Let the debates begin 2004-06-18 - By Stuart
Back
Never buy a computer with a "pak" sound in the name used to be the
word (Compaq, Packard Bell [now extinct I think], Hewlit Packard).
Places like Dell, Gateway etc. are fine for Mom or Dad who want to
send email, use internet, etc. Elsewise good to avoid. Generally their
custom options are limited and often over priced. Obvious exceptions, if you
are a big company doing animation and exchange custom workstations for
publicity (see various movie credits).
-- --Original Message-- --
From: TSML [mailto:truespace@(protected)] On Behalf Of Kris Krieger
Sent: Friday, June 18, 2004 2:05 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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