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System for mom and dad...

G

giarc25

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jan 25, 2003
Messages
308
Dont know if it is ok to post this hear, sorry if its in the wrong place....


My mother calls me up today and says that she wants me to go PC shopping with my dad this weekend. I offered to build them one, as we all know is the better way to go, however they live 180 miles from me and tech support/troubleshooting would not be favorable in this situation.

Since building does not seem to be feasable, what would be a computer worth buying that is already pre-built. I know HP puts a lot of crap software on their bundles, as does Compaq and Dell. E-machines seems to be bettering there machines lately, but I am not sure I would go with them either.

A couple years ago we got a machine from Best Buy, due to the Lemon Law warranty they carry, and we got a VPR Matrix. Dont know if they still carry this brand or not, or if they are of the same caliber they were when we got this one, however the machine we got seems to be rock stable and operates just fine. As per my personal experience I would recommend this machine to my parents, but was hoping to get some insight from you guys. Your help is appreciated...

Craig
 
Just build it.

What I did with my momma, and I live 150-200 miles away from her.
Most tech issues can be answered on the phone and if they run the same OS as you, you can even take screen shots to create a step-by-step process for them to follow.

But as far as pre-fab, I say Compaq.

I have had 2 of them, a 400mhz AMD (still runs like a champ) and a 1 gig Athlon (again, like a champ)

I have seen many HP's just up and die for no reason, but in my experiance, I have never seen a compaq crap withouth a reason.
 
For OEM, I like Dells. I just format the hard drive to clear the crap they put on it and install my own OS.

But if you gotta pick among the OEMs in the stores (HP, Compaq, Emachines, Sony), it's like picking your favorite Korean sedan. I've worked with Hp and Emachines computers, and have always gotten grief (never worked on a Sony).

However, for what it's worth, my Compaq laptop runs just great, and my old Compaq desktop ran great when it still ran.

So yeah, another throw to Compaq.
 
I'm rather impressed by the VPR maxtrix's that i've seen- Fortron/Source power supplies and Intel branded mobos- doesn't get much better than that for a bigbox build...
 
Thanks for the input guys. I will try and talk them into letting me build, but if they are insistant on getting a pre-fab computer I will look into the Compaq's. Maybe I can just talk them into an IBM Thinkpad T40 or T41. They have mentioned to me the possibility of getting a laptop too, so I am not sure what direction they are going. I was just hoping to have some guidelines, or an outline if you will, for when they get here.

If a Laptop is the way they decide to go, where can I buy an IBM Thinkpad in a retail store?

Thanks again for the suggestions,
Craig
 
I have a dell and am really not all that pleased. THen again I'm an enthusiast... My mom loves hers I guess but they are loud little fuckers (62 decibels on mine)

If you do go store bought I would definately suggest formatting and reinstalling a clean slate of XP with minimal programs and then Ghost it (or make an unattended install). If there is a problem you can have them bck up what files they have and then teach them ghost (or insert install cd).

So if you dont go custom, Ive never had a failure with any of my dells (but they do look cheap and sound cheap)
 
I'm going to have to say build it yourself. It will be cheaper and better for you and your parents in the long run. But if they really want a prebuilt machine then I'm going to have to say go with a dell.
 
if your your family knows computers enouph to do most of their own trouble shooting then make it, but if they dont know a cpu from a psu, go dell

$500 for a desent pc, software, moniter keyboard, mouce, and 24 hour tech support, I wouldnt be happy with a dell, but i mod my shit, your family wants to play simple games, play dvds, burn cds and go onlinethen a dell is fine, (it all depends on what the computer is going to be used for, i cant build my pc for $500 just the tower, Dell isnt a bad way to go
 
My mother does not even know how to check email on yahoo. She probably does not know how to find the start button on Windows. This will be her first machine and she is completely computer illiterate. Dad has tinkered here and there, but basically has no clue either. Basically what this is evolving to, basically this is their first machine ever.

As for buying it on the net, or buying it in person, well as I have already said, their computer savvy is not there and buying it online is not even conceivable for them, they like to feel it, touch it, ask questions, and walk out the door with it. Not to mention I wouldnt have the patience to walk them through a troubleshooting issue, therefore I would not make good customer service for them.

So far the top pre-built pick is Dell or Compaq

And for a Lappy, it would be an IBM

I live in Austin, TX so getting a Dell is no problem, however what stores sell IBM Laptops?
 
if thats your final idea, then i say go for dell, im not a compaq fan, its a bitch to get info on your set up after HP bought them out, and ive also never been a fan of HP PCs to start off, (just my $0.02 USD)
 
I think you'd be pretty hard pressed to find a store that carries IBM computers, IBM pulled out of the retail market a few years ago and I think now they exclusively offer their products online.
 
i would get them a dell or a gateway.

... told my dad to get a Dell simply so i wouldn't have to mess with the tech support, etc... it's a giant headache that ultimately -- you don't want. Never get yourself into building computers for other people... it's a giant headache in the end.

Hell, i dont even tell people i know anything about computers unless i'm at there house and it's broke.. then i just know "a few things" and can "poke around"... don't like being obligated with that crap.
 
OMFG!!! I can't believe how many ppl are suggesting Compaq!!! Have you even seen the inside of Compaq's??? They don't call the Compa(ct) for nothing...the stuff everythig in there...there is virtually NO airflow...and of all the PC technicians I've run across they ALL say that they charge more than normal JUST on Compaq service cause it is ssuch a BITCH to get into one and to repair it and trouble shoot...

D00D!!! Do NOT get a Compaq...it is the devil!!! Your parents will never talk to you ever again!!!

THANX
C'YA ?:-D
 
Originally posted by Metallica_Band
OMFG!!! I can't believe how many ppl are suggesting Compaq!!! Have you even seen the inside of Compaq's??? They don't call the Compa(ct) for nothing...the stuff everythig in there...there is virtually NO airflow...and of all the PC technicians I've run across they ALL say that they charge more than normal JUST on Compaq service cause it is ssuch a BITCH to get into one and to repair it and trouble shoot...

D00D!!! Do NOT get a Compaq...it is the devil!!! Your parents will never talk to you ever again!!!

THANX
C'YA ?:-D
Click to expand...

compaq laptops arn't bad. the desktops are horrid!


actually, i dont know of a bad laptop... same people pretty much make all the insides. just in a different case with different specs...
 
Well, once again thanks for all the suggestions folks. Starting to look like either a Dell PC or an IBM Laptop. If the Dell PC was bought, I would feel that the 3 year on site warranty service would be in order in this condition. That would be a whole lot better that getting some foreigner telling them over the phone to "format and re-install" all the damn time.

Anyone who is experienced with Dell though, dont those computers come with a "restore" disk and not a disk with the actual OS on it? In other words, if I got the Dell PC and wanted to wipe it clean and only plant the OS on it, can it be done with the software they give you?

Thanks again,
Craig
 
The restore disk only works with the original motherboard, if you upgrade the mobo the disk won't work. The disk is "married" the mobo in other words. Best thing would be to buy an OEM version and then reformat the HD, alot of the times the drivers aren't installed correctly. I would not recommend Dell based on my past experience with them, I will not bore you with the details but surmise to say I didn't have a good experience with them. I would probably look at the IBM laptop, or one by Apple.:)
 
Seems to me that everyone has had some good and bad with just about all the manufactorers out there. How bout customer service? If the products are less than par as we describe them, then the next question would be, "who has the best customer service"?

Thanks again for the input.....

Starting to look like the suggestions are rolling away from the desktop and just go with an IBM laptop...
 
Now if we're talking about customer service, yeah, I've had troubles with the OEMs I've had to deal with:

Typical calls:

Dell: Tech Support: "Hello, I don't speak English and I don't guarantee I'll do anything for you since I'm just a guy in India reading out of a book."

Compaq: "Hi, I'll help you do multiple things that won't help very much, and then I'll end up just allowing you to ship it back to us for free. But guess what? We won't actually solve the problem, just give you new hardware."

Dell might have gotten better since I've had to deal with them to help people out, and I think they moved their tech support back to the US because of complaints.

As for Compaq, yeah, I don't like their service. I like the comps since I've never had much of a problem, but once, my laptop's DVD drive stopped reading DVDs. Being the stupid kid I was, I didn't think about reinstalling the DVD software (which is how I fixed it). I thought the drive was defective, so I sent it back to Compaq, it came back a week later with a new CD/DVD drive, but the same problem.

So yeah, if your parents can fix small problems, Dell or Compaq (still don't have much against them, except their service blows, good thing I haven't had much occasion to use them).

And if a laptop is part of this, then IBM laptops all the way.
 
We just got rid of our PRE-pentium 50 mhz Compaq presario. Not because it wasn't running, because it was still running like the day we bought it. Windows 3.1 and tabworks (bleh!) but I have to say it never gave us grief.

I personally like dell and compaq...but like others have said there isn't a whole lot of difference between the two. Just personal preference.
 
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