Computer Shopping? - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

halcyon · 08-20-2005, 03:51 PM

I'm pretty computer-literate. I've built plenty of machines, serviced plenty and so forth. Without doing a ton of research, what are most people's opinions on buying a new machine? Is it cheaper to buy the parts and assemble them yourself? Wait for one of Dell's rebate/coupon deals? Go elsewhere? Just curious about other's opinions.

Unassisted · 08-20-2005, 04:41 PM

If simplicity of support is important to you, go with Dell. With coupons and sales, it's the cheapest combination of support + computer that I know of. Component breaks, you can call Dell for a replacement in warranty.

If you're not afraid of troubleshooting and don't mind tracking down support from multiple sources for a hodgepodge of components, then building your own machine from parts acquired from various deals will always be the cheapest route. If I were doing this, I'd use Pricewatch.com and the Anandtech and FatWallet forums to track down those deals on components.

pedro · 08-20-2005, 04:58 PM

I think it also depends on the OS you plan to run. If you want to run windows and don't have a copy of it you can use, it doesn't make a lot of sense IMO to build your own computer b/c buying microsoft software directly will probably eat any savings you get from building your own box.

RBA · 08-20-2005, 05:28 PM

The Sony VAIO VGN-B100BD Laptops are flooding the market on EBay. They are going way below retail value.

http://search.ebay.com/b100bd_W0QQsojsZ1QQfromZR40

I also have one up for sale. But I won't give you a direct link to it, unless you want me to PM it to you.

I would recommend you go with a laptop. They can just about do anything as a desktop does nowadays and they are mobile.

pedro · 08-20-2005, 05:31 PM

Vaio's are nice. My sister and dad each have one.

I have a HP Pavilion Laptop. I love it.

dman · 08-20-2005, 06:02 PM

Me personally, I just go with doing it myself and building a piece-meal computer made up of parts that are tailored to my tastes. For instance, I will only use AMD cpu's in my machine and to my knowledge, Compaq and E-Machines are the only ones that use AMD cpu's. You probably already know about this site, but I do a lot of shopping from www.pricewatch.com. You can find some good deals, but watch that the sellers don't make their jack on S&H.

halcyon · 08-20-2005, 06:27 PM

As much as I would like to get a laptop, I don't think I can squeeze one into my budget. I'm going off to grad school and my assistantship has to pay all my bills.

Hoosier Red · 08-20-2005, 06:35 PM

On the recommendation of a computer literate friend, my wife bought her laptop from www.powernotebooks.com

Very helpful in allowing one to customize at a cheaper cost than Dell.

ghettochild · 08-20-2005, 10:05 PM

whats your price range?

if you're looking for something to get you through the net, go with a dell Dimension 3000..you get a 2.66 GHZ processor with 512 DDR ram and an 80 GB HDD. 15IN LCD or for 80 bucks more you can get a 17 incher, which is really nice. this is what we have at schools and such.

i wouldn't really recomend to individually buy parts unless you know what you're doing. plus it'll cost you up to 500 more to take it to the shop for them to build it.

i'd go for the dell. they have the best tech support, and probably the best computer available for now 549 bucks, a $100 off discount.

Falls City Beer · 08-20-2005, 10:09 PM

Apple iBook G4. Screw the glitch--down with Windows.

halcyon · 08-20-2005, 10:09 PM

I could handle the assembly with no problem, so that wouldn't be an issue. I suppose I have to figure out whether or not the cost savings of building my own would be worth the hassle of figuring out which type of board goes with which processor, which processor I would want, tracking down the best deal on the rest of the components and ordering each individually. I guess my price range is probably up to 600 but I'm still contemplating whether I could drop up to 750 on a laptop.

Falls City Beer · 08-20-2005, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by halcyon

I could handle the assembly with no problem, so that wouldn't be an issue. I suppose I have to figure out whether or not the cost savings of building my own would be worth the hassle of figuring out which type of board goes with which processor, which processor I would want, tracking down the best deal on the rest of the components and ordering each individually. I guess my price range is probably up to 600 but I'm still contemplating whether I could drop up to 750 on a laptop.

Well, ignore my suggestion then.

RBA · 08-20-2005, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by halcyon

I could handle the assembly with no problem, so that wouldn't be an issue. I suppose I have to figure out whether or not the cost savings of building my own would be worth the hassle of figuring out which type of board goes with which processor, which processor I would want, tracking down the best deal on the rest of the components and ordering each individually. I guess my price range is probably up to 600 but I'm still contemplating whether I could drop up to 750 on a laptop.

I'm going to look out for deals for you and PM you, if you don't mind. If I find one, it won't be ebay.

www.Techbargains.com usually post the lasted deals on laptops and desktops.

halcyon · 08-21-2005, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedBloodedAmerican

I'm going to look out for deals for you and PM you, if you don't mind. If I find one, it won't be ebay.

www.Techbargains.com usually post the lasted deals on laptops and desktops.

Oh, I definitely don't mind. Any extra eyes are always appreciated. That said, I'll probably have to go ahead and make my order by late Monday nite/Tuesday b/c grad school approaches rapidly.

RBA · 08-21-2005, 10:09 AM

Some Dell coupons.

DellHome
CouponExpirationPosted$600 off select Inspiron Notebooks $1499+ : Code 28WR3BP9QMLT0F 08/24/05 08/20/05

$750 off select Inspiron Notebooks $1899+ : Code ?M1T$NG7GWRK2D 08/24/05 08/20/05

35% off select Inspiron Notebooks $999+ : Code NKN5W3H8BS?RVB 08/24/05 08/20/05

40% off select Inspiron Notebooks $999+ : Code CXFLV5J8Q4?LBV 08/22/05 08/17/05

08-20-2005, 03:51 PM	#1
halcyon Habitual Line Stepper Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: VA Posts: 350	Computer Shopping? I'm pretty computer-literate. I've built plenty of machines, serviced plenty and so forth. Without doing a ton of research, what are most people's opinions on buying a new machine? Is it cheaper to buy the parts and assemble them yourself? Wait for one of Dell's rebate/coupon deals? Go elsewhere? Just curious about other's opinions.

08-20-2005, 04:41 PM	#2
Unassisted RZ Chamber of Commerce Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: San Antonio Posts: 13,222	Re: Computer Shopping? If simplicity of support is important to you, go with Dell. With coupons and sales, it's the cheapest combination of support + computer that I know of. Component breaks, you can call Dell for a replacement in warranty. If you're not afraid of troubleshooting and don't mind tracking down support from multiple sources for a hodgepodge of components, then building your own machine from parts acquired from various deals will always be the cheapest route. If I were doing this, I'd use Pricewatch.com and the Anandtech and FatWallet forums to track down those deals on components. __________________ /r/reds

08-20-2005, 04:58 PM	#3
pedro Please come again Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: portland, oregon Posts: 14,716	Re: Computer Shopping? I think it also depends on the OS you plan to run. If you want to run windows and don't have a copy of it you can use, it doesn't make a lot of sense IMO to build your own computer b/c buying microsoft software directly will probably eat any savings you get from building your own box. __________________ Get your nunchucks and the keys to your dad's car. I know where we can get a gun

08-20-2005, 05:28 PM	#4
RBA CELEBRATION TIME Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: San Marcos, CA Posts: 13,939	Re: Computer Shopping? The Sony VAIO VGN-B100BD Laptops are flooding the market on EBay. They are going way below retail value. http://search.ebay.com/b100bd_W0QQsojsZ1QQfromZR40 I also have one up for sale. But I won't give you a direct link to it, unless you want me to PM it to you. I would recommend you go with a laptop. They can just about do anything as a desktop does nowadays and they are mobile.

08-20-2005, 05:31 PM	#5
pedro Please come again Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: portland, oregon Posts: 14,716	Re: Computer Shopping? Vaio's are nice. My sister and dad each have one. I have a HP Pavilion Laptop. I love it. __________________ Get your nunchucks and the keys to your dad's car. I know where we can get a gun

08-20-2005, 06:02 PM	#6
dman Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 1,385	Re: Computer Shopping? Me personally, I just go with doing it myself and building a piece-meal computer made up of parts that are tailored to my tastes. For instance, I will only use AMD cpu's in my machine and to my knowledge, Compaq and E-Machines are the only ones that use AMD cpu's. You probably already know about this site, but I do a lot of shopping from www.pricewatch.com. You can find some good deals, but watch that the sellers don't make their jack on S&H.

08-20-2005, 06:27 PM	#7
halcyon Habitual Line Stepper Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: VA Posts: 350	Re: Computer Shopping? As much as I would like to get a laptop, I don't think I can squeeze one into my budget. I'm going off to grad school and my assistantship has to pay all my bills.

08-20-2005, 06:35 PM	#8
Hoosier Red Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 6,853	Re: Computer Shopping? On the recommendation of a computer literate friend, my wife bought her laptop from www.powernotebooks.com Very helpful in allowing one to customize at a cheaper cost than Dell. __________________ When people say that I don’t know what I’m talking about when it comes to sports or writing, I think: Man, you should see me in the rest of my life. ---Joe Posnanski

08-20-2005, 10:05 PM	#9
ghettochild WAGS Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Allen, Texas Posts: 616	Re: Computer Shopping? whats your price range? if you're looking for something to get you through the net, go with a dell Dimension 3000..you get a 2.66 GHZ processor with 512 DDR ram and an 80 GB HDD. 15IN LCD or for 80 bucks more you can get a 17 incher, which is really nice. this is what we have at schools and such. i wouldn't really recomend to individually buy parts unless you know what you're doing. plus it'll cost you up to 500 more to take it to the shop for them to build it. i'd go for the dell. they have the best tech support, and probably the best computer available for now 549 bucks, a $100 off discount. __________________ Strike 3 Forums

08-20-2005, 10:09 PM	#10
Falls City Beer Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 24,098	Re: Computer Shopping? Apple iBook G4. Screw the glitch--down with Windows.

08-20-2005, 10:09 PM	#11
halcyon Habitual Line Stepper Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: VA Posts: 350	Re: Computer Shopping? I could handle the assembly with no problem, so that wouldn't be an issue. I suppose I have to figure out whether or not the cost savings of building my own would be worth the hassle of figuring out which type of board goes with which processor, which processor I would want, tracking down the best deal on the rest of the components and ordering each individually. I guess my price range is probably up to 600 but I'm still contemplating whether I could drop up to 750 on a laptop.

08-21-2005, 10:09 AM	#15
RBA CELEBRATION TIME Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: San Marcos, CA Posts: 13,939	Re: Computer Shopping? Some Dell coupons. DellHome CouponExpirationPosted$600 off select Inspiron Notebooks $1499+ : Code 28WR3BP9QMLT0F 08/24/05 08/20/05 $750 off select Inspiron Notebooks $1899+ : Code ?M1T$NG7GWRK2D 08/24/05 08/20/05 35% off select Inspiron Notebooks $999+ : Code NKN5W3H8BS?RVB 08/24/05 08/20/05 40% off select Inspiron Notebooks $999+ : Code CXFLV5J8Q4?LBV 08/22/05 08/17/05 Last edited by RBA; 08-21-2005 at 10:18 AM.

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