Been wanting to get some new systems (main kick-@$$ sys, and a workstation). I looked at the following:

Sony - eh, has stuff I really dont want. Alright price. U.S.A. tech support.

Alienware - LOVE LOVE LOVE...but pricey. U.S.A. tech support

HP/Compaq - good system specs, good prices. U.S.A. tech support.

DELL - good system specs, good prices, freakin outsource on the support - sucks because they are stupid as hell.


It looks like it will be Compaq or Alienware. If I dont see myself spending the extra money I will get Compaq. Which seems the most likely decision. So my question to all of you is whether they are a good company and havent had many problems.

CNet gives great reviews. I'm looking at the Compaq X gamers PC.


Thanks for any advice.
Raptor

 

Here at college, all the kids in the dorm that have HPs ALWAYS have problems. They are like the beater of computers, i would go with Dell, IBM, or Apple

 

dont get one.. i have worked on them and they blow.. i'm not a huge fan of dell either but i have had 3 or 4... i'm going to move to macs asap

 

k...yeah, I've always had Dells but not sure who to go with next.

I guess Alienware it whats its come to now. I might have to look at Sony again.

 

Our org used to be a Compaq only shop for desktop PC's and Servers. Business class machines only - none of the Presario crap. After the HP/Compaq merger though, they started cutting corners - we switched to IBM for desktops/laptops. We are even considering a switch to IBM for servers.
Bottom line is prior to 2002 Compaq was good - now they are questionable. If you are spending the money - you might be getting of their better systems.

 

Gateway???

 

no,

no, my sony flopped like a dead fish

 

I would say Gateway, Dell or step up to the ailenware... HP/Compaq make proprietary systems which means if something breaks, you have to go to HP/Compaq to fix it. The other vendors use parts that you can replace by going to the computer store. Much less restriction and headache in the event something goes wrong outside the warranty period.

 

i have only had bad experiencecs with hp and compaq

dell/apple/ibm

 

HP does send some of their tech support over seas. I think the laptops are supported in the U.S. and the desktops are India or where ever.

 

My company uses HP for Technical Workstations, Compaq for Servers, and IBM for Laptops. HP Workstations are fucking spectacular (Namely the XW6000 series). Every developer workstation here is an HP XW Series and I very rarely have issues (maybe 3 failures on over 300 machines in my office) and their support kicks the living FUCK out of Dell when I've needed them.

So don't let some of these fuckfaces steer you away from HP's....they are people who probably bought them at fucking Circuit City.

I can't speak for Compaq workstations, never worked with them, but the higher end HP's are great.

 

I've never gotten a brownie on the phone with HP...ever.

 

I'll give my usual reply. It depends on what model you get. Most of the major brands now days have product lines that vary from complete crap to quite good. Also, nearly all the vendors are guilty of loading the machines up with 9 billion things running at startup right out of the box. A system can be half drained of resources before you even do anything with it. In this day and age it's my opinion, that you can't justifiably say brand X sucks or brand Y is great without stating which models you have experience with. For example, we use H-Paq Evo desktops here at the University and they've treated us well. However, several students have come through with Presario notebooks and we pretty much think they're all garbage.

 

Good Point that applies to ALL PC brands.

 

Didnt IBM just sell off their Pc division to a Chinese company?
http://www.businessweek.com/technolo...6613_tc119.htm

So you have IBM who sold off their PC Biz to a Chinese company.
HP/Compaq who's home machines have always sucked in the public eye
Dell who uses overseas Tech Support
Alienware who overcharges on everything

Doesnt leave much selection. I guess thats why I just build my own machines usually.

I have the same advice on the Compaq/HP Stuff as some here though.
Their Business lines are usually VERY good machines. We use them here at work and they are very stable machines. The XP Evo Repair CD leaves your machine with like 0 extra processes and only loads the drivers.
However my wife's Presario Desktop and Laptop have had some weird problems. Their Home Desktop lines just dont have the quality of their Business stuff. Their home machines also boot up with 40 different programs running and CD Burning software installed and crap everywhere.
But the X Gamer SHOULD be in a different league since they are targeting enthusiasts.

 

Forget the tech support and crap. Three words, really.

Build Your Own

or have a friend that knows how to build one for you.

If all else fails, alrite I suggest looking into Dell for your basic compy (actually their workstations/servers arent bad either, from what i've heard) and Alienware/Voodoo for high-end gaming comp.

Not a bad fan of HP/Compaq. Proprietary parts = teh suck.

 

dell's makes some pretty decent products at good prices but their support has gone south. i rarely ever call tech support and rely more on the internet for fixes to problems. but when i am left with no more solutions i end up calling and almost always get the non-english speaking tech support person who goes through his/her scripted routine. being in the IT field myself it's pretty silly when you know more than the person on the line and just follow his instructions so you can get to the next tech support help.

 

Compaq sucks. Stay far away from them.

 

Not yet. US gov't is thinking about blocking the deal due to national security concerns.

 

i have an hp computer that is 2 years old and has xp, i rarely ever have a problem.

i also have a compaq a3000 copy/scan/printer all in one. i also havent had any real problems and i paid $100 for it at staples 3 years ago.

so my hp/compaq use has been pretty trouble free

 

Comcrap? I mean Compaq? Of the ones I've used in the past, they suck. HPs on the other thand are We order HP servers for our clients all the time and they work great!

 

Aside from the fact that half my registry files are missing, ie shuts down whenever it feels like it, the perpetual blue screen of death, the fact that none of the buttons on the case work outside the keyboard, the "updates" on the website cause more problems than they fix, and the power cable only works when I wrap it around the monitor and angle the plug itself at about 45 degrees (facing from the back), I love my Compaq Presario 2175US!

 

Isn't it unreasonably difficult to build your own given the lack of available parts that actually fit together correctly (just what I've read online and at other forums)?

 

i have a dell, and i got a white guy in tx on the phone everytime i called, they replaced the mobo, processor, and ram after i had some fawked up issues

 

Not really, I've built numerous computers since I was 13 and I have only came across two hardware incompatiblity problems... one had to do with a video card and the other was a network interface card. Those problems can be solved with a simple exchange of parts. As a whole, you can save $ by building your own computer, just gotta know where to buy quality parts for cheap.

Also, the best part about building your own is the option to pick all the parts you want. Think about it, the keyboards and mices that come with Dell/Compaq/HP/etc. aren't the best out there, and throwing them away for better wireless/multi button combo isn't the most cost-effcient either.