Buying a PC

[Asa]

Yeah, my first PC way back in 1993 was a Tiny, bought from a guy running a small stall at a computer fair at the NEC in Birmingham. The only problem I ever had with it was that it got old!

Got a phone call from them the other day confirming the order and desperately trying to sell me the higher warranty package. She gave up in the end after realising that I wasn't going to change my mind from what I chose during the order process.

[Anonymous]

We have a local computer fair in Bristol, and you can get a similar spec to the Dell (less monitor) from about £300. These are dealers with premises (the same machines are usually £50 - £60 dearer in shop). I recently bought 3 for work (computer graphics on conferences), Amd xp2800, 512ddr
Dvd drive, CD-rw, 128mb graphics card, 6 usb ports (2x front, 4x rear) and a sound card for a total outlay of £550. Only had 1 problem on one of them and that was resolved in 48 hrs(sending off faulty CD-rw and recieving replacement.

A route to consider I would suggest.

[James Martin]

I would reccomend going to a specialist. Don't bother getting a "package" thing with all the sound, graphics and stuff being onboard as you're stuffed if you want to upgrade the thing.

Also you probably don't need the software bundle if you have the original CDs/cracked versions already for your existing PC.

Also I cannot stress enough the importance for an ORIGINAL - ie, off-the-shelf - copy of Windows XP. I also strongly reccomend the first thing you do after installing Windows XP is that you put on Service Pack 2.

Having the original Disks for everything is a lot easier in the long run, especially when it comes to upgrading.

Although on laptops recovery systems are a cracking thing (because almost everything is gonna be onboard) on desktops they are EVIL!

Also can I reccomend that you set the PC up so that it is dual-boot Windows and Linux. Then if you get a virus, you have your arse covered.

[Andrew]

Bringing this thread back up, I'm thinking about getting a new PC in the good old January Sales. I know computer types normally turn their nose up at shop bought packages from the likes of Dixons or Comet but that's what I'll be doing.

Currently I've got a Packard Bell that I got from PC World. I've never had so much trouble with it, firstly a problem with the graphics card caused no end of trouble, with half the machine needing replacing due to PB seemingly building their machines with components that are different than everyone elses and PC World technical centre knowing less than I do myself. Then there's the fact they don't do proper disks for Windows Me etc instead using a backup system.

My question being, are all the 'brands' just as bad? The likes of HP, Compaq, Dell etc, or are some better than others? Any advice?

[Neil Jones]

Currently I've got a Packard Bell that I got from PC World. I've never had so much trouble with it, firstly a problem with the graphics card caused no end of trouble, with half the machine needing replacing due to PB seemingly building their machines with components that are different than everyone elses and PC World technical centre knowing less than I do myself. Then there's the fact they don't do proper disks for Windows Me etc instead using a backup system.

Having had two Packard Bell machines, they fall down when it comes to major upgrades as they often use a special connector for the front panel LEDs which automatically rules out reusing the case for a new motherboard. PB also usually skimp on the memory.

Your other main problem is basically PC World, who usually charge the earth for simple faults and generally offer the master disks as being the solution to everything as in "wipe the drive and start again".

With regards to the situation of "proper disks" - apparently this was a Microsoft requirement with major OEMs, but not so much of an issue now what with the activation requirements of Windows XP, or the issue of tying it to a specific motherboard. Previously before XP activation it was the onus of OEMs (Packard Bell, Tiny, Dell etc) to have some system which tied their restore disks to their own machines, for reasons of software piracy prevention. This also naturally meant that no proper CDs could be provided.

My question being, are all the 'brands' just as bad? The likes of HP, Compaq, Dell etc, or are some better than others? Any advice?

Well I work in a small computer shop on a work placement where we repair, upgrade and "fix" computers.

We have Tiny machines in, we hate the buggers.
We have Dell machines in, we hate the buggers, but like the cases.
We have Packard Bell machines in, they're generally okay and co-operative.
We also have Patriot machines in, micro desktops. Bastard things, only solution is an external whatever's broke.

Pretty much every OEM branded machine we see has something in it that makes it a bugger to get working properly again, usually some obscure hardware that needs impossible to find drivers, some obscure unidentifable motherboard which makes it hard to find any chipset drivers, or just wierd and wonderful "bastardised" configurations, designed to make you take it back to whereever you bought it from to pay through the nose to get it sorted.

But having said all of that, its your choice at the end of the day.

[James Martin]

Well the only recovery disk I need is Windows XP's! I recently formatted the drive to put a clean installation on (was previously using an OEM-ed ME) and the install picked up all the hardware! Sweet.

[Pete]

Tiny used to be fabulous but since it's been taken over by Time it's pathetic. I have an old Tiny PC and a new one.

Old one goes wrong:
me: hello I broke a nail this morning
them: Ok we'll send someone out and replace your DVD-Rom drive.

It's so fab, I got a new screen because of a tiny mark on the old one and even though they were pushing 6 years old they replaced the speakers without a hiccup.

The one one is pathetic. You have to send it back for a start. I complained about the case being broken, I asked for a new one. They glued it back on with a glue gun and in the process stopped the CD-RW drive from opening.

It comes back in a worse state every time and they are totally incapable of sending me a resotre CD that works properly and then when I asked for an XP CD they went into panic mode.

In the end I got so sick I just downloaded XP off the internet (well I got Metropol/TVHome's SteveL to do it as I didn't have BB then) and reformatted with that instead.

[cwathen]

Although the self built route is the way probably, it's just knowing which bits to get and then more importantly, some lucky person to help me install it. I don't fancy rendering something useless as soon as I try to put into the tower

As was said previously, adopting an 'if it doesn't fit, it's the wrong slot' attitude won't get you far wrong. The only things to watch are making sure you get the right processor and memory for the motherboard you're buying.

And be wary of buying bargain basement graphics cards - most of these will use the old AGP 1x/2x interface and won't physically fit into a newer AGP 4x/8x motherboard.

In general though, most time consuming part of building a PC is installing the operating system and drivers (and that's probably where any problems will manifest themselves too). If you feel confident enough to do that, I'd definately say go down the build your own route.

You can get some really nice looking cases now too - until recently a self built machine meant a dull as ditchwater beige tower case (although I have such a case myself still). Now you can get some really nifty looking things in all shapes, colours and sizes - a modern self built PC can easily look just as sexy as any modern concept thing which Dell or Compaq can turn out.

I must admit when I see some of the Tiny deals around. I think they do look good value. It seems you get so much stuff for your money. But apparently they stick everything all together rather than as seperate parts in your PC so if one thing goes wrong, you need to replace the entire board. (Mind you, I'm a novice at this sort of thing so I could be wrong my the understanding I got)

This is exactly why I vowed never to buy a brand again. Back in 1997, I had an AST machine with a fully integrated motherboard. I saved up half of the £899 it cost whilst my parents chipped in the other half. 2 weeks out of warranty, the graphics chip failed. There was no way of repairing it, and the motherboard wouldn't recognise an external graphics card being present. AST quoted £400 to replace it.

So a £900 computer was effectively written off after a year. What we did was buy a new case, motherboard, graphics card and sound card and then retrieve all the other bits from the AST. That alone however still cost the better part of £200.

If we hadn't had that damn integrated chip however, it would just have been a matter of shelling out £40 for a new graphics card. It put me off of all branded PCs for life, every machine I've had since has been self built.

[craig]

Go to a computer fair it would be a cheaper option!

I mean they have them all over the uk

Regards
Craig