Buying a computer is a pretty tough job these days. With new technologies emerging like flowers, making a choice becomes even more difficult and to add to that mess, we normally land in a situation to decide whether to go in for a branded computer or an assembled computer.
Remember friends, both have their distinct advantages and disadvantages. So the final decision depends on what we want and how much we can pay. It’s my opinion, that u should get yourself the best configuration for the most economical price, branded or assembled. All right then, lets see the merits and demerits for both of them!
BRANDED COMPUTERS
It’s a general opinion that branded computers are costlier than the others. Its true, but not fully. Now a days, different companies are offering pcs at a very competitive price. Be aware of these facts while u decide.
Decide WHY u want the pc and what purpose are u going to serve with it coz, branded computers with hi-fi configuration is also going to cost more. If one is not an avid gamer or is not going to use internet, then, I suggest don’t go in for a very high configuration.
Basically, in all branded computers, the deciding factor normally is the PROCESSOR. The other stuff like HDD, FDD, monitors, speakers, and all that dont matter too much in the selection.
Obviously, higher the processor power, more the cost!. Compaq presario series and HP series usually have high end configurations and do cost more but as I said we have now cheaper options in HP BRIO series which work out quite economical. There is also ZENITH which also has some range of computers, though I am not sure of that company.
If economy is the consideration, then I certainly suggest the HP BRIO series of computers and they cost anywhere between 40, 000 to 60, 000. Of course, if price is not the criteria, then PACARD DELL has got one of the best computer ranges in the world. They now offer computers with LINUX pre-loaded instead of windows too.
Buying a branded computers do have their own advantages. Some of them may be,
Usually, the packaging of branded computers is good. It plays an important part especially, if the computer is going to do lots of moving around!
Almost all branded computers give u an ORIGINAL copy of Windows 98 CD.
All branded computers come with some kind of warranty or the other. So check out these factors in detail making the purchase.
The assembling of branded computers is any day better than that of assembled computers. U will find that all the cables are neatly secured. The directions of all the connections in the mother board are clearly explained on the Cabinet itself(HP especially).
The geographical place u take the branded computer is also important. If u r living in a town and want to take a branded computer, and still expect services from them; forget it, coz however pompous they might sound, the service is not going to be that good!
With the abundance of computers available, notice that many companies have started giving some kind of offer or the other. Make sure, if u buy branded ones, u try to accomodate them( after-all whats the harm in buying, if u get a printer free!).
But then, branded computers too have their disadvantages. Some of the prominent ones being:
Upgradbility: there must be very very few companies which will give u an upgradibility options. So after a certain amount of time, the computer is going to be outdated.
Taking different parts of the computer can also be very costly for the pocket. Branded computers most usually have to do with the product of the same brand only.
COST. obviously. I needn’t say more on this.
Availability: this factor holds true for those guys who don’t have access to show rooms.
BEWARE, some computer assemblers claim to get permissions to sell company configured products, but its always better to go in for a show room view!
ASSEMBLED COMPUTERS
All right, that does it with branded ones, and now we come to the most favourable thing for everybody, i.e Assembled Computers. Assembeled Computers in no way are inferior to branded computers except that they are assembled! before stating the merits, a few words on caution.
1.Make sure, your dealer is good. Consult friends and alike and know more about the dealer before u go to him. Visit different dealers with configurations and compare the price. This will take time, but believe me will help in the long run. Check for the servicing options and what else can the dealer offer.
Make sure, that U ARE IN FRONT OF THE DEALER WHEN THE COMPUTER IS ASSEMBLED. THERE ARE LOTS OF CASES WHEN PEOPLE GET DUPED IN BUYING PIRATED ITEMS AND THEY CANT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AFTERWARDS.
MAKE SURE, U ARE THERE, WHEN THE ASSEMBLER BREAKS OPEN THE BOXES OF HDD, MOTHER-BOARD, SOUNDCARD AND THE PROCESSOR. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. It happens many a times that the dealer OVER-CLOCKS the speed of the processor and makes false claims about the processor. Same applies to HDD also. Dealers might end up putting previously used HDD. If u r not in sight there is no way of telling whether the hard disk was used or not, coz one format of HDD does the trick!
Check for the originality certificates of all the processors, and mother-board, or even sound cards. Check the CD of video cards. If the CD contains drivers for more than one chipset, then be sure that u have been duped, coz no company will ever put drivers of other company’s chipset on theirs!
A little time waste is necessary, but it helps in a long way to get a truly good ASSEMBLED computers. Now coming to the advantages of assembled computers there are quite a few:
The Cost: The very thing on which market of assembled computers depend.
Flexibility: It’s easier to upgrade things with assembled computers.
Service: That depends on the dealer, but most good ones do have quite good service.
But dont worry, assembled computers come with their own share of problems
All the software u get is most normally going to be pirated.
The cables may not be secured properly. Add to that there are no guide on what goes where.
The fans in the ATX cabinet are sometimes a huge problem and they go loose within a year of taking!
If u plan to move around with computers then, servicing and other factors becomes a problem.
All said and done, one should always be careful of what to buy and how much it costs and seeing from cost point of view, well ASSEMBLED computers win hands-down in front of BRANDED computers. Moreover, u always have peace of mind that u got what u want, and the configuration u want. So there friends, go ahead and buy what u want, but be careful!
Happy buying!