Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (
More info?)
You should ask yourself five basic questions when considering a new computer
purchase, ranking them in order of importance to you:
1. What will be the computer's intended use?
2. What is your budget?
3. Is upgradeability (room for growth) important to you?
4. What level of technical support do I need for my level of computer
hardware/software knowledge?
5. Is the prospective manufacturer/builder reputable?
The important thing to consider is that you should end up with a system that
meets your unique needs, not the needs touted in the marketing fluff of the
particular seller. Technology advances rapidly; therefore, when thinking
about what to buy, you should also consider your needs over the next three
to four years on average, as you would for any other "appliance" or
automobile that you'd like to be able to actually keep using for awhile.
When it comes to computers, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. It's not realistic to
expect top-flight performance, reliability and customer support on a minimal
system with a low profit margin. These types of systems are developed,
marketed and sold with "budget buyers" in mind, those who just want a basic
setup in order to join the ranks of the casual computer users who surf the
web, compose e-mail, balance the checkbook and write up a letter or two and
maybe play a game once in a while that doesn't require high-end components.
It's not fair to Dell and other "budget" system builders to expect premium
support and performance if you haven't bought a premium system.
Look at the automobile industry: the Hyundai or Kia owner isn't likely to
get the same level of performance and service from the car and dealership as
a new Lexus or Mercedes owner would justifiably expect to receive. That isn
't to say that the Hyundai/Kia offerings are bad; they're just developed,
marketed and sold with "budget buyers" in mind, those who value a low
initial ticket price for their particular transportation needs more than
future reliability, performance, prestige and service.
Before buying online, check the company's reputation, warranty, return
policy, and support services. An excellent resource for independent,
verifiable consumer reviews for a particular reseller is Reseller Ratings
(http://www.resellerratings.com).
The New Low-End Home System Target Consumer:
Your basic novice or casual user, like Aunt Myrtle, will want something that
she can readily afford on her fixed income that will allow her to finally
e-mail the family, find a new tuna casserole recipe online and maintain her
Quicken/Money retirement income and expenses. She might get interested in
playing a game or two of Solitaire or Blackjack, but she has no interest in
Superhero role-playing in an interactive 3D virtual reality with DTS Digital
7.1 surround sound or editing her own digital video masterpieces. She's
likely been recruited into the computing world by another family member or
friend, and probably has a fairly knowledgeable nephew or niece that can
come by to fix her "broken" computer as a result of downloading some
spam-originated ill-written shareware. Stereotyping? You bet.but you get
the gist of the example. Aunt Myrtle will probably spend $500-$900 on her
computer system, depending on from whom she bought it and the goodies
included in the deal.
The New Mid-Range Home System Target Consumer:
Although a PC can play many roles in the home, most families will be best
served by a mid-range mainstream model. Spending from $1,000 to $1,700
provides a household with enough power to run productivity apps, view and
edit vacation photos, manage MP3s, write and read CD/DVDs and play many of
today's games satisfactorily. The minimal warranty should be OK for this
type of system.
The New Mid-Range Business System Target Consumer:
Graphics and sound are less of a concern for most businesses. They'd want a
system with enough power for multitasking daily office chores, so they'd
configure a system that's heavier on the CPU/memory/hard drive performance e
nd, using the money that they saved by sacrificing the higher-end
graphics/sound options, and maybe springing for a higher-end LCD display
that displays text well. The business client is more apt to select an
extended service warranty, and will probably spend $1,000-$1,700 on average,
plus extended service contracts.
The New High-End/Gaming Rig Target Consumer:
Serious gaming, graphic design, and video editing all normally require a
high-class PC with an equally high price tag. A fast processor, lots of
speedy memory, a top-notch graphics card and digital 24-bit surround sound
card might be foremost on the checklist. If there are plans to transfer and
edit home movies, massive hard drives with RAID striping, FireWire ports,
and fast CD/DVD burner coupled with another optical drive to burn on-the-fly
would be in order. Mr./Ms. Geek might enjoy building his/her own system
from the ground up, or perhaps buy a system from a boutique builder that
specifically targets this type of end user. Either way, the final system
could be anywhere within the larger $1,800-$4,000 price range, depending on
the caliber and number of each component. Warranties and tech support aren'
t as important for this type of consumer, as they often tinker around,
frequently upgrade components and overclock the CPU and memory out of spec
anyway, effectively voiding the CPU/memory manufacturer's warranties.
I'm the owner of one of these smaller "boutique" outfits, and our target
customer is the upper mid-range to high-end/gaming consumer. Our online
pre-configured system options can allow for a system ranging anywhere from
$850-$4,000 or more, with the average sale ringing in at somewhere near the
$2,000 range. We can and have built a few custom "low-end" systems for a
particular customer, but that isn't our target consumer, and I usually
recommend that they look into the entry-level systems that Dell offers.
Dell does an excellent job of building a budget system, and we can't always
get the same components used at the same price, due mainly to the price
leverage they can use in buying up massive quantities of the parts used to
make these babies. Support, upgradeability, performance and reliability are
not foremost on the low-end consumer's mind; they've prioritized the five
questions listed at the beginning of this message, and are going to buy the
system that best fits into that scenario.
Michael Dell's business model from the beginning has always been offering a
PC into the mainstream at the best price possible, and this hasn't changed.
In order to remain competitive in the market, Dell has developed several
systems that can be sold at rock-bottom prices, which necessitates slashing
after-market support expenses. The consumer has spoken, and he generally
wants the most inexpensive computer he can find to do what he needs to
accomplish. You can bet that if the majority of consumers valued higher-end
systems with premium retail components and support, that's what Dell would
be pushing more enthusiastically. Their current higher-end home systems are
more or less afterthoughts, attracting the occasional consumer that
perceives the Dell name as the "best" mainstream manufacturer. Think of
these systems as the equivalent of the Toyota Avalon: the high-end of the
mainstream manufacturer offering, not far in ticket price from the low-end
of the Lexus (upscale Toyota division) luxury manufacturer offering. You
either want a Toyota or a Lexus if you aren't a "budget" consumer.
When it comes to computers, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. Prioritize the list
at the beginning of this message, and then do a little research, if so
inclined. OK, I'll step down from my soapbox now.
Respectfully,
Russell Sullivan
http://tastycomputers.com