Watch big dept. stores if you take your computer in...

[Cruentus]

you are correct, i didn't realize he didn't understand, and thats ok too, he is still entitled to his opinion just as i am.

No..you obviously didn't understand. I was clear in the initial post about who and what I was talking about. You, however, apparently decided to have a different conversation then everyone else was having, which I find..... strange.

 

[diamondbar1971]

well, you will just have to get over it.

 

[Tames D]

Guys, Please respect the Moderator warning Carol has given.

 

[jks9199]

thats ok, you are entiltled to your opinion just as i am to mine..i guess you have never heard of Cal Tech, its a part of JPL and NASA where the real geek squad works....and as being unfounded to say someone from the geek squad would'd give out the wrong computer, you bet they wouldn't, because they would know what is was by looking at it no matter what the work order showed. With all the computer stores available there is no valid reason to ever purchase a computer from Best Buy in the first place....maintain that

No valid reason to ever purchase a computer from Best Buy?

How about price? How about convenience? How about simply wanting something off of the shelf, now, not something custom in two weeks? Or not wanting to have a computer that only the computer store that made it can service?

There're are plenty of reasons to get a computer at Best Buy, or at Sears, or Walmart, or anywhere else. In fact, sometimes, the argument may be strongly against the computer store for the average user.

 

[diamondbar1971]

i stand corrected, you are absolutely right, everyone has their own reasons as to where they purchased their pc.

 

[Bob Hubbard]

Were drifting a bit but....

I've built my own gear since 1996. Last year I said the hell with it, and bought a laptop. Now first, you can't easily build those from kit. So I did some research and ended up at CompUSA to buy it. Having previously worked for Computer City and casually knowing some of the techs at USA, I felt ok buying from them. It was convenient, affordable and comfortable.

Having been behind the counter myself, I can say that mistakes do happen. Tags, papers, all get misplaced on occasion. Most places have systems they use to track things, but those systems are only as good as the person handling them. Get a rush, have something fall and be misplaced, don't pay attention, it all breaks down.

All that said, I refuse to shop at Best Buy, because of their labor practices, poor overall tech knowledge, the large number of consumer complaints I've seen about them, repackaging of used and damaged equipment reports, and their most recent scandal with the "Geek Squad".

 

[Cruentus]

No valid reason to ever purchase a computer from Best Buy?

How about price? How about convenience? How about simply wanting something off of the shelf, now, not something custom in two weeks? Or not wanting to have a computer that only the computer store that made it can service?

There're are plenty of reasons to get a computer at Best Buy, or at Sears, or Walmart, or anywhere else. In fact, sometimes, the argument may be strongly against the computer store for the average user.

Exactly. You know, it's funny, because in the 1st post on this thread I said this:

I just bought a laptop from the evil best buy (just wanted one for overseas business and I took advantage of the "black friday" deals, so keep the jerk-off techie-elitist responses to yourself please, or I'll send the jocks over to break up the world of warcraft party ).

So I was pretty clear as to why I picked best buy, and why it was a good choice for me. It was basically all about the deal I was getting. And considering the chances I will take traveling around with a laptop, I just don't feel comfortable spending thousands of dollars knowing that I may very well destroy or lose the machine through my travels and will have to replace it anyway (and this is beyond any warrenty policy offered, or any type of resiliancy that a macbook or toughbook would offer). Not to mention, I had $260 worth of gift certs to Best Buy that I had compiled over a 3 year period. So...for me it was a good choice.

But, I am telling everyone, buyer beware. That is all I am saying.

As to what Bob posted; I don't expect them to have technical knowledge beyond the basics, so if I get anyone with a brain, I feel like I have come out on top. I will not take anything to the geek squad unless it is free (warrenty work). If I am going to pay for some work, I'll take it elsewhere. Downloading people's porn....well, I really would expect nothing less from them. I don't know anything about their labor practices however; so perhaps you could elaborate on that one.

 

[Sukerkin]

Perhaps the biggest problem with stores trying to sell computers as 'white goods' is that, sadly, they are not. It's as simple as that in the end.

Like the people who bought cars in the early years of the automobile development, unless you have a certain degree of IT know-how then having a PC is ever going to be a roll of the dice.

So, I suppose, buying your PC from a corporate monstrosity actually makes a certain amount of sense - at least you have the reassurance of the suppliers reputation to draw on ... oh ... reads earlier posts ... hummm ... maybe not .

Sadly, I have a massively elitest-techie chip (yeah, computing pun attack !) on my shoulder about non-proficient computer owners so I'll have to bite my lip before I blurt out "If you don't understand how to use it and fix it then you shouldn't have one! It's not an effing washing machine!"

{runs and hides behind a rock}.

 

[newGuy12]

Sadly, I have a massively elitest-techie chip (yeah, computing pun attack !) on my shoulder about non-proficient computer owners so I'll have to bite my lip before I blurt out "If you don't understand how to use it and fix it then you shouldn't have one! It's not an effing washing machine!"

I so totally understand what you said here! It is NOT some appliance, some washing machine or a refrigerator. It can do logical anding, oring, it is the w0000----$@$!@#$! !!!!!!!!!!

BUT -- I also know that not everyone is interested enough to dive into learning more about them. I, for one, thing that Cruentus did the right thing. He got a reasonably priced, adequate computer for what he needs, and if it ends up falling off of a helicopter or something, well,,, its not the top of the line, so its an acceptable risk.

Now, I did not have a computer until about, oh, 5 years ago. I did not know how to turn one on! But, I went to the public library as I was saving up money to buy hardware, and I read every freaking single book on computer hardware that there was, and even bought one book new.

So, I bought the parts from this totally righteous guy who immigrated from China and he has the best computer hardware store around, totally leet! Everyone in the "scene" around here knows him. He's got a possie!

Then, I built the rig! And I did it in a 1337 way!

50% humidity
anti-static protection
naked! (haha -- just kidding, but no shirt on either -- don't wish to have any static charges anywhere on my BABY!).

That rig is now colocated, but is dear to me, 'speeder' was my first!

I think that everyone who is inclined should get some old rig, any P4 grade processor or above would be fine. Then, TRASH IT! That's right! Hose that box!
Then, reinstall. Choose a BETTER OS. Do the GNU/Linux like Mr. Hubbard did on the server! Get r0wdy!!! Hahaha!!! Yes!

It is so much easier to learn about these computer machines than it is to learn about, say, automobiles! Then, you can always fix your own computer, and it is interesting to learn about them, too!

But, the bottom line of this thread is, no, you should not take some very expensive computer to any kind of shop like this. Just get to know some people in your area who are computer enthusiasts instead, and they can recommend someone who is more reliable!

BestBuys are good for buying hardware at cheap prices, though, but,... haha! newegg.com is a very good vendor, too! Fast, cheap, reliable!

 

[Kreth]

I think that everyone who is inclined should get some old rig, any P4 grade processor or above would be fine. Then, TRASH IT! That's right! Hose that box!
Then, reinstall. Choose a BETTER OS. Do the GNU/Linux like Mr. Hubbard did on the server! Get r0wdy!!! Hahaha!!! Yes!

And this is how most computer geeks who really know their **** got started. Trial and error is a great teacher. Then you have the paper MCSEs who can show a nice resume, but are pretty worthless in RL, so they go to work for the Geek Squad. :lol:

 

[Sukerkin]

It's how I learned after the PC revolution started (having been an 8-Bit geek build-your-own-computer-and-software before that).

I had an SX-25 (oooh!) running Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and essentially poked it 'till I broke it and then fixed it again.

There was noone to tell me how to do it (no interwebs) and no books on hand to learn from - I just hammered at it with raw mental horsepower and inquisitiveness until I had solutions.

Which is why I've always said that someone who learned from scratch in the commandline days is someone knowledgeable about how computers work and someone who learned in the 'graphical' age is someone knowledgeable in how to make Windows not break for five minutes.

 

[newGuy12]

(having been an 8-Bit geek build-your-own-computer-and-software before that).

Yes! Old School!
:bow:

There was noone to tell me how to do it (no interwebs) and no books on hand to learn from - I just hammered at it with raw mental horsepower and inquisitiveness until I had solutions.

My gosh, Sukerin! That's hard core brute force!

Which is why I've always said that someone who learned from scratch in the commandline days is someone knowledgeable about how computers work and someone who learned in the 'graphical' age is someone knowledgeable in how to make Windows not break for five minutes.

That's why I prefer to use the CLI myself! You can always make the changes through ssh to the remote boxen, and it should be fairly consistent even across distros. BASH is my choice, because it is the choice of the gnu-generation! And I use the venerable vi editor because it is supposed to be ubiquitous, not to mention the choice of "cool users"! Yes, given enough practice, I can even start to guess ahead of time switches to commands, and the man pages no longer intimidate me. I can see now a certain method behind the madness. I think that I am starting to "get it"!

 

[newGuy12]

Hahaha! No one ever codes in asm such that they can fit it onto a 1.44 MB floppy drive. Those days are gone! Nowadays everyone can code with the interpreted languages and such, use the power steering and lay into it with the processing power, its insane.

But, still, homie does not forward X! No! I'm in there, Mr. Sukerin! I respect the ways that you mention!

 

[Cryozombie]

You wanna know somthing funny about the Geek Squad? I have a friend who does contract work for various companies doing warranty work on various peices of computer equipment, printers, and plasma/lcd televisions.

Geek Squad techs don't fix things that break in their office. He does.

 

[BrandiJo]

lol thats great.