Most system builders and component manufacturers are going on the web. Right now I have a fair collection of links to the system builders. Eventually I will add another page for component manufacturers.
Do me a favor: don't buy your system in a retail store. Stay away from Packard Bell. Why buy a Compaq or Dell and pay premium prices for vanilla systems? Get out your credit card or pay COD and get a system designed for YOUR needs from one of these vendors.
The kings of mail order. Whenever I've been investigating systems, Gateway 2000 has been one of the finalists. But they seem to be the closest to a Compaq or IBM of the mail order houses. I always find their price-to-features ratio to be a little too high for my tastes, and other vendors come out better. Plus I don't like their software bundles. But they always come out high on the performance tests, and are supposed to have great support. And that Generation 2000 system looks like the ultimate in family PCs.
Another perennial finalist, I will probably choose these guys some day. They build top flight systems and bundle them with powerful packages. I always want one of the office suites and they put them on. They tend to be a little higher-priced as well, but they don't usually cut corners.
This is who I bought my system from. They are aggressive on the price-to-features ratio, and they have good AMD and Cyrix systems. Tech support is ok: you tend to wait on hold for a while and if you have to leave a message they may or may not call you back, but they will help, and they have a free 800 number. One technician is better than the other (ask for Greg if you can). My system has been good although I've had a number of frustrating times, generally when I've tried to upgrade something. Would I buy another one? Probably. If I had the money, I think I'd go with EPS or Micron, but I definitely would give Cybermax a look.
Sorry, nothing really to say about this company. I just have the address on my list.
Micron is the other company I will give a real serious look to when picking out my next system. Theyr systems look real nice and like a good value. They also bundle a good office suite with theirs. I think they were putting Microsoft Office on theirs.
Like Multiwave, I don't really recall anything about this company.
A good mail order house that also makes systems. I get their catalogue and their systems look pretty good.
Have a comment? I really would like to hear of any additional system builders to add to the list, or the experiences and opinions of others regarding these vendors.
Email me and let me know what you think.
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