Let the debates begin 2004-06-18 - By Kris Krieger
Back
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.
|
|
