No reviews?

[Ed62]

If you were to buy a new computer, and you found something like this with no reviews, would you consider it? I found what seems to be the models just before (-06) and after (-08) the one in question, but that particular one is very hard to find anything at all on, even on the Acer site. http://www.officedepot.com/a/product...ktop-Computer/

Ed

[Dal300]

For that money I would look at tigerdirect.com.
You aren't really buying an Acer, they only put it together. Asus is the board mfg.

Here is the link for the Asus system. http://support.asus.com/Search.aspx?...850&ps=10&pn=1

I refuse to buy from places like Office Depot and Best Buy anymore due to the problems they have with tech support.

I build computers for a lot of different uses and do network admin as a side gig for a couple of medical offices and a Sheriff's department.
I usually get my parts or barebones systems from other sources without an OS and complete them from there.

[Ed62]

Thanks very much for the post. Not knowing very much about computers, i'll probably have more questions.

Ed

[Mildoc]

We used Asus computers at work for 5 years and never had a single problem with them. Had 10 desktops, all worked fine.

Not a bad price for 12G memory, i5 processor, USB33, HDMI, the Intel H67 chip set, and a 22 Tb hard drive.

[LCHIEN]

most PCs like this are made from a commercial mother board (in this case ASUS) and a bunch of generically compatible parts for memory, storage, etc. and assembled.

With a halfway reputable manufacturer, the parts are al matched for speed and interfaces and checked at the factory, should probably work OK.

[Eagan]

Have you tried New Egg?

Dell Computers hires someone in the morning, has them building computers in the afternoon. Yes, desk top computers really are that easy to put together.

You should check out NewEgg. The prices are low and you can buy a pre-built or pick components to put one together yourself. You can even buy a DIY kit where they've picked the components. Best of all you can read feedback from people who have already bought and used the equipment.

Good luck and have fun

Paul

[radhak]

I have always maintained that 'build' gets you better value than 'buy', backed up by verifiable numbers : by trying to collate all the parts that could match and adding up their costs.

But this particular piece beats me : it has a lot of great spec for a very reasonable price : all that mildoc listed (that hard drive is 2 TB, of course much more than you'll need), and a well designed case (bunch of user-accessible ports and card-readers up-front-top), and keyboard/mouse and OS (Win 7 Home Premium). Newegg can't match all that at today's prices.

Paul (Eagan) does have a point - we don't know the individual parts that went in this, but then, that may not matter much to you.

This machine might be an overkill for your purposes, but I don't think you can get a better deal.

I can't speak for tech support from Office Depot; been a customer, but never had to call for help. At the same time, methinks you might need to call Acer in case of trouble?

[bfrikken]

If you were to buy a new computer, and you found something like this with no reviews, would you consider it? I found what seems to be the models just before (-06) and after (-08) the one in question, but that particular one is very hard to find anything at all on, even on the Acer site. http://www.officedepot.com/a/product...ktop-Computer/

Ed

That price is OK, IMO. However, I just priced out 3 better spec'd PCs for less than that last week for a friend. This one from Dell is same price, but better if you ask me:

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...61116-FWaj05sj


2nd gen i7 CPU vs the 2nd gen i5 in your build. 8gb vs the 12gb of memory in your machine, and 500gb HD vs the 2TB in your system you linked. I'd take those tradeoffs for the nicer CPU.

Right now, if you find a deal (and they are frequent) on prebuilt PCs, you cannot touch the pricing with Custom build if you have to buy the OS. You may be able to slowly acquire parts on sale and with Mail in Rebates if you are patient. But at least ever 7-10 days, I see a good deal that will be cheaper than comparable part custom builds, even without an OS.

[Ed62]

That price is OK, IMO. However, I just priced out 3 better spec'd PCs for less than that last week for a friend. This one from Dell is same price, but better if you ask me:

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...61116-FWaj05sj

I actually put in an order for that one before I read your post. Reading it made me feel like I probably didn't screw up.

My last 2 computers were Dell, and I haven't had any problems to speak of. There is a 1GB hard drive in the computer I'm using now, so I'll probably use it as a slave in the new one. And even though I don't know much about computers, I am able to add RAM and probably a few other upgrades, if needed down the road.

The one I linked to in my original post didn't have any reviews I could find, and that made me just a little nervous. Maybe I'm a little paranoid.

Thanks very much for all the replies. They're appreciated.

Ed

[jnesmith]

(that hard drive is 2 TB, of course much more than you'll need)

Need for what? 2 TBs is not all that much if you shoot, capture and work with HD video. Between my home movies, photos, and other video, I have already filled up about 1.5 Tb's of disc space.

[Ed62]

I considered that, but I figured if I should need the extra space, hard drives are pretty reasonably priced now, and I can install one with no problem. Processors are not as affordable, and I'm not sure if I could do the upgrade. That played a part in my decision.

Ed

[jnesmith]

That's true. My C drive is only 150 GB. I easily added a second 640 GB internal drive. Then later a 2 TB external.