Reply to: New Desktop Recommendations please ....

[Platypus]

I let Scan build one for me, pretty good, but I had to switch off the overclocking as it kept BSOD'ing

EDIT: fscking huge chassis, now has two monster video cards and 5 hard drives. Nice for expandability.

[d000hg]

The other thing that puts me off Dell/PC World is the OEM OS licencing scam that they practice, where after a couple years if something goes wrong and you have to resinstall the OS, the licence key on the side of the PC no longer works

PCWorld gave mum a recovery USB key

[SteelyDan]

Last 2 desktops I've bought thru Mesh.
One is XP, other Win 7, both still going strong although XP machine not used much these days. Win 7 was high spec at the time, purchased 4 years ago.
Have no complaints, no component failures, no problems. Plus they do customisation, but I think many suppliers do this, Chillblast, PCSpecialist, et al.
Like most things though, it's subjective and based on user experience, i.e. you get a good machine and you're likely to stick with that brand.

[SimonMac]

...I have heard that Chilli stuff is good...

Linky ?

Boo

Chillblast - The UK's most awarded Custom PC builder - Cheap PCs - Gaming PCs - Workstations

[Boo]

[QUOTE=tractor;1972513]...I have heard that Chilli stuff is good.../QUOTE]

Linky ?

Boo

[CloudWalker]

Overclockers.

Mr C bought one from them a couple of years ago and is very happy with it (the hardware at least, he hates Win8.1).

+1 and they will custom build it for you

PC Systems - Overclockers UK

[VectraMan]

The other thing that puts me off Dell/PC World is the OEM OS licencing scam that they practice, where after a couple years if something goes wrong and you have to resinstall the OS, the licence key on the side of the PC no longer works

I've done that lots of times without issue. Sounds like you were using the wrong CD: it used to be that you needed a Dell OEM XP CD to use the Dell code, a retail XP wouldn't work. But I think they dropped that with Vista and later.

As for support, I wouldn't know as I've never had a reason to call them. I'd much rather have that than a company with great support that I need all the time. But YMMV.

[anonymouse]

No complaints with SCAN, except for the queue, so next day delivery for me.

I usually pick a motherboard bundle, but you can pick a PC, or spec your own for them to build.

Custom PCs, Custom Gaming PCs, Custom Computers, Gaming - 3XS

[Contreras]

The other thing that puts me off Dell/PC World is the OEM OS licencing scam that they practice, where after a couple years if something goes wrong and you have to resinstall the OS, the licence key on the side of the PC no longer works

I've not seen that behaviour. Using the same "Reinstallation CD" (in effect a Windows OEM CD) on a number of Dell desktops/laptops either to install or re-install, it never asks for a licence key. Somehow it just 'knows' the hardware is Dell and therefore is legit to go ahead.

Albeit this is with Win XP Pro., perhaps later (or non-Pro) releases no longer work like that.

[kevpuk]

Another vote for Scan, they have always been competitive on price and the few occasions I have needed RMA/support, they have been very good.
Additionally, Overclockers can be good for a whole raft of things, too. At least 90% of my PC components et al have been sourced from these 2, for over 10 years.

[tractor]

...

If I ever buy a desktop PC again I'll definitely go for a custom built one, maybe not built by me, but with proper standard components that can be replaced or upgraded and that have proper drivers available from the manufacturer. Not the cheapo unsupported tulip that Dell etc use.

The other thing that puts me off Dell/PC World is the OEM OS licencing scam that they practice, where after a couple years if something goes wrong and you have to resinstall the OS, the licence key on the side of the PC no longer works

[eek]

Same here, about 14 years I think, spent thousands with them and never had any problems. Always the first place I look for any PC bits. Haven't used them much over the last few years since I went Mac though, so don't know if anything has changed.

The only time I need support was last year. Called Saturday morning bypassed the q and a once the operator knew I was clueful, replacement part sent monday

[Bunk]

If I ever buy a desktop PC again I'll definitely go for a custom built one, maybe not built by me, but with proper standard components that can be replaced or upgraded and that have proper drivers available from the manufacturer. Not the cheapo unsupported tulip that Dell etc use.

[Bunk]

I've bought stuff from scan for 18 years. Never had a problem with them.

Same here, about 14 years I think, spent thousands with them and never had any problems. Always the first place I look for any PC bits. Haven't used them much over the last few years since I went Mac though, so don't know if anything has changed.

[tractor]

What is the PC World/Dell experience lol?

My Dell experience is that you order things, they turn up promptly and work for years without any problems.

First mail order pc I ever bought was Dell and was fine, downhill from then on, bad CS, poor ordering system, made up model numbers for video cards so you couldn't find a performance review, system performance poor compared with all their reviews, overpriced yada yada. similar to Ministrone's exp below.

I have had a few problems with dell stuff, laptop screen fooked up and desktop power supply failed.

Wont use them again as their bob support on both occasions was pretty terrible.

Similar to my second experience even the fan packed up in a few months easier just to replace it myself even though it was still under warranty, just had a look at Alienware (Dell) and stuff looks way overpriced and still using their own model numbers for parts so you can't find reviews.

I guess YMMV with all of 'em but for me it's always once bitten, twice shy.