HOMEBUILT vs NAME BRAND

[Mac Cool]

ToolPackinMama:

Words that will haunt you.

First of all what do you mean "no cheap components"? Name me a Dell
PC that uses NFORCE2 motherboards and AMD CPUs, to start with,
because that's what I would be using. Are rebates and things-on-sale
allowed? If I have a choice between a 8.00 FDD and a 10.00 one must I
choose the 10.00 one to avoid the cheaper one?

We both know that you tried this before under a throwaway id in A.C.H.
You failed then and you will fail again.

BTW, who says that
Dell doesn't use cheap components? Don't try to pull anything,
because I have seen what's inside of Dells, and it's nothing special.
<snip> Dell uses cheap components. I know, because I have seen it.

I have quite a bit of experience with Dimensions and Optiplexes going
back ~9 years. If you are as familiar as you claim then you will have no
problem choosing your components. If you want to claim Dell uses generic
components, then you don't know as much as you pretend.

Define mid-line quality? By what measure is something "mid-line
quality"? Why pay mid-line prices when the primary objective is to
save money?

I quote, "and you get better quality components for the the same or less
money". Anyone, ANYONE, can build a cheap computer. You claimed you
could build a BETTER quality system for the same or less money. You also
claim to be familiar with Dell components, then you know which brands of
memory, HD, DVD drive, etc. they use, all you have to do is choose
brands that are equal to or better than those brands and build a system
for less money.

If I have a choice between a 8.00 FDD, a 10.00 one, and
a 12.00 one, must I choose the 10.00 one because it's "mid-line
quality"?

Quality and price are not the same thing. Generally, better quality will
cost more, but sometimes you can find the elusive 'good deal'. As far as
quality goes, I would consider a mid-priced item branded from a company
with a good reputation, sufficient.

BTW, the Dell must be purchased online and shipping/taxes etc. must
count toward the total price. That's fair, because I'm buying all my
parts online and paying shipping for them.

I gave you a reference system priced on the Dell website, including
shipping, sans taxes; because taxes vary from state to state. If you
think I'm lying about the price, you have sufficient information to look
it up.

Dells don't come with a proper OS disk, they come with a crummy
"recovery disk", right? You can't use that "recovery disk" like you
can use a full OS disk. Since I'm using a full OS disk, I insist to
be fair that the Dell owner must also pay for one.

The Dell comes with XP Home and it's part of the price, your system must
have XP Home or Pro and it must be part of the price.

No refurbs. That seems unnecessarily restrictive.

New Dells are not built using refurbished parts, so your 'better' system
cannot use refurbs either.

First name me a reference Dell PC with a NFORCE2 mobo and an AMD CPU,
because that's what I will be using. And provide a detailed list of
all the junk bloatware that the the Dell comes with, so I can
completely ignore most of it, because I won't be paying one dime for
any of it.

Are you giving up? You made the claim, it's up to you to back it up.

 

[Mac Cool]

ToolPackinMama:

Hello? Onboard vid and sound.

My system had a 9800 Pro and Audigy 2.

Included with Linspire. Have you ever heard of Linspire?

No, I had to look it up.

 

[Mac Cool]

ToolPackinMama:

Compared to what? Be specific.

I posted the reference system last night. You replied to the message and
even quoted part of it.

 

[Mac Cool]

jaster:

A lot of arguments in this thread are solely related to eMachines,
HP/Compaq and Dell but there are lots of PC manufacturers selling
better PCs than those vendors for less money with 1 yr warranties.

Better for sure, but who is selling a better quality factory-built for
less than Dell?

In a discussion of pre-built vs. home built these should be
considered. Wasn't everyone's first PC a pre-built?

No. My first system was built by my neighbor because I didn't have the
knowledge to build my own. The components for a top of the line system
cost me ~$2500 which was roughly $500 less than I could have bought a
factory-built for back in 1991. I guess you could technically call it a
pre-built since I didn't build it, but he built it to my specifications
and didn't charge me anything.

 

[Ruel Smith]

News to me. Recognized immediately and plays fine with my Mandrake
Linux box.

Yes, so did mine, but apparently, there were Dimension desktops made
after my box that had something slightly different about the Live! cards
in them. Others have had fits getting them to work. Do a Google and see
for yourself...

 

[ToolPackinMama]

ToolPackinMama! You've got a life outside Trek!

No I don't.

 

[ToolPackinMama]

Are you giving up?

So in other words, you can't name one.

 

[ToolPackinMama]

ToolPackinMama:


My system had a 9800 Pro and Audigy 2.

And you paid how much?

 

[ToolPackinMama]

Here's your reference system:
It is a Dell 4600 $979 shipped (tax not included)

Dell Dimension 4600 Series
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor with HT Technology (2.80GHz, 800 FSB)
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
512MB Dual Channel DDR SDRAM at 400MHz
Dell Quietkey® Keyboard
17 in (16 in viewable,.27dp) E773c CRT Monitor E773
Video Card 128MB DDR ATI RADEON 9800 PRO w/ TV-Out and DVI
Hard Drive 40GB Ultra ATA/100 Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
No Floppy Drive
Mouse Dell 2-button scroll mouse
Integrated Intel® PRO 10/100 Ethernet
Modem 56K PCI Data Fax Modem
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0
16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+RW/+R) w/double layer write capability
Sound Sound Blaster Audigy™2 w/Dolby 5.1, and IEEE 1394
No Speaker Option
WordPerfect®
6 Months America Online Internet Access Included
Microsoft® Money 2004 Standard
1 Year Limited Warranty plus 1 Year At-Home Service

OK, thank you. I guess that's the best you can do. It's not what I
would call an inexpensive system. The one I found was cheaper. IMHO,
you should try to find a less expensivve one for the purposes of our
discussion.

The subject was saving money. If a person's top priority is to save
money then your Dell is not the least expensive PC available, period.
Would you like to try again?

 

[Matt]

Mac Cool wrote:




So in other words, you can't name one.

Basically he has shown that nobody can sell a Dell cheaper than Dell.

 

[ToolPackinMama]

ToolPackinMama:


I posted the reference system last night. You replied to the message and
even quoted part of it.

I just couldn't believe that that was the cheapest Dell that you knew
of. I even found a cheaper one. IMHO you not only never laid a glove on
me, but you never even entered the ring.

 

[ToolPackinMama]

Basically he has shown that nobody can sell a Dell cheaper than Dell.

That's correct.

 

[Mac Cool]

ToolPackinMama:

OK, thank you. I guess that's the best you can do. It's not what I
would call an inexpensive system. The one I found was cheaper. IMHO,
you should try to find a less expensivve one for the purposes of our
discussion.

The subject was saving money.

You said you could build a cheaper, better system; I'm waiting...

 

[ToolPackinMama]

ToolPackinMama:

You said you could build a cheaper, better system; I'm waiting...

Yes. Well. You are apparently new to the whole "debate" concept. It
goes like this:

1) First we negotiate and agree to parameters for the debate. Terms
are defined, etc., for example. Since that has not yet happened, I
assume that you understand that *that* means that THE DEBATE HAS NOT YET
EVEN BEGUN. Therefore, it is premature for you to declare yourself the
victor...



WAY premature.

 

[Mac Cool]

ToolPackinMama:

Yes. Well. You are apparently new to the whole "debate" concept.

Can you do it or not?

 

[ToolPackinMama]

ToolPackinMama:


Can you do it or not?

What exactly are you asking? Are you asking if I can recreate your Dell
for less than Dell sells it for? How exact do you expect me to be?
Do you demand that I use the exact same motherboard, the exact same CPU,
the exact same case? Please be specific.

 

[Mac Cool]

ToolPackinMama:

What exactly are you asking? Are you asking if I can recreate your Dell
for less than Dell sells it for? How exact do you expect me to be?
Do you demand that I use the exact same motherboard, the exact same CPU,
the exact same case? Please be specific.

I was already specific. You're just wasting my time.
Into the troll bin with you.

 

[ToolPackinMama]

ToolPackinMama:


I was already specific. You're just wasting my time.
Into the troll bin with you.

LOL!

You were "already specific" about a system that is WELL ESTABLISHED to
NOT be the least expensive one available.

POINT for me, I guess.

End of discussion, you say? WIN for me, I guess, since my bargain
system certainly cost less than yours did.

 

[JAD]

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<snore>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
go buy a dell, and leave the 'homebuilt' NG for the alt.dell