Home | Community | Message Board
You are not signed in.
Sign In New Account
Forum Index Search Posts Trusted Vendors Highlights Galleries FAQ User List Chat Store Random Growery

The Spore Depot
This site includes paid links. Please support our sponsors.

General Interest > Science and Technology
Threaded Mode Threaded  Previous topic Previous  View all topics Index  Next topic Next 

Welcome to the Shroomery Message Board! You are experiencing a small sample of what the site has to offer. Please login or register to post messages and view our exclusive members-only content. You'll gain access to additional forums, file attachments, board customizations, encrypted private messages, and much more!

Shop: North Spore Cultivation Supplies   MagicBag.co All-In-One Bags That Don't Suck, Certified Organic All-In-One Grow Bags

Jump to first unread post Pages: 1
good computer manufacturer?
    #5366841 -

my parents need a new computer. they want to buy an all-in-one package type deal (i don't think they'd be comfortable with giving me a bunch of money to build them a system). they are not surprisingly thinking about getting a dell. i think those dell/gateway/HP machines are garbage, but i don't know too much about what is out there as far as companies that will build a computer for you and do a decent job at it.

who makes a good computer for a good price?


--------------------


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: good computer manufacturer? [Re: wilshire]
    #5366867 -

Dell has good customer service and really good deals right now online


--------------------
Common Misspelled Words

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: good computer manufacturer? [Re: jamman]
    #5366882 -

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/Default.asp

Both me and my brother have PC from them, and they are probably the best machines we've owned to date, and they are actually pretty cheap for being fully customizable.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: good computer manufacturer? [Re: jamman]
    #5366883 -

i can offer my parents better tech support than dell can.

dell is probably the cheapest out there, i know, but they use garbage components and their tech support basically amounts to an indian guy telling you to try rebooting, or reinstalling, or replacing dell's crappy hardware that shouldn't have broken in the first place.


--------------------


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: good computer manufacturer? [Re: ClammyJoe]
    #5366899 -

that looks pretty good.

i was looking at shuttles too... they seem good but overpriced.


--------------------


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: good computer manufacturer? [Re: wilshire]
    #5366968 -

wilshire said:
support basically amounts to an indian guy telling you to try rebooting, or reinstalling, or replacing dell's crappy hardware that shouldn't have broken in the first place.


dont you just love getting people like this on the line :thumbdown:

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: good computer manufacturer? [Re: wilshire]
    #5367154 -

now, i've been a hardline machine builder since they days you still installed a separate math processor on top of your cpu. even having a little bit of computer confidence and being able to sit in front of the machine to screw around is far better tech support than those 'reading from a script' types that bigger companies offer.

but as much as i am DIY, i started buying dells and whatnot for work. i think a lot of the stigma behind 'pre-built' machines comes from the days when compaq and co. made everything proprietry and soldered all the isa expansion boards right to the motherboard. no upgrade paths.

dells and the like these days use off the shelf pieces and are supplied from better companies than the small 'ma 'n' pa' stores, who have to use the cheapest thing possible to compete with dells huge wholesale buying power of namebrands, so i don't beleive 'replacing dell's crappy hardware' is an issue. its off the shelf shit.

don't get me wrong, if it was _your_ machine, build it and learn and love, etc... BUT, being the complicated technological marvels that computers are, things do sometimes go wrong. the day after i received the dell for the studio, something went wrong. it was more of a dirty power issue than machine quality, but here is the beautiful part. yea, i had to go through the motions with an overseas script reader, but when 'restart' and the like didn't work, they overnighted a new processor, ram, motherboard, powersupply, etc. from the time i called, i had the new equipment in my hands in 14 hours.

being that this was a buisness i just didn't have the willpower to fuck around with this and that to make it work. their brut-force method of replacing everything without hassle was one of the best customer service experiences i've ever had.

moral: this is your parents computer. i don't know how old you are, but hopefully you won't be living there forever, and they need the service to deal with there own shit. that and the P's usuallt get sick of the kids taking apart THEIR machines all the time.

it has become so competitive that you really don't pay much more for a 'namebrand' machine, and the comfort of knowing your ass is covered is worth the extra 100 bucks.

this is all coming from someone who was such an elitest in youth, that if i owned a cd, then later heard it on the radio or saw an uncool (read: everyone) schoolmate talking about it, it immediatly went out the window of a moving car, no further thought to be given.


--------------------
take care,

outerwave

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: good computer manufacturer? [Re: outerwave]
    #5367265 -

I've owned 2 dells (on my second now) over 6-7 years.

I realized that the majority of problems I had were due to all the bundled software that comes with buying a new comp. What I found was the reformatting windows, then disabling unneeded programs to get a "bar bones" sytem made my comps run like a charm.

I've never had a hardware problem with Dell. My one roommate in college had a problem with his. He called tech support, they had a delivery person pick up his comp within 24 hrs. and then sent him a bran new system. He went from a non-working mchine to new computer within 72 hours courtesy of Dell.

I know a lot of people who build comps themselves For normal to heavy users who aren't gamers, how would a custom system perform against my Dell? I mean, If we started our comps with similar specs and identical programs next to one another, would your machine blow away my Dell to a point where I could tell? Would I sit in amazement at how much faster your comp. is than mine? I'm just trying to understand the argument against "prebuilt" machines.

(I'm running win. XP Pro, 1G of RAM, 2.6 Ghz. P4, 80G HD; All in a setup running as few problems as possible e.g. I put in all blackvipers system tweaks and disbaled as much as I could)


--------------------
...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge.  It is an indellible experience; it is forever known.  I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did.

Smith, P.  Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27.

...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely.

Osmond, H.  Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: good computer manufacturer? [Re: badchad]
    #5367365 -

I used to be an avid dell owner 5 plus years ago...great customer support and were ALWAYS there. I stopped ordering their overpriced SHIT when they outsourced all of the jobs that belonged to AMERICANS and made it impossible to understand WHAT the hell they were saying.

Im not huge dick, I actually consider myself quite polite...but when I had someone on the line that communicated in their native tribe speak instead of ENGLISH, I couldnt help but to act like a total condescending asshole and say "Could you PLEASE PUT SOMEONE WHO CAN SPEAK ENGLISH ON THE LINE. THANK YOU".

Somehow, convince your parents into letting you build them a system. It's MUCH cheaper...and you KNOW what's being put in your system. That way, you are getting the most power for your dollar...and there arent any hidden suprises later on.

Lets do a brief overview...these are just estimations.

AMD Athlon 64 3700 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103539

ASPIRE X-Infinity ATXB6KLW - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144076

NEC DVD-RW - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152058

Western Digital 80 gigger - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144122

Keyboard Mouse Combo - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823141114

Corsair 1GB RAM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440

DFI nF4 Ultra-Infinity MOBO - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136163

6600GT - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150098

Now this is just a rough throw together on my part...but that would make a killer gaming system considering the overclocking possibilities of the 3700.

Now for a grand total of..... 673.73!


--------------------
Take off my mask and leave the lies to the liars.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: good computer manufacturer? [Re: outerwave]
    #5367669 -

moral: this is your parents computer. i don't know how old you are, but hopefully you won't be living there forever, and they need the service to deal with there own shit. that and the P's usuallt get sick of the kids taking apart THEIR machines all the time.

they own a dell now, and i am their tech support when they have problems. i visit once every few months (i don't live with them) and one of the things i do is general maintenance on their PC. they call me if they have problems or questions.

if i was getting a computer for myself, i'd assemble it myself to my own specs. for them, i think it's better to pay someone else to put it together (they do too). i understand that dell is in the business of doing this. in my experience they do a poor job. cheesy components and worthless tech support. i'm asking if anyone does the job better.

'themadconductor''s suggestion seems like the sort of thing i'm looking for for them.


--------------------


Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: good computer manufacturer? [Re: wilshire]
    #5368180 -

You may want to check out sony vaio's I have one now that i upgraded slightly and it works real nice.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: good computer manufacturer? [Re: wilshire]
    #5368272 -

wilshire said:
cheesy components and worthless tech support.


but like you said, you are there tek support, the only reason you'd be on the phone is if something catastophic happened in which you needed physical replacements. and at this point in dell's (or anyother big company) history, what cheezy components are you reffering too? they use all 'off the shelf' stuff, nvida, asus, western digital, kingston, etc...

but sometimes, in the far distant future, not wanting to fix other peoples problems becomes a priority. there are a LOT of small companies that put together mean machines. most have a life cycle of a few years, do long-term support usually doesn't exist. but all the OEM support will through manufacutures, no matter who 'puts it togehter'.

um, rain, carillon, alienware, are some that specialize in solid high end machines, but my experience with them has always been for commercial applications (ie, recording studio, film, etc, not home use). pretty pricey.

whilst i do hate compUSA, the huge chains like fry's (outpost.com) have lable machines (sony, hp, etc) as well has house brands. these bigger companies will be around for a while so support their products, expecially fry's.

go to http://www.pricewatch.com and look around as 'PC - Windows' machines. yea, there is a lot of shit to wade through, but prices are killer, and some of the larger 'shops' have a huge selection of 'base' computers that you then customize. will be %15 cheaper than some of the bigger companies and you can pick and choose componets, so you know what is going into the machine exactally.

and by athlon/AMD. much more bang fer your P's buck.


--------------------
take care,

outerwave

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Re: good computer manufacturer? [Re: miraz]
    #5368284 -

i suggest you build your own, it isn't too hard and you get more for your money.


--------------------

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Jump to top Pages: 1

Shop: North Spore Cultivation Supplies   MagicBag.co All-In-One Bags That Don't Suck, Certified Organic All-In-One Grow Bags

General Interest > Science and Technology
Threaded Mode Threaded  Previous topic Previous  View all topics Index  Next topic Next 

Similar ThreadsPosterViewsRepliesLast post
* Damn computer crashes... trendalM 2,216 14 03/15/03 10:47 AM
by trendal
* Computer Virus Fighters Warn Of New Internet Threat motamanM 1,062 2 08/22/03 05:47 PM
by monoamine
* Computer spontaneously turns off. **UPDATE** Please help me
( 1 2 all )		 HagbardCeline 4,394 24 12/13/03 03:21 PM
by MetaShroom
* My computer freezes up way too much LoUsIf 1,748 11 10/06/03 09:58 PM
by LoUsIf
* computer problems thePatient 1,476 8 03/26/04 04:14 AM
by Seuss
* Computer Virus Writers Mostly Obsessed Males -- Expert Lana 1,860 9 03/19/03 09:26 PM
by zeronio
* DNA computers! Journey 1,119 5 03/07/03 05:49 AM
by Strumpling
* boot up screen resolution problem question_for_joo 1,050 5 03/04/04 08:04 AM
by shroomsi8

Extra information
You cannot start new topics / You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled / BBCode is enabled
Moderator: trendal, automan, Northerner
1,179 topic views. 0 members, 12 guests and 0 web crawlers are browsing this forum.
[ Show Images Only | Sort by Score | Print Topic ]
Search this thread:

Copyright 1997-2026 Mind Media. Some rights reserved.

Generated in 0.025 seconds spending 0.004 seconds on 14 queries.