comet computers

Chuffy

Depending on your budget, this thread has some useful info:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=200483

ctdctd

painfulcost wrote:

CPU pentium D 930, RAM 1024MB, ASUS mother board P5LD2 SE, SATA II 160 GB HD, 16x DVD rw, 512MB Geforce7300GS(256 SMA), 500W dual rail PSU, Microsoft XP pro genuine cd, firewire card, 17" TFT monitor, logitech cordless keyboard and mouse, case, floppy drive with 7:1 card reader,, 1 yr warranty, total £798 at pcspecialist.

Why go for XP Pro? - only needed if you want to join a Windows Server Domain.
See current BT/Dabs thread "Dell Desktops from £129.99 - Quick!!" for Dell 5100 that looks similar to your spec for £550 - add a 17" TFT screen from Dabs at £110 - total £660 + P&P

mitac

Have you decided the total package for your needs? As the computer is usually only part of the answer.
I now use a local independent guy, (using Dell as bench mark price). Total solution offered and you deal directely in someone who has interest in you. On average buy One syetem a year off him so may be I get biased service from him.

mitac:rolleyes:

painfulcost

same spec pc specialist with graphic card x550 and 350w psu 570 including vat and delivery

Enterprise_1701C

I have been using Dell for years. These days I will ONLY use Dell. I have tried other computers and they have arrived under spec, or have had problems with drives etc. I have been using my laptop for nearly 2 years and never had a problem (touch wood), and we also have 2 Dell desktops that have never had a problem (apart from the odd virus!!). I know a computer guy (admittedly ex-Dell, but he actually fell out with them a bit) who uses Dell most of the time, and I asked him about Mesh while I was considering this laptop and he told me not to touch them as they were no good.

muddyfox470

the problem with dells is that they come loaded with trash.

popups keep coming up and all the ads etc. for the novice they may not know where to start on how to remove them, and them alone slow the pc down quite a bit.

ian

gazbert_2

There is a big knee-jerk reaction along the lines of "Never touch PC World or Comet or the like because they're too expensive" when people recommend buying computers.

Granted a few year ago that was definitely the case. You used to pay a huge price premium by buying from the big retailers.

These days, Comet and the like are much more competitive, to the extent that the last time I was chatting with my local PC Shop owner, he was complaining that he couldn't compete with Comets prices any more because they'd come down so much recently.

tjsmangina

rdwarr wrote:

By the way, I've just bought a 40" LCD TV from Dixons online and achieved a 30% discount on the shop price. Use the "big name" stores wisely and carefully and you'll find some cracking deals.

what make an model number ? you bought a new tv "blind" without viewing or getting a demo ?:eek:

comet etc can have some half decent prices and if you need the things in a rush then fair enough but they are simply box shifters and once you have a problem its USUALLY (imho) a hassle on giant proporsitions and good help you if you want a refund lol.

Stone_3

Some of you slag off pc world and stores which sell pc stuff and I dont know why.

If you have problems with your pc/laptop, you can get it dealt with straight away, you should have kept the receipt and even out of date, you are within your consumers rights of getting the equipment repaired free of charge or exchanged like for like if the fault isnt your fault.

You can still do this with online stores but then you would have to send the laptop out and wait for it to be serviced where as in a store, if they dont see to you within say a few hours to a few days, you can always threaten them with legal action or threaten to report their actions to the trading standards.

Its just that with a store, it is quicker to get problems resolved on site rather than having it sent off and so on. You can also get quicker responses as you can speak to the manager or acting manager of the store at that time rather than calling or e-mailing and waiting for replies. At least you can express your dissastisfaction with help or options given first hand and can at least come to some sort of reasoning.

Dont get me wrong, online stores are fantastic too, fantastic range of services and great valued products, but in different peoples eyes, price isnt the sole decision maker. The extra cost from buying at a store retailer can be compensated with a physical after sales supprt and ability to express opinions to a direct source of the company in person.

Up to you I guess, Im a student and definately am a money saver where possible but sometimes, having a service where you contact in person and get problems dealt with quicker makes up for it.

dc

tjsmangina wrote:

what make an model number ? you bought a new tv "blind" without viewing or getting a demo ?:eek:

I think you missed the point, you view the item ( pc or TV or whatever ) in the big retailers like PCW/ Comet and then buy the same item from the cheapest place, eg online, so you are not buying blind.

BTW some of the cheapest computer products I have bought have been from PCW 90% off if you wait.