Where's The Best Place To Buy A Computer? (Follow Up)

Dorsk 81 · Post by **Dorsk 81** » 2003-12-18 08:25am

Well, it's christmas, which means mucho cash and I really need a new computer. I haven't really had much chance to look round stores like PC World, etc, but I did just see this ad on tv for:

Dell wrote:DimensionTM 2400
Unbeatable Pentium 4 2.4GHz system with DVD+RW and 17" Flat Panel Monitor at just £699!
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.40GHz (512K Cache)
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition and Microsoft® Works 7.0
17" Analogue Flat Panel Monitor (17.0" v.i.s)
Was DVD/CD-ReWriter Combo Drive, Now DVD+RW Drive
Choice of free GIFT

From £699

Linky
I think the free gift was either an MP3 player, Digital Camera or something else.

Does anyone else know where I could get a cheapish (price limit of around £800 or so, maybe less) new computer in the UK?

Super-Gagme · Post by **Super-Gagme** » 2003-12-18 08:48am

Build your own, can't go wrong there. Very good deals on PC parts at places like http://www.ebuyer.com and such. If you aren't able to do that then I would say stick with Dell. All the other UK PC dealers seem to be lacking from what I see. Also word of the wise, avoid a Time PC like the plague, no matter how flashy it appears to be.

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2003-12-18 11:48am

Build your own. Try www.newegg.com or www.cheapcomputers.com

And mind if I ask something? WTF is a Time PC?

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2003-12-18 12:15pm

What kind of videocard does that Dell have? If it is integrated or not much better, then avoid it like the plague.

Super-Gagme · Post by **Super-Gagme** » 2003-12-18 12:22pm

Einhander Sn0m4n wrote:Build your own. Try www.newegg.com or www.cheapcomputers.com

And mind if I ask something? WTF is a Time PC?

Newegg isn't UK is it? Note he is in UK :p And Time is a UK PC company, specialising in cheap good-on-paper piles of shit.

Sam Or I · Post by **Sam Or I** » 2003-12-18 12:41pm

www.pricewatch.com

Hobot · Post by **Hobot** » 2003-12-18 12:50pm

Newegg doesn't even ship to Canada.

I would suggest that you avoid buying overseas, the shipping and handling will negate any discount and more than likely the parts will end up costing more than buying from a major retail store.

You'd probably be able to find good deals from small computer stores. Try and find a free computer magazine or similar publication. It'll have loads of ads for local computer shops offering different deals. You'll probably have to visit a bunch of them in order to get the best deals, but the savings will be worth it.

El Moose Monstero · Post by **El Moose Monstero** » 2003-12-18 12:51pm

If you have up-to-date software, then build your own, especially if you have a decent case or a suitable monitor already, a year ago, I ripped out everything in my computer and replaced it all for 300 quid, bringing it pretty close to top of the line for the time, although I did have all the software already.

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2003-12-18 03:06pm

Depends what you want.

Don't go near The Computer Word. (Tiny plus Time). Their computers are the spirit of evil.

If you go to PC World, avoid buying a Packard Bell, Patriot, Albacomp, or , if you ever want to play games, eMachine (Unlike in the US, the eMachines made in europe aren't a complete bag of shite, but they are decidedly low end machines in the performance stakes. Reasonable reliability though.)

Don't know much about modern Dell machines, but I suspect they're probably about the same as any given HPQ for the same price, which means that there isn't going to be anything wrong with it per se, but it will be nothing special.

Probably the most powerful off the shelf PC in the UK is probably an Advent 3618/3618a.

Athlon 64 3200+ (or 3400+ on the 3618a)
MSI 6471 motherboard (K8T800)
2x160GB HDD (or 2x250 on the 3618a)
DVD-ROM
DVD+-RW
7 in 1 flash card reader
GeForce FX 5200 (or FX5900 on the a)

With the usual collection of modems, keyboards, and windows XP/Works 7/Nero (about the limit of the software bundle)

The 3618 goes for £1080 with no monitor, or £1299 with a 17" TFT

Dorsk 81 · Post by **Dorsk 81** » 2003-12-30 09:35pm

Yay!!! I wasn't going to make a new thread for this, so I put it back here.
I've finally bought my new PC and it shall be with me in 2-3 weeks (yea right...well hopefully).

Specs:

My New PC wrote:Equipped with Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system
Midnight Grey Micro-Tower Chassis with 6 USB Ports and 3 PCI Slots
Integrated AC'97 Audio
Integrated Intel Extreme Graphics
Integrated 10/100 Pro Ethernet
Norton AntiVirus 2003 (with 90 days free virus updates)
Dell Picture Studio Standard
No Floppy Drive as standard
.
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
January Sale!: Dec - Jan Saving + Money Off Included!
Online Saving - Free Delivery!: FREE Delivery
Enhanced Support Packs: 1 Year Collect and Return Service
Axim X3 Pocket PC: Not Included
Special Winter Deals: Shoot & Print Pack (includes Dell J740 Inkjet Printer, Kodak CX6200 Digital Camera)
Processor Upgrade: Intel Pentium 4 Processor 2.66GHz
Memory: 256MB DDR RAM
Floppy Drive and Additional Storage Devices: 1.44MB Floppy Drive
Hard Drive: 40GB (7200rpm) IDE Hard Drive
Optical Drives: 48x DVD/CD-ReWriter Combo Drive
Monitor: Dell 15" (15.0" VIS) Analogue Flat Panel Monitor
Home Installation: Not Included
Speakers: Dell Stereo Speakers
Modem: Dell 56k Data Fax modem
Video Editing: Not Included
Digital Photography: Dell Picture Studio Standard Edition (note: contains a 21 use trial version of Paint Shop Pro)
Software: Microsoft® Works 7.0
Wireless Connectivity: Not Included
Keyboard: Dell Standard PS2 Keyboard
Mouse: Dell 2 button Wheel Mouse
Internet Access Services - Broadband: Not Included
New! - Online Training: Not Included

Oh and it only came to £697.44

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-12-30 09:58pm

Eventually you'll want more than 256 megs RAM.

Dorsk 81 · Post by **Dorsk 81** » 2003-12-30 10:42pm

Shinova wrote:Eventually you'll want more than 256 megs RAM.

Indeed, but considering for the past 7 years or so I've been using this computer which has 64 MB RAM (yes, you may begin pittying me), it'll be a welcome fucking change!
Plus it would've been £80 to push it up to 512 and I can't afford that at the moment.

James Caan · Post by **James Caan** » 2003-12-30 10:49pm

wow you got a really good deal, is that from dell?

Dorsk 81 · Post by **Dorsk 81** » 2003-12-30 10:52pm

James Caan wrote:wow you got a really good deal, is that from dell?

Yep. I've been continualy moaned at that it would've been cheaper to build myself, but I just haven't got the tme or know-how.

James Caan · Post by **James Caan** » 2003-12-30 10:56pm

I've bought 3 dells so far and other than one faulty hard drive that got replaced I haven't had any problems. I'm sure you will have lots of fun.

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2003-12-30 10:58pm

Integrated video. Bah.

Dorsk 81 · Post by **Dorsk 81** » 2003-12-30 11:29pm

James Caan wrote:I've bought 3 dells so far and other than one faulty hard drive that got replaced I haven't had any problems. I'm sure you will have lots of fun.

This'll only be my third comp, the past 2 I've had were top of the line, fucking expensive things that my cunt of a father bought. he got them from this place called Evesham but I think I heard they went under a while back, which is why I've gone to Dell.

darthdavid wrote:Integrated video. Bah.

Be quiet you, I'd like to see a young whipper snapper like you save up and buy you're own computer, while having to save up for car insurance costs and having to pay rent and petrol money.

James Caan · Post by **James Caan** » 2004-01-01 01:31am

That's funny because back in the time of windows 95 my dad bought a computer for about $3000 from Gateway (when they were popular) and he had so many problems with it. He had to change so many parts and at one point he had to mail the whole darn thing to Texas to get it fixed.That computer has a 266 ghz Pentium I and a 4 Gigabyte Hard drive, as you can see you sure got good deal compared to that. Now that computer is abandoned somewhere and he has a new dell now