Help! Where's the best place/website to buy a new computer and multi function machine?

none ^ | 1-30-03 | M. Peach

[M. Peach]

I need a new computer. FR is such a great source of competent, experience information - in my opinion, better than consumer reports.

Could anyone tell me the best website or store to get a newer, top of the line (I want to add an extra modem and hard drive, or external hard drive for a backup) - and get a multi function machine that scans, copies, prints and faxes.

Any advice?

[M. Peach]

Thanks so much in advance.

[bulldogs]

Just bought a Dell 2350 with a flat screen. Awsome for the price!

[areafiftyone]

You can go to Best Buy and create your own computer which means that you pick the kind like Compaq, etc. and you pick what you want as far as memory, sound cards and all the extras. Depending on your budget you can add and subtract things on it. Another place to go would be go online to Dell or IBM and you can do the same thing too online.

[1Old Pro]

Dell

[Billy_bob_bob]

You might want to try http://www.apple.com for your new computer. As far as finding a multifunction machine, I've got an old HP printer/scanner/copier that is a tank, I've had it for over five years now and it just keeps going and going. I've copied and printed tens of thousands of pages of documents over the years, and it has never failed me once. You might want to check www.cnet.com for reviews of current machines.

[Ragirl]

Get a Dell. Customer service is excellent. The quality of the machine is excellent as well. We have 2 of them and they are the best machines in the world. Good luck!

[blau993]

This is almost as bad as asking the Freeper universe what kind of gun you should buy.

My last two PCs have been Dells, and I have nothing but good things to say about the company. I don't even mind the "hey dude" commercials, though they drive some of the rank and file around here up the proverbial wall.

[tessalu]

In the past, I have bought perhaps 6 computes from Best Buy, but I think that I will never go there again to buy a computer, for they do not offer any good warranty service any more. I thought that I might need another computer and I went looking. If I were to buy today, I would be looking a Dell or Gateway, for those two offer warranty service in the home. A computer that does not work is worth exactly zero, so remember that when you go to buy.

[areafiftyone]

Thanks for the advice. I have mine from Best Buy and have had no problems with it. I have their warrenty which cost me a few bucks but if anything goes wrong they will fix it for free. I would prefer ordering it from Dell but when you go online they limit what you can pick as far as extras are concerned and of course I like to get carried away. ;-)

[jayef]

May I suggest ibuypower.com. Check out their website. Their systems come in a range of options and are more customizable than Alien Ware and most, if not all, of the other customizers I've seen. Very flexible, very affordable and good support.

[holymoly]

Gah! Not Dell. I hate their ads. ;)

Anyway, try to avoid systems that have:

1.) Proprietary hardware
2.) Graphics, sound, etc. mounted to the motherboard (i.e. not in an AGP or PCI slot.)

Upgrades will be much easier this way.

[Freeper]

Go look at www.pricewatch.com.

[Fletcher J]

In regards to the multi-function machine, one of the most important things to be sure to check the prices of the ink cartridges it uses...

If you do this, you won't end up purchasing a *Brother* color printer, like I did, and which now costs $48 PER CARTRIDGE. With one black and one color cartidge, it costs $100 for new ink. I can't even afford to print in color anymore. The price of the unit was reasonable at the time (it was $299 several years ago for a 7 in 1 unit), but now I feel like I've been scammed.

Furthermore, I found that the louts didn't even bother to provide full ink cartidges with the unit itself - just "starter" cartridges... Needless to say, I recommend that you Don't Buy Brother!

[BrooklynGOP]

Upgrades will be much easier this way.

Actually, most of the motherboard's today have basic audio/video built in.. You can easily disable it in a BIOS (or with a jumper))when you upgrade.

[JoeSixPack1]

I'm a builder. I can tell you the cheapest parts houses on the net, but you have to assemble, load, debug, and burn-in yourself.

Freepmail me if you want the url.

[Gideon7]

I like the Lexmark for print-scan-copy. Cheapest cost/page. (Beware expensive carts from Brothers and HP).

[funkywbr]

Dell, Cyberpowerinc, Alienware.

[Eva]

I have a Dell 8200 with upgraded memory and alot of other upgrades. I got it for $1100 a year ago, but I bought my flat screen monitor separately. They seemed to have the best prices because you buy directly from Dell over the inter-net or phone.

[cdefreese]

For feedback on any retailer that sells computers try resellerratings.com

How much do you know about computers? Is tech support important? Is it a recreational computer for the house? What kind of price range are you looking at? High end or bargain?

Overall I like Dell (even though I once worked for them and would never do it again). They usually have a new sale every week or so. Free upgrades/shipping or somethign similar. I have had bad experiences with Best Buy specifically and wouldn't use them, even though they sell good computers.

[AppyPappy]

I build my own computers and supported desktops for 12 years. Dell.