Refreshing my Memory (Fujitsu SCALEo 600)

Member Name: helencb

Product:	Fujitsu SCALEo 600
Date:	21/01/02 (3073 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: See Review

Disadvantages: Slightly more expensive

We have wanted a new Computer for ages and ages, our last one wasn't too bad for most routine tasks, but as it ran at a mere 333mhz we thought it was about time to upgrade to something better. Incidentally, we didn't set out the other day to but a computer, we actually left to look at furniture, and came back with our new toy, the Fujitsu Siemens Scaleo 600 Desktop Computer, which was launched in October 2001. Our incentive for this was our Sim City 3000 game, just purchased, which wasnt running too effectively on the old slow machine!

We bought the Scaleo from Comet. Its specification was pretty good, with 80Gb Hard Drive (Last one was 6Gb, so I am not sure when we will use all that extra space!!), 64 Mb Graphics Card, and AMD Athlon XP 1700 Processor. This processor provides up to 1536 SDRAM, and not 1700 as you might expect, as is common with these AMD Processors. We also get a CD RW and a DVD player, as well as the 3.5" Floppy Disk Drive and a 17" monitor. Total cost was £1098. On the front of the tower, there are two USB ports.

Our Sales Person in Comet was knowledgeable and informative on all aspects of purchasing and upgrading a PC, and was happy to point out the best buys of the day. Comet, unlike some of the other retailers don't bundle up '50 software titles' or extra hardware like scanners or printers and so if you wanted the whole works, I imagine they would work out more expensive. However we looked at some of the software bundles and estimated that we would have no use for about 48 of them, as we don't have any kids! We also have a good printer, and while I wouldn't mind a scanner, these are getting cheaper and cheaper, and so I can add one on at a later date. Comet did push their 3-year Warranty Package, as you would expect, but at £200 we declined this offer. The computer does come with a 1-year warranty anyway, although we will now have to take it to the shop, if anything goes wrong; with the
extended warranty they come to you. We were also able to take the computer away with us, as there were plenty in stock, an added bonus, when you want to get it all set up as quickly as possible.

Included in our literature was a getting started leaflet, for the XP system and Fujitsu PC. This twelve page booklet talks you through set up, troubleshooting, the Accessiblity Wizard, and some keyboard tips. Three is also a quick guide, which is a fold out leaflet which shows how to connect the PC together, in pictorial format. You also receive the thick manuals for the PC and the monitor, you know the ones nobody ever reads!


The computer came loaded with software, although it took us an age to register all the programs, by accepting their terms, and loading up our old software from the old machine. That said, it was a fairly painless process, and everything seemed to work first time, it is so much easier when you are starting from scratch and not a second hand machine, as we had always had in the past! The machine came with Windows XP, which was the version we wanted ideally, there are still plenty about with Windows Millenium Edition, but I had read negative stuff about that.

My initial impressions of Windows XP are positive ones. My old computer used to hang all the time, and I felt I was forever rebooting it. I particularly like the feature with XP that each user can have a different desktop, with some shared files. This makes things much easier for me, as I like to keep my files organised! I do however, prefer the classic windows display, over the XP version, something which is easy to change.

The computer did come with the packages that we did want; which for me included the Worksuite Package. This includes: - MS Money 2001 Standard, MS Picture It Publishing, MS Works Clipart, MS Autoroute 2001 Europe edition, MS Encarta Interactive World Atlas 2001.This is all preloaded, but you are also given the disks, but not any manua
ls or boxes. Added to that, there were a further two Microsoft Games, Midtown Madness 2 and Crimson Skies, i.e. cars and planes respectively. We haven't really bothered with these two that much, which makes my point about getting 50 unwanted software titles.

At the front edges of the tower, there are black panels, which are removable and replaceable with coloured ones. You are supplied with Blue and Orange replacements. Fujitsu Siemens market this, as 'this appealing design is an asset to any living room'. Hmmmm. Not really, in my opinion, the midi tower belongs as out of site as possible, under the desk!

The Scaleo 600 is also available with a Pentium 4.0 2Ghz processor.

Other Technical Stuff, not covered
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Floppy Disk Drive 1.44MB
DVD Drive 16 * 48 Speed
Drive Bays 2 * 3.5" (One Free)
3 * 5.25"
Internal 2 * 3.5" HDD
Slots 5 * PCI
1 * AGP Pro 4* 1 X AMR/CNR
Modem 56k. V. 90
Speakers 60W Scaleo Loudspeaker
Mouse Wheel mouse
Keyboard Standard Scaleo keyboard


We have had this computer for one month now, and we are very pleased with it. The only small problem we have had thus far is a problem with the printer driver, which suddenly seemed to stop working. However this was a problem that we were easily able to fix ourselves and not require Fujitsu customer support. There is a PC Support line which costs 50p per minute, and the Warranty Hotline is charged at the National Call Rate.

Fujitsu advertise their systems in the national papers most days, and you can purchase direct, as well as through Comet.

And now my Sims Game runs properly and my system doesn't hang any more, Hurrah!

Summary: