Anyone used a packard bell computer?

[Bobthelost]

Right, for various reasons the next computer is going to have to be a prebuilt one. Also it'll have to be bought from PC world *spits*

Anyway, it's intended use is as a workstation and to do graphics rendering. I've used compaqs and HPs (aren't they the same anyway?) before and found them to be ok, but i've never (knowingly) used packard bell machines.

I've found one with good specs, needs a bit more ram maybe but otherwise ok, just not too sure about the brand.

Are they known for any particular flaws, quirks, problems or bloatware?

Do you own one and love it to bits?

Did Packard Bell eat your hamster?

 

[sniperruff]

friend ordered a pentium 133mhz and got a 166mhz instead. it was stable and was quiet, not to mention blazingly fast. highly recommended.

 

[Bobthelost]

Thanks, although i was hoping for something a little more recent.

(or does your friend not keep up with the latest trends?)

 

[butch84]

I believe that was a joke: Packard Bell no longer exists. In fact, it is now a part of Hewlett Packard, or HP. So, to answer your question, I personally don't think it particularly matters which pre-built computer company you buy from, as long as you find a good deal. Quality of customer service may vary, but other than that you can make sure you get the components you want and that is what matters to me. That being said, you can get really good deals on Dell computers if you wait for coupon codes to come out.

goodluck-

 

[wpshooter]

My recommendation would be to not get a PB.

If you want excellent hardware quality get a Compaq, BUT if you do, you had better not plan on doing much tinkering with it, a BEAR to work on.

Overall best pre-built computers are still Dell, but just remember the old saying "you get what you pay for".

 

[Bobthelost]

It's not going to be overclocked or used for gaming, infact it's not going to be upgraded at all past more RAM (maybe) and another HD (maybe) so worries about tinkering are misplaced.

Dell isn't an option, the computer has to be bought from this place : http://www.pcworld.co.uk

I have little faith in the inbred, incompetent, jibbering idiots that man the PC world tech support desk, but i promised i'd look into it for my dad to see if there's any issues with them.

 

[Zepper]

Packard-Bell does not exist in the States as far as selling computers - it is still operating in the rest of the world but may not be the same company any more. From what I've seen the new P-B are your typical clone computers - nothing original or even interesting. The old P-B became part of NEC, NOT HP...

.bh.

 

[Nocturnal]

PB was the first computer I ever got from Costco.

 

[AsianriceX]

ew... Packard Bell... I remember they had those stupid mice with ridges on the buttons. Just go get a Dell or HP.

 

[imported_Phil]

Don't get a Packard Bell. I used to have to work on the tech counter at PCWorld (no, not your usual smelling-of-piss, incompetant, inbred moron PCWorld staff member), and we had the most trouble with them.

HP, Compaq or Advent. Advent are surprisingly good, because you get decent hardware, no frilly nonsense and it comes with Windows & MS Works - that's it.
HP & Compaq recommended for the build quality. Software selection isn't up to much though.

Regardless, avoid PB.

 

[rbV5]

My last one came with a coupon for Win95 redeemable upon its release.

 

[cubby1223]

Packard-Bell does not sell in the United States for a specific reason - no one who purchased one of their systems ever purchased a second.

Someone would buy a brand new computer, open up the case, and see refurbished stickers all over everything.

They still sell over in Europe I know, and have probably changed their ways during the past 10 years. But there's no way anyone in the US could vouch for them as a good company.

 

[Sunbird]

Originally posted by: cubby1223
But there's no way anyone in the US could vouch for them as a good company.

Not in South Africa either

 

[Bobthelost]

Originally posted by: Phil
Don't get a Packard Bell. I used to have to work on the tech counter at PCWorld (no, not your usual smelling-of-piss, incompetant, inbred moron PCWorld staff member), and we had the most trouble with them.

HP, Compaq or Advent. Advent are surprisingly good, because you get decent hardware, no frilly nonsense and it comes with Windows & MS Works - that's it.
HP & Compaq recommended for the build quality. Software selection isn't up to much though.

Regardless, avoid PB.

I never said that the staff smelt of wee. They have rather good personal hygine if memory serves.

Thanks for the advice, I apreciate it.

 

[meatfestival]

The Packard Bell brand does indeed still exist, I'm sitting here using a Packard Bell laptop (it was a replacement for a 5-year old Acer that was still under warranty!). As far as I can tell it's basically made by NEC, but for some reason they use the Packard Bell name. I have no complaints with it, very nice.

 

[Bobthelost]

Well, we've got the computer and it's not a packard bell, compaq won in the end mostly thanks to our local non-wee-smelling PC world ex-employe.

Looks nice enough and my dad's chuffed to bits with the 19" monitor.

 

[SilentRunning]

Originally posted by: Bobthelost
Well, we've got the computer and it's not a packard bell, compaq won in the end mostly thanks to our local non-wee-smelling PC world ex-employe.

Looks nice enough and my dad's chuffed to bits with the 19" monitor.

Don't know whether your dad's happy or sad but I am going to assume that means happy.

 

[Bobthelost]

It does. It's not my fault you don't speak english propper like i does.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: SilentRunning

Originally posted by: Bobthelost
Well, we've got the computer and it's not a packard bell, compaq won in the end mostly thanks to our local non-wee-smelling PC world ex-employe.

Looks nice enough and my dad's chuffed to bits with the 19" monitor.

Don't know whether your dad's happy or sad but I am going to assume that means happy.

Merriam Webster:
"English dialect chuff pleased"

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: Bobthelost

Originally posted by: Phil
Don't get a Packard Bell. I used to have to work on the tech counter at PCWorld (no, not your usual smelling-of-piss, incompetant, inbred moron PCWorld staff member), and we had the most trouble with them.

HP, Compaq or Advent. Advent are surprisingly good, because you get decent hardware, no frilly nonsense and it comes with Windows & MS Works - that's it.
HP & Compaq recommended for the build quality. Software selection isn't up to much though.

Regardless, avoid PB.

I never said that the staff smelt of wee. They have rather good personal hygine if memory serves.

Thanks for the advice, I apreciate it.

Welcome :thumbsup:

You haven't visited our local PCWorld (or ScheisserWorld as we call it) store
We had one guy who constantly pissed himself (no, I'm not joking, he really honestly did piss himself a few times a day), another one that smelt of sh!t constantly, and another Asian guy who refused to wear deodorant and basically stunk.
Some of the tales I could tell you.... *sigh*

Good move on the Compaq by the way. REMEMBER TO CREATE THE RECOVERY DISCS! It's an annoyingly large charge if your hard disk dies and you haven't made them.

 

[Mavrick007]

Hehe That's funny that someone said that anyone who has had one in the past did not get another one.

My first desktop was a 386 sx16 from Packard Bell and it was pretty fast for its time, but I felt that I got rooked on it. That was my first prebuilt and never bought another one from them because it was too proprietary and expensive.

 

[bluestrobe]

My first computer I used a lot was a Packard Bell. I loved it but it was a typical Pre-Pentium system. I love people who think HP and PB had any relation. I had to correct people all the time on that when I was working for HP.

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: bluestrobe
My first computer I used a lot was a Packard Bell. I loved it but it was a typical Pre-Pentium system. I love people who think HP and PB had any relation. I had to correct people all the time on that when I was working for HP.

We used to have a sh!tload of people coming in with their "Hewlett Packard" machines which turned out to be Packard Bells, or vice versa. :roll:

It still makes me laugh to this day that some of the slower-witted folks used to refer to the "UBS" ports.

 

[mwmorph]

I had a packard bell 233mhz pentium 1 from way back. it was pretty good, but the design was odd and propritery. It had like a flat board at the bottom ogf the tower case with a riser that looked like a normal motherboard with slots coming out of the risers.

nice pc though.

AsianriceX, what do yuo mean by ridges? the ones no the buttons for your finger to lie on? because 60% od mich have those now and i like it.