Before you buy that brand new dream PC, the following pages might just help you ensure you and your money are not easily parted by a 'slick salesperson.'  At KULNIS & Company, a good client is an educated and informed client.  This is why we make every effort to inform our clients BEFORE THEY BUY.

What to look for

If You're a PC novice on the road to buying a first or second computer, see if this makes you feel better:  It's never easy.  Even for seasoned professionals, there's something about stepping up with your own money that casts the entire PC making decision into a new, indistinct light.  The market races on.  the ideal specifications, dependable brands, and market hype you knew six months ago might be all gone.

Only the uninformed jump in and say, "I've got $1,500.00, and I want to buy a (insert any brand here)."  That approach may work on TV's and toasters, but not in PC purchasing.  To make an intelligent purchase that will become an investment rather than a liability, you need a decent grasp of what goes into a PC and the kinds of questions you should be asking throughout the buying process.

To us, a good customer is an informed customer.  We'll break down the issues for you by component and illustrate some of the ways you can be misled.  Let us help you make every dollar count.

Most buyers are faced with the choice of buying from a national-level, recognized PC "name brand" (IBM, Dell, HP, Gateway and others) or a lesser-known, possibly local clone dealer.  Many people look on the latter group with disdain.  But remember this:  Gateway started out in a garage and Dell in a dorm room.  Let's not forget that anyone can print up a bunch of stickers and paste them on the front of a PC chassis.  Name brand machines can be lemons and clone boxes may blow the socks off any competitor and vice versa.  This is why it is important to understand what goes into the box.

Big name systems have several advantages.  First off, you generally have an assurance that the company has a satisfactory history of customer support and deep enough pockets to stay in business throughout your warranty period.  Name brand machines undergo more extensive testing because they draw more national attention.  Moreover, because name brand boxes work from a base number of semi-consistent configurations that users can only partially modify (try finding a name brand box that let's you choose between motherboards) these base configurations are extensively tested for compatibility.  When the machine arrives, you can be nearly 100% assured that there will be no software problems until you begin creating your own.

On the other hand, local dealers can build a PC to your custom specifications.  Everything from the motherboard to the mouse.  Naturally, dealers have favored brands of components in order to simplify their inventory needs, but buyers still have the option to custom-order anything.  If you want a certain brand of memory in your PC, dealers can do that.  Few consumers have the in-depth industry knowledge to know exactly which components are best and wind up relying on the dealer's expertise and honesty.  A good dealer can probably build you a better PC than any name brand.

For both name brands and dealers, if your in doubt, ask the vendor how long it has been in business and check with consumer groups like the Better Business Bureau  to examine any complaints.  Call or visit sales and technical representatives, ask questions, and get a feel for how attentive the company is to your needs.  If your not going carefully in, there is no one to blame but yourself if things turn sour.

Every PC sales representative dreads hearing the words, "I want a PC that will last five years."  Mechanically and electronically speaking, that's no problem.  Most PC components last a decade or more with proper maintenance.  But the fact is that if you can make a low- to mid-range PC last two years without an upgrade, you're doing well.  A high-end box that costs more than $2000 might get three years of use without an overhaul.  This assumes that you want to keep somewhat abreast of current software trends, which consistently demand more robust hardware.

This is why we like to counsel most buyers against any warranty longer than three years.  A one year parts and labor is a hallmark of a reputable vendor.  If your warranty includes an on-site option, you should only renew it one year at a time.  In two years, your likely to replace the PC or upgrade it, which will likely void the warranty.

In the end, the number one lesson in buying a new PC is:  Pay the extra.  If you get two years of satisfaction from a $1000 PC, figure that's $500 per year.  But if you get three years of good use out of a $1200 system, isn't that worth the premium?  Think about the system's suitability to your needs both today and 12 months from now.

The most common source of discontent among PC buyers is finding that, three months after purchase, a better configuration can be had for hundreds of dollars less.  Expect this.  You can always wait for prices to drop, but you may find yourself waiting forever.  Just accept that you will buy what you need when you need it.  You'll be much closer to making the perfect PC purchase with this in mind.

Follow the links below to look at all the major system components, examining the critical issues you need to address.

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Last modified: 04/03/05