteract my other review of a 1 because I believe that this is about a 3 card. If you get a bluescreen error like I mentioned, scrap the "WLANCU" program that is included to scan for wireless networks and just use the one included with XP (the driver included will work without the other program). It really isn't a bad card, it just has bad software written for it.