[PANCAK3]

I have a few questions about getting a new computer/notebook. Right now I'm still using my 6-year-old custom P4 Win2000 with 1.4ghz processor...(yea...) I want to build another decent computer but from what I have been looking it is not as a good deal as years ago. What I mean is that building your own computer might cost more than buying from a store like FShop in Canada with similar specs. Besides, it also comes with all the accessories and you don't have to go through all the hassle starting from scratch.

Even though the components for computers in FShop might be crappy, I figure that it does load with many preinstalled softwares (like the ones manufactured by HP). Here is one thing I don't like: too many softwares. My question is that are those softwares included in the price? Of course we pay for the OEM OS that comes with it. However, most of the preinstalled softwares are trial versions like Norton, and which I consider them to be useless junk (I know that you can do tricks with those softwares). So if we actually pay for those junk then it's a complete rip off for the customers.
Also by the way, it sucks that you can't overclock these computers...

So I'm wondering that should I just build one or buy one from store?

PS: I heard that right now companies like Norton actually pay manufacturers like HP to have their computers come with Norton stuff so that HP is able to sell their computers at a lower price. Is that true?

Edited by PANCAK3, 22 May 2007 - 01:23 PM.

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Anyone on this forum will tell you that custom building is the way to go. It really isn't even that much more expensive than a pre-built considering that all the parts that are going into your custom build are quality ones while with pre-builts they cut costs with a cheap PSU and value RAM. Also with a pre-built you will have a very limited BIOS and little to no ways to upgrade. If you only planing on using your computer for very simple things such as browsing the internet then a pre-built could be the way to go. If you use your PC for gaming I think a custom build is the only way to go.

James is from Canada I think that he usually recommends tigerdirect for his fellow canadians. I am from the u.s. and I have never heard of FShop. Is that an internet site or a local store?

Even though the components for computers in FShop might be crappy, I figure that it does load with many preinstalled softwares (like the ones manufactured by HP).

Based on that statement I'm going to have to recommend against going there. Why would you still want to go there after that statement?

PS: I heard that right now companies like Norton actually pay manufacturers like HP to have their computers come with Norton stuff so that HP is able to sell their computers at a lower price. Is that true?

Yes, this is true.

If you do descide to go with a custom build then we would be happy to help along with that.

Edit: I would like to add that nothing beats the satisfaction of firing up that custom build up after hours of parts research and assembly .

Edited by Titan8990, 22 May 2007 - 02:29 PM.

[Titan8990]

Anyone on this forum will tell you that custom building is the way to go. It really isn't even that much more expensive than a pre-built considering that all the parts that are going into your custom build are quality ones while with pre-builts they cut costs with a cheap PSU and value RAM. Also with a pre-built you will have a very limited BIOS and little to no ways to upgrade. If you only planing on using your computer for very simple things such as browsing the internet then a pre-built could be the way to go. If you use your PC for gaming I think a custom build is the only way to go.

James is from Canada I think that he usually recommends tigerdirect for his fellow canadians. I am from the u.s. and I have never heard of FShop. Is that an internet site or a local store?

Even though the components for computers in FShop might be crappy, I figure that it does load with many preinstalled softwares (like the ones manufactured by HP).

Based on that statement I'm going to have to recommend against going there. Why would you still want to go there after that statement?

PS: I heard that right now companies like Norton actually pay manufacturers like HP to have their computers come with Norton stuff so that HP is able to sell their computers at a lower price. Is that true?

Yes, this is true.

If you do descide to go with a custom build then we would be happy to help along with that.

Edit: I would like to add that nothing beats the satisfaction of firing up that custom build up after hours of parts research and assembly .

Edited by Titan8990, 22 May 2007 - 02:29 PM.

[james_8970]

Fshop= future shop, it's basically Bestbuy (Best buy bought future shop 2 years ago) the only exception is that future shop also sells appliances. It's local or web based whatever you like.

You going to have a fun time uninstall all the crap thats installed on there, it's ridicules.

Titan already said most of whats needed to say but i'm going to add one. Future shop or best buy whatever one you like, sell decent computers. It really depends what price range your looking at, till you pass the 800$ mark there really isn't any point in building your own. Basically either way your getting a lower end computer just ment for web browsing and office uses and remember since big vendors buy in bulk they get cheaper rates so you can't beat what the offer in this range. However the higher you go from the 800$ mark the more of a difference you'll begin to see.

I suggest you look at price online at
www.tigerdirect.ca
www.NCIX.com
www.directcanada.com

Price things out there you might be surprised because if you pricing things out individually from Futureshop then I agree there isn't any point building yourself, but price things on the web and you'll see a difference. Futureshop/bestbuy wants people to think they are the only ones that can sell you products so they mark them up because people tend to believe that's the only place they can go to. Also remember online stores don't have the same amount of staff making it even cheaper.

Overall if you plan on spending 1000$ or more I really recommend you build on your own.

If you still feel reluctant to build on your won, don't get sucked into their insurance there, they don't back anything up they claim to do, all I hear are horror stories about that P2P insurance program or whatever they call it.

James

Edited by james_8970, 22 May 2007 - 02:16 PM.

[PANCAK3]

Thanks for the tips guys.

I know that buying online is much more cheaper than buying from stores. Well, I'm actually looking more to get a notebook for my school use (a tablet especially). You can't really build your own notebook can you? I mean you can't build a notebook like the way you build a desktop. So any suggestions?

[james_8970]

Budget?
If your gaming you must have at least an x1600 or geforego 7600 graphics card.
At least 2GB of ram
Core2duo is highly recommended.
James

[PANCAK3]

Well, anything under 2k (tax included) is OK. So that really limits to what tablets that are out there for me to choose from. There is one from BestBuy and from FutureShop which both are manufactured by HP...comes with lots of junk. I also found some gateway refurbished tablet pc from TigerDirect. Does it also come with loads of junk? If not, do you consider it a good tablet to purchase considering that it is well under 1k?

Just a silly question...If I buy it from bestbuy/futureshop, is it possible to ask them to remove all that junk in return of a reduce in price, if not, upgrades?

Edited by PANCAK3, 22 May 2007 - 07:50 PM.

[james_8970]

They'd never remove it. I'd stick to a local shop for laptops. Also not a fan of reburbish stuff since it's usually not very fairly priced.
James

[PANCAK3]

Local shops like...? btw I live in Van area. So umm any suggestions besides NCIX?

[Bahlzeron]

If you're looking online for computer parts.. Newegg.com is pretty good.. so far the only place I've bought stuff so far... havent checked out Tigerdirect yet... I should though.

[james_8970]

We are Canadian, newegg doesn't ship there.

You can also look at http://www.anitec.ca/

NCIX is based out of Vancouver.
Look here for address http://www.ncix.com/contact/

Also by local I was meaning bestbuy, future shop or in your case NCIX.

James

[PANCAK3]

One more question...Is it only the windows tablet edition supports the tablet function? Or can vista also supports it? Right now I'm looking at Gateway CX210X online and I'm confused about which OS supports the tablet function.


Any help is appreciated

[computerspecialist101]

DO NOT get Vista until M$ has either released SP1 for it or it has been a year from the release date. if you get vista for your laptop, your will be disapointed. and tablet is support with xp tablet edition and i also believe in certain versions of vista.

[james_8970]

Not true.
You will be fine on vista as long as your purchasing new hardware. Old hardware is iffy, but most of the quirks are cleaned out, recent hardware will be fine.
James

Edited by james_8970, 28 May 2007 - 11:00 AM.

[computerspecialist101]

what i mean is that yes, you will be fine with drivers and such for the hardware, but a lot of software still is not capable of vista and vista sucks. they have a lot to work out before it will be used as much as xp is used. im saying, stick with a operation system that you know and trust until about 6 months to a year after release or sp1 has been released. just my opinion. i have dozens of clients that got vista on their new machines as they had no choice and they remind me every day that they regret getting vista.

[james_8970]

I still don't know where your getting this.
There is nothing wrong with vista and pretty well every program out there works with vista. The compatibility fuction that was in XP is still in Vista so you can make a program think its running on another operating system. What you are saying makes no sense, why would he buy 2 operating systems when there is already a safe, more modern alternative.
We are talking home uses here, not business', two completely different enviroments.
James