No one buys a PC anymore.....

ocit · January 12th, 2003, 02:33 PM

if notebooks are considered pc's then i think about 99.9% of ppl buy them rather than build them.

But im guessing you mean desktops, which i agree is the better choice. with having me build it for them for a small profit coming in at a close 2nd.

thronka · January 12th, 2003, 02:36 PM

Remember, there are some system builders that build WHAT YOU WANT from the mobo, ram, and everything. So you can really have custom built for the same price or so on

noisedude · January 12th, 2003, 02:54 PM

i think you're all missing the point a bit which, IMO, is that Pcs are by nature not consumer products cos there's so much that can go wrong with them - if they try to upgrade or add a card or they get a virus they simply don't know where to start. pre-built computers help to an extent by being guaranteed to work out of the box, but i think the move towards laptops or small form-factor machines that are basically sealed boxes is very sensible for the majority of people who just want to play a couple of games and get on the net and type up their essays. you don't need to build your own, no warranty, machine for these purposes.

sometimes i think we forget that we're techies on here but most people don't even want to know how their kit works or how to fix it. hope that's not too controversial!!

uncle_jimbo · January 12th, 2003, 03:24 PM

I also agree with CP.

Brangwen · January 13th, 2003, 01:36 AM

noisedude I agree with you. I build my own because I enjoy doing so and I like to choose every component that goes into the box.

My brother, on the other hand, subscribed to cable Internet sevice. He called a tech from the cable company who installed a network card in his pre-built computer. The tech installed the software and configured it. Shortly thereafter I built my brother a pretty nice system with much more power. I asked him to bring the network card and drivers with him to my place in order that I might install that last component in his new machine. He informed me that he didn't know what the network card looked like ... he was in the kitchen while the cable guy was installing the card in his computer!

Building your own computer is definitely not for everyone! It depends!

Brangwen

January 13th, 2003, 01:46 AM

I recall seeing stats like 94% of households that get PC's buy them pre-built. Only 6% of people assemble their own. I think they were Aussie stats, but it's possibly similar in the US.

On a site like this the stats will be way different, but remember: the people here are way different!!

I prefer to build 'em for myself, as I can fix 'em if they go wrong, and upgrade when I have a mind to. But when getting PC's for others if they have the cash I prefer to buy them pre-built as then they can get warranty on the build, which I can't truly provide.

Cheers
Mick

RamonGTP · January 13th, 2003, 04:24 AM

I would personally never buy another pre-built computer again for myself, I enjoy building them and take pride in my work when I'm using the computer as well. I like knowing all the ins and outs of my computer. I like knowing that NOTHING in there is propriatery equiptment. I like the fact that the systems that i've build are every bit as stable, if not more so than any pre-built computer i've used. That being said, I still cannot recommend building your own computer to just anyone. For example, a few months ago I built one for my cousin and he loves it, he came to me a few weeks later wanting me to build on for his girlfriend. I actually recommended against it because all she needed it for was school work, and to be able to get on the internet. It was for very general use, and wasn't going to be used for any type of gaming or anything like that. Also if she were to have trouble with it, I may not always be available. For her, a Dell solution worked out best and thats what she ended up getting (got quite a good deal on it too) Reason why I build mine is because they HAVE to be good gaming machines, and there are very specific parts that I want to have in there. So it really does depend on the person.

noisedude · January 13th, 2003, 05:26 AM

ooh building computers for other people is good until they mess it up and instead of ringing tech support they come to you to fix it all!!

the only pre-built machine i would buy now would be a small case one because the tiny motherboards such as the VIA ones with C3s built in are still very expensive on the whole here in the land of the limeys.

RustyGT · January 13th, 2003, 06:41 AM

if they have the cash I prefer to buy them pre-built as then they can get warranty on the build

That's the clincher! Did a quote for a neighbour on the weekend.

By the time I go thru the aggro. I can't compete on price with "the chain stores" let alone make a buck.
As for supporting the thing.?!

Bottom line on the quote? Go buy it from hardly's!

ChrsR.

Oh BTW: I allowed $250 in the quote for XP.

What's this? I'm asked.
That's for your OS.
Do I have to buy that?
Yes.
Why?
etc...etc...etc...

Bill in SD, CA · January 13th, 2003, 02:15 PM

Because I like to swear a lot,

I prefer to build my own systems. However, as I look in the Computing Edge magazine here in San Diego, I see a lot of machines that are from local tech shops that for the money are probably a better way to go. $450 for a decent P4 system that really only needs a good video card to make it a great computer and still genric enough to add on without all the proprietary stuff from the name brand companies. But, then again, I do like to swear.

Bill