The Computer Buzz

December 17th, 2009

Nome and Paul Van Middlesworth - owners - The Computer Factory
 

What’s the difference?

Folks sometimes ask us to compare our desktop PCs to the retail “package” PCs listed in “big box” retail ads from Fry’s, Staples, Best Buy, and Costco etc. It’s a difficult thing to do. It’s not because we don’t know the difference. It’s because when we start talking about the performance, quality and service levels of the likes of Dell, Compaq and HP (hereafter referred to as “packagers”) compared to the PCs we build, our voices become shrill and flecks of foam form in the corners of our mouths. It’s not a pretty sight.

The problem is that just talking about these PCs causes emotional stress in all of us. We were raised on the maxim “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” Trying to find something nice to say about one of the “packagers” is like saying Charlie Manson has nice hair.

Each year we repair and upgrade hundreds of Dell, Compaq, Gateway, E-Machine and Sony desktops. We know them well. In terms of performance, quality and reliability, there is little to choose between them. Their most popular low cost models (under $1000) are marginal to poor in performance, quality and reliability. Repair and warranty service isn’t even on this planet.

“Packagers” keep their prices low on these beauties by loading them up with advertisements, pop ups, and trial programs. It’s called “shovelware” and the “packagers” get paid lots of money to turn your PC into a billboard for up to a hundred different products. Your friendly “big box” retailer may offer to clean all this garbage off your new “package PC” for only an additional $40 to $60. Wonderful!

Enough about them, what do we do that’s different?

Lets start with parts. We build even our lowest priced workstation ($460) with premium components that have multi-year manufacturer’s warranties. ASUS motherboard (5 yr), Western Digital hard drive (3 yr), AMD or Intel (boxed) CPU (3 year), and lifetime warranty RAM. A 400-Watt switching power supply powers even our low-end workstation. “Package PC” components carry manufacturers warranties of only one year. Guess why?

When a customer comes in to pick up a their new PC they’ll find it up and running in our shop. We’ve copied their old files to the new drive and now we can show them where their files are and how to access them. If our customer wishes to install their own software while the PC is still here in our shop, that’s OK with us.

If our customer needs help installing software or devices we can help. If our customer needs help setting up their new system with the printers and network at their home or business, we can deliver their PC and set it up on-site. The standard charge for onsite service is $80.

There isn’t any “shovelware” on our PCs. We don’t put trial programs and advertisements on them. Our customers get a clean operating system. We also give our users a choice of operating systems and provide a “real” Microsoft Windows operating system disc and separate discs for all drivers required to reinstall each device (sound, video, Ethernet, etc).

There is a huge difference between our PCs and the “package PCs” in post-sales service. If our customers have a problem, they can call us or bring the PC in. We actually service our PCs right here. If a component fails, it can be quickly replaced. Even an out of warranty failure is quick, easy and inexpensive because we use standard, non-proprietary components and we stock them.

If you’re still not convinced that our system represents a far better value than the “package PCs” then go ahead and buy yourself a new Dell, Compaq or whatever. You won’t hurt our feelings. We’ll be happy to fix it when your warranty runs out.