Buy or Build

[aam1234]

It won't be by myself but by somebody who says the following:

1- It will cost more than the Dells or HPs.
2- He will provide support of a year or even more, within reason.
3- He only takes about 2 orders per month. So there will be a bit of waiting.
4- Event though he has a shop, he does the building himself.
5- He will show you, if you like, the parts in their original boxes, with cost and everything.

What would you do.

[Mr. Pickles]

Dell

[aam1234]

Can you say why, Mr.P.

[JDArt]

Unless you like tinkering, buy. And this is from someone who builds.

[aam1234]

Maybe I've left out an important piece of an information. I don't live in the US. Which means I don't have a chance to customize the Dells or HBs, have to buy them as they are in the shops.

What would you do in this case.

[Mr. Pickles]

I'd buy a computer from some "shop" with a reputation and name backing before I'd buy one from some guy that builds his own, all "2 of them a month" and will "provide support for a year or even more, within reason"

[aam1234]

Thanks Mr.P,

Just for my education, if you will, why would you opt for that choice.

Maybe there is a bit of a cultural difference here, but from what the guy said I would lean to trust him (yes I live in a small country).

[JDArt]

When I lived in Europe, I built my own machines. Found it cheaper.

Just be warned: once you start building, you never go back--not because it's better but because you end up with the opportunity to recycle old parts into a new machine and save some significant money, but what you give up is the endless amount of time you'll spend dicking around with computers when you could be out having a "normal" life.

[Mr. Pickles]

The way I feel, if I am not going to build it myself, then buy it already done form someone who will be there next week, next month, or next year.

That is me. You do what you want. If you trust him, get it from him. I trusted people before...

[jfrancho]

I went with a custom Alienware machine, and I'd do it again.

[Jwilmot]

From someone who started out building for friends (just a couple a month) to working for a company that custom build computers and networks I would say buy from a company that has been in business at least 5 years. The issue is warranty, the guy may even want and intend to back his work. But 6 months from now he may be in a situation where he can not.

My recommendation to people who can't build there own machines is to go to a good store and buy the computer and have them do any of the upgrades you need. And to buy an extended warranty if you can afford it. It gives you piece of mind that your covered for X period of time. Granted you pay for the piece of mind but it is usually worth it.

Johnathan

[Paul Shields]

I've found that building yourself doesn't gain you anything financially - unless you have some bits already that you can include.

[JDArt]

Originally Posted by Paul Shields

I've found that building yourself doesn't gain you anything financially - unless you have some bits already that you can include.

That's correct, and when you start building, you inevitably do have some bits lying around, and they end up being a stupid temptation to build yet again, and the cycle continues. If your time is worth much, it pays to buy ready-made PCs and spend your hours doing productive work.

There's a reason so many of the DIY computer stores cater to kits with colorful cases and see-through doors: it's the kiddies, teenagers and grown-up teenagers who are hot in this market, those who want to spend some time going "wow, cool" at their computers rather than working with them. And what do teenagers have that the grown-ups don't? Lots of time.

[aam1234]

What if those brand names gives you a "regular" PC, even up-speced. But you want sort of a "Ferrari" system.

What would you do.

[Mr. Pickles]

Why don't we just write up the "specs" you actually want? Those replying can judge the whole scenario from the get go and give their opinions based on that.

I'd still think you can get what you want from Dell, HP, whomever. Unless you want some weird keyboard or a certain DVD burner or something.

[aam1234]

As mentioned, customizing a brand name is not an option here.

[Mr. Pickles]

No. You keep "adding" to it. Originally it was about computers. Now it is a ferrari computer. There are differences in customizing. If you don't like some Mouse they offer, you buy a new one. If they don't offer 4gb of ram, that is completely different.

[aam1234]

That's true, and it tells you how much I know about these things. Basically, not much.

[brian.austin]

Buy, for all the reasons listed by everyone. I can build a custom computer for $3,000 or buy the same specs from Dell for just over $2,000...plus they assume the warranty.

It ain't worth it anymore.

As new technology comes out, I can upgrade to any of it. Nothing is really all that proprietary any longer, at least on the desktops.