Desktops: Poll: When it comes to a new PC, do you build or buy?
- 10/16/09 3:18 PM
build or buy
by jean harrington - 10/16/09 6:00 PM In reply to: Build or Buy by stiefrI'm disabled so this time I had a nearby person build it.
reply
by stiefr - 10/16/09 6:33 PM In reply to: build or buy by jean harringtonThank you for your most thoughtful response.
Borrow some hands
by allenb54 - 10/18/09 9:29 AM In reply to: Build or Buy by stiefrIf you can find someone, perhaps you can "borrow" someone's hands. That is, you decide what parts to order, and provide the expertise to guide another person who performs the tasks your movement disorders prevent you from doing yourself. If you can find a knowledgeable person, so much the better; you will have someone to "talk shop" with. You might find one by calling a contact at a local group, putting up ads on the bulletin boards of local computer shops, or just calling the shops, and asking one of the tech people if they know anyone in your area that might be willing to join you in the building of your PC.
I strongly recommend Newegg as a parts source. Superb service, selection, and prices. They have a good reputation for accepting reasonable returns. Their user reviews sometimes contain helpful tips, and many components have links to the manufacturer's pages where you can find additional information, download user manuals before you buy, etc.
Good luck.
Allen
PC PC OR APPLE
by famulla - 10/16/09 6:07 PM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to a new PC, do you build or buy? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I trust the salesman more then mysepf these days as the DEl IMB chips explode and I am told these data , " Sorry we hear you not speak up loud". "from the flying plane sir?"
CIA FBI SCOTS think I am Irish. To Blow the plane crew . NO I buy them from the shops sirs.
The great man is not convulsible or tormentable; events pass over him without much impression.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
I thank you
Firozali A. Mulla
Um, fail?
by salsashark - 10/17/09 10:08 AM In reply to: PC PC OR APPLE by famullaNo sense at all.
When it comes to a new PC, Do you buy or build?
by nastynick46 - 10/16/09 6:09 PM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to a new PC, do you build or buy? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I've built my own systems for the last 12 years. The main reason is because I enjoy building them. It's mostly being able to pick your own components and finding a case that doesn't look like everybody elses. I taught a workshop for the user group I was a member of on taking care of your computer. During several meetings, I built a computer for the class to show how easy it was to complete your own.
I build my own rig
by elmachazo - 10/16/09 6:19 PM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to a new PC, do you build or buy? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I build my own pc, because nobody think the way I do about my needs and hopes on it, and I personally think to build your own pc is a work of love, and requires a lot of time and knowledge, that any company have it, itīs just bussiness for them...
I love building my own
by mjd420nova - 10/16/09 6:34 PM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to a new PC, do you build or buy? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I build all my own units because that way I can get a machine with all the options I need and can also plan for future upgrades. I also get a unit that is the state of the art at that point in time without having to wait six months for the latest and greatest to hit the market. I'm also able to build a unit that meets my needs for a specific use, such as a machine for just audio applications and another for just video/photo usage. Each would have the appropriate storage media for that destined usage. A single machione to do it all would be a real beast and overloaded with software that would serve to slow down a single usage.
I prefer a custom-made PC manufactured by me.
by sbill - 10/16/09 6:49 PM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to a new PC, do you build or buy? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My PC's have the features I need--and none of the "crap" I don't need--because they're designed and manufactured by me.
When you buy an "off-the-shelf" computer such as HP/Compaq, Gateway, Emachines, etc you are getting a box filled with parts from whatever vendor was offering the lowest price this week. Since cost is the overriding concern, reliability is not something the manufacturer worries about--except of course that they want most of the machines to outlast the 1-year warranty and then drop dead as quickly as possible after that. While the computer is working, it comes with lots of "garbage software" on there to slow it down, and the OS and application software you've paid for are on a hidden "recovery partition"; no disks are provided. Once it breaks down, the repair costs are outrageously high, and the software you've paid for will not function on a different PC.
When you build your own computer, you are free to install quality parts that will provide years of reliable usage. You can install a quality power supply, quality motherboard, quality optical drives and hard drives, and so on. You are also able to obtain features that the "big boys" such as Dell and HP/Compaq no longer wish to provide, such as a built-in floppy drive, serial and parallel ports, and so on. And of course there's no "garbage software" to slow things down, and all of the software comes on genuine OEM disks purchased from the reseller where you bought the computer parts. If for some reason your custom PC breaks down, or you need to upgrade, the software you've paid for can still be installed and used.
And the cost savings of purchasing a brand name "ready-made" PC versus buying the parts yourself (which are vastly superior in quality) is not that much. Rather than pinch a few pennies and go with an OEM box that isn't going to last, I'd rather pay a little bit more and use the best quality parts so I can have a computer that will last for years to come.
I buy sell and trade
by bowacl - 10/16/09 7:26 PM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to a new PC, do you build or buy? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
computers and recently even some Macs - for what I and my little group use our computers for off the shelf at the lowest price on sale with the most specs does us fine and is actually cheaper for us and has been for a time now. Sometimes I have to get used for even cheaper budgets. We don't use Linux so by the time you figure in pc parts and operating system it's an expense
The main place left to purchase local is BestBuy, for 2nd hands it's eBay which you have to be careful of. I get the PC in tailor it to the person getting it and usually we are set for a few years.
Build it myself
by kstokes606 - 10/16/09 7:30 PM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to a new PC, do you build or buy? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I build it my myself from scrap parts. I find cheap parts and old computers, tear them down, and use the best parts to build one. I then find cheap software, or free software, and I am up and running. I keep the same operating system, just change the hardware.
Build with Pride.
by bunkey91405 - 10/16/09 8:18 PM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to a new PC, do you build or buy? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have built many systems over the last 15 years. Building your own system gives you a sense of pride and intimacy in knowing all the components used in it, and how they came together, along with the specs. and features. Add to this the learning experience and the thrill of the first time a system you put together and plug in, power up and find it all works right, which to me, is no where the same, as taking it out of a box and doing the same.
Build or buy Mac
by ESUNintel - 10/16/09 8:27 PM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to a new PC, do you build or buy? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
When it comes to PC's, in the rare occasion that I'm in the mood for one, I prefer to build. Not only is it something cool and different to do, but I also know what which parts I'm using and can expect it to work perfectly (most of the time) ...unlike Dell and others that are like the Wal-Mart of computers, they shop the cheapest parts and make them available at a low price (which could be a good thing).
...also in the rare occasion that I need to purchase a PC laptop for myself or business, I would only purchase a Sony Vaio. Not only is a Vaio stylish, but Sony also offers the best LCD quality, great performance and amazing US based tech support.
Most of the time I would only purchase a Mac, and do configure them on Apple's website. ...if I could build a Mac I would, but I can live with not doing that since they are nearly perfect.
I build it.
by arnold88 - 10/16/09 8:32 PM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to a new PC, do you build or buy? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I wanted a good PC to go with an Olympus digital camera that was a Xmas gift 6 years ago and couldn't find one at a good price. It would have cost about $1300 to have one built and by buying the components and software did it for $725. The positive is like others have noted, you become the technical repair guy and you know exactly what components are in it. My grand-daughter has her own PC that I built for her from an old ASUS Slot 1 mobo with a PowerLeap conversion it runs XP and Office Pro 2003 and it flies. This sort of tinkering is moneysaving and the grandkids help with the assembly so they get a good experience as well.
I built it myself
by digda_beat - 10/16/09 8:44 PM In reply to: Poll: When it comes to a new PC, do you build or buy? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Friends of mine are spending well over $1000 on new macs and on new high end PCs. I looked into parts costs, then decided to have ago at building my own. Now, I should make it clear that I have zilch practical skills. Nonetheless it was dead easy.
Bought (mostly on eBay, and prices are in Australian dollars)
Case $70 (turned out to have noisy fan and ps, so worst part of deal
High end dual bios Gigabyte Motherboard, $120
2 Sata hard drives totalling 1gB, a bit over $100
Dvd drive $20
OS-windaz xp, $50
No problems at all (untill i tried gigabyte's bios update)
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