An example of why I stopped building computers for people...

[Stark]

Here's the list of stuff a guy wants in a custom video-editing machine:

"Pen 3 800
Authentic Intel CPU/motherboard
Ram 256 - SD
300 watt powersupply
Ause motherboard
Full size case
System Drive - 20 GB
2 60 GB AV 7200RPM
56k motum
3 cooling fans / 1 cpu cooling fan
scuzzy controller card
fasttrack raid card 100
soundblaster sound card
ati rage pro 64 megabyte
floppy drive
cd burner
dvd rom
dv 500 for Pen 3 800
monitor 17" /keyboard/mouse/set of speakers (all color charcoal)
DC 30 Pro"

• 
  His friend helped him come up with the list and told him he could get it all for around $1300.
  It's his first computer.
  He's never attempted digital video editing.
  He's asking me to build it "because he knows where to find me if he has problems."
  His buddy is going to provide any software he needs.

I checked alienware, and a comparable system is around $3600... I think I'll just give him their number and tell him "thanks, but no thanks."

 

[yobarman]

His friend is an ass.

 

[Pastore]

<< because he knows where to find me if he has problems >>



When I read that line, all I could see was a blue screen of death, and a scrawny little punk picking up a telephone... LOL

This is also why I don't build computers for people unless I know they won't call me for tech support...

 

[Modeps]

thats one awesome system... i love my scuzzy controller and my 56k motum.

 

[GasX]

$1300? Maybe if you pricewatch EACH item individually and not pay tax or shipping.

Of course your labor isn't worth anything.

 

[Optimus]

Stark:
Run. Run away.

 

[GasX]

The upside is your tech support can be limited to: &quot;It's a software problem, get your friend to fix it.&quot;

 

[MuffD]

Some people are so cheap nowadays. I won't even build for people that are like computer illeterate. Then they will call and bug you to help them fix this or fix that. bleh!

 

[Electric Amish]

I mistakenly did this for a friend of a friend that lives an hour away from me. She needed an NT system to run some software her husband was getting her. So after MONTHS of messing with the system. Driving down there 2-3 times. I think I finally got it sorted out. A month or so goes by and I get a message on my phone saying &quot;Something was wrong with Windows NT, so I reinstalled it. Now I don't have the password to login.&quot;

I haven't bothered to return the call. :|

amish

 

[Doomer]

Handling stupid people is a skill. Making money off of them is an art.

I never let anyone dictate the price of a custom built system directly. If they insist, I tell them to give me a price and I will give them a set of specs. If they object, I tell them to take their business elsewhere.

Also, the part about &quot;I'll know where to find you&quot; usually means they will expect a lifetime warranty on parts and labor so if you do build the system, make sure you specify in writting any warranty that is included.

 

[Stark]

for kicks, it checked prices at buy.com:

29160N KIT U160 LVD SCSI CARD PCI W/50PIN EXT CONN $273.95
DV500+ DUAL STREAM NATIVE DV W/ ANALOG&amp;DV I/O ADOBE PREMIERE 6. $673.95
WINDOWS 2000 PRO W2K . . $253.95
NTELLIMOUSE OPTICAL PS2/USB 95/98/NT $39.57
32X/12X/10X REWRITABLE EIDE CD-RW W/SOFTWARE &amp; MEDIA $173.95
MIROVIDEO DC30 PRO MJPEG VIDEO EDITNG W/BREAKOUT BOX PRE 5.1 $499.00
MODEM BLASTER FLASH 56K PCI- DATA/FAX/VOICE/SPEAKERPHONE/SPPTS $35.34
VIEWSONIC 17IN/16.0V 25MM 1280X1024 70HZ E70F MPR-II Back Order $183.95
FASTTRAK100 ATA/100 RAID CARD 100MB/SEC BURST DTR $86.95
30GB EIDE ULTRA ATA/100 LP DESKSTAR 7200RPM 75GXP - RETAIL $134.95
60GB EIDE ULTRA ATA/100 LP DESKSTAR 7200RPM 75GXP - RETAIL $242.95 $485.90
RADEON VE AGP 32MB DUAL DISPLAY VGA &amp; DVI $106.95
815E FCPGA/ICP UPTO 512MB ATX 5PCI AGP4X VID SND ATA100 133MHZ $125.95
16X DVD-ROM 48X CDROM ATAPI SINGLE PACK $68.95
KS180+PP303X 10BAY ATX FULL TWR CASE 300W PS BEIGE $112.95
32X64-7.5 256MB SYNC 168PIN 3.3V 133MHZ DIMM $102.95
PENTIUM III P3 866 FCPGA 256KB L2 CACHE 133MHZ 866EB FLIP CHIP $185.95

Subtotal $3,545.16

plus a keyboard, floppy drive, and speakers. $1300...Bwahaha!

I'm not even sure what the scuzzy card is for... but his buddy says he needs to have one.

 

[bacillus]

<< I'm not even sure what the scuzzy card is for... but his buddy says he needs to have one. >>


maybe his buddy wants a free scsi card for himself!

 

[Stealth1024]

&quot;56k motum&quot; - lol

Firewire is good... ATI Radeon for pro video editing? LOL

 

[Stark]

<< ATI Radeon for pro video editing? LOL >>


It's worse than that... he asked for a 64 MB ati rage pro. Since there's no such thing, I substituted the 32mb radeo ve in my price search. I'm not quite sure what the two motherboards are for either. Unless he wanted a genuine intel ause (asus?) motherboard. Nah, I think he meant two motherboards.

 

[GasX]

This reminds me of Ruthless People where the woman brings her male friend in to make sure she doesn't get ripped off and the salesman makes the friend look like a complete tool.

 

[bonkers325]

<< Here's the list of stuff a guy wants in a custom video-editing machine:

&quot;Pen 3 800
Authentic Intel CPU/motherboard
Ram 256 - SD
300 watt powersupply
Ause motherboard
Full size case
System Drive - 20 GB
2 60 GB AV 7200RPM
56k motum
3 cooling fans / 1 cpu cooling fan
scuzzy controller card
fasttrack raid card 100
soundblaster sound card
ati rage pro 64 megabyte
floppy drive
cd burner
dvd rom
dv 500 for Pen 3 800
monitor 17&quot; /keyboard/mouse/set of speakers (all color charcoal)
DC 30 Pro&quot;

• 
  His friend helped him come up with the list and told him he could get it all for around $1300.
  It's his first computer.
  He's never attempted digital video editing.
  He's asking me to build it &quot;because he knows where to find me if he has problems.&quot;
  His buddy is going to provide any software he needs.

I checked alienware, and a comparable system is around $3600... I think I'll just give him their number and tell him &quot;thanks, but no thanks.&quot; >>



roflmao

if he or she can do it for $1300
ill pay it

 

[Killrose]

His friend does'nt know how to add.

 

[Fuzzmuncher]

Tell him that you can do it for $1300!!!!



























he just has to supply the parts

 

[Passions]

homey dont play dat.