by Luis Villamonte
Owner, The Computer Magician llc
Why (NOT) by a Dell?
I think Dell Computers has done a great job of advertising their computer systems. Dell is the Wal-Mart of the computer world; they are out to destroy all small business computer companies and saturate the market with there product. I don't begrudge them of this, if we were as big as them we may do the same thing...
I remember years ago when Gateway computers were the “best computer to buy” according to the average consumer. “Brand name is the way to go” people would say. I also remember when a Gateway computer was actually a good computer, it was in the first two years of their business. Then Gateway started building cheaper computer systems ( i.e. less and cheaper screws for the motherboards and case, smaller power supplies -that only fit in their systems, proprietary memory -you could only by upgrades from GW and it was three times the price, on board video cards, and sound cards). Upgrades were almost impossible unless you wanted to pay out the nose (which was their point) so you would rather buy a new system from them; and start this process all over again. These computers only last about a year before you needed an upgrade (usually memory). I saw Gateway computers start going down the wrong road years ago and I predicted the pending doom this company is now facing. A couple of years ago GW bought eMachines and this purchase will keep them alive a bit longer although eMachine was a dying company when Gateway bought them. In my opinion, it was a stupid move, they should have just retooled and went back to building a better computer, that's why people liked them in the first place. After all, look at IBM, they still build a good Business computer (not consumer).
Okay, so let’s talk about eMachine. They came out with a $500 computer system that was a complete piece of junk. They saturated the market with cheap parts and poor service. Other companies felt they had to follow suit (sell a sub-$1000 system) and so they began putting out cheaper computers. eMachine would have gone bankrupt if GW didn’t buy them out. eMachine hurt the market buy selling junk, cheap. Now everyone expects a good computer for $500.00.
Now Dell Computers followed the same path as GW in the early years and Dell made a good computer and got their name out to the public. Now that they have such a big market share, they are following the same path as GW.
I have 12 tech bench tables and they generally have computers from every company on them on a daily basis. The Computer Magician is a full-service retail and repair company (Authorized to sell many brand names but chose not too, in fact, we were Packard Bell authorized from the first day we opened but chose not to sell PB's). We also have built “truly” custom computers for the past 11 years. I have been a system engineer for most of these 11 years and my tech room has been a pretty good source for the pulse of the computer industry. Yes, we're small but no matter how big your company, you generally have the same computers in your company. That is one of the reasons computer tech's are not as good as they could be. They work on the same computers day in and day out. In my case we have many different brands (and operating systems) on our tables daily. The fact is, I can tell what people are doing and what computers are the best in the business because of what I see on these machine. I can tell you the current viruses, spyware tricks, popular software titles, and many other computer related issues just from what I see on my tables.
Within the last year, Dell has just started going down that road of building cheap computers. Of course, for three years now they have advertised a $500 computer system. To get to that price though, you need to send for $200 worth of rebates and the machine does not come with a floppy drive. Most of the time, this machine also comes with inadequate memory. This is the built in obsolescent from Dell, when you need memory it will cost you!
Now (get this) Dell allows you to upgrade you sound card and video card. They have started putting very cheap motherboards in their systems that come with on-board video and sound. If you order a better video card, they don’t give you a better motherboard (with faster front-side-bus, more RAM capabilities, better architecture, etc.), they just put a “cap” on the video card and sound card and put the better card(s) in your cheap machine. Look Here for a picture! Now that’s a screw-job! This is what Compaq used to do before they "went down" and had to be bought out by HP. The bottom line is this, Dell gets you on their web site and “upgrades you until you have a computer system that will actually work. Then you are at the $1100 computer we have been selling for many, many years (with-out lies).
Now lets look at buying “any” brand named computer system.
The reason I started my business years ago was because of the speed of which the computer industries technologies ran. It’s kind of a “catch 22” if you think about it. The best computer system is the computer built from industry standards but the mass-selling of cheap computers is what drives the industry to get out new standards which we take advantage of. Hence the “best stuff” gets put in custom built computer systems.
When you buy a computer today from any brand named supplier you get an old system, regardless of where you bought it. People think they are getting a “fresh” system just because they bought it from an on-line store and it’s the “newest” model. The fact is, you are buying a computer that needs at least 300MB to 500MB of updates and downloads. No one can keep up with the security patches and fixes that go with many software titles today (including Microsoft Corporation, Adobe, Symantec, and many more).
You also get about 1Gig (or more) of software “junk”, I use this word because it is software that most people will never use. This software only causes problems and confusion. Nothing is “FREE” and your new computer systems "free software" is no exception. I personally do not like AOL software (I think the people at AOL are trying to create their own operating system). If you start the install of AOL and cancel, you have already let the monster out, AOL is a mess to your new operating system and your OS will never be the same after you install AOL.
Symantec Corporation is the 4th largest in the world and no one seems to care. Your new system comes with Symantec “Norton’s Antivirus” and it expires in 90 days. Then you have to pay them $30 to continue using it. Of course, if you do not want it, you will need there technical help to remove it from your computer. It will never really be uninstalled and again. your OS will never be the same.
This same scenario is played out with about 15 “free” programs that come on your new “brand name” computer system. It’s a mess and it’s a scam. When your new “brand name” computer finally hits my tech bench (and it will) you will pay me about $200 to fix all the problems you could have avoided by buying a custom built machine in the first place.
When we sell a new system built by The Computer Magician, you get all the current software updates, no junk “free” software and a machine that will last an average of 5 years. Upgrades will cost you a third of what a Dell system would cost you. Better yet, you can buy stuff from Best Buy, Circuit City, The Computer Magician, or any other computer store and the parts have a much higher likelihood of working in our machine (Industry Standard Architecture, think about it). We also give you service and support (Dell lets you talk to someone in India if you are lucky enough to get off a two hour hold, but that's a whole other subject).
Here are some helpful links from people that own Dell computers;
http://www.computergripes.com/Dell.html
http://www.grohol.com/computers/dell.htm
http://crackpotpress.com/html/dell.html
http://www.buzzmachine.com/index.php/2005/08/17/dear-mr-dell/
http://www.darsys.net/2005/08/why-dell-sucks-and-blows-dont-buy-dell.html
http://digg.com/hardware/This_Just_In..._Dell_Kinda_Sucks
http://news.zdnet.com/5208-9595-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=17173&messageID=339742&start=-10
and many, many more... Frankly, The Computer Magician™ builds a truly custom build computer according to YOUR specifications, if you know what you want we know how to build it. If you don't we will help to learn and build a good one for you. We will support your machine and help you with software issues. Small-town business and the best computer money can buy, period.
Luis Villamonte
- Owner