1.Branded PCs come pre-installed with original / geniune Microsoft Operating System.
- along with problems like activation and stuff
2. You get 90 days free support from Microsoft for your OS.
- so after 90 days OS goes POOF !!! or MS doesnt know how to troubleshoot after 90 days ? think why 90 days , koz they know this is the minimum time it will take for customer to realise that the OS is "C*ap" . Plus 2 words : NO LINUX
3. You get on-site warranty for 3 years (as of now) on hardware/ software.
- On-site maybe , but is it On-Time ????
4. You get all the utility CDs / Manuals / etc.
- Number of customers with missing cds and manuals for wrong products ?? A LOT
5. You get geniune OEM hardware parts.
- how would u know , u can't open the damn cabinet as it would be breach of warranty . Plus , why do so many branded companies have Tech support , koz their cheaper h/w is bound to fail sooner than later .
6. You can install ALL the SERVICE PACKS
- i have to pay for the OS , now i have to Waste my time on the net to download flaws in their software . Do i use the pc for my use or pc to protect itself , Whose the master here ???
7. You get FREE dust covers
- which amazingly wont last for a month and never fits all ur products . Free ?? they screwed u for cash on other stuff
8. They install the your PC in a quality controled workshop ISO 9001, etc.
- One word comes to mind , CHINA !!!
9. They run the benchmark tool and test the hardware / software levels before sending it to the distributors / Retailers.
- HCL drops all ur pc hardware from 5 feet and burn it in the oven , Very Reassuring
10. You live in a Pirated FREE world with your PC.
- hey its pirated-free , word processor-free , antivirus-free , games-free , dvd player-free , graphics tools-free . What do i do with this white box anyway play solitaire ?
Cons ( assembled PCs, ones that u purchase)
1. The assemblers are themselves fools, u ask them a out of way question and they don't even know what CAS latency means ??
- assemblers dont have to read manuals everytime a part goes bad , they just replace or reset it immediately and put ur sys back to work in record time . Atleast they admit they dont know it , instead of giving excuses , like branded guys , like CAS error because CAS is implemented in chennai so the problem or some excuse like that . Plus first thing branded guy does is "i am sorry we have to format the whole hdd and reinstall" for each and every error . assembled guys help u back up data , while branded ask u to PAY them for it
2. Forget about the 3 years on-site warrenty.
- yes , the product will run so well , we dont have to come to ur place to troubleshoot . if there is a problem, we take the product back to the service centre or even the customers , who by now have learnt something abt computers ,instead of idlely sitting in front of it and updating the OS , will be aware that parts break and need replacement .
3. Forget about the geniune hardware parts they source it from.......??
- where ? china ? where do branded guys get theirs from ? lemme guess , china ?
4. They create a mess of partitions or no partitions at all (only one) in which all messed up OS is installed. They put up too Windows folder on the same drive.... God know why?
- r u talking abt assemblers or tech support guys of corporations who have to blindly fix peoples problems remotely . ?? no offence to tech support guys , but companies wanna give u cheap support , thats why outsourcing is so huge . Plus warranty is not void if u install other OS on ur system , unlike Major Branded Companies . plus the only place i have seen a disk neatly partitioned and labeled Windows , Mp3 , Movies and stuff , are on assembled PC
5. They eat your money.... they promise a P4 2.0 ghz and give you something else.
Yes they give u an AMD 64 koz its the latest . Plus they dont stick a 128 Ram in ur system and tell u , u cant upgrade . Assemblers make u future proof and fix ur rig for latest use and s/w
6. No utilities CD/ Manuals /Mobo CD provided to u. Yup , no original utilities CD / Manual / Mobo Cd : assemblers , burn them all into one MASTER ( copied) CD and give it to the customer for safe keeping , else customer might lose it(which they do ) . even if they do , assembler has original copy to save the day
7. Every software they install is pirated. Welcome Viruses / Worms / Spywares.
- Welcome also adware , spyware , Fire fox , opera , Thunderbird , Free utilities , antivirus and support for these s/w too . Most guys i see asking q's here ask for their friends / families or other pc's . Even branded guys come here
8. They put us cheap CASE ( CABINET ) no proper air flow in there.
- i would use the term , Fancy cabinets and why no proper air flow , koz unlike branded , assemblers can install , original processor fan , with lots of thermal paste , heck even a water cooling system . if not , they attach 6 fans in ur cabinet . unlike branded where even opening the cabinet , let alone attaching a fan is a big NO NO .
9. Monitor goes blank every now and then no proper drivers loaded.
- as opposed to branded asking u to send back ur monitor for replacement , koz the phone support guy couldnt figure out u didnt have the proper drivers and start troubleshooting from safe mode . waiting time for sending and receiving ur monitor : PRICELESS
10. You get the buttons going crazy !!!!
- If it broke , replace it . thats what assemblers do , instead of going through all the troubleshooting steps again and again and having a sleepy tech on the phone , trying to talk on his cell or send sms and troubleshoot ur problem at the same time .
Over all when u get ur branded pc , no ones gonna take the time to teach u this is this and that is that . u got to pick up a phone to get ur queries answered , thats after waiting in queue for ages . Assembled u get a familiar face each time , if u have a problem and they run u through the problem and tell u exactly what they know and dont know and in the process u gain knowledge too , so next time it occurs u can even troubleshoot it ur self . Instead from branded guys , we have a new tech face each time and each one troubleshoots different parts of the computer and leave the pc unfuntionable (if its not a word , i made it up
) .
Coming back to the topic . Best place to start partitioning , if ur new or have a new hard disk is Use the manufacturers , Disk Manager , Disk Wizard or Max blast , ie for samsung , seagate and maxtor . It has all the instructions within the application and u can partition the quickest this way and take backup of ur MBR upto 5 slots and restore . U can either create DM floppies or download the ISO's available online at the site . Plus u also get a whole host of utilities from the manufacturer to test ur Disk . And last but not the least , Register ur HDD online , if its samsung u get 3 months extended warranty i think for the moment . Plus allows u to check if ur drive is genuine