Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uflorida!mephisto!prism!gt0159a From: gt0159a@prism.gatech.EDU (LEVINSON,MARC LOUIS) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: Why do magazine's review mail-order PC brands Message-ID: <6829@hydra.gatech.EDU> Date: 9 Mar 90 14:49:48 GMT References: <1990Mar6.024915.1295@cs.dal.ca> <1592@starfish.Convergent.COM> Reply-To: gt0159a@prism.gatech.EDU (LEVINSON,MARC LOUIS) Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology Lines: 61 >In most cases the only difference is the name on the front of the >case. >People have this idea that the company who's name is on thefront of >the box actually manufactures the stuff that is inside the box. How do you think IBM made their PC in the first place? All they did was assemble components, most of which were off the shelf items! >He slaps all the parts together and puts his sticker on the front >of the box. Meantime the guy down the street does the exact same >thing, same distrubutors/manufacturers. >Then the customer gets all confused and asks which one should I >buy? Some companies work very hard to make certain that the components they "slap together" work properly as a complete unit and yield top performance and compatibility. Many of the big name clone companies actiually build or spec their own designs now, although they may have used another's when they started. > >The point to all this is, the name on the box doesn't make a rats >ass worth of difference. >What is important is the components that Mr. small time is using, >what service is offered and the price. Buying on price is a good way to get burned! > >DON'T BUY A PC JUST BECAUSE THE NAME IS FAMILIAR. Agreed. Components, performance, compatibility are important. Most important, however, is to buy a box which is backed by a lasting commitment and warranty. Many of the more reputable clones include or offer onsite warranty repair by a nationwide service organization such as TRW. Believe me, it is worth it! I find that PC Magazine's reviews give a certain credibility to the vendor/clonemaker's claims, or disprove them. No I don't take their word for the absolute truth, but I do use it as one of the measures of comparison. PLEASE NOTE: PC Magazine makes every effort to list the exact components used in the box, therefore, tey review the parts as well. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The opinions expressed above are my own, please note that they are OPINIONS, not absolute truths, although they do have some basis in fact. -Marc --------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>-- >>John Wright ////////////////// Phone: 902-424-3805 or 902-424-6527 >>Post: c/o Dr Pat Lane, Biology Dept, Dalhousie U, Halifax N.S., CANADA B3H-4H8 >>Cdn/Eannet:lane@cs.dal.cdn Uucp:lane@dalcs.uucp or {uunet watmath}!dalcs!lane >>Arpa:lane%dalcs.uucp@uunet.uu.net Internet:lane@cs.dal.ca -- LEVINSON,MARC LOUIS Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332 uucp: ...!{allegra,amd,hplabs,seismo,ut-ngp}!gatech!prism!gt0159a ARPA: gt0159a@prism.gatech.edu or marc@isye.gatech.edu