Let the debates begin 2004-06-18 - By Martinez Ricardo.O (NET/Dallas)
Back Ok, here's my $0.02 My very second computer, I bought online. That was in 1999. It was from a company called "Cyber Power PC" Yes, I know, corny name, but they were excellent in the transaction. Actually, I couldn't tell you how they were in person, cuz I never had to deal with them. Their ordering was just that good.
They can be found at http://www.cyberpowersystem.com/ They have an online configurator, that lets you choose everything from the motherboard down to the OS and speakers. Everything is interchangeable. For example: I had gotten a good deal on an ATI video card, so I chose the cheapest video card in the configurator, then just swapped. No problem. Plus: no taxes outside of Cali (at least that's what it was back then). I have no financial stake in this company. I just had a very good experience purchasing from them.
Ricardo
-- --Original Message-- -- From: TSML [mailto:truespace@(protected)]On Behalf Of ext Kris Krieger Sent: Friday, June 18, 2004 1:05 PM To: truespace@(protected) Subject: Re: [TSML] Let the debates begin
At 11:58 PM 17-06-04, Dave Angelini wrote: >I am beginning to look into getting a new PC (current PC is 4 years old >Win98 and showing its age). For various reasons, I have narrowed down the >PC options such that only two choices are still left to me....one generic >and one specific choice. > >Generic Choice: Compaq or HP?
Me, too, but now I am seriously considering what some folks here had suggested in the past: assembling my own.
FWLIW: The problem with computer "deals" is that they're just like Fast Food "deals" - "For ony $1.50 more you can have cheese and double fries so I'll add those on for you..." You're lucky if you can say "No!" in time - and you can totally forget about saying something like: "For the $1.50, can I instead have an extra diet cola and a tomato?" Of course you can't and no use asking. Businesses, esp. big businesses!, do not sell "bundles" because they lose $$ but are just a bunch of great folks - they sell what gives them the best overall cost:benefit ratio. And their salespeople are there to talk you into buying the bundle, not accomodate your specific computer needs.
Then, too, I intensely dislikle the little proprietary tweaks they make to the software and hardware, and it's appalling how many hundreds of MBs are eaten up just by their so-called "operating system" stuff. My significant other just got an HP and I find it irritating to even just use the cable internet connection because of all the goop I have to wade through.
So that's my take - I wouldn't go for either.
I'd normally research local small computer shops and choose one to assemble my system, but I have yet to find any here (in Masachusetts). Then too, I don't know that I'd trust one if I did (although I assume there are still a few mail-order places around, if one wishes to go that route). That's why I'm considering assembling my own. I've done so much hardware and software installations/uninstalls that it's logically the next step. And at least I'd know *exactly* what was going into it. ANd everything would be off-the-shelf/OEM/standard, no proprietary whatsitses laying in wait ensnare a user...
Of course, I've also been told I'm compulsive and/or a bit of a control freak, so there ya go...
- Kris K.
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