Getting ripped-off on new computers.

Myron_2

I know that this has been going on for a while, but I'm going to comment on it now.

Christmas comes. Kids want a new computer so you get hooked on one of these PcWorld deals. You're really looking at the price and that it will match or improve the decor of the living room. Brill! So your having it.

Specification seems good. Something like an AMD Sempron at 2Gig speed, 256Meg RAM, 80Gb hard drive and a snazzy LCD montor with speakers, loads of ports on the back, built in everything! Even the video is built in. A deal! You're having it!

You may think you've got a deal until the kids spot a game that needs a super-super state of the art graphics adapter because the built in video chip either can't easily handle the graphic processing requirements or the graphics are not up the kids quality.

So, you go out abd get a state of the art nVidia video adapter. So far so good...

You go home. Unpack it. Oh, like at that. The manufacturers thought of everything. The side of the case just clips and slides off! No screw drivers required!

Off comes the side of the case, you're holding the brand new new video adapter, the kids are bouncing off the walls because they can't wait to play Black Hawk Down and see all the graphics in all their glory and . . .

YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOUT BLOOD BOIL !!! Yet it takes a short while to sink in that you was told the incomplete truth about your new computer.

Toy look at the main-board and you see unused solder points where the brown coloured AGP card slot is supposed to be, but suring manufacture it was not soldered into the main board!

THERE IS NOWHERE TO PLUG IN THE BRAND NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART VIDEO ADAPTER !!!!

You know what happens then. Kids are still snapping at your heels. They are dissapointed, you're fuming and when youi go back to the retailer they tell you; "well, that is the budget model. You can upgrade your computer to the next model up which will be about £300 dearer than than the budget model. You can offer you about £100 pounds in the upgrade deal.

Than again, maybe there is no upgrade path?

I've witnessed this with Dell and IBM. I'm sure there are more to name and shame.

So, if you ever purchase a computer, ask the absolute and important question, does it have a AGP port built onto the main-board. Or, if you want even more graphics speed, make sure it has at least one PCI-express port.

What annoys me is that the manufacturers actually make a provision for the AGP port on the main board, they just don't solder on the brown AGP connector.

If you're technically savvy then you can avoid this pit-fall, execially if you're one who builds and upgrades one's own computer, but what it's Joe Avarage? Unfortunatly thr vultures use this to their advantage.

So, if you ever got caught out, well, if you can live with the built in video then it ain't a problem.

I still consider the attitude as totally out-of-line.

T4i

I gotta agree with you. I do build computers for freinds and make absoloutely nothing on it (maybe a pint)

The reason I do this is because I know how these companies work. You expect them to tell you everything you need to know before handing the cash over, but the bottom line is they don't. Unless you know otherwise (Average Mr. Bloggs) you will never know until like you, going out buying a top of the range graphics card only to find out then its no good. If i'm in town and board I'll go 'test' the advice given to me knowing damn well what the answer is.......they will dodge the truth beyond my belief just to get that signature on the cheque.

I have people coming up2 me asking me about pc-world 'deals' and whatever the 'deal' is I say NO!

I buzz off taking custom away from places like pc-world, even if it means me not making any money out of it. I feel really sorry for those people who don't know any better, lets face it p.c's are not cheap any many people have to save really hard to buy there puter only to find out they've been ripped off or told a pack of lies.

I just wish I had a million to set up my own pc-world called pc-truth, I'd thrash people like pc-world into the ground! :rotfl:

wolfman

Yeah I agree with T4i. I've always built my own machines, and machines for friends. You know what you're getting then. I've also found PC World, Dell etc... will use cheaper components to keep up profits. And they'll often put a Pentium 3.2Ghz etc... in (basically a high spec cpu) to impress the average person, then cut back on other components that people aren't technically aware of.

Also, it's always worth checking you can accomodate something though before buying an upgrade. Ask if in doubt.

With regards to the upgrade, that's a rip off. You could get a new motherboard (if the other components aren't soldered in!) and put that in instead. It wouldn't cost anymore than £60. Again, check that your are able to do this first.

For the average joe, like anything all you can do is read reviews and articles before you buy. I would never buy even an individual component without checking reviews and test results. There are plenty about. For starters PC Pro do package reviews all the time (last month infact) and they will detail everything for you.

T4i

Watch how they advertise there pc's on the pc-world adverts...

3.3GIG XENON TURBO ULTRA-COOL P4 NEXT GENERATION CPU.

Theres more to a p.c than the CPU. I went in and asked for a p.c to suite office type applications. I was told a new 3Gig CPU would be something to consider.

Good greef.

andy88_2

I'm amazed; my PC is a bit of a cheapskate, P3 ex-business model with on-board graphics, sound, network card. But it still has an (empty) AGP slot.

You'd think the retailer would be keen to sell an item with an easy upgrade path predetermined instead of causing this resentment for the sake of a couple of quid on the initial build.

T4i

As if the retailer or the manufactorer is even bothered about the end-user.

shrek101

The Dells are like this too, at least the budget ones, pc at this price bracket are built at a price, so when it comes to upgrade well you have limited choice in what you can do.

You could always get a pci graphics card to plug in although pci don't run as fast as agp 8x or less.

I think tbh its buyer beware, I knew when I got our Dell that we had limited upgrade ability but many people don't. I have home built pcs myself, and I never compromise when I do a full upgrade on cost. A decent motherboard, cpu, ram etc all these should last you 3 years or so before a major upgrade, perhaps a full upgrade.

I am due to upgrade again soon, trying to make my pc last until next year fingers crossed, but it will be new motherboard, pci-e graphic card, ddr2 ram and p4 possible amd64 processor, sata drives.

Myron_2

andy88 wrote:

I'm amazed; my PC is a bit of a cheapskate, P3 ex-business model with on-board graphics, sound, network card. But it still has an (empty) AGP slot.

You'd think the retailer would be keen to sell an item with an easy upgrade path predetermined instead of causing this resentment for the sake of a couple of quid on the initial build.

When you mention empty APG slot do you mean that markings and solder points are present on the main0board, but the actual AGP card edge connector is conveniently (for the manufacturer and retailer) missing?

curfish

i dont blame the manufacturers at all on this one.

take buying a car people will look around for a long time, take it for a test drive, get there mate to give it the once over, try some others first and then finally haggle down a price.

why dont people do this when buying a pc. alot of people just buy the cheapest one.

the age old saying "you get what you pay for"

but then again its good for me cause im the one who gets to charge for installing new gfx cards and motherboard.

blinky

I agree with the cutting corners bit, they virtually all do it, Tiny, Emachines are probably the worst. I'm similar to wolfman, build machines for friends for fun and a drink but I always persuade them to buy quality components - it's worth it in the end for a more stable system and less time pulling your hair out.

Myron_2

shrek101 wrote:

The Dells are like this too, at least the budget ones, pc at this price bracket are built at a price, so when it comes to upgrade well you have limited choice in what you can do.

You could always get a pci graphics card to plug in although pci don't run as fast as agp 8x or less.

I think tbh its buyer beware, I knew when I got our Dell that we had limited upgrade ability but many people don't. I have home built pcs myself, and I never compromise when I do a full upgrade on cost. A decent motherboard, cpu, ram etc all these should last you 3 years or so before a major upgrade, perhaps a full upgrade.

I am due to upgrade again soon, trying to make my pc last until next year fingers crossed, but it will be new motherboard, pci-e graphic card, ddr2 ram and p4 possible amd64 processor, sata drives.

Actually, first time I was introduced to this rip-off was when a friend-of-a-friend got a Dell computer and I was asked if I can fit a diskette drive.

So, you think it's easy. Get a ribbon cable and dirt cheap diskette drive and screw it in. Well, on a Dell only the diekseete drive slot on the front has a blanking plate.

Oh ohhh..... Not that simple. In the case there is usually a bracket that attaches under the internal drive bays that would hold the diskette drive and maybe another hard drive. This bracket was not present, so nowhere to fix the drive into.

Luckily for her, and £10 more than really needed, from a local computer retailer she got an external USB diskette drive. I didn't have time to get it for her so I found the best local place and she went and got it.

Still, it's £10 more than needed to be spent.

Diskettes and the drives may now be seriosuly old in the teeth, but you still end up needing the use of one now and again.