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PC Prices to Rise?
guinan writes "The Economist is running a story about how now that PC makers think the worst is over, it's high time to raise prices. In particular, the focus is on the steady price of flat-panels and a possible end to the decline we've seen in the price of memory. Granted, most of the /. crowd build their own boxes, but if you want to buy a computer from a major brand better go for one soon while you can still get all the perks."
What your "clueless" neighbor wanted to you to "bless" was his decision to spend a huge amount of money on a computer merely to demonstrate his commitment to being on the cutting edge. In other words, he wanted you to let him know how L33T he is.
;#)
Normally, I wouldn't be so condescending about a newbie, but the fact that he asked you about it, specifically telling you the price, indicates that he was just showing off. It would be kind of like him showing you his brand new Porsche, as he rubs his chin thoughtfully saying, "hmm, do you think I paid too much??"
Meanwhile, I don't think you need to worry too much about the cost of low-end systems being affected, since we l33t coders "know" that building it yourself will always be cheaper, especially since you don't have to pay the Microsoft Tax...
Well I know from personal experience, that I have a hard time latly making any money building systems for people. With complete systems available from gateway for 600 its really hard to compete, I've got to be able to sell the same system for maybe 450 to be able to sell as I can't provide the same level of warrenty, putting together a complete system with monitor and a legal copy of windows at that price leaves me with no profit.
Since about 1987, I have always built my own boxes, but recently I've wavered... and it's purely on account of the cost issue. Now my time is becoming more and more valuable (higher pay, family) and PC prices [have been] getting lower and lower. It's getting harder for me to justify (especially to my wife) the time it takes to roll my own when the difference between parts and off-the-shelf is only a 100 to 200 bucks (or perhaps even less).
Used to be, I'd do it just for the love of it (and to save some dough). Now, it's usually just a pain in the ass. And I don't believe hardware prices are going to increase to point where I'll change my mind.
Only the losers buy systems at DELL, Compaq, IBM, HP or whatever the brands are.
And BIG companies. Like.. umh.. Those that matter. And consumers, those who really pay manuf.'s bill.
Those who can build their own system are not a big market, they're more like marginal. Maybe a PR market, but really, really small.
fucktard is a tenderhearted description
Not to mention people who want support. Or rack mount servers.
By the time you buy a rack chassis and the compatable parts, you might as well have purchased it from Dell.
Or, if computers is your business, i.e. webhosting, you want something with a warranty, because if it breaks, as far as the clients are concerned, it's *your* problem to fix.
Plus you have to look at: If you can get a system from dell for $500 with a celeron 1.1 Ghz, 256 MB ram, and a 20 gigabyte hard drive, you have to think, by the time you get all that from pricewatch, you're going to spend about $400 by the time you include shipping, they send the parts class R mail, and they're not quality pieces anyway, then you have to pay your employees $10/hr to put it together and test it? Not only do you lose time, but you lose money cause the time could have been spent doing something else.
Even walmart sells computers with no windows. Honestly, its hard to save money building your own low end system anymore.
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