Introduction
When it comes to buying a new computer, your options are unlimited. The best question you can ask yourself before you go looking is, “What am I going to use my new computer for today, and 2 years from now?” Why two years from now? Because you may buy a system today for basic word processing and spreadsheet duties, but if you are thinking of one day getting into digital photography, you are better off buying a system that can handle the task today than facing the upgrade hurdles later. Don’t skimp unless you absolutely have to.
With that said, it is safe to say that very few of us need the latest, greatest system. The rule of thumb is the newer it is, the more expensive it is. In fact, Intel’s newest processor can often cost twice as much as their second-newest processor, and that can be hundreds of dollars.
Prepackaged Systems
Today’s computer giants, like Dell, Gateway, Compaq and Hewlett Packard, specialize in mass-producing computer systems that are often sold in the big box superstores. These systems are often quite good. So what’s the problem? Proprietary technology. The big guys often take a piece of off-the-shelf hardware and “tweak” it to work better in their specific systems, or they manufacture their own hardware. Sometimes they use specially shaped cases to achieve a certain look and modify the motherboard to fit their case, and these computers almost always come with a single “restore disk” with Windows and a host of other programs on it, to be installed in an all-or-nothing fashion.
First, proprietary hardware often means you can’t just go to the computer store, buy any old piece of hardware and install it. Many times you are limited to hardware the big guys make, and that usually means high prices and limited sources. You can’t put a Chevy water pump in a Ford, and often you can’t put an off-the-shelf motherboard in a Compaq. You will pay premium prices.
Second, the all-or-nothing restore disk means just that: all or nothing. You often cannot just install one program off the disk, or restore a bad install of Windows without installing the other junk. And if you make modifications to your system’s hardware and then run the restore disk, you will find that it does not have the drivers you need, and you will have to deal with all the incompatibilities the outdated restore disk just introduced! Don’t buy the hype that a restore disk means easy repair. It only means easy repair if you never make changes to your system hardware, or only use the programs on the restore disk and never add any of your own.
Stock and Custom Systems
A stock system is built out of off-the-shelf parts. From the case to the motherboard, video card to the cables, all parts can be easily replaced with parts you can buy at thousands of dealers. Better access to parts means better prices and, of course, more choice! Stock system builders also tend to be smaller and more approachable, meaning it is much easier to make modifications and get a custom-built system.
All Computer Help USA systems are built with readily available, off-the-shelf stock parts, and we allow the customer to make any modifications they wish. What’s more, we will give you your copy of Windows — not a restore disk, not a modified version. We’ll give you the original Microsoft disk, which allows for easy repairs, easy restores of individual Windows components and, best of all, it is not a hardware-specific disk. Sure, you may not get 50 other programs you will never use, but you will get quality, flexibility, a great guarantee and, in the long run, save yourself a lot of headaches. Check out our systems on this website for an idea of what we can do, and then give us a call.