Building a comp for my neighbours maybe.

[HarlanC]

Well my neighbours were talking about getting a dell because you get an lcd monitor in the package. Well after stopping myself from hanging....myself. I decided I was going to build them a comp, cause I can do it for alot cheaper than f*&^in dell. anyways I think the budget is around $1000 cdn, but lower would be better, and this is what I've got so far.

(Might just gut the old case and use that to save some cash)
Case - CASE ACER FRONT USB BLK $64.97
CPU - CPU INTEL CELERON D 3.2GHz s775 $79.97
Mobo - MB ASUS P5P800 SE s775 SATA AGP w/ A&L $98.95
Hdd - HD PC 80GB 7200RPM IDE $44.99
Dvd Burner - DVD+/-RW LITE-ON (16X+ 16X-) DL $39.97
Monitor - MON PC LCD 17in. 8ms $179.97
(maybe go with 512mb instead depending.)
Ram - MEMORY 512MB DDR PC400 $64.97
Ram - MEMORY 512MB DDR PC400 $64.97

That comes to $730 with taxes.

Thats what I have so far from a store nearby to me. Any suggestions on this, while keeping in the price range, would be nice. Any input welcomed.

 

[Enablingwolf]

Operating system, office/word processing suites? Virus protection and Firewall. Does the model they had picked out come with a printer? Support, if so how long?


I am not bashing you. Just trying to show you it is hard to be cometitive with a large OEM.

If you had these needs in mind and taken care of. It is all good then, my post is moot. It does add cost when you start to add stuff that comes as part of the packege. Support bieng the most pain for a builder.

 

[HarlanC]

No clue about any of the support, but they are my neighbours afterall, so if they need help its like 20 feet away. I dont think it comes with the printer, but even so I can keep this build under $1000 even if I add a 3 in 1 printer. The os and any word prosessing stuff is taking care of. You can get good free virus protection.

 

[Enablingwolf]

What about the software side of the build?

Yes, I am aware of alternate ways, but competing and keeping legit are hard to do. (we do not talk about that stuff here or condone it) Adding the cost of XP Home or MCE is going to run you at least $150CDN and the word suite can be done with Open Office. Which is loads better IMO then Dell can offer. The AV suite and Firewall. Just keep it so they know and understand how to use it. A good pick would be AVG or ther freebee , and Zone alarm. Easy to use stuff, Why Dell tosses in the no brainer apps.

Software is going to bite you in build cost. Dell has you beat there, and it is all legit apps too.

For the support part of it. Are you willing to answer a phone call like Dell @ 3AM on Christams Morning or other holidays, to walk them through an issue?

Still not giving you giref or trying to. Just giving insight what your trying to compete against.

I am willing to offer as much insight as I can give you.

 

[HarlanC]

What about the software side of the build?

Yes, I am aware of alternate ways, but competing and keeping legit are hard to do. (we do not talk about that stuff here or condone it) Adding the cost of XP Home or MCE is going to run you at least $150CDN and the word suite can be done with Open Office. Which is loads better IMO then Dell can offer. The AV suite and Firewall. Just keep it so they know and understand how to use it. A good pick would be AVG or ther freebee , and Zone alarm. Easy to use stuff, Why Dell tosses in the no brainer apps.

Software is going to bite you in build cost. Dell has you beat there, and it is all legit apps too.

For the support part of it. Are you willing to answer a phone call like Dell @ 3AM on Christams Morning or other holidays, to walk them through an issue?

Still not giving you giref or trying to. Just giving insight what your trying to compete against.

I am willing to offer as much insight as I can give you.

Well I am mostly trying to keep people away from dell because they royally ripped my aunt off. She bought a dual core. She ends up finding out its not a dual core and the motherboard looks like it was almost hammered into the case. Like I previously said ANY software they need they already have. As for the 3am thing....Im on afternoons so its fine by me

 

[ErikD]

They already have a legal copy of XP to install? This is usually the killer when it comes to a custom build and trying to beat out an OEM.

Support too as already mentioned. You might be willing to take the calls now, but what about in a year? Two years? What if they call everyday? Are you really willing and able to be a 24/7 support line? This is one major reason I don't build PCs for anyone but family, and don't charge either. Basically my deal is I will build it, set it up how you want, and make sure it works with you. After that you are more or less on your own.

Also consider that is the thing should have a failure after the fact and something important is lost you might create problem with your neighbors, who now seem to be friends. It doesn't even have to be your fault, a year after you build the HD craps out and takes all of the family phots and stuff with it.

Just consider everything carefully before deciding if this is something you really want to go through with. And if you do want to do it I would stress that you are building a quality upgradable machine, not a disposable POS like Dell sells and are willing to come in at a similiar price point.