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Name Brands - How Safe?

We'll expose some shocking truths on this page. How safe is it if you are buying a computer from a branded supplier? One of the big names in the business? Are you sure you are playing safe? Think again.

Most of the big names in the business do take quality seriously. That's how they built their reputations. When you buy a computer from a Compaq, IBM or Gateway there's less chance that something will go wrong with it than if you build it yourself. However, many computer enthusiasts and professionals choose NOT to buy a name brand computer. Do they know something we don't?

My three main problems with name brand suppliers are:

1. They rarely tell you everything you need to know. In fact they are very clever at concealing information that you should know but they'd rather you didn't (explanation later).

2. They often design their computers so that you have to go back to them (and pay inflated prices) for certain upgrades.

3. They are slow, difficult to deal with in cases of problems, have a lot of red-tape, and keep you waiting ages on the phone.

OK, I generalise too much here - but make a few phone calls. Talk to the big names in computers. Ask for their service centre numbers. Try calling the technical helplines a few times, at different times of the day. See what I mean?

Whoever supplies your computer, most of the parts in there are the same parts you'd expect if the guy next door built it for you. That's true. What's also true is that the companies with a reputation for quality do usually take quality seriously, and do their build their computers to pretty high standards - usually.

But elsewhere on this site we've exposed several of what we call "dodgy deals" that even the big boys stoop to. They range from the not so serious to what we'd consider the outright cons. But let us not decide for you. We'll let you in on some of the things that happen - and we'll let you decide. ...more below

And the monitor is extra, Sir

In 1998  IBM resorted to advertising computers with what looked like very good prices. The very, very small print said that the monitor included in the picture was not included in the price. Many advertisers now use that same trick to make their computers appear cheaper than they are. 

Some may say that's fair. Others disagree. Today it's monitors they charge you extra for. Are the hard disk and the memory and the other bits all going to become extras eventually? Why can't a price be transparent? Why the fudge? And are you ever really sure that the printed price includes everything you expect in a computer system?

Already mice are considered options with more than one computer manufacturer. Yes, they do not supply you with a mouse as part of the computer package! 

We like you in chains, Sir

Heard about that other major manufacturers who used so many proprietary parts that you had to go back to them, and pay inflated prices, if you ever wanted an upgrade? Most major brands do that to some extent. If a company has the capacity to design the motherboard (for example) in house then they can build in features or restrictions so that you have to go back to them for most upgrades. Their stated intention may be that "the non-standard design was to maintain consistency with company quality objectives"...or some such clever soundbite. They'll claim that the intention wasn't to fleece you. However, you still have to pay a fortune when you want an upgrade.

Talk to somebody in the memory business. There are so many different types and models of memory to suit so many different models of computer. Why? Why didn't all computer manufacturers design their motherboards to take the standard memory of the time, whether EDO, SDRAM, RDRAM or whatever. When we were selling quality RAM at £40 per 8 MB (Yes, it was a long time ago), RAM for use on IBM motherboards, like the Blue Lightning, costed over £120!

We like to confuse you, Sir

Here's another one: Olivetti had some lovely brochures for their M3000 series of computers. These were Celeron based computers that could not be upgraded to Intel Pentium PII/PIII. Did Olivetti tell us that? They very cleverly said (about the motherboard): Intel 440EX AGP set specifically designed for this system segment.  They don't tell you it's not upgradeable. They don't tell you that EX motherboards won't run the Intel PII and PIII. Read it again:  Intel 440EX AGP set specifically designed for this system segment. And that was the only mention they made about the fact that it can't be upgraded to a PIII. Hmmm. Gobbledegook to most people. But Olivetti are legally covered. They told you - you just didn't understand !

Big companies spend a lot of money to carefully word advertisements and brochures to tell you what you want to hear, to tell you what will make you buy their products. True, they have to work within the Advertising Standards guidelines, but there's still a lot they can get away with. There's a lot that you can read between the lines. You just need to look very, very carefully.

That was just the bait, Sir

In fact what is advertised in the fancy brochure may not actually be available. It may be there just to get your attention .. to entice you to call the telephone "hotline" where a smooth sales rep will talk you into something more expensive. Read this article from a well known PC magazine: http://www.pcworld.com/pcwtoday/article/0,1510,13097,00.html

To end this page: You need to have a healthy cynicism without being paranoid. Many computer companies give you a fair deal, are genuinely honest, and are a pleasure to do business with....BUT YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHICH ONES so be careful and... good luck.

Why not see what other hundreds of other people have said about their name brand computers.  Customers comments on name brand PC worldwide and in the UK