darkowl72 said:...
There isn't really a choice here; there is only one option: a machine built on an Intel Celeron processor. Regardless of what my colleague suggests, you won't find much joy in a quad-core either—it’s just as mediocre as everything else in that tier. Since technically it isn't even a true Celeron anymore—much like how a Pentium isn't truly a Pentium since they've both evolved from the old Atom architecture—this computer is strictly for single-tasking. Any attempt at alt-tabbing will feel like an eternity. You can listen to music, browse the web, or watch a high-res movie, but as I mentioned, you can only do one at a time. If you aren't used to modern speeds, it might suffice, but in reality, most people would succumb to frustration over the lag. Even an SSD won't save a Celeron.
Regarding the warranty, opt for the longest manufacturer's warranty available and ignore those questionable third-party insurance plans; the silver lining is that there isn't much to break on these machines in the first place.
And yes, steer clear of AMD E series processors at all costs, unless someone is clearing out old stock and offering an A4 or A6, which would be a better value than a Pentium.
IMHO, the absolute baseline should be an i3; anything lower than that ought to be banned from sale.
