[Jballou]

would you rather build a computer (or have somebody build it) or buy a brand name computer? which brand?

[anglin_fool]

When you build your own computer, you have a better understanding of how it works. I still cannot figure out some of my friend's Gateway computers. Compac's computers are also hard to figure out.

[Bryan]

Personally I build my own but if I was going to purchase one, without any doubt, I'd buy a Dell . They are much better machines than any of their competition and their PCs are pretty friendly if you get to point of wanting to upgrade it in the future.

BTW, I wouldn't buy a Compaq or HP with anyones money let alone my own. And if I was given one, I'd sell it and buy a Dell.

Gateways, I can take them or leave them.

[Jballou]

I am building my own computer right now.
I would prefer this over buying any brand computer. I like to know exactly what's on and in my computer. Most brand computers use some of their own parts making them difficult to upgrade and interchange. The company also puts an awful lot of pointless stuff on them.

[LadyLisa]

I had mine custom built for me but the next one I would like to build myself........ with some help from you folks here

[Max19]

Unless you're very computer literate and have tons of experience troubleshooting hardware and software problems, don't even consider building your own system.

[John Sparkman]

Although I have had no problems from my Gateway system, except for the ones I caused playing around with it, I will most likely have my next one custom built.

[LadyLisa]

Max, thank you for your advice but I have read many threads here where people have built their own without having

tons of experience troubleshooting hardware and software problems

Of course you need some experience but isn't that what trying it yourself is all about. I wouldn't be going into this blind, I would make sure that I had help when I needed it.

[Max19]

If you have a lot of free time and patience and a high tolerance for frustration and you really want to learn, then go ahead. Just know what you're getting into. Forums can provide great advice and help, but there are some things that can't be solved without actually seeing what the problem is. If you don't have the experience personally, then work with someone in person who does.

[LadyLisa]

I plan on doing it when I have a lot of free time and patience, as for a high tolerance for frustration...... life has taught me to have that.
I also have someone who can help me in person if and when I need it.

[buck52]

I bought an HP about two years ago ( which fortunately I still have had no trouble with). I played with it for a short time and decided to build one. Maybe I got lucky but...without what I considered alot of experience...I found it quite easy.
I did buy most all of the parts from a small local shop that gave me a few pointers. also because of how I use the thing a went with onboard video and sound , which I'm sure helped.

just my 2¢

buck

[Davey7549]

.................Own............................................Reason..... ...........
1 "E" Machine for the kids.............................Inexpensive
1 "HP" For the Daughter in College..................She liked it
1 "Sony Viao" for my Wife Judy......................Intuitive, well built
1 "custom Built" For production Work..............Handles anything
1 "Mac" Collecting dust................................Limited and older

All have there place but for heavy duty work I prefer the custom Machine. There are three ways I would go when I replace the production machine. Another Custom Built to my specs, Build it myself, or get a Dell since I have heard very good things about them.

Just My Two Cents Dave

[hewee]

I I was getting a name brand it would be a Dell.
Also look at the Business models there.
You can pick your OS then.

Well Windows 98SE used to be one but not now.
You can only pick these now.
Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

[deuce]

I always build for many reasons: 1.) you control the quality of ALL your parts. 2.) you only have to put in what you want (and don't waste $$ on what you don't want) 3.) can have AGP video and PCI Sound (most prebuilts use onboard--yuck) 4.) it is cheaper 5.) you get a better system 6.) built to your exact needs 7.)...

Well I am sure I can go on all day. Those most of my reasons for always building. Max is right tough, if you don't know what you are doing you are in for a treat. Lisa on the other hand is also right in that you will never have experience and know what you are doing until you actually do it... that is what we at TSG are here for. For the most part, you can get away with fairly easy jobs building your pc... you can buy barebones if you like and that way someone else does a burn in and installs the motherboard and ram, cpu ect and all you need to do is put in a HD, OS, vid card, sc, and whatever and you can get the same effect as you would with building your own. Just remember conflicts and errors installing hardware are inevitable, and even those who know what they are doing can sometimes end up pulling their hair out. These computers sometimes do strange things and even the best of us don't understand it. For the most part, if you are comfortable without a warranty, you are better off building or having someone else build for you (custom) than you would be buying prebuilt. Name brands just can't be trusted anymore. (quality wise and such... some of them at least)

As for name brands... if you want to buy prebuilt than I recommend you try to stay between Dell, or if not Dell then Sony VIAO. No matter what steer away from Compaq and sometimes even HP... but never buy Compaq! Dell and Sony both make pretty good machines (and reasonably priced) and Dell has the best PR and tech support out there for a computer manufacture. (that is next to TSG, of course)

So to recap for those of you who fell asleep... <img src=http://forums.techguy.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=279146>...my advice is that you have three options... build yourself, buy Dell, or buy Sony.

Hope this helps!

[hewee]

Now I see deuce_mn you are talking about "Percent of PCs with problems" with name brands.
See chart here.
http://www.pcworld.com/features/arti...3,pg,14,00.asp

But look whats new now. "Local retailers"
This is the first time that the "Reliability and Service Survey" has had "Local retailers" and I bet it will grow.

I got my new PC from a "Local retailers" and get a 3 year parts and lifetime labor warranty. Warranty only covers Hardware. I can see that they can have us call them each time we install software and have a conflict.
That's what this forum is for. I have seen message boards fix things that the paid techs can't. Remember you have more then one person to help you here but when you call a tech it just the one guy.

But here is the first page of "Reliability and Service: Service Takes a Dive"

http://www.pcworld.com/features/arti...d,63363,00.asp