Whats better?

[MattNW]

I agree with Paul. Building a machine yourself is way more exciting and rewarding that buying one of those pre-assembled PCs.

Me too. Not only is it more rewarding but those prepackaged computers have a lot of crap set to run that you never need and just drags performance down. Also I know exactly what components are in my PC and I can replace any one of them with just a quick trip to the computer store. Those brands often have proprietary software that doesn't play well with off the shelf parts.

That said they are fine if you just want to buy something and use it and aren't in to fiddling with your hardware. Never went for that myself. I'm always tweaking and trying new stuff.  ;D

[Fozzer]

[quote]

Me too. Not only is it more rewarding but those prepackaged computers have a lot of crap set to run that you never need and just drags performance down. Also I know exactly what components are in my PC and I can replace any one of them with just a quick trip to the computer store. Those brands often have proprietary software that doesn't play well with off the shelf parts.

That said they are fine if you just want to buy something and use it and aren't in to fiddling with your hardware. Never went for that myself. I'm always tweaking and trying new stuff.

[Akula.]

I went for HP because I have an iPAQ H2210 and I love it. Only improvements on the 2210 would be VGA screen and integrated WiFi (maybe some more integrated memory as well), but I have solved most of these with a 512mb SD card and a CF WiFi card. It nearly reduced me to tears when they discontinued it

My mate also has a HP PC, and even though I still reckon he should have built one himself like I did, it was great value for money, and he can run Rome Total War, FS2002, CFS2, and World of Warcraft all at the same time.

So my vote went for HP.

Just on the more negative side for Dell, Have any of you seen the X3, X5, or X30? This may just be me liking HP ipaqs, but all of the older Dell models seem to be bricks! OK, they're great value, have great features, but they suck on the looks. The X50 series are cool, but they came out after I had bought my '2210. When I was looking for Pocket PCs, I could have gotten an X30 for the same price as my ipaq, but there was no way I was going to be seen with a brick. No offense to people who like Dell.

Rant over

Akula

[4_Series_Scania]

Dell or HP? Hmm, neither for me!
That said, I've got an old 17inch Dell monitor, its crap !  ;D

My advice is build your own, money spent on a home build PC will always give a better return than an off the shelf branded PC.

In the scheme of things, Dell are good, the likes of Alienware, Viglen, Watford Electronics, Overclockers etc etc etc will all supply a superior product for usually similar or less money.  ;)

[Fozzer]

All my home-built PC's have always been desk-top types.
I find that they are most practical for un-restricted, instant access when it is necessary to delve inside...
The airflow and ventilation is also more efficient, all the heat rises upwards and away from adjacent components.
In a Tower type the heat increases over each component located above it, and the power supply at the top gets the total heat from everything located beneath it... :o...!

Fozzers Kit...>>>



Cheers all...!

Paul....feeling cool... ...!

[ATI_7500]

But the desktop machines are looking so...80ish...

[Fozzer]

But the desktop machines are looking so...80ish...

LOL...!

Well...as you know....
I am so... 71'ish... ... ...!
LOL...!

Cheers Mate...!

Paul...I like getting "things" on my desktop... .. ... ... ...!

[Loafing Smurf]

I'd say Dell, but every computer I owned has been thrown together by retail parts.

Then my laptop was considered old equipment in my dads office, so they gave it to me.

[jordonj]

Well as for my answer...

For Gaming systems, yes...building your own is the way to go.

But for a business or a person who only uses their computer to surf the web, e-mail, and word-processing...

I generally recommend a Dell...HP is good too, as is Gateway.  The key is support.  Say you have a little old lady who only uses her computer to send photos.  If something goes wrong, you don't want to have to call 10 different numbers for 10 different parts.

Story time:

A local business had a person who knew a bit about computers.  He built every machine on the network, and set up a server to run Linux.  Then he dies of cancer, taking all the passwords with him (he documented nothing and was secretive...did not like others who knew as much as or more than him).

The business had to call in a consulting firm to fix the problem.  They took a look at the cobbled-together system (no two client machines had the same hardware) and said "How the hell did he get this to work?!"

[jordonj]

But the desktop machines are looking so...80ish...

Speaking for myself, 'druther spend my money on the Graphics Card, Processor, or Motherboard rather than spend $100+ dollars on a fancy case!

Give me plain ugly beige any day (also I'd hate a light flashing when I'm trying to fly at night)

[ATI_7500]

Give me plain ugly beige any day (also I'd hate a light flashing when I'm trying to fly at night)

Been using the same case for more than four years now and the only fancy thing about it is the grey 'on/off' button.

Then my laptop was considered old equipment in my dads office, so they gave it to me.

Same here. But it's only a Celeron 300 with 64 Mbytes of RAM. Well, enough for MP3s and Win '98.

[4_Series_Scania]

But the desktop machines are looking so...80ish...

I don't think so mate....  :-*

[Fozzer]

...the good-old BBC B 'puter...!

The most expensive computer out there at the time, (probably!).... ...!
The only computer I never bought at the time, had/got most of the others... ...!

If the schools had gone for Uncle Clive's 48K Spectrum instead of the Beeb, then everyone in the class could have had one each... ... ....!
LOL...!

Cheers Paul.... ...!

Paul.

P.S.

[jknight8907]

Yeah, you take that screwdriver and short out the motherboard whilst power is applied!

That's where the 'common sense' comes in......

[alrot]

I rather assemble my own one,with the part i choose,ex p4 or sempron with any kind of motherboard ,memory,video card,srews,