Chicago

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M

M

Does anyone know of a good, reputable and small computer shop where a
friend of mine could get a white desktop box made for him? He is pretty
clueless in regards to computers.

Thanks!

M
 
Have you looked in the yellow pages?

: Does anyone know of a good, reputable and small computer shop where a
: friend of mine could get a white desktop box made for him? He is pretty
: clueless in regards to computers.
:
: Thanks!
:
: M
 
Spam.
Just imagine how this newsgroup would be ruined if every Tom, Dick and Harry
posted questions and answers about good or bad suppliers. This is a
technical forum, not a trading post.
 
M said:
Does anyone know of a good, reputable and small computer shop where a
friend of mine could get a white desktop box made for him? He is pretty
clueless in regards to computers.
Click to expand...

Consider instead: why does your friend want a computer, i.e.
what does he want to do? (Answers could range from his own
income tax to genealogy on line to pirating classical music.)
Most beginners' needs can be fully supplied by an obsolete XP
system, such as is commonly available second-hand at $100-150.
(Beginners also need a reference book. I recommend the Dummies
series and manuals published by Que.)
 
Don said:
Consider instead: why does your friend want a computer, i.e.
what does he want to do? (Answers could range from his own
income tax to genealogy on line to pirating classical music.)
Most beginners' needs can be fully supplied by an obsolete XP
system, such as is commonly available second-hand at $100-150.
(Beginners also need a reference book. I recommend the Dummies
series and manuals published by Que.)
Click to expand...

He wants a new system, not a used one. Looking at the Yellow pages as
one poster suggested may bring a good shop or a rip off shop so that's
no good. I guess this is the wrong place to ask such questions.

M
 
M said:
He wants a new system, not a used one. Looking at the Yellow pages as
one poster suggested may bring a good shop or a rip off shop so that's
no good. I guess this is the wrong place to ask such questions.

M
Click to expand...

How about Dell or Gateway or search Circuit City Online. They have killer deals.

Now I need to find a good shop where I can get my tires rotated.
 
Does anyone know of a good, reputable and small computer shop where a
friend of mine could get a white desktop box made for him? He is pretty
clueless in regards to computers.
Click to expand...

Nova Computers on Harlem near Foster.

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]
 
M said:
He wants a new system, not a used one. Looking at the Yellow pages as
one poster suggested may bring a good shop or a rip off shop so that's
no good. I guess this is the wrong place to ask such questions.
Click to expand...

Buying a computer from a small shop seems like a good idea, but you'll
likely spend more than you would if you bought from a major player.

In Chicago, try Micro Center. There is one in the city, and one in
the western Suburbs.

Everything from refurbished basic units to top-of-the-line new.
 
M said:
Does anyone know of a good, reputable and small computer shop where a
friend of mine could get a white desktop box made for him? He is pretty
clueless in regards to computers.

Thanks!

M
Click to expand...

If he is clueless in regards to computers, how would he have any concept
of what the system case should have regarding layout for motherboard,
PSU, drives, etc? Or how many external versus internal drive bays? Or
the number of card slots depending on the size of the motherboard? Or
if he wants front/side connectors for USB, audio, and firewire (and how
many)? Or if a floppy will be included or other devices that need 3.5"
external bays? Will he rely on side venting or on-card venting for the
video card? Will he want a chimney vent in the side panel to keep the
CPU cool? How noisy is he willing to endure for all the fans inside his
computer case, will he be willing to use liquid cooling and do the
maintenance for it, or does he want an absolute silent (no moving parts)
setup?

Your "friend" needs to compile a list of what he wants his computer to
do and what-all he wants to connect to it. Then this "friend" needs to
find a smarter friend than you that can actually figuring out his
physical needs in a computer rather than just relaying his vague and
purposeless request.

You don't want a computer shop for what you specifically asked. You
want a metal shop that can make the case per your, er, your "friend's"
custom order. But then your friend will need to provide a detailed
blueprint on how the shop is to construct the case and it is likely your
friend hasn't a clue on how to design computer cases or even draw a
usable picture.

Looks like your friend should stick with buying pre-built computers
rather than delve uneducated into constructing them himself. Even most
hobbyists don't bother having cases custom built for them. They go do
their own research to look at what cases are available AFTER deciding
what to put inside it and planning for future expandability.

Um, you do realize that you are asking about hardware in a software
newsgroup? This one discusses Windows XP. That is software. Not a
hardware case. Windows XP doesn't give a gnat's fart about what case is
used, anymore than it cares whether you used slotted or thumbscrews to
hold on the side cover.
 
Bennett said:
Buying a computer from a small shop seems like a good idea, but you'll
likely spend more than you would if you bought from a major player.

In Chicago, try Micro Center. There is one in the city, and one in
the western Suburbs.

Everything from refurbished basic units to top-of-the-line new.
Click to expand...

Thanks,

M
 
M said:
Does anyone know of a good, reputable and small computer shop where a
friend of mine could get a white desktop box made for him? He is pretty
clueless in regards to computers.

Thanks!

M
Click to expand...

You've taken on a thankless task. Whatever you recommend is likely to
end up causing some dissatisfaction somewhere down the road -- and then
you'll have a good test of your friendship.

In my experience, people who are "pretty clueless in regards to
computers" can't even articulate what it is that they want to do with a
computer. Probably the best you can do would be to identify which of 3
groups the person falls into:

1. Hard core gamer (in which case, he almost certainly isn't clueless
about computers)
2. Only does low-volume email and occasional web surfing
3. Everyone else.

You already seem to have decided desktop over laptop, so at least you
won't have to decide between light weight and things like screen size,
optical drives, and other weight-increasing items.

Unless you're going to make the "white box computer" yourself, your
friend will probably be better off getting a name brand OEM. If he's in
category 2, spend around $400-$500 (without monitor or MS Office). In
category 3, probably $600-$900. I'd suggest getting a version of Vista
with free upgrade rights to Windows 7 (usually Vista Home Premium or
better).

If you want a bargain, shop the Dell outlet, but have a reasonable idea
of the specs you're looking for: http://www.dell.com/outlet
 
VanguardLH said:
If he is clueless in regards to computers, how would he have any concept
of what the system case should have regarding layout for motherboard,
PSU, drives, etc?
Click to expand...

That's where I slide in, stage left. He visits the stores, gets their
recommendations, sends them to me and I give him my recommendation on
parts. If he could build it himself, I'd tell him to order it from New
Egg but we are on different continents.

M
Or how many external versus internal drive bays? Or
 
M said:
That's where I slide in, stage left. He visits the stores, gets their
recommendations, sends them to me and I give him my recommendation on
parts. If he could build it himself, I'd tell him to order it from New
Egg but we are on different continents.
Click to expand...

But based on his requirements, you could give him your wishlist from
Newegg. Don't know if they'll let you transfer it to someone else but
you could just give him the URLs to each product/component going into
what you think he should use based on his list of wants. He can then
read the newegg overview for each item, the customer reviews, and then
click on the manufacturer link for the product if he wants to see if
there is more info there (that he can understand).

If the customer doesn't give you a detailed wishlist, whatever you make
for him is not what he'll want soon after getting used to what he got.
Also ensure future expandability is considered by this user.
 
M said:
Does anyone know of a good, reputable and small computer shop where a
friend of mine could get a white desktop box made for him? He is
pretty clueless in regards to computers.
Click to expand...

Go to www.walmart.com. It's hard to beat their prices on a white-box
machine.
 
HeyBub said:
Go to www.walmart.com. It's hard to beat their prices on a white-box
machine.
Click to expand...

As long as you don't want a reputable machine with a support mechanism
behind it. Walmart defines a set of specs, and then buys them from the
lowest bidder which is often no one you ever heard of. And once sold,
they have nothing more to do with them. Warrantly work must go to the
maker; if they're still in business and can be found.
I've fixed quite a few of them; they're usually bears to get tech
info on.
Definitely not for the clueless "user only" type of person.

HTH,

Twayne`
 
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