I totally agree with you Eric. I'd like to add another point here.
Before i bought my computer, I checked around. All big names had pissed me
off because they sell for high price but cut built cost by unaccept way. Also
they do have compability problem as they always do/use something special.
Lets back to price issue. I believe you should spend less if you build
computer by your own hand. Just shop around, check with computer fair, you
will find how cost effective if you do it yourself, plus you've got the
components you really want.
compability shouldn't be problem if you only buy good stuff.

Build by your own hands, it's much better than any brand computer.

Good luck.

Jun

PS: just after I bought my computer, I went computer fair and found out I
spent  A$600 (US$360) more compare to buying same components at computer
fair. (when i bought my computer, it was the lowest price i could find).

Eric Outten wrote:

> Sammie:
> I'd like to add to what Dean and David said with a ~little~
> disagreement.
>
> First, I think that you ~can~ build a machine as good or better than
> those that are prebuilt.  If you have an inclination to tinker, you
> surely want to stay away from the big name prebuilts, whose
> motherboards, cases and sometimes other items cannot be replaced with
> off-the-shelf parts.  You will first have to ask a lot of questions and
> be willing to look for reputable vendors with fair prices.  Read several
> lists intensively for about a month first.
>
> You will suffer only from the lack of preloaded software.  Having to buy
> individual packages can increase the price quite a bit.  Remember
> though: 1) Much of the preloaded software is in lite versions without
> full functionality.
> 2) Many companies offer only proprietary software/operating systems that
> present problems for do-it-yourselfers, and sometimes reloading from
> their "startup" CD means erasing everything you ever did on the system.
> 3) If you already own and are using certain software, you won't want the
> bundled stuff anyway.  People always end up having to buy software
> unique to their needs.
>
> Good luck and be sure to check the PC Build article by Bob Wright on the
> web site.
> Eric
>
> SAMMIE RUTLEDGE wrote:
> >
> > There was a message about a school building their own computers but
> > having compability problems.
> >
> > I was thinking of building mine but am now having second thoughts!
> >
> > Is there much price difference between building a really good one and a
> > brand name? Not the ones in the $1000 price field?
> >
> > If you have built your own, have you had many or any compability
> > problems?
> > <snip>
>
> Eric R. Outten 773-978-3478 "typito ergo sum"
> [log in to unmask] - Oh! Electronic Solutions, Inc.
> 8835 S. Clyde Avenue - Chicago, IL 60617-2904
>
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