JackTheLad

I was just wondering if people have ideas on the best place to get a new PC in Australia.

I suppose by 'Best' I mean, cheapest, top quality, top of the range, good advice, and good warranty and service.

I think the obvious candidates are:

dell.com.au
good guys
Harvey Normans
apple.com.au (ok, not cheapest)
Dick Smith
Officeworks
Retravision
Myers

Anyone got any experience of buying a PC from any of the above, or a different chain I haven't thought of?

Cheers,
JTL

spalen

I bought a dell 8400 from dell.com.au about a month ago and got the 19" monitor etc and upgraded the ram and stuff it was about 2200 dollars all in - which was loads more than I needed to pay but its got super fast buses and go-faster stripes ( apparently).

You cant go wrong with dell they're pretty good value. I heard that Megamart are doing sales this week as are most peeps since Myer & Dj have started!.

Sharpy67

Guys

Try :
Gamedude at springwood (www.gamedude.com.au)

FTC Computers at capalaba (www.ftc.com.au)

Computer Aliiance at Mount Gravatt (www.computeralliance.com.au)

In all honesty, the big stores (Harvey Norman/ Dick Smiths etc charge too much for a similar specced machine).

I got mine from FTC.

Scossie

I reckon the big stores just bang out standard computers for everyone, & you have to take what you get.

I got this one from just a small computer shop in Perth called Austin Computers. They custom build all their computers to the customers requirements.
I just went in with everything that I wanted written down on a bit of paper.
They just said, "Yup, it'll be ready in 3 days".

So I ended up with an all singing, all dancing machine with all the features I wanted, and none that I didn't want.
It worked out cheaper as well.

JackTheLad

Oh, I forgot Mrs JTL has a subscription to choice.com.au

I just had a look around there. Their definition of 'best' was customer service, suitability of recommendation and value for money.

And the winner was, (drum roll...... )

Dick Smith!!!

Based on purely value for money the winners were:

Grace Bothers (I think thats Myers and Megamart) and Tandy.

Now they only tested the large chains, so I have taken on board the above recomendations regarding smaller shops. I'll be nipping down to Capalaba in the next few days to do a bit of price checking.

Thanks for the help,

Cheers,

JTL

fraser

So you came on here to ask and all you had to do was ask the missus

JackTheLad

No!! I was researching it myself, and I kept getting links to choice.com.au. Anyway, eventually later I *happened* to mention to her that we should get a subscription to choice.com.au, and she said we already had one

I don't know everything she subscribes to!

Anyway, considering the amount of people who ask questions on here instead of typing the exact same thing into google... At least my question was an opinion oriented question,

Cheers,
JTL

Bix

JTL

Look out for one of these mate.

Works with all windows versions.
No blue screens of death.
A novel finger GUI.
.....and above all very cheap and upgradable.

JackTheLad

So thats what Bix da Boss did with your balls,

I'd guess yours are the blue ones.

Nice collection shes got there,

JTL

ProofReader

I bought my first computer from CostPlus who were at Underwood then. They've grown and have a place at Springwood, around beside Ikea, but have moved their main office to Milton now I see. Anyway, would recommend them.

I've bought a laptop through Hardly Normal, um, I mean Harvey Norman, but not very impressed with their service or after care. Most of my computers, however, have come via either private or work related sources.

There's also a bloke in Cairns (not a certain leonine abacus-seller) who builds them and sells on E-Bay. A friend bought one and was impressed. Will try to track him down if you're interested?

Siren & Brian

Last time we just bought a new box for $500, the old keyboard still works and monitor etc. Defiantly go to a small computer shop and start playing one of the other, all very negotiable.

MrsDagboy

Computer Alliance at Mt Gravatt, we buy all our desktops & PC related stuff from there cos they can either give you a basic box or build to your spec & they are the best price. I think we have had 3 desktops, printer & scanner (high end stuff not cheap stuff that you can buy from BigW) from them now & no complaints. FTC are OK as well, but usually cant match Alliances price for the same specs.

Agree with Sharpy that the larger stores charge too much for what is really just a basic machine.

I had a really bad experience with Game Dude & got into an awful shitfight with them over their customer service a few years back, I wouldnt buy anything from them if my life depended on it .

logan

oh how you make me laugh big pussy cat!
from little puddy cat

CadburysFingers

We too have a Dell, simply because they are custom built to suit your requirements. The one drawback with a Dell is, if you ever have to scrap everything and start again, then its very difficult to reinstall the software yourself. What would usually work on a normal pc, to start again, doesnt work on a Dell, you literally have to reinstall every driver for every component.

logan

Mr Logan builds his own computers and was wondering if anyone knows where he can get all the components at a good price? He's found a couple of online sites only. The sooner he builds a new one....the sooner I get to use it