Re: To everybody
- From: "Elle" <honda.lioness@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 02 Mar 2006 23:53:01 GMT
I believe Consumer Reports noted that, yes, E-machines are
inferior quality and will not last as long.
In the last 14 years I have bought three brand name
computers: Compaq, HP, and Gateway. HP's and Gateway's
technical support were underwhelming. I was cursing Gateway
within 24 hours of receiving the computer--internal modem
wouldn't work, and they wouldn't cooperate until I said I
was sending it back, per my legal warranty. Under this
threat, Gateway bought me an external modem.
One either teaches one's self how to maintain one's hardware
and software; or one pays through the nose; or one learns
through blood sweat and tears that brand name tech support
is pretty mediocre. I decided to stop paying.
I'm on my fourth computer, one for which I bought the main
parts separately and then assembled them myself. This was in
the last two months.
What I learned from researching the experience is that these
days, the brand packages can definitely be cheaper. The key
word is "package." Dell is the first package I'd consider
(despite its nasty shipping charge for some locations). Dell
does give a credit if you don't want the monitor. But if you
have a monitor already, it should be a little tempting to
either build your own computer or use a shop like Computer
Renaissance (or PC Club) to help you pick parts and give you
support with assembly.
If you don't buy a brand name package from Dell or HP or
wherever, then one item that definitely jacks up the price
is buying an independent operating system. Say you had
Windows 2000 on your old E-machine. That cannot be
transferred to your new computer, generally speaking.
I bought a fairly ordinary motherboard and CPU (about $130),
512 Megabyte RAM ($25), a very nice case and power supply
($90), and Win XP SP2 Home ($105, discounted because I
bought the mobo and CPU at a shop that has deals like this).
That cost me $350 altogether. It went together pretty easily
(but I have some experience in assembling mechanical and
electrical parts). Worked great for a few weeks, then it
wouldn't boot properly. Baffled, I took it to the shop,
hoping it was my mobo/CPU that had failed and I wouldn't
have to pay more because of the warranty. It was a bad
stick of RAM. Diagnosis cost me $40. RAM was replaced under
warranty. So I was up to about $400 in costs, and this was
using my old hard drive, CD Rom drive, floppy drive,
monitor, and speakers.
If I had it to do over, would I do this again? Yes, because
long-distance tech support from companies like HP and
Gateway has proven to be pretty poor. Plus I have little
patience anymore with non-native English speakers, which
certainly are the rule today for computer tech support. I
was also tired of my computers lasting only three or four
years and then my ditching them. Now I can do a little
hardware diagnosis and just replace a power supply, say. I
am aiming to keep my current computer going for eight years
(knock on wood), though I expect the hard drive and power
supply will die before then. Of course, the technology may
change so much that even if all parts work well, the
software won't do.
"darrenbruin" <darrenbruin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote
Thank you all for your advices. I tried pretty much all
that I could but was
unsuccessful.
Just one last general question: is it generally
acknowledged that emachines
and similar low-priced brands have inferior quality and
reliability than the
brand-names? I'm trying to decide whether my next computer
will be another
try at bargain or should I just fork over and pay for big
name?
.
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