Custom Built Computer or Name Brand?
When most of us need a new computer, we just run down to Best Buy, or any local retail store to purchase whatever they have in stock. Most of that is due to impatience or no knowledge of custom built computers. A lot of my customers do not have any idea that a computer could be custom built to specification, most only know that if they run down to their local stores, they can bring one home that night. Well what they don’t realize is that by having a custom computer built instead of purchasing a retail one, is that they can either save some money or have a much better machine made that is going to have better hardware and be at least 2x the retail computer. I’m going to list a few Pros and Cons for both custom built and name brand computers.
Name Brand Cons: These computers are mass produced, all running down the assembly line being put together one after another. They mass purchase the hardware for these, and when you try to figure out what motherboard you have, you’ll either find out nothing or that it’s something imported from Asia, and good luck finding any support for that. Now support for you computer, as most of us know trying to get support from Dell or HP we will end of on the phone for hours at a time, usually talking to someone who doesn’t speak English who can’t fix the problem, then eventually ask you to ship the computer to them. These computers also come preloaded with all their garbageware, which a vast majority of it is useless and uses system resources to slow down the computer. Forget your local store you bought it from with helping out either, unless you paid for a service contract, or ready to pay top dollar for service. Lastly, they don’t give you a hard copy of windows anymore, and most of us forget to make a copy of it from the computer to disk until it’s to late.
Name Brand Pros: The only one is that you can buy it and take it home the same day and that it comes with some version of windows installed. Which for Windows 7 right now it’s $90-$110 for the upgrade, and $160 for the regular version. So gauging those costs for your basic $500 computer at the local store, you can get an idea of how cheap the hardware is they put in these machines.
Custom Built Cons: The only one is that usually you have to purchase a version of Windows extra, which can drive the cost up a little. Unless you have a copy laying around from a previous computer your replacing and taking out of service.
Custom Built Pros: You design your own computer. You pick what processor, case, memory, hard drive size and how many, CD/DVD burner, blue-ray player, video card, and power supply. With the help of your local professional you can set your own budget and specs and have exactly what you pay for, with quality parts from top manufacturers of individual components. Your support is going to be a phone call away from the local professional you hire to build this from you. A lot of times they won’t charge for simple things, and charge reasonable rates for a little more complicated tasks. No more having to ship it to Somewhere, USA and waiting weeks to get it back. You’ll drive it to your builders store, or perhaps he’ll come to your residence to take a look at it.
If your in the market for a new desktop computer, please stop in your local computer shop that builds computers and at least take a good look at this option, you’ll be happy you did.
Kenosha Computer Repair by The Computer Nerdz
Don’t call a Geek, call the Nerdz for your computer repair and technology needs. What you need, when you need I.T.