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BUYING GUIDES - Buying a new PC

Introduction Buying Guides - Home

Checklist Decide what you want to do with the PC Decide on a budget including VAT Commence your research Establish your own specification and select five vendors Examine accurately specifications being offered by the vendors Thoroughly check out each vendor Examine the warranty supplied with the Hardware and all options if any Short-list three suppliers and it's decision time Parting with your money

Buying a New PC? 5. Examine accurately specifications being offered by the vendors Are the quotations in?, If not, then you need them in writing before proceeding further. The quotations must have the individual components and their respective manufacturers and models, and if possible individual pricing. If the PC was a review model than compare your quotation with the review, and ensure you are getting the exact model. It will help if you also ask for this assurance as part of your order terms. Check out what bundled software you are getting. Remember that nothing is free! Software bundles currently on offer which are useful include Ms Works and Ms Word 2000, the latter being the industry standard word processor. Works, which is a gem, also includes a spreadsheet and database. Other examples are Corel WordPerfect Suite and Lotus SmartSuite Millennium including Lotus 1-2-3 and a smart organiser. The best of the lot has to be Ms Office 2000 professional which includes Word, Excel, Access and a host of other Ms titles, all of which are currently being used extensively in the commercial world. Be wary though, Lotus SmartSuite and WordPerfect are great packages but bear in mind that these are very inexpensive items for vendors to buy (typically below £15) so don't be taken in by the "Worth £350" spiel. Also, if any other software is included, check to see if it is commercially available from mail order or from the shops. You can often find that the promise of "200 games" amounts to no more than a plethora of sub-standard rubbish that never made it to the shops, all packed onto one CD in a paper sleeve. Also check and read any terms and conditions on the quotation. If the quote says something like "subject to our standard terms and conditions" without enclosing a copy, be sure to request one. Most good vendors will have their T's & C's available on the web. Check for the disclaimers like "E&EO" (errors and omissions excepted), "all items subject to availability" and "prices and specifications subject to change without notice". Make sure that you put in writing that you will not accept any deviation from your exact order. Once the quotations are in, we are on the last bend before the finishing line. Prev | Next