I just now checked Dell Outlet (not Dell Retail).. there is still one for $639. http://www.dell.com/us/dfb/p/precision-desktops?~ck=anav&c=us&l=en&s=dfb&cs=28&redirect=1
If you not interested in building your own computer, stick with Dell. Pay a little extra for the OS disk. If you don't like all the extra crap on the PC, do a fresh install from the OS disk and use their supplied disk for drivers. You get a fresh install that way and a PC from a good company for support.
Agree about "if not BIY"... but probably should not "use their supplied disk for drivers".. rather, go to Dell's support website and download most current drivers... rarely are the drivers on the accompanying disk current.
"3 GB DDR3 SDRAM"... Odd, usually you see 2 or 4. In any case he'd want to add RAM -- 3gig isn't enough these days, even for light to moderate use.
Not necessarily... "3G of RAM" actually can make sense. If in single sticks, is the minimum to take advantage of "triple channel memory" ... Try and see before drawing conclusions. Lots of folks are needlessly/wastefully "over RAM'd".. (I've got 4GB RAM installed.. have NEVER utilized more than 1GB of it.)
Sign up to receive the discount coupons. You can take I think it's 15% off from the listed price on the dellout site. They send these out every month or two.