| You might be surprised at the answer. Through | | | | that much for parts plus the labor many are |
| the years I have been asked this question | | | | thrown in the junk rather than fixing. The |
| many times. People understandably would like | | | | same goes for power supplies. Many times the |
| to know the answer before spending their | | | | off the shelf power supplies won't work in |
| money. Many think that the only answer is in | | | | these computers. They will make you pay |
| the big names that they have heard. And it's | | | | dearly and many times the power supply will |
| no wonder these same companies have spent | | | | need to be special ordered from the major |
| millions promoting their names. | | | | manufacturer. |
| | | | |
| What would make up the best computer? In my | | | | In other respects I think the computers are |
| opinion it should have a minimum of these | | | | about equal. Taking into account that almost |
| qualities. Be reliable, easy to upgrade, | | | | all of the parts in the major Brands are made |
| parts readily available, easy to work on and | | | | by the same companies that make the generic |
| long lasting. The only one that meets all | | | | parts. In selecting your generic computer do |
| these requirements is the generic computer | | | | some research in is quality of product. What |
| that is built by you or a computer dealer. | | | | desktop computers will last, and which ones |
| | | | would not? What are the highest quality |
| Computers are different than almost any other | | | | components? Does the company offering you |
| product. You probably wouldn't want to build | | | | desktop computer deals provide good |
| your own car for example. But early on | | | | warranties? Finding a cheap computer is less |
| manufacturers began supplying Cases | | | | exciting when you find out that that computer |
| motherboards and the rest of the parts to | | | | is a lemon. The fact is that desktop computer |
| build a computer. So an industry sprang up | | | | deals are not real deals if you get a machine |
| and some bigger companies plus local dealers | | | | that doesn't last out of them. |
| built computer to your specifications. These | | | | |
| had many advantages the main one being that | | | | Our discussion has only covered desktops and |
| you could find parts anywhere at reasonable | | | | the pc. The apple computer is a different |
| prices. | | | | story and isn't covered here. Laptops are |
| | | | another story also and I will cover these in |
| What sometimes happens for example is say a | | | | another article. If you were to ask almost |
| motherboard goes bad. Because of the way the | | | | any computer dealer I think most would agree |
| major manufacturers computer is built a | | | | with what I have said. |
| generic or another manufacturers won't fit | | | | |
| this has nothing to do with the electronics | | | | Lately the majors have started to make their |
| it's a mechanical thing it physically won't | | | | computers more compatible. Maybe they have |
| fit or screw holes won't line up. Now the | | | | begun to see the light. In the mean time I |
| generic motherboard might run $80.00 to | | | | hope you will consider buying your computer |
| $100.00 while the major manufacturers could | | | | from your local dealer or repair shop. |
| be $250.00 to $300.00 or more. After paying | | | | |