My husband is trying to talk me into getting a new one, and if I go to a store, they will just try to make a sale. I would trust much more the opinions of you folks here.

My husband copied the 800 number from an ad on tv, the one where the young man is trying to talk his friend's mother into getting him a new Dell, but before I call anyone, I wanted to get your opinion.

Thanks for your time.

Maria

Best - Build your own

Next best - Dell

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Gil Harvey
The Host Factory
Resellers are our speciality
"Indecision may or may not be my problem"

Mike

With my limited knowledge of computers, building my own is definitely out. Could check out many sites, but it's still a guess, as to which is most reliable and goof proof. Service and reliabiltiy surely a big plus. That's why I figured some here might know.

I know this isn't a Front Page question, and I do appreciate your time.

Thanks.

I always ask people who come to me one question:

What do you use the PC for?

If for gaming then get the best and greatest.

If just email and to surf get an older Celeron based PC.

If for web building get a step or two down from the top and load it up with RAM. RAM is soo cheap right now it jsut makes sense to stuff it to the gil (No pun intended Gil )

If sales people tell you that you must have a certain feature/option have them explain why. If it sounds like it is way off base then duly note that the sales person is just trying to upsale you. If possible bring a person along who understands what is what. Make that person aware what you want to use the PC for.

Brian

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Work hard, play fair, stay sane

I have so many friends with so many horror stories about buying "out of a box" that I would never consider it. It's the servicing that becomes a nightmare. In my case, if there's a problem I just pop into town, computer in hand and say "Hi, Bob...fix this!", instead of driving for an hour to an "authorized service centre" and waiting 3 weeks for a computer that is usually just quick-restored back to day one. Turnaround has never been more than 24 hours which as we know, is STILL a lifetime without your computer..eek! Local stores have a community reputation to protect and if they want to stay in business they know they need to keep you happy.

But that's just my experience...

Jego

As for suppliers, I've always trusted Dell and certainly over here in the UK they're pretty good. The machine I am on at the moment has a 19" monitor that was bought and paid for as a regular one, but when delivered was up-specced to a (Dell branded) Sony Trinitron - nice. I've had Dell do similar things before (deliver a whole new monitor when one arrived with a cracked stand - and notask for the old one back!) and have to say they've always impressed.

Whilst I'm more than comfortable to build and maintain my own, for something that's business critical, I'd always prefer to go with the one where the components have been bench-tested together, at least to a certain degree. Tinkering about with a PC can be fun,but not when there's a deadline!

As for local, smaller shops - at least here in the UK - I find they are NOT for the fainthearted; OK, prices can't be beaten but staff are generally the worst kind of geeks, lacking in social skills and customer service, uncaring and patronising towards those "not in the know" whilst offering warranties that are sketchy at best.

clum1

[This message has been edited by clum1 (edited 11-06-2001).]

I like hardware so on my home network I'm running one I've built, one I've done serious upgrade on and a Micron straight out of the box. If you build it, or have someone else build it the warranty will usually not be as good as the national brands and if you don't want to fix it yourself, warranty is important.

Sorry but I can't agree with Jego about the small computer shops unless you are just lucky to get a good one like Jego appears to have. They will usually make a pretty hefty profit on the build and the warranty is only as good as the individual's ethics. I could list a bunch of horror stories about small computer shops. I stay as far away from any of them as possible.

Brian is right. Know what you want and need and concentrate on RAM and more RAM. Clum1 also brings up good points about the monitor and all the components working together. On the national brands you can be pretty sure the components they use have been tested as a complete system.

One other comment. (No insult intended to the guys on the forum) but going to a computer store and shopping for a computer is sort of like shopping for a car when you are a women. The young male techie (why don't these places ever hire female clerks?) assumes that you know absolutely nothing about anything having to do with computers so he generally will not listen much to what you are telling him you need and send you home with what he decides you need.

Make a list, check it twice and then hit the national company web sites. Don't know where you live but in California I don't have to pay sales tax if it is ordered out of state and that pretty well covers the shipping cost.

One other thing. Be sure that any computer you buy is easily upgradable. They all aren't.

Paula B

[This message has been edited by PBailey (edited 11-06-2001).]

This gives me an idea of what I should be looking for.

While I will be checking up on the local pc builders, and the service they provide, I will check out the major sites, more than likely Dell.

Thanks ever so much. I do appreciate it!!

Maria

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MyDog8it Design
SunState Consulting

Paula B

Many thanks!

Nice to see you here again - I'll add just one thing about the screen. Yes for web authoring and graphics work the biggest and best screen you can lay your hands on is great. However don't fall into the trap of just looking at your work using that resolution. At the very least preview it using lower resolutions. There are a lot of old screens out there

I have to agree with Gil about Dell (or IBM ) being next best to building your own. AFAIK Dell do a lot of bundles and also you can buy reconditioned models ex demo models etc.

IBM used to do something similar with IBM direct don't know if they still do in the USA.

One point about the version of windows you get with it. DON'T accept windows ME. It's awful it's the most crash prone heap og cr*p I've ever had the misfortune to see. - Insist on windows two thousand (and make sure that it is XP ready for upgradeability in years to come.)

Bottom line? The most memory and the most hard disk space you can afford.

Kind regards,

Mark

I already have the reconditioned models page of the Dell site bookmarked!! I can get a reconditioned Dimension 8200 with XP, Pentium 4, lots of memory, for half the price of a new one.

Local pc guy is making up a quote for me - already told him - not with WindowsME. Am still wondering which is the best way to go - as the local guy may not be available 24-7, but he is here in town, and any repairs could be done quickly compared to taking the box somewhere else and waiting weeks. But... he can transfer all my programs from the old box to the new one -- something I could never do! And he would also know more about what is compatible with XP, as I will be using my existing monitor, scanner, printer, etc.

Thanks for the advice. Would probably have made a big mistake if I had just walked into a computer store and allowed them to "sell" me on whatever. Glad I came here first!!

My best to all --
Maria