by Jeremy Jameson

Created on: July 02, 2007

If you are looking to buy a pre-built or built-to-order computer, choosing the right manufacturer may make a big difference in your satisfaction. Factors such as cost, hardware options, customer service, warranty, assembly time (if built-to-order), and shipping all come into play.

Let's examine each factor in that order. Cost is the first and to many people it can be the most important. Perhaps you are looking for an inexpensive, general purpose machine that can do basic tasks for home use. That may mean you'll want to look at PC makers like Dell, HP, and Gateway that focus a lot of their attention on the average consumer and provide good deals on systems. Or maybe you've got money to burn and are avidly into gaming. You'll likely want to consider specialty PC manufacturers like Alienware and CyberPower which make powerhouse PCs meant for media-intense uses.

Hardware options tie into cost because the reason brands differ in typical cost is because they use different hardware configurations. The more generic computers will not have the advanced, high-cost components found in a gaming PC. However, this is where it's important to look at the hardware options. One manufacturer may offer a DVD-RW drive upgrade in its system for significantly less than a competitor would in their comparable system. Some manufacturers (especially Dell) are well known to regularly run limited-time promotions that yield bargains.

Customer service is important especially for the less experienced PC user. It is also vital for small business owners who do not employ any IT staff and lack the troubleshooting skills to fix problems on their mission-critical systems quickly. A good customer service department with your PCs maker can make a crucial difference. The best way to compare different brands' customer service quality is to both read all their statements and guarantees about their service very carefully as well as search the net for reviews from customers of that brand. Sometimes professional review organizations (such as PC World) can offer valuable insights as well.

Warranty is closely related to customer service, but refers specifically to what they'll do about problems in your machine beyond your fixing ability (even with the guidance of a support rep). Warranties are especially important with laptop computers as these are more likely to be damaged, lost, or stolen than a desktop. It may be worth buying an extended warranty for a laptop especially if you anticipate traveling with

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