Ask Me Help Desk - Which computer should I buy next?

I am looking into buying a new computer and I want to know which brand is the best to purchase in your opinion. I am looking or all angles as far as design and customer service, features, etc. I have a Dell that I love and the support has been great and I have no complaints. I am thinking about going back with them but I have not decided and I have read some bad reviews about Dell although everything has been perfect for me. I also just bought a Gateway and it is okay but the support seems very very poor. My computer is running fine but I have been told that if I have any problems that I will have to pay to send my computer through the mail to be fixed.

With Dell I don't have to send my computer anywhere and the technician just comes to my home if I can't get it fixed through tech support and I don't have to wait to get my computer fixed. I have no problems with my Gateway right now but I am dredding the day that I do. I have heard that Sony and Apple is a good computer. I have really heard bad things as far as Gateway, Compaq, HP and other types of store brands also. I used to think these were good computers and companies but this has me doubting. I recently found out that if you purchase a computer in the store you only get a 1 year manufactures warranty and if you purchases them over the phone most of the time they offer a 3-4 year warranty. Also ny Dell has a 4 yr warranty and the Gateway only has the 1yr.

If I would have ordered the Gateway over the phone I would have got a better warranty but I don't know if the price is the same or not. Also Gateway and a lot of these companies do not have 24/7 tech support so if I have a problem I will have to wait to get it resolved and that is so annoying. Anyway with Dell I have also been pleased with there 24/7 support. So far I have not had to deal with Gateway but just got my computer so in time I will have to deal with there tech support and customer service. I not knowing all of this info I know now wished that I made my last purchase over the phone because I am clueless when it comes to computers and I really need good support. Anyway based on all of those features including durability and tech support what do you guys recommend me purchaing. I will most likely base my decision on what you guys tell me and help me with. Thanks, Brandy

You did say that you are looking at all angles didn't you? So, here is my story. I hope that it is helpful to you.

I personally have no preference as far as computers are concerned as far as the brand that they are. Or, whether it is an Apple or PC. As long as it is up-to-date, has plenty of space on the hard drive, gets me to where I need to go on the Internet, and does the things that I want it to do, and does those things quickly and efficiently, I am happy.

I also prefer not to buy computers from any store. You never really know what kind of stuff they have put into them.

Just one person's opinion here. I'm sure that there will be others. Just food for thought. Maybe you have a friend who is a computer tech with whom you could do some bartering?

I have such a friend. When I need a "new" computer I call him up and see what he has and what we can do to enable him building me a computer and what I can do in trade for him providing me the service. The first time that I did this with him, I tuned his piano and repaired the bench.

The computers are not "new" in the sense that they are totally new out of a box from a manufacturer. He has many that he rebuilds and makes for people according to their specifications.

Got a "new" computer for my daughter recently. I tuned his piano and put some new castors on it in exchange for the computer.

Whenever I get a computer from him, I make sure that I will be not just the owner but, also the administrator, so that I can change things permanently in my machine if I want to. I am the one in control. Not the people who sold me the computer or the people with whom I have a maintenance contract.

Again, just food for thought. Another way to look at things concerning getting a computer. I don't know what your skills are, but if you have someone you know, or a friend who knows someone who can build you a computer, then if you can barter something in trade with that person, I would try that approach.

If I have a problem with my computer, which I rarely do, I just call my friend up and barter with something else that I can do in exchange for the repair.

If you want an industry wide and consumer wide view of which is better, take a look here and here.

If your looking for opinion, you can't go wrong with Dell for all the right reasons you mentioned in your first post.

I personally would have to say that it depends what your going to do with the computer. Mac is really good for graphic design, music, and you can also produce things that you would regularly do on a PC, like word documents, spreadsheets, power point presentations. I think that windows vista has much similarity to apple, they integrated gadgets in the side of the screen that tell you weather, stocks, calculator, etc. you can also find that on mac.
If your going to go into gaming, I would recommend a PC. There seems to be more games and support for PC than there is for mac.
With a PC, you have to deal with installing drivers for new hardware you plug into the computer, by hardware I mean, external hard drives, sometimes even for a wireless key board. Mac does a good job recognizing what you plug into it. I myself have both systems mac and PC. I use my mac the most.

I would ditch the Gateway or else wait until something goes wrong with it and just get rid of it. Opinion there. Dell is a very fine computer and great tech support. It depends on what you use most in a computer.

I like Clough's thoughts - my youngest brother is a computer geek type person and builds systems and writes programs on his spare time. He has built several to specification and the cost beats the brand new computers that are already in need of updates when you get them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandy681

I am looking into buying a new computer and I want to know which brand is the best to purchase in your opinion. I am looking or all angles as far as design and customer service, features, etc. I have a Dell that I love and the support has been great and I have no complaints. I am thinking about going back with them but I have not decided and I have read some bad reviews about Dell allthough everything has been perfect for me. I also just bought a Gateway and it is okay but the support seems very very poor. My computer is running fine but I have been told that if I have any problems that I will have to pay to send my computer through the mail to be fixed.

With Dell I don't have to send my computer anywhere and the technician just comes to my home if I can't get it fixed through tech support and I don't have to wait to get my computer fixed. I have no problems with my Gateway right now but I am dredding the day that I do. I have heard that Sony and Apple is a good computer. I have really heard bad things as far as Gateway, Compaq, HP and other types of store brands also. I used to think these were good computers and companies but this has me doubting. I recently found out that if you purchase a computer in the store you only get a 1 year manufactures warranty and if you purchases them over the phone most of the time they offer a 3-4 year warranty. Also ny Dell has a 4 yr warranty and the Gateway only has the 1yr.

If I would have ordered the Gateway over the phone I would have got a better warranty but I don't know if the price is the same or not. Also Gateway and a lot of these companies do not have 24/7 tech support so if I have a problem I will have to wait to get it resolved and that is so annoying. Anyway with Dell I have also been pleased with there 24/7 support. So far I have not had to deal with Gateway but just got my computer so in time I will have to deal with there tech support and customer service. I not knowing all of this info I know now wished that I made my last purchase over the phone because I am clueless when it comes to computers and I really need good support. Anyway based on all of those features including durability and tech support what do you guys recommend me purchaing. I will most likely base my decision on what you guys tell me and help me with. Thanks, Brandy

I read the following about Gateway. If this happens than I wonder if this means Emachines will no longer be available for people to buy. I know Gateway makes Emachines.
That is good Dell has been good for you. My experience with a Dell computer is their customer service isn't good. They try every way to not to have to send someone out to look at the Dell computer even though there was still time left on the 3 year parts and labor warranty. In the end a new computer had to be bought and it was an Emachine and it has been used since Nov 05 and has not had any problems with it. Not so say there could be problems with the Emachine a year or two from now. I would say I would never get a Dell computer again.
My moms first computer was a Compaq and it worked OK for her. I didn't know HP made computers. I used a Gateway from 2001-2003 and it ended up not working right.
I wonder why if one orders a computer over the phone most times you get a longer warranty time for repairs on that computer.
I only heard of Acer this past weekend when QVC was selling an Acer laptop. So I can't say how I feel about Acer.

What happened to Gateway?
Acer recently announced it would buy Gateway for $710 million. This is only a fraction of the $7 billion takeover bid by Compaq in 1997. Back then, the future looked much brighter. But changes in the market darkened Gateway's fortunes.

I've been considering a new PC, too. The Vaio is getting long in the tooth...
Just recently I was told to go to Dell.

I love my new Dell. I customized a 530 (full tower) and got what I wanted. Happy to see Dell installing less crap from third party vendors. I've had it for a month now and have learned to tweak Vista to my liking.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeedKarma

I love my new Dell. I customized a 530 (full tower) and got what I wanted. Happy to see Dell installing less crap from third party vendors. I've had it for a month now and have learned to tweak Vista to my liking.

Is 530 the model number of the tower you are using for the Dell computer you bought. What did you want for the Dell computer? Are you saying you have used Dell in the past for a computer and that is how you know they are installing less things on it from third party vendors? If so what were some of the third party vendor programs that were installed on your old Dell computer.

This is my third Dell for my personal use. I have had some of my tech support clients buy Dells and I've configured and installed them.

I wanted a fairly high end computer but on a smaller budget (got 2 sweet kids I's rather spend my money on).

In the recent past past Dell used to pre-load a lot of trial/demo software that I spent an hour removing. They don't do that nearly as much anymore.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeedKarma

This is my thrid Dell for my personal use. I have had some of my tech support clients buy Dells and I've configured and installed them.

I wanted a fairly high end computer but on a smaller budget (got 2 sweet kids I's rather spend my money on).

In the recent past past Dell used to pre-load a lot of trial/demo software that I spent an hour removing. They don't do that nearly as much anymore.

Why do you have tech support clients? Is the tech support clients due to the job you have and if so what do you do for a job. What did you configure and install for people?
Why would a computer company load trials and demos onto a computer? Is it because they hope that people who try the trial or demo out will want to buy or continue to use the program and pay to get the software.

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowflake22

Why do you have tech support clients? Is the tech support clients due to the job you have and if so what do you do for a job. What did you configure and install for people?
Why would a computer company load trials and demos onto a computer? Is it because they hope that people who try the trial or demo out will want to buy or continue to use the program and pay to get the software.

Clients are someone you provide services to. So yes, it's due to a job. What job? Tech support.
*PLEASE* take some time to think about your questions before asking them, and stop hijacking threads. If you want to know about needkarma, there is a Members section (in Forum Community). You can post there.

Sorry, I don't have time to answer all your questions right now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowflake22

Why do you have tech support clients? Is the tech support clients due to the job you have and if so what do you do for a job. What did you configure and install for people?
Why would a computer company load trials and demos onto a computer? Is it because they hope that people who try the trial or demo out will want to buy or continue to use the program and pay to get the software.

I'm not going to answer these questions and I don't believe NeedKarma will either. I hope no one else will. If you just stop and THINK, you will see the answers are obvious. You are actually answering your own questions so why do you need to ask them.