DevBlog

Recently I blogged about trying to build a new computer. The reasons I chose to build one were 1) It's less expensive than buying one from scratch. 2) It keeps me up on the latest hardware changes. Rick now blogs about why he buys assembled computers. I agree with much of what he says. Getting the warranty, boxing it up when something goes wrong, and shipping it back on their dime is appealing. Rick also says, "I do software. I don't sell hardware." I totally agree with this. I don't build hardware for friends, family, or clients. I recommend where they go to get a pre-assembled computer. For example, my mom wanted to get a new computer last year. While I like both Dell and Gateway, I knew that wasn't the right choice for her. She needed to talk face-to-face with someone if it needed service. I also thought it best she get a name brand rather than something built by a local shop. I recommended that she go to the local Staples or Best Buy and get one. (Mom lives about 90 miles from me.) Five minutes after hanging up the phone, I knew I was in trouble. Mom wouldn't be able to hook it up, even though all the cables today are either unique or color coded. So, I called her back and told her I'd take some time off work, drive up, and help her. I'm glad I did that. She ended up with great Compaq desktop and a couple of hours later, the system was up and running.

I spent about $800.00 on my new system. I've compared what I got with $800 preassembled systems. I definately have a faster system with more RAM and a larger hard drive.