buying a prebuilt computer

[bockchow]

i've always built my own computers but i'm getting tired of building them for other people so i need some info so i can start recomending some prebuilt computers to them. what are the differences in quality, price, and support for all the major manufacturers. any info on dell,compaq,hp, and gateway would be great.

 

[DaTT]

I would never buy *brand* name PC's. I would send them to the local computer shop and have them build it. It usually doesn't cost any extra, and it won't take any of your time.

 

[bockchow]

"The only difference between a car salesman and a computer salesman is that the car salesman knows he's lying."

no i actual like most of these people enough to help them pick out what they need but i want something with realy good tech support so they don't call me. and normaly i'd never buy more than a cable from a local shop so i'm hesitant to send them to one.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Dell is the best major manufacturer since you can customize to put in morre / less memory, better video cards, CD vs. DVD burner, etc. and if you pick the right week you can get heavily-discounted upgrades to memory, CD/DDVD burner, or get an LCD instead of a monitor.

 

[Lyfer]

ABScomputer.com is associated with newegg I heard, thats prolly why they have such a high resellerrating also. Give em try, good prices too.

 

[tweeve]

I would go with Dell

 

[newbiepcuser]

Originally posted by: tweeve
I would go with Dell

 

[optimistic]

Originally posted by: Lyfer
ABScomputer.com is associated with newegg I heard, thats prolly why they have such a high resellerrating also. Give em try, good prices too.

I think Nutrend is the same company too. Never buy a comp from Bestbuy, horrible tech support and return policy, nor by a Compaq........horrible tech phone support. (30min wait? What is that?)

 

[Ferocious]

I fell for the Dell myth last December and bought a new system.

Overrated and overpriced.

Never again.

 

[chocoruacal]

Originally posted by: Ferocious
I fell for the Dell myth last December and bought a new system.

Overrated and overpriced.

Never again.

I disagree. With Dell's prices, it would be near impossible for one to build a computer for less, especially when you factor in programs, operating system, and a year warranty. For your average user, Dell is perfect. I refer people to Dell all the time, especially if they have $500 or less to spend.

Now, if you don't need the operating system or software and have the time/patience/know how to trouble shoot your computer, then yeah, DIY is the way to go. YOu get better parts (a motherboard that has the exact features you need) and longer warranties on the CPU, RAM, mobo, etc. You also get a computer than can easily be updated down the road...not necessarily the case with a Dell, which may have a proprietary case, PS, mobo.

 

[beatle]

In addition to the good value (as long as you're not buying bleeding edge) Dells are also a dream to work on. Everything is rail mounted and cards are easy to add/remove. They're also dead silent, which is a status that isn't always easy to achieve on a regular box.

 

[thraxes]

If its support you are after, go for DELL

 

[draelon]

Originally posted by: thraxes
If its support you are after, go for DELL

Do you deal with the same Dell I deal with? 4 years ago Dell had the best support in the industry. Today, their support just plain sucks unless you are dealing with their business support. That being said, Dell machines are pretty cheap and fairly reliable, especially on the desktop side of things.

 

[Budmantom]

Dell, ABS & Nutrend.

 

[Cerb]

Get Dell. If you go to the high end, you can build a better PC cheaper, but not for the low end, and they are good PCs.

 

[Dewey]

Dell computers are great, but the support isn't. You sit on hold for hours and then get some guy in India reading a script who couldn't help you if his life depended on it.

 

[nick1985]

HES baaAAAk!

 

[Macro2]

I fell for the Dell myth last December and bought a new system.

Overrated and overpriced.

Never again.

 

[Macro2]

Dell computers are *&))&)(&), but the support isn't. You sit on hold for hours and then get some guy in India reading a script who couldn't help you if his life depended on it

 

[JulesMaximus]

I would recommend Dell also. I just bought one for my Mom-In-Law about a month ago. P4 2.3GHz, 17" flat panel display, WinXP Home, 512MB, DVD, CD, 40GB HDD. Paid around $1k shipped. I set it up for her and I was surprised with how quiet it is. You literally cannot hear anything when it is on. If the monitor wasn't displaying the XP desktop I would have thought it wasn't turned on it was so quiet. It is a decent system-much better than the Pentium 166 she was using until I bought her this setup.

I don't know how they are for support because I've never had to use their support...Wait, actually that's not true. I bought a refurbished Dell flat panel display and tried calling Dell customer support on a Sunday. I kept getting some guy who sounded like he was from India on the phone who was absolutely no help. I ended up calling the place I bought it from to RMA it. They sent me a new unit for the same price and credited me shipping costs there and back.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: nick1985
HES baaAAAk!

I hate you for posting that. God, I feel the need to gouge out my eyes now.

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: Macro2
I fell for the Dell myth last December and bought a new system.

Overrated and overpriced.

Never again.

I also fell for the myth 6 months ago. I bought a p4 2.6ghz, 9700np, 1gb ddr2700 and a dvd burner for $800(the memory was added after the purchase but is included in the $800). That was less than parts alone.

I have also call tech support and never waited for more than 5min and they were some help.

Tom

 

[wetcat007]

High end, Alienware/Falcon-NW/Voodoo PC, lower end ABS. As for Dells good for office use and general home use, but use propriety parts, so for the enthusist they kind of suck if you want something very upgradable and such.

 

[sh4nsen]

Ill never recommend a company that has yet to sell a system with an AMD chip in it.......its anti-competitive.

 

[dexvx]

Originally posted by: wetcat007

High end, Alienware/Falcon-NW/Voodoo PC, lower end ABS. As for Dells good for office use and general home use, but use propriety parts, so for the enthusist they kind of suck if you want something very upgradable and such.

They stopped using proprietary parts about 1 year ago. Wake up and crawl out of your cave.

Originally posted by: Ferocious and Macro2

I fell for the Dell myth last December and bought a new system.

Overrated and overpriced.

You're probably one of the people that tried to skim Dell for a top of the line PC for $270 with illegal rebates.

If you want good support, then you got to dish over the extra $$ (ironic when you have people saying they are willing to pay extra $$ for American support but they never actually do). Otherwise, their cheapest products usually gives you some guy from India. Its common sense people. Some of their computers arent the best deals around for nothing. Its better that way because I sure as hell dont want to pay $$ for support I will never use.