Where to send a co-worker to buy a computer?

[lykaon78]

A co-worker of mine wants to buy her son and daughter a new computer. Having only bought in parts I have very limited experience with point-sale-computer shopping.

Some important info:

Budget: $1200

Main function: Gaming, internet use, and school related work

I thinking lower end P4, 40MB HD, 256 DDR Ram, DVD and/or CD-RW, modem network card, 17 inch monitor.

The system is going to have to have a warranty with some sort of technical support.

The question is do I suggest a specific store? Dell or Gateway? Microcenter, CompUSA, or BestBuy?

What about a specific brand.

Anyone have any experience with the Microcenter in-house brand (Power-Spec I think)?

-Lykaon78

 

[John]

Support your local retail computer shop if there is one near you.

 

[saltedeggman]

I vote for Dell

best support out there!!

 

[TSDible]

Small retail shops can be either good or bad. You would have to feel them out.

I always tell people to go to dell. You can't beat the support.

 

[John]

Waiting on eternal hold for assistance and dealing with proprietary parts is not my idea of computing.

 

[Imdmn04]

<< Waiting on eternal hold for assistance and dealing with proprietary parts is not my idea of computing. >>


if you buy the higher end models, you wont get proprietary crap
i would say dell, they have the best service. friend of mine bought one, and the videocard died, sent him one the next day

 

[John]

<< if you buy the higher end models, you wont get proprietary crap >>



Where did you hear that information? Unfortunately Dell desktops use proprietary motherboards, cases, and powersupplies.



<< i would say dell, they have the best service. friend of mine bought one, and the videocard died, sent him one the next day >>



You can get that kind of sevice locally as well.

 

[saltedeggman]

<<
You can get that kind of sevice locally as well. >>



well....that depends...some are good, but not ALL are good...so you can only deal with reputable ones, and DELL is very reputable

 

[John]

<< well....that depends...some are good, but not ALL are good...so you can only deal with reputable ones, and DELL is very reputable >>



Dell is reputable. However they have their fair share of idiots just like other companies. Some are good, but not ALL are good.

 

[Imdmn04]

<< Where did you hear that information? Unfortunately Dell desktops use proprietary motherboards, cases, and powersupplies. >>



if you think proprietary motherboards are crappy because of integraded stuff, then u need to not worry on the higher models because my friend had a dell and the video and sound card was not integraded.
if you think proprietary motherboards are crappy just because they are proprietary, then i dont think it would matter that much since i doubt this family computer will go through a lot of tweaking and overclocking in the bios

 

[lykaon78]

How does Dell's prices compare to local stores?

 

[John]

Just to clarify, proprietary means that you will typically have to use the original mfg's product instead of buying or using another vendors product. With that in mind, cost goes up, downtime could be increased, and product availability might be a problem.

 

[Ausm]

<< Support your local retail computer shop if there is one near you. >>




I agree...screw DELl and Gateway


Ausm

 

[Ausm]

<< Small retail shops can be either good or bad. You would have to feel them out. I always tell people to go to dell. You can't beat the support. >>




Dell Support ...heheh ya if you get off being on terminal hold it is ok


Ausm