I Want to Buy a new Desktop Computer

[Senusret I]

I will never again have someone build a computer for me.

I got someone to build it.

First, bought the parts per his instruction. No problem.

Second, he came over to build the thing. Two of the fans were the wrong size, so I ended up having to wait another two weeks for the parts to arrive AND for the guy to find the time to finish building it.

In between the two times, he makes comments I believe are racist.

He "completes" the computer. I have no operating system. He has forgotten his copy he made for me. (He is some sort of IT person by day.) I have no XP cd.

He tries to transfer an ISO file (or something) for me to burn onto a CD at home. Problem: Both of my CD drives have been broken for MONTHS on my home computer. Try to do it at work -- for whatever reason, doesn't work. Considering I think the dude is racist anyway, I proceed figuring it out with other help.

Talked to MY IT guy at work. We burn a CD of XP which doesn't work in the built computer. He MAILS a CD of XP which also doesn't work. He's like okay Senusret, this is most likely a hardware issue, sorry I can't help.

I call OnCall 25/8. The guy comes out for the assessment and is like "I'm going to have to take this into the office." No shirt sherlock, who didn't know that?

$75 bucks down the crapper.

After a quick turnaround, the computer is ready. They bring it back to me and everything works, including XP from the disk my job's IT people gave me. $299 bucks.

(Although I had been saying for months I should have just bought a new computer straight from the factory, I have officially proven the point. Parts plus repair alone could have bought me a Dell.

Bring it home....guess what? NO SOUND. My comp can't detect a sound card. EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS.

This, my friends, is some bullshit.

[lillady85]

:-(
That really sucks, Senusret I. I've always had my older brother build my computers because I once bought an HP and it sucked horribly. The HD had to be replaced three times, so did the CD player.

You could try Newegg. They have barebones systems or even put together systems where you basically pick what you want. It offers much more flexibility than Dell, HP or Compaq.

Plus, the prices are pretty reasonable. I built mine over five years ago and it is still running. I'm sure there are other sites that are similar. I think you'd have to install your own OS but that isn't too hard nowadays.

Good luck!