you are so right that dell support is lame...don't mean to take this off the original topic but beware that it's true.
Home built computers are teh w1nz. It seems like $1000 is the price point that manufacturers put their economy computers at (ones with come with Windows, note the W), and consumers seem ok with that.
Personally, if I had a spare $1000 dedicated to a computer, that thing would fly.
The whole tech support thing might be a hassle for you, gauge the skill of your customer. Will he call everytime google toolbar lets a pop-up through?
Better parts for less money, with easier upgradability.
Who wants a Dell anyways?
Personally, if I had a spare $1000 dedicated to a computer, that thing would fly.
The whole tech support thing might be a hassle for you, gauge the skill of your customer. Will he call everytime google toolbar lets a pop-up through?
Better parts for less money, with easier upgradability.
Who wants a Dell anyways?
I got the best advice for you! Don't bother getting involved with this kid and his parents wasting your time and money. Let them buy the dell and save yourself the headache. Building your own systems is one thing but helping others who know nothing about computers is a huge waste of time. I wouldnt even build one for my girlfriend. DON'T DO IT!
I hear that. Seriously, I used to do it all the time, and it is NOT WORTH IT. So many people dont understand how much can and will go wrong with every single computer you get. They will not know how not to mess it up, and not know how they messed it up, and will therefore think that you did a bad job. Ive learned my lesson on this. When my gf's pc broke, I didnt even consider building one for her. Dell all the way. Now dont get me wrong, when something is wrong with her PC I always try and fix it, but its not my "fault" its broken, and if something is seriously screwed, it goes back to dell.
Never, ever, ever build a PC for someone else, unless they explicity understand that you are not tech support. or theyre really close to you and you dont mind.
styrafoam
Platinum Member
- Jun 18, 2002
- 2,684
- 0
- 0
Everyone I have built for has been understanding enough to realize that computers aren't perfect, they break eventually and people can break a windows installation even quicker once they get on the internet. It's usually after trouble shooting somebodys Dell, Gateway, or Compaq a few times that they will ask me about upgrading to a new comp.
If it is the family's first computer then maybe you should stay away, people usually have to have some kind of a learning experience before anything you say will stick in their brain. A younger kid + a new broadband connection usually equals peer to peer or mIRC(i.e. careless downloading), you may be set up to fail.
If it is the family's first computer then maybe you should stay away, people usually have to have some kind of a learning experience before anything you say will stick in their brain. A younger kid + a new broadband connection usually equals peer to peer or mIRC(i.e. careless downloading), you may be set up to fail.
When someone asks me something along the same lines, I tell them that I could build it with good parts that will give them what they want, in their budget, and if they ever need to upgrade the hardware will allow it with ease. But, if they don't know much about computers, and would call me as soon as something wasn't working right (whether windows or hardware), then to those ppl I recommend they buy a Dell/Gateway/MicronPC/HP simply because of the tech support. However crap you may call it to be, atleast I am not the one getting a call every couple of days simply because I was trying to help someone out. If the person is computer literate enough to know keyterms (like PCI, Ram, AGP, etc) and they can do some of their own tech support, then I offer to help.
To my own family members who barely know anything about computers, I recommend that they get a name brand pc because they will then not hold me responsible if the computer is not doing something their way. Plus, they call the company that built the pc before me.
To my own family members who barely know anything about computers, I recommend that they get a name brand pc because they will then not hold me responsible if the computer is not doing something their way. Plus, they call the company that built the pc before me.
Not to poke holes in your theory, Asus used to make dell mobo and MSI took over the order and also
MSI took over the video card orders as well, so if you're saying the mobo is crap, then the parts you guys used which is MSI is also crap. Optical drives ranges from NEC to LG, LiteOn and many others. HDD with Seagate, Fujitsu, WD, Maxtor. I'm pretty sure you used at least one of these brand
Granted dell pc isn't the best, its got the same amount of failure rate as your home pc.. the question is, do you wanna provide tech support all the time if he's having problem loading his game.. is that really worth your time
BTW If you're going ahead, use the same dell waiver, not responible for Data lost, blah blah blah cuz last thing you want is the guy start doing his nobel prize paper and sue you for data lost.. but im sure he's not that old yet.
Im oving into a new house with 4 mates, and im building comps for two of them. I already built the PC's in my house and at my aunties. they all run much better than any equivalent dell/pcworld pos, but i get the most stupid calls, especialie from my (computer illiterate) aunt. things like "i cant find the @ sign on the @ key" or my favourite "how do you get a dvd to play?" if there are computer savvy people in the house, go for it, but dont do it for a noob.
plus I learnt alot of lessons from my first (and only) company built comp. a celeron 466mhz 64mb shared sis620 graphics and sound, 8gbHDD. Telkl them to do whatever they feel - let thier dell computer have a half life of 2 weeks, they get messed around by indian customer service (who btw learn about western culture through soap operas), have dell fist them for repairs, and genrally get a bum deal. after this they will NEVER question your judgement on computers again
plus I learnt alot of lessons from my first (and only) company built comp. a celeron 466mhz 64mb shared sis620 graphics and sound, 8gbHDD. Telkl them to do whatever they feel - let thier dell computer have a half life of 2 weeks, they get messed around by indian customer service (who btw learn about western culture through soap operas), have dell fist them for repairs, and genrally get a bum deal. after this they will NEVER question your judgement on computers again
I think dell builds a more user friendly computer. but value / performance / upgradeability it falls down on
Originally posted by: Blain
The problem I see, is IF something goes wrong with your build (parts or conflict), they will never let you live it down.
* How savy is your friend's little brother?
* Will he download every virus he can get his hands on and screw up the rig, etc?
To be honest, this is exactly the type of situation where I would avoid building. I would tell them to go with Dell and be done with the whole issue.
Save yourself mucho frustration and time... send them to Dell.
My friend had a different experience I worked on his dell and concluded his hd was obviously dead, but they wouldn't take it back for some reason they blammed it on a virus or something in their half english garble.
A P4 2.8ghz machine, with 40gb hd, sound, lan, cdrom, floppy, case, psu, simple (but good) video, and 128mb ddr ram for $275 is not good value? (~$75 more and I could have a kick ass linux desktop )
Most people on these forums have some computer knowledge and know how to get the best bang for their buck, but that price is still not beat. Not everyone over clocks, so performance would be as good as any other machine (or too close to notice). Upgrading though is debatable. And their now outsourced tech support is the worst possible.
)Most people on these forums have some computer knowledge and know how to get the best bang for their buck, but that price is still not beat. Not everyone over clocks, so performance would be as good as any other machine (or too close to notice). Upgrading though is debatable. And their now outsourced tech support is the worst possible.
CaptnKirk
Lifer
- Jul 25, 2002
- 10,053
- 0
- 71
Dell is by far the best of the 'Box Factories', but they severly limit what you can do.
They are essentially a 'Dead End' box, their philosophy is sell you a new one evey 2 years.
Restricted on what you can do in the BIOS (Ain't gonna overclock their stuff), and they
run at about 70 % of what the equipment can actually do - and you can't change it.
You cholud be able to match what they odder at about 60% of the cost, but you do
have to pay attention to what choices you make.
Dell only builds on the Intel platforms, they have a contract deal, no AMD products.
I wouldn't have a Dell, personally, to confining and no future.
All that 'Dell Exclusive' stuff defeats reasonable future upgrades.
If you want to replace the Motherboard, you have to replace the case and power supply
as well (usually) and for service support you get to talk with people in India.
Would you like a Slurpie with your order ?
They are essentially a 'Dead End' box, their philosophy is sell you a new one evey 2 years.
Restricted on what you can do in the BIOS (Ain't gonna overclock their stuff), and they
run at about 70 % of what the equipment can actually do - and you can't change it.
You cholud be able to match what they odder at about 60% of the cost, but you do
have to pay attention to what choices you make.
Dell only builds on the Intel platforms, they have a contract deal, no AMD products.
I wouldn't have a Dell, personally, to confining and no future.
All that 'Dell Exclusive' stuff defeats reasonable future upgrades.
If you want to replace the Motherboard, you have to replace the case and power supply
as well (usually) and for service support you get to talk with people in India.
Would you like a Slurpie with your order ?
man i have a uncle who my other cousin helped him get a dell every time he cant get online he would tell me to go help him or watever wtf!? i wish they would call dell or something but they dont speak english and i become tech support for every little thing!
Wow! That's a lot of responses!!!
Well, I guess it's my turn to react. There's one thing thats a bit odd for me: I LOVE TO DO TECH SUPPORT! I don't know what it is about it, I just think it makes me feel great that I'm helping someone else in the area. I'm also leaving for college in a year, so they're forced to send it to somebody else (I know exactly who to send it to, and until then I'm not too worried). Most of the people in their house are indeed computer illiterate, but it's not a real problem. They have a horribly crappy computer in their house right now that they've used for at least 4 years, so they definitely have the basics down. I don't believe they call for help any longer.
So, this will be the first computer I will build for somebody outside of my immediate family/friend area. I think it'll be an adventure, coming from all the whining I hear from you guys. Heh.
Thank you very much to the people that spat out specs (nick and the other one that gave it earlier). That's a huge help.
Well then, if there's anymore experiences you've had, it'll just help. Thanks again guys.
Well, I guess it's my turn to react. There's one thing thats a bit odd for me: I LOVE TO DO TECH SUPPORT! I don't know what it is about it, I just think it makes me feel great that I'm helping someone else in the area. I'm also leaving for college in a year, so they're forced to send it to somebody else (I know exactly who to send it to, and until then I'm not too worried). Most of the people in their house are indeed computer illiterate, but it's not a real problem. They have a horribly crappy computer in their house right now that they've used for at least 4 years, so they definitely have the basics down. I don't believe they call for help any longer.
So, this will be the first computer I will build for somebody outside of my immediate family/friend area. I think it'll be an adventure, coming from all the whining I hear from you guys. Heh.
Thank you very much to the people that spat out specs (nick and the other one that gave it earlier). That's a huge help.
Well then, if there's anymore experiences you've had, it'll just help.
Thanks again guys.Um, you wont love computer tech support as you mature a bit you will realize how under appreciated you really are because no one will want to pay you a dime. When your busy with other things in life too you will find trouble shooting your own pc all you want to deal with and more. Good luck
VirtualLarry
No Lifer
- Aug 25, 2001
- 56,571
- 10,207
- 126
Heh. I would put up a "mandatory" "pizza and beer donation cup" at the door. Just don't listen to their problems, unless they stuff a fiver in it first.
And to the OP - I think that's actually a good dividing-line, between trying to build a comp for friends, vs. letting them get a brand-name one - how computer-literate are they? If they know pretty-well how to use a computer, just not build one, then you probably won't get bugged to death about it, unless something with the computer is actually malfunctioning. However, if they are totally clueless about even using a computer, then you don't want to be stuck hand-holding them through their entire computer learning experience, just because you built the PC that they happen to be using and learning about/on.
I had a portuguese friend once, he bought a pre-made computer from TigerDirect, wow what a POS. But I helped him upgrade, parts, parts, eventually it became a totally different self-built PC, and he really learned a lot about computers. In fact, he told me that he learned a lot of english from the internet. Strange but true. He asked me about things sometimes, but he was very good at learning on his own, and even helped me learn a few things too, that I hadn't taken the time to notice. (And also, dealing with Tiger's PCs and a rather cranky generic-branded "Super S7" mobo, with a Via MVP3 chipset. Arg! But that's a long story for another time.)
One good thing about building your own PC, and I personally wouldn't have it any other way, is that you can personally specify the brand/quality of components that goes into it. A lot of the OEM PCs in general, use slightly lesser-quality/cheaper components to keep costs down and maximize their profit margins.
Another thing that OEM PCs can offer, though, is bountiful and cheap software bundles. MS (and others) really screw end-purchasers of their software at retail. It's been reported that big OEMs pay somewhere around $50 for a Windows' OS license, but it will cost you $200 if you have to go out and buy it at the store, to "keep legal". One more reason why Linux and other OSes are a viable alternative for some people.
When you're busy with your own life/work, trouble shooting one's own pc becomes a chore really fast (atleast in my case).
I agree with the general consensus that homebuild is much better than Dell on the Hardware side. But the support argument is a tough one to deal with. How well do you know the family?
If this "little brother" is in the 10-15 year old range, building a computer for him could be a great experience for the entire family.
First of all, I would recommend having the kid build the computer himself with your supervision. This would help him learn how all the hardware goes together.
Second, I would have him install the OS with your supervision. This way he gets a feel for the setup of windows and how easy it can be.
Finally, if possible have him install some drivers so he can get a feel for that.
A kid should be able to pick up all that knowledge very quickly, so it shouldn't add much trouble to process.
The advantages to building your own computer are many IMO:
1. It's fun
2. You get to pick your own components so you can tailor the performance, aesthetics, and funtionality to exactly what you wish them to be.
3. It's less expensive than a "boxed" computer.
4. You learn quickly about setup and repair, which makes future problem solving and upgrading much easier.
5. You remove much of the "magic" from how a computer works, and reduce the fear that you might inadvertently break something. You know that if something fails, you can fix it without too much of a problem.
6. You'll be more aware of the capabilities of your hardware and software, and will be able to maintain your system better (which is more important when using a broadband connection).
There are also some disadvantages:
1. You need to be a bit of an enthusiast, and have the time to spend researching fixes and components.
2. You will need to spend more on software, since the boxed computers usually have a large list of included software (most of it is useless, but they often include MS Office or MS Works so you have some way of making spreadsheets, documents, etc).
3. You will need to find someone to provide support.
I am a big proponent of the home built system, but as many have mentioned above, it can be dangerous when building for others.
-D'oh!
If this "little brother" is in the 10-15 year old range, building a computer for him could be a great experience for the entire family.
First of all, I would recommend having the kid build the computer himself with your supervision. This would help him learn how all the hardware goes together.
Second, I would have him install the OS with your supervision. This way he gets a feel for the setup of windows and how easy it can be.
Finally, if possible have him install some drivers so he can get a feel for that.
A kid should be able to pick up all that knowledge very quickly, so it shouldn't add much trouble to process.
The advantages to building your own computer are many IMO:
1. It's fun
2. You get to pick your own components so you can tailor the performance, aesthetics, and funtionality to exactly what you wish them to be.
3. It's less expensive than a "boxed" computer.
4. You learn quickly about setup and repair, which makes future problem solving and upgrading much easier.
5. You remove much of the "magic" from how a computer works, and reduce the fear that you might inadvertently break something. You know that if something fails, you can fix it without too much of a problem.
6. You'll be more aware of the capabilities of your hardware and software, and will be able to maintain your system better (which is more important when using a broadband connection).
There are also some disadvantages:
1. You need to be a bit of an enthusiast, and have the time to spend researching fixes and components.
2. You will need to spend more on software, since the boxed computers usually have a large list of included software (most of it is useless, but they often include MS Office or MS Works so you have some way of making spreadsheets, documents, etc).
3. You will need to find someone to provide support.
I am a big proponent of the home built system, but as many have mentioned above, it can be dangerous when building for others.
-D'oh!
My main issue with building computers is that some people will blame their problems (such as a billion spyware programs ect) on the fact that they didn't buy a Dell. While I agree a homebuilt is better, it's not so easy to beat dell if you're going to use legit software ect. You guys with the prices have not factored in software, speakers, mouse/keyboard, or a monitor. It's hard to build something LEGIT for less than $1000.
Well, I guess software's going to be the biggest pain. I wonder if I could use some ...ahem "free unlimited trials" of Word... I don't really think so though.
As far as building it with him- I think he's like 13, so right a great age, but I'm not sure if he's totally interested in that.
The family has had experience with computers, as I have said, so I'm not too worried about it.
And as far as getting "no money" out of it, I beg to differ. I formatted a friend's mom's harddrive for her and gained 70 dollars. I also got a quick 100 for fixing a small DSL problem where my grandma works (if she stopped working, I would doubt her survival).
So, I still think I'm going to try to build one!
As far as building it with him- I think he's like 13, so right a great age, but I'm not sure if he's totally interested in that.
The family has had experience with computers, as I have said, so I'm not too worried about it.
And as far as getting "no money" out of it, I beg to differ. I formatted a friend's mom's harddrive for her and gained 70 dollars. I also got a quick 100 for fixing a small DSL problem where my grandma works (if she stopped working, I would doubt her survival).
So, I still think I'm going to try to build one!
Like most of the people here (including myself), you're probably the "computer guy" for all friends and family. I can assure you that, as you get older, you won't enjoy it so much
I'm 27, and I kind of find it a pain sometimes. But .. It's our lot in life.As to the DIY computer, I can assure you that you'll always build something far superior to a manufactured PC. The cheaper the PC, the more reliable a DIY will be, because you can use good components, while Dell and the others use el cheapo stuff. And, if you want a more expensive gaming rig, a DIY will be cheaper. So, you win either way.
One other important consideration is software, often overlooked in DIY builds. Yes, Dell gives you some software (like XP) that's handy. But they also give you a gob of software that's useless and just takes up RAM and HDD room. And most of that stuff they install is trial versions, not full versions (Norton AV, etc.). And the software gives you constant marketing pushes to upgrade to the full versions. Its shameful.
One idea might be to let him build it, under your supervision. See, its educational!
i've built about 5-6 computers for different friends and family and yes, i can get them far better performance then wut they can get at dell for the same price. the problem is...the people i build computers for are idiots. they dont know anything about computers. when its lags, crashes, has tons of ads, and etc, they come to me. when i come over to figure out what happened, it seems they have hundres of adware, spyware and several viruses that have already corrupted the system. all i can do is windows repair or reformat or just update. they dont want any ad blockers either because they dont like having to hold ctrl for a window they want to pop up. yes, its very frustrating. and yes, they do get a better computer. we all want people to have the best computers money can buy, but when building a computer for a person who doesnt know jack also sux. they screw it up for doing wut they do. the most annoying friend i built a comp for calls me ALL THE TIME on computer stuff like: how to make an email account; how to make a myspace.com account; how to change the resolution on the screen; and much more. its not like i cant help him out, its just that he's an idiot. which basically sums it all up that people who buy computers mostly dont know anything about them. they try so hard not to mess the computer up by not touching anything and not customizing windows and etc, but they eventually screw it over. personally, i still like to build people computers because its really fun, but i also hate how they mess it up every couple months and make me come over when their convenient, not when its convenient for me. also, overclocking a comp and selling it is a big "no no". i've done that and had some problems with instability in the long term.
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