plotz
11-15-2002, 01:43 AM
Anyone have some links to good on-line PC build to order companies?
View Full Version : Good Online BTO PC builders?
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GregHess
11-15-2002, 02:02 PM
www.boxxtech.com
www.alienware.com
www.monarchcomputer.com
www.alienware.com
www.monarchcomputer.com
Gyan
11-15-2002, 04:59 PM
Originally posted by GregHess
www.boxxtech.com
www.alienware.com
www.monarchcomputer.com
Hate to nitpick, but BTO to me is almost complete configurability. IIRC, BoxxTech doesn't install ATI cards or say, Turtle Beach sound cards in their systems. So, in that sense, they're just like Dell or an OEM except with some more options. I speculate that a true BTO shop will be catering regionally/locally, its web presence will be limited to contact info and maybe some forms where you can copy/paste your configuration and they get back to you with a quote and maybe some recommended alternatives ..etc. You might find them by looking around on eBay's Desktop PCs section. Just go through the auctions with fixed price and click on the "About me" pages of sellers in your area with decent feedback (200+).
Diatribe
Of course, now you're asking that if you know exactly what you want, you will build it yourself and such businesses aren't viable. But I think a lot of people have a good enough idea of what they want, but don't know or don't want to get into the nitty-gritty of buying/assembling it themselves. They would rather have a BTO shop bear the headaches of setup, replacements and repairs. So there should be a fair number of such shops catering to this need.
/Diatribe
www.boxxtech.com
www.alienware.com
www.monarchcomputer.com
Hate to nitpick, but BTO to me is almost complete configurability. IIRC, BoxxTech doesn't install ATI cards or say, Turtle Beach sound cards in their systems. So, in that sense, they're just like Dell or an OEM except with some more options. I speculate that a true BTO shop will be catering regionally/locally, its web presence will be limited to contact info and maybe some forms where you can copy/paste your configuration and they get back to you with a quote and maybe some recommended alternatives ..etc. You might find them by looking around on eBay's Desktop PCs section. Just go through the auctions with fixed price and click on the "About me" pages of sellers in your area with decent feedback (200+).
Diatribe
Of course, now you're asking that if you know exactly what you want, you will build it yourself and such businesses aren't viable. But I think a lot of people have a good enough idea of what they want, but don't know or don't want to get into the nitty-gritty of buying/assembling it themselves. They would rather have a BTO shop bear the headaches of setup, replacements and repairs. So there should be a fair number of such shops catering to this need.
/Diatribe
GregHess
11-15-2002, 05:12 PM
I wasn't exactly sure what he was asking for, so I included the boxxtech (limited choices), an alienware (slightly more customizability), or monarch (anything you want.).
But your definitely right, boxx and alienware do heavily limit your choices.
There is another one alot of people use....ah thats right
http://www.xicomputer.com/
and
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/
Those are two (whatever you want in the system) online builders.
You can also search for some local shops in your area, but realize you'll pay a massive price premium. On average the shops in College Park, Maryland (PCwarehouse, and Comp-u-Tech) charge anywhere from 125-300% markup on all computer hardware.
But your definitely right, boxx and alienware do heavily limit your choices.
There is another one alot of people use....ah thats right
http://www.xicomputer.com/
and
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/
Those are two (whatever you want in the system) online builders.
You can also search for some local shops in your area, but realize you'll pay a massive price premium. On average the shops in College Park, Maryland (PCwarehouse, and Comp-u-Tech) charge anywhere from 125-300% markup on all computer hardware.
Gyan
11-15-2002, 07:23 PM
Originally posted by GregHess
... or monarch (anything you want.).
Except that don't have the 8500DV or the Santa Cruz or the P4B533-V when I tried the configurator. The difference with Monarch is that they carry pretty broad range of hardware from which to choose. But like any big/medium company catering to a siazble market, they have to limit the customizability.
I guess that there aren't any true BTOs. Not online, at least.
You can also search for some local shops in your area, but realize you'll pay a massive price premium. On average the shops in College Park, Maryland (PCwarehouse, and Comp-u-Tech) charge anywhere from 125-300% markup on all computer hardware.
Wow, shouldn't competition cause these rates to be more conservative, or do they keep getting enough business ?
... or monarch (anything you want.).
Except that don't have the 8500DV or the Santa Cruz or the P4B533-V when I tried the configurator. The difference with Monarch is that they carry pretty broad range of hardware from which to choose. But like any big/medium company catering to a siazble market, they have to limit the customizability.
I guess that there aren't any true BTOs. Not online, at least.
You can also search for some local shops in your area, but realize you'll pay a massive price premium. On average the shops in College Park, Maryland (PCwarehouse, and Comp-u-Tech) charge anywhere from 125-300% markup on all computer hardware.
Wow, shouldn't competition cause these rates to be more conservative, or do they keep getting enough business ?
GregHess
11-15-2002, 07:50 PM
"I guess that there aren't any true BTOs. Not online, at least."
I agree. It's pretty hard to do, considering the whole technology market. Everything is changing so quickly and so dynamically, that to keep a large amount of instock items, means financial suicide if you can't get those items off the shelf within a set amount of time. (Just look at the AMD and Intel price cuts the last week and its a wonder how any local business's survive in such a cutthroat market). Even newegg keeps a surprisingly small amount of in stock items to compensate for a constantly changing market.
"Wow, shouldn't competition cause these rates to be more conservative, or do they keep getting enough business ? "
I think the average consumer has no idea what the cost of computer equipment is. They seem to do pretty good business, even though something like an Abit KG7 (Which is over a year old) sells for almost 180 USD in their store.
Would could argue that they have a warranty on their products and you can return them to the store (making it quite a bit more useful then rma'in @#$t) but i still don't believe thats worth such an insanely huge marketup in price.
I agree. It's pretty hard to do, considering the whole technology market. Everything is changing so quickly and so dynamically, that to keep a large amount of instock items, means financial suicide if you can't get those items off the shelf within a set amount of time. (Just look at the AMD and Intel price cuts the last week and its a wonder how any local business's survive in such a cutthroat market). Even newegg keeps a surprisingly small amount of in stock items to compensate for a constantly changing market.
"Wow, shouldn't competition cause these rates to be more conservative, or do they keep getting enough business ? "
I think the average consumer has no idea what the cost of computer equipment is. They seem to do pretty good business, even though something like an Abit KG7 (Which is over a year old) sells for almost 180 USD in their store.
Would could argue that they have a warranty on their products and you can return them to the store (making it quite a bit more useful then rma'in @#$t) but i still don't believe thats worth such an insanely huge marketup in price.
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