• Posted by Peter Normington on January 27, 2011 at 2:09 pm

    I need to upgrade, apart from dell, pc world and hp. is there any other recommendations? I need to be able spec it to my requirements, but the above tend to just allow variations on the base systems, and work out on the expensive side. especially if more than the standard warranty is needed,

    I have looked at a site called cube 247. some high spec stuff, has anybody used them and can vouch for their back-up?
    Peter

    Bob Clarkson replied 13 years, 2 months ago 12 Members · 16 Replies
  • 16 Replies
  • Dermot Howard

    Member
    January 27, 2011 at 2:30 pm

    I use a local guy who looks after my IT, i tell him what i want, he knows all ready what i want as i have been using him for along time now and he calls with a price and a pc a few days later, he has never let me down. Possibly you have a local guy near you who may do the same. I find it a great service.

  • Hugh Potter

    Member
    January 27, 2011 at 2:34 pm

    Hi Peter,

    I agree with Dermot, I too use a local firm, one of my customers actually, brilliant as they got a new sign and i got a top spec computer / monitor for the ‘cost’ of a £900 sign! happy days all around really.

    Hugh

    ps, I could recommend them to you but if you could find someone local it’s obviously better.

  • RayRosher

    Member
    January 27, 2011 at 2:46 pm

    Hi Peter
    Dell are pretty good even though they run pretty hot most of the time.
    However know what you mean, with regards to dell and hp stay away from hp they use pretty crappy m/b on nearly all of their systems I know I used to work for them and their Shite
    can’t help with a supplier! As I have only ever built my own machines and have never had to resort to off of the shelf pc’s
    if however you did want to try and build yourself then http://www.aria.co.uk do some pretty good deals on components and complete machines
    mind you Hugh and Dermot are spot on use a local guy a bit more expensive but sometimes worth the extra for handy-ness

  • David Rogers

    Member
    January 27, 2011 at 3:16 pm

    The truth be told – if you know what you want you could just build it yourself.

    Takes all of 30mins to put it together and another 30 to instal W7.

    Ebuyer for your bits / barebones and software if needed.

    Dave

  • Jon Marshall

    Member
    January 27, 2011 at 3:28 pm
    quote Peter Normington:

    I have looked at a site called cube 247. some high spec stuff, has anybody used them and can vouch for their back-up?
    Peter

    They look pretty good, i recently emailed them though to ask whether spec 32bit or 64bit Windows and they couldn’t be bothered to reply so they lost a customer.

  • Earl Smith

    Member
    January 27, 2011 at 3:28 pm

    I agree with the others, go local. Ask your customers who they bought from, word of mouth is always a good thing.
    Going local means; Tell them what you want and they will do it for you; If you have a problem you can take it to them and they will fix it on the spot; need an upgrade, done immediately; ask a question and they will know what they are talking about. If its a shop the workers will be computer geeks who have only just learned how to shave.
    No chance of that sort of service from a chain store or on line.
    I bought both my computers locally and they sometimes pop into my shop to order t-shirts and ask if the computer is OK.
    Earl.

  • Tim Painter

    Member
    January 27, 2011 at 4:03 pm

    Always built myself, but I would go local if you don’t want to build.

    Without wishing to sound rude Peter I would personally think your more than capable of putting a system together.

    Don’t go for inbuilt graphics on the Motherboard.

    I’ve always bought Gigabyte Motherboards and found them fine.

    Motherboard and Hard drive warranties are with manufacturer so not an issue with many now being 3 yrs.

    Some of larger system builders put in some right cr*p components to keep prices down.

    Whats sort of spec are you looking at?

    Tim.

  • Peter Normington

    Member
    January 27, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    thanks guys
    It’s not a problem for me to build my own system, like its no problem for me to service my own car, or even fit my own kitchen out. but I make signs for a living and would rather pay a bit more for a system from someone who specialises, and can then guarantee, and offer a good level of backup.
    I always used to build my own, but as its for business use,
    I will probably go the local route if i can find someone that is recommended,
    Peter

  • Dave Rowland

    Member
    January 27, 2011 at 8:50 pm

    just but anything with an i7 and is setup for Raid 1 mirror on the harddrives….

    so go to Dell if u cant find anyone to trust

    but dont trust dell support

  • Denise Goodfellow

    Member
    January 27, 2011 at 8:58 pm

    I too use a local shop, tried to order of Dell once, but couldn`t get past the automated phone system… gave up in the end ( I`ve no patients)

    Back up. The proofs in the pudding, just like most guarantees.

    We bought 1 computer from a well know local supplier, it went kaput after 3 months, no problem I thought, it had a 2 year warranty. I was told it`ll take 2 weeks to repair….. I did get it back in 2 days after I screamed the place down. They knew it was a working machine.

    we moved to another local shop, had a problem with it, the guy took the cover off on the counter, tried a few things, it turned out to be the power supply, he mended it there and then.. I gave him a £20 tip, worth every penny to be up and running again. Nothing worse than the computer doesn`t work and you`ve got jobs waiting.

    I now always keep the old comp as a back up.

  • Dave Rowland

    Member
    January 27, 2011 at 9:00 pm

    oh order online… trust what you pick and not an idiot on the phone is the answer to dealing with dell.. if not, get someone to help you pick a computer.

  • Peter Normington

    Member
    January 27, 2011 at 9:12 pm
    quote Dave Rowland:

    oh order online… trust what you pick and not an idiot on the phone is the answer to dealing with dell.. if not, get someone to help you pick a computer.

    Thats why I am asking here Dave!

    Who do you buy from? or do you build from scratch?

    Peter

  • Bob Clarkson

    Member
    January 27, 2011 at 9:33 pm

    So many local suppliers know little more than us guys, they buy in some bit’s, most probably off ebay and plug them together. Building a PC like Peter said, isn’t hard, my 15yr old built his own, it works fine. For business use though, I buy Dell, their back up on the rare occasions I’ve needed it has be 100%. If I get a problem I need it sorted straight away, local companies don’t seem that straightforward, and I’m not waiting for my boy to come home from school and fix it. Dell talk throughs have always been excellent, and on the one occasion it still wasn’t right they sent me a whole new tower, a local company won’t cough up that much equipement.

  • RayRosher

    Member
    January 28, 2011 at 1:52 am

    Yep Dells basic support is well pretty crap
    but if you pay for the business support then their spot on,
    My friend had a problem with his Dell, they couldn’t fix it over the phone so couriered him a new tower and sent an engineer the next day to fix it both turned up at the same time
    Like waiting for a bus

  • Peter Dee

    Member
    January 28, 2011 at 9:05 am

    I got a tower unit from here https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/index.php 2 years ago and it hasn’t missed a beat since.

    Build your own spec. online and get the price as you go.

    I recently got a laptop from Toshiba (my 3rd). It seems they all come with 64 bit Windows now. What a pain. I think Microsoft have thrown a bag of spanners in the works on this overblown software.

  • Bob Clarkson

    Member
    January 28, 2011 at 10:04 am

    I don’t pay for Dell business support, and I don’t tell them how many computers I’ve bought off them etc, I’ve no need to. All I do is ask them politely to help me, I explain what the problem is and I don’t talk down to them or pretend I know more than they do. Dell support will have a vast number of knowledgeable people at their disposal when you call, ask them nicely and they are only too pleased to help.

    Speak to someone as if their an idiot, and they will surely prove you right.

Log in to reply.