Build or Buy

[moreau]

I build all my own, like many here.

However,
I don't build for my Mom. See the above posts about the implied "Free Technical Support Forever or Until Jesus Our Savior Returns" policy.


Here are some questions to answer:

1. Do you have adequate access to software (OS, Office, Productivity, etc.) ?
2. Do you have a fat internet connection for downloading all the necessary driver updates, patches, reading support web sites, etc.? (For some of us, Question two and Question 1 are related )
3. Do you already own a decent monitor?
4. Do you enjoy or at least tolerate troubleshooting hardware/software conflicts?
5. Are you mederately handy?


Answering yes to these questions means you would likely enjoy building your own. The more of these that you answer no to, the more that you should reconsider.


If you need software/monitor, it gets hard to beat the Dell type OEMs. Their software deals and included monitors make the price comparison tip to their favor. You can beat or match them for the box, but not on those other items.

If you live in a box and only have the CD's that came in the box and the phone to call on, don't do it. The minute something installs a flaky driver, you are hosed, and it can be days ironing it out. With a good intertnet connection (and a spare computer for surfing) often a driver update or FAQ is just a few minutes away... Usually...

Anywho... Good luck.
CEM

[ZokesPro]

Buy never stood a chance.

[Taz]

Originally posted by Ozbreeze Ya love family and friends, but they can be complete morons with computers...let someone else deal with them

Very true

[agallag]

I built my computer sometime around 1997. Since then, I've been randomly upgrading parts. Recently I realized I had enough old parts to put together a server, so I did. Should have enough for another fairly soon.

[Indiana]

Ya love family and friends, but they can be complete morons with computers...let someone else deal with them

Now that about sums it up.

Still, I built the computer my brother is using from spare parts I had left and even though he is as computer-illiterate as you could imagine, I got him through most things via telephone.
My parents also use computers built from spare parts (I really have the "upgrade-itis") and I have no real hassles because of that. But then, they would ask me first and not the support line anyways when problems occur, even if they got a brand computer.

I've been self-building my PCs from the start (after hassling around with my Amiga hardware before that for some years).

[Gurm]

Buy. Sorry, guys!

I build MINE. I build for moderately competent (and tolerant) friends. I even build for my mom, but only her server machine.

Workstations for family? I fill out the Dell worksheet for them. End of story.

I'll tweak it, I'll twiddle it, I'll even strip it down and reinstall all the software. But if it blows up... it's DELL'S problem.

I HAVE SPOKEN.

- Gurm

[Chrono_Wanderer]

last PC 1993 (For office use, an IBM 486 overdrive ) (yea... shut up.. i know it's IBM)

Hey Sethos, if you ask people on a forum like this, chanses are you are gonna get ~99% for building lol. After all, this is a hardware forum ya know lol. The 1% leftover is probably a "clocl-po) (not typo hehe) And the gurus here..

edit: oh sorry gurm, didn't read ur post. yea. that's true. for the average joe, buy is better... simply for the tech support + warrantee.

[SpiralDragon]

Originally posted by moreau

2. Do you have a fat internet connection for downloading all the necessary driver updates, patches, reading support web sites, etc.? (For some of us, Question two and Question 1 are related )

i hear you .... but sadly my ISP has blocked my DC++ even blocked http tunneling.... and socks is not in his vocab

[SpiralDragon]

Originally posted by agallag
I built my computer sometime around 1997. Since then, I've been randomly upgrading parts. Recently I realized I had enough old parts to put together a server, so I did. Should have enough for another fairly soon.

since 1997 i have managed to build a PC for my wife, one for my mother and one for my uncle.... plus i managed to upgrade a few of my freinds PC (they were late behind)

[Paddy]

I always build for other poeple.
If i don't need the money or the guy is a complete muppet i buy.

You don't need the hassle of 'my x doesn't work' at 4am

[Maggi]

OMG ... 49:1 ... what a quota !!!

looks as if there are way too many geeks around here ...


Usually, I go for building a rig from ground up on my own, only the very recent developments on the market (read: ridiculuosly low priced high end machines) are very tempting to get one of those for a start and mod / upgrade 'em when time has come or I feel the need for it.

[GNEP]

Well what do you expect from a "Mxxxx Users Resource Centre"??? Try asking the same thing in a share dealing forum...

[efty]

Just tell him to buy a computer and don't volunteer to build one for him.

I made the mistake a couple of times and it was a nightmare. I even baught a caller id to check who is calling me.

[KvHagedorn]

I agree that you don't wanna be getting calls all the time over stupid crap, so be very selective who you build for. I built computers for a couple of people and two for the office. Also have built 4 for myself (the first of those a friend helped me build, and I did bug him a couple of times, but then got to be alright on my own.

Actually I did buy a computer many years ago. I bought my Mac SE/30 in 1990 or so.. and tweaked the hell out of it. Upgraded it myself with RAM and overdrive board, and put a video card in its one special slot. It was a pretty good machine actually, and it's still sitting around.

[Dilitante1]

if the user is saavy, build it, if they are not let them buy it for the support and software that unless you are a BIG vendor, you cant get for the cheap $$ that Dell/HP can