Buying a new PC [Archive]

Gramps

January 25th, 2009, 06:02 AM

Why is it that when I go to buy a new PC or laptop unless I purchase from someplace like System76 that I have to have Windows installed on it? I think I should be able to purchase a computer then decide which OS I wanted to use and install it. Why do I have to pay for a version of Windows I won't be using? This just isn't right!!

end of rant back to normal broadcasting.....

zmjjmz

January 25th, 2009, 06:32 AM

You just realized that this was a problem?
It's been like this since the computer industry decided to market the PC to the masses, who they didn't think would be capable of installing an OS.

MikeTheC

January 25th, 2009, 06:51 AM

BYO on the desktop if you don't want a pre-installed OS.

It's not what I've done this particular go-around, but it's what I've done many times in the past. As for laptops, well, them's the breaks, I guess. Until or unless a sufficient number of customers/potential customers start screaming, you're not going to see it change. Businesses have no business being egalitarian just to suit individuals who want to buck the trend.

Frak

January 25th, 2009, 06:52 AM

If you don't accept the terms, a.k.a. decline, you can get a refund for it.

earthpigg

January 25th, 2009, 07:31 AM

If you don't accept the terms, a.k.a. decline, you can get a refund for it.

which, depending on where you are from, may or may not be a huge pain in the rear.

there was a thread a while back where the OP tried to do that... the company wanted the computer mailed back bla bla... he ended up spending more than the refund was.

CrazyDesi

January 25th, 2009, 08:29 AM

You could buy a Dell one with Linux preinstalled.

billgoldberg

January 25th, 2009, 12:57 PM

Nobody is stopping you from building your own pc or buy one with linux preinstalled.

When linux gains more market share, more preconfigured pc's with linux on will be available.

But there are already a ******** available online.

X40nick

January 25th, 2009, 02:01 PM

Either build your own or buy a Dell with Ubuntu?

BigSilly

January 25th, 2009, 03:07 PM

Either build your own or buy a Dell with Ubuntu?

Ah, it all sounds so simple! I'll be after a new PC soon, and I was looking at the Dell Ubuntu Inspirons, which look great, but I wish there was an option to add an Nvidia graphics card. The 128Mb Radeon HD 2400 Pro included doesn't sound so hot, unless someone here can correct me. Otherwise I'd much rather add Nvidia. Pity there aren't any options here from Dell.

I'm not after much; only got about £500 to spend if that, so it has to stretch as far as possible. Been looking into Efficient PC (http://efficientpc.co.uk/) too, which looks good, but not too sure about the safety of mail ordering from small outfits these days. Again, if anyone here has any experience of them please let me know.

Build my own? I wouldn't have much of a clue I'm afraid! Overall I'd rather use a trusted outlet.

X40nick

January 25th, 2009, 04:53 PM

Okay, how about you try Novatech? I have two computers from them, and they were bought without O/S. I simply installed Ubuntu once I got them.

They are very good, and in a "Which?" survey came 2nd. 1st being Apple (in terms of service, quality, and price)

But at the end of the day, if it means buying a PC with Windows and then not using it - so be it. It's like that with diesel, (Not Vin Diesel!":() you pay more here than in the rest of Europe - but that's the way it goes.

Novatech are very good.

Nick

BigSilly

January 25th, 2009, 06:00 PM

mips

January 25th, 2009, 06:09 PM

I'm not after much; only got about £500 to spend if that,

I could build a beastly machine for that!!!

Frak

January 25th, 2009, 06:16 PM

i could build a beastly machine for that!!!
+1

BigSilly

January 25th, 2009, 06:16 PM

I could build a beastly machine for that!!!

I wish you would! I haven't a clue.

I think I might end up shopping locally with this. There's a small PC shop close by, so I think I'll give 'em a look see.

Frak

January 25th, 2009, 06:27 PM

I wish you would! I haven't a clue.

I think I might end up shopping locally with this. There's a small PC shop close by, so I think I'll give 'em a look see.
For $500, you could build a machine with a 2.2GHz Phenom, Ultra side-view case, XFX nForce 750a SLI, 4096MB Corsair XMS2 RAM, 500GB SATA Seagate Barracuda, 550 Watt Ultra PSU, and an XFX GeForce 9500 GT 512MB.

And you'd still have around $50 left over.

BigSilly

January 25th, 2009, 06:30 PM

For $500, you could build a machine with a 2.2GHz Phenom, Ultra side-view case, XFX nForce 750a SLI, 4096MB Corsair XMS2 RAM, 500GB SATA Seagate Barracuda, 550 Watt Ultra PSU, and an XFX GeForce 9500 GT 512MB.

And you'd still have around $50 left over.

Great! I'll just pop over to Oklahoma...

How does the pound translate into dollars these days? :biggrin: Enough to get me to the states and back?

Frak

January 25th, 2009, 06:37 PM

Great! I'll just pop over to Oklahoma...

How does the pound translate into dollars these days? :biggrin: Enough to get me to the states and back?
Actually, those were just Tigerdirect prices. You can get parts off the internet for dirt cheap these days. Store prices are highly marked upward due to the middleman fee.

BigSilly

January 25th, 2009, 06:42 PM

Greg

January 25th, 2009, 06:46 PM

Ah right. With that in mind then, are there any good guides for building your own PC anywhere? I'm very much a novice. I mean, I've put graphics cards and DVD drives and extra memory into my PC before, but never bought a motherboard or processor and stuff and glued it all together.

Is it very difficult? I'll give it a go if it's worth it.

It's not that difficult. I also think that if you were to purchase a barebones, the motherboard would already be installed, but don't quote me on that. It's mainly plugging things in where the manuals tell you to.

Just make sure the parts you get are linux compatible.

/For the record, building your own is definitely a fun project. "What type of computer do you have?" "Custom."

zmjjmz

January 25th, 2009, 06:48 PM

Skripka

January 25th, 2009, 06:52 PM

Ah right. With that in mind then, are there any good guides for building your own PC anywhere? I'm very much a novice. I mean, I've put graphics cards and DVD drives and extra memory into my PC before, but never bought a motherboard or processor and stuff and glued it all together.

Is it very difficult? I'll give it a go if it's worth it.

It is not that hard-so long as you put screws in the right place, and ground yourself, and don't touch contacts. Everything is keyed so it only goes into 1 kind of socket and only in 1 orientation.

"Worth" is a relative term. I built my own box from top to bottom--and I can call it mine and know what everything is and does....Of course-I might have been able to buy a prebuilt machine cheaper. But I enjoyed the process, as well as learning how to do it.

BigSilly

January 25th, 2009, 06:55 PM

Thanks for all your replies guys. If I can't find anything I like for the money I may well try out my own build. Better make sure I get Linux compatible hardware, especially as I don't run Windows at all any more.

Thanks again.

X40nick

January 25th, 2009, 07:00 PM

I appreciate building you're own PC has a lot of advantages, but realistically - why not just buy this and be done with it? And in the long run, it is probably cheaper:

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/range.html?t=pc&c=all&r=RIC

Seems a good machine for the price, it does have ATI graphics - not sure if this is a problem or not?

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/range.html?t=pc&c=all&r=ISX

Again, excellent for the price. And you can buy it with or without an OS.

I got myself a laptop from them recently, and have a cheapo PC which is around 2 years old - excellent stuff!

Nick

wolfen69

January 25th, 2009, 07:03 PM

I wish you would! I haven't a clue.

I think I might end up shopping locally with this. There's a small PC shop close by, so I think I'll give 'em a look see.

make sure to bring a live cd or usb flash drive with ubuntu on it to test the machine for compatibility.

wolfen69

January 25th, 2009, 07:06 PM

I appreciate building you're own PC has a lot of advantages, but realistically - why not just buy this and be done with it? And in the long run, it is probably cheaper:

actually, it is never "cheaper" to buy one pre-built. sure, it may cost less, but then again they may be using inferior parts. i can be assured of quality, buying the parts myself, and know the job is done right.

X40nick

January 25th, 2009, 07:32 PM

Dell or HP might use crap inside their PC's, but Novatech use branded parts - so that's why I recommend them over building a PC.

Nick.

Frak

January 25th, 2009, 08:55 PM

I appreciate building you're own PC has a lot of advantages, but realistically - why not just buy this and be done with it? And in the long run, it is probably cheaper:

They pay only slightly less for the same parts and then charge, usually, a 25% markup for building, service, other warranties, etc.

I would never let my computer be built by someone else, unless it was a Mac, because it's illegal to build those yourself without Apple permission :P

As was stated, just make sure the screws go in the right place, and you'll be fine. Everything can only be inserted one way, in a single type of slot. It's not as difficult as it seems.

loveandequality

January 26th, 2009, 12:15 AM

Dell with Ubuntu and they do have no OS computers there.

X40nick

January 26th, 2009, 05:51 PM

But if you don't want to build...

Novatech
PC Specialist
PC Nextday

All give you the choice of O/S.

The only brand to offer Ubuntu pre-installed is Dell, but they haven't really pushed it yet.

wolfen69

January 26th, 2009, 07:02 PM

The only brand to offer Ubuntu pre-installed is Dell

not true.

http://www.system76.com/

http://www.psystar.com/linux you get to choose which distro.

i have seen others also.

zmjjmz

January 26th, 2009, 07:20 PM

not true.

http://www.system76.com/

http://www.psystar.com/linux you get to choose which distro.

i have seen others also.

I personally love http://zareason.com because the computers are cheaper.

mips

January 26th, 2009, 07:54 PM

I'm very much a novice. I mean, I've put graphics cards and DVD drives and extra memory into my PC before, but never bought a motherboard or processor and stuff and glued it all together.

You have essentially almost already built a pc if you have done all the above stuff. The only thing you have not done yet is mount a motherboard in a case and that only requires a few screws.

It really is not rocket science.

When you are ready post back here and we can assist you with hardware recommendations and any other advice you require.

BigSilly

January 26th, 2009, 08:28 PM

You have essentially almost already built a pc if you have done all the above stuff. The only thing you have not done yet is mount a motherboard in a case and that only requires a few screws.

It really is not rocket science.

When you are ready post back here and we can assist you with hardware recommendations and any other advice you require.

Thanks very much! I'm still erring on the side of buying a system straight, pre-built and ready to go, but I may still go down the self build route. So thanks again for your offer of help. It's much appreciated.

But if you don't want to build...

Novatech
PC Specialist
PC Nextday

All give you the choice of O/S.

The only brand to offer Ubuntu pre-installed is Dell, but they haven't really pushed it yet.

Actually, I've read some very unflattering things about PC Specialist so I'll scratch that one off the list. Novatech look OK though, and I'll look into the other one you list there. Thanks very much.

Thelasko

January 26th, 2009, 09:50 PM

Why do I have to pay for a version of Windows I won't be using? This just isn't right!!

Because Abbie Schubert wants it that way, and that's all that matters.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.:(

Skripka

January 26th, 2009, 11:21 PM

You have essentially almost already built a pc if you have done all the above stuff. The only thing you have not done yet is mount a motherboard in a case and that only requires a few screws.

It really is not rocket science.

Indeed, most people I have known who are going into building their 1st system hold those of us who already have in some kind of high mythical reverence...and once they build their own from parts, they go from reverence to asking "WTF-Is that it????????"

Frak

January 27th, 2009, 12:15 AM

indeed, most people i have known who are going into building their 1st system hold those of us who already have in some kind of high mythical reverence...and once they build their own from parts, they go from reverence to asking "wtf-is that it????????"
+1

Gramps

January 27th, 2009, 02:22 AM

I agree with building your own, that way you can go through the list and make sure all the parts are compatible with Linux. Unforuntly it's not quite that easy when buying a laptop, your choices are very limited.

Kopachris

January 27th, 2009, 04:12 AM

At the very least, computer dealers should give you the option to buy a computer without an OS. Unfortunately, most computer dealers are in bed with Microsoft and Microsoft won't let them sell computers without Windows (Dell is an exception, but even that was iffy) or Microsoft won't sell them Windows at all.

Eh, as soon as I can, a group of friends and I will build and sell computers with DustbunnyOS (working on that, too) preinstalled. We won't be offering tech support or any warranty service, though (you'll have to talk to the manufacturers about it). We'll always give the option of buying the computer without the OS (since we'll always furnish the preinstalled OS ourselves).

X40nick

January 29th, 2009, 09:16 AM

Well - if you choose to buy, then I would go for Novatech over anyone else.

And if you choose to build - you can get the components and excellent prices from Novatech.

boof1988

January 29th, 2009, 03:48 PM

Indeed, most people I have known who are going into building their 1st system hold those of us who already have in some kind of high mythical reverence...and once they build their own from parts, they go from reverence to asking "WTF-Is that it????????"

+1

I just built my first... the only obstacle (for me) was having to go (back) to the store several times to get a cable adapter or two.

My main worry was handling components since I'm a little clumsy and I worry about static discharge damages. Didn't use a wrist-strap-ground, but I think I might get one sometime so if/when I'm doing more work I'll already have a little more peace of mind.

If you choose to build one, I bet people would be very helpful here.

Thelasko

January 29th, 2009, 03:56 PM

My main worry was handling components since I'm a little clumsy and I worry about static discharge damages. Didn't use a wrist-strap-ground, but I think I might get one sometime so if/when I'm doing more work I'll already have a little more peace of mind.

If you build your machine in summer, when the humidity is likely higher, and you are less likely to be wearing wool, you will greatly reduce your risk of static discharge.

Skripka

January 29th, 2009, 04:32 PM

If you build your machine in summer, when the humidity is likely higher, and you are less likely to be wearing wool, you will greatly reduce your risk of static discharge.

Or just be in the habit of touching a ground early and often.

boof1988

January 29th, 2009, 05:14 PM

Or just be in the habit of touching a ground early and often.

This is my current method... As well as not wearing shoes (don't want a rubber insulator on the bottom of my feet). Many times I have felt the spark between me and the (metal) case.

I still want to get a wrist-strap sometime. It's just hard to spend a few dollars on one when I can buy some other computer component (power/data cable etc).