Consumers Spend More $$ on Peripherals Than PCs?

[megamanx00]

I guess just about all the users here would have their entire computer count as "peripherals" according to this.

 

[CoryInJapan]

If u Build ur own..I guess that qualifies as 100% peripherals..Am I mistaken.I never buy pre built PC.Who In They're right PC mind would buy a pre-built computer?

Then yes,thats all I do is buy peripherals.

 

[babachoo]

So according to this report(bullshit), my PC consists of a $99 PC(the case alone) and $1700 in peripherals(components) inside and outside that PC (case).

I think that this report(bullshit) is skewed and has an agenda.

 

[nforce4max]

Instead of fancy crap that glitters up the office/room that go bad fairly quickly like printers that aren't worth the ink/toner that goes in them or giant flat screens that end up needing to be replaced after two years. I spend my money on parts such as hard drives, ram, and other things. I spent $14 on peripherals this year and that was for a mouse and a unused CRT monitor.

 

[Guest]

This just in, your average computer user upgrades their computer in some way at some point.

 

[Gulli]

[citation][nom]jomofro39[/nom]So basically, more people are building their computers now as opposed to buying already-constructed PCs? Makes sense, economy tanks, so people FINALLY google "cheapest PC", and realize you can build a better computer for less. I had to explain this to my company, and now we all have custom workstations.[/citation]

[citation][nom]Drag0nR1der[/nom]Except companies often like the backing of a warranty and service desk[/citation]

Custom build PC's have warranties per part, so the company actually saves money by only having to ship the part that's broken instead of the whole computer. Also, they can just replace a bad stick of RAM and not have to worry that the warranty on the rest of the components becomes void. All they'd need is one or two employees who can identify the faulty part and replace it or send it to the manufacturer, much cheaper than having to ship a computer tower (that's a couple of dozens stamps) every time something isn't working right.

 

[Marco925]

[citation][nom]rantoc[/nom]Not that surprised by the report, a lot of people aren't that tech accustomed and buy the cheapest cheapest machines but they do like the "ohh shiny" factor so they purchase all kinds of peripherals around it to make it look way even when its still a 2-3 generations old machine... (much like most peoples first car =)[/citation]

I'm too poor to do that to my car... my car came Nofrills

 

[HavoCnMe]

Merriam-Webster: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peripheral
Main Entry: peripheral
Function: noun
Date: 1966

: a device connected to a computer to provide communication (as input and output) or auxiliary functions (as additional storage)

With that definition, you can rule out software as a peripheral. This is what happens in the real world when you have deadlines and need to put out an article to save your arse.

 

[drwho1]

my peripherals just move to new housing this week, now 2 of this peripherals are living for good 2 days from now as 2 new "tenants" are moving in the new "house".

 

[dEAne]

A personal computer is like a car, the difference is it can do a lot of things and spend a lot of money. Maybe "peripheral" means additional cost, lol.

 

[jsm6746]

i wonder if this is the same type of report as the earlier 'pc gaming is dead' reports that stated that since walmart and gamestop weren't selling any pc games, that it must mean that pc gaming is dead...

since dell and apple and whoever else are losing sales, that must mean that people aren't buying pc's...

let us classify individual components as 'peripherals', since no one in their right mind would want to assemble all of these together to actually form a pc...

why would you do that... when for only twice as much as you would spend, you could get lesser of a machine with an apple logo on it... 😵

 

[Gin Fushicho]

I'd say technically I guess my whole computer is peripherals. Since I bought lal the parts separately.

 

[wittermark]

considering im using two 150$ razer mamba mouse, and 100$ steelseries mousepad, $100 OCZ NIA, and a $1000 Optimus keyboard, id say yes, my peripheral is worth than most people's computer. which isn't really that big of a deal. I spend thousands every month on stuff like this.

 

[arlandi]

yeah.. this is what i've been doing for years with my PC. one of the reason why i don't like that "other" PC.

 

[maxiim]

Most people shop for big numbers, and flash. Not performance or even budget.

 

[wizardprang]

The headline could better be written as "Most users don't think before buying a computer". Many of the peripherals could have been acquired more cheaply if they were purchased with the machine. I've seen too many people buy a $399 computer and then figure out that the games that Junior wanted to play on it won't work without more RAM and a honkin' great Videocard... so they end up spending more in the long run.

Having said that, the prices of peripherals are falling all the time, so another way of looking at it is that more RAM/faster CPU/bigger Hard Drive extend the life of a computer. I saw no evidence that the IDC asked how long people had had the machine before upgrading - if the upgrades were happening at or beyond the three-year mark, the report might say "Consumers upgrading instead of buying new computers"

As it is, the report is inconclusive, and looks like lazy journalism to me.