From: kniaz@cat4.cs.wisc.edu (Joel Kniaz)
Subject: Re: First Time buyer needs advice
Organization: University of Wisconsin, Madison -- Computer Sciences Dept.
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 23:01:59 GMT

	Buy Computer Shopper at your nearest grocery store...

	Check back issues to see how long any company has been 
		advertising (don't 'fly-by-night')
	If the add looks like it's from the back of the
		National Enquirer,  let it go.
	Only deal with a company with its own address
		- i.e. '221 Orchard St.' NOT 'P.O. Box XXXX' or
			'221 Orchard St. Suite 2A'
	Make sure the company has life-time 1-800 service for both
		sales and service assistance
	Call a number of different companies to bracket prices,
		standards, and quality of service:
		      - If you get contradictory info from 
			different companies, the sales-people
			may be ignorant or lying.
		      - Don't accept a hard-sell: if you can't 
				buy it tomorrow, don't buy it from
				them at all...
	Be sure to ask if ay of the parts are used or 'reconditioned'
	Ask if the dealer is an authorized dealer for that computer.
		- if it isn't, you may have warranty or service problems
			(IBM won't touch it, but DEC is pretty flexible)
	Don't get talked up:  If you don't need a 50 zigabyte drive and
		a 36 inch SuperDuper Monitor, then don't buy it, no matter 
		how cheap dealer makes it sound...
	When calling different vendors, keep a standard configuration
		in mind to make it easier to compare.
	Be sure you are able to use a credit card and have a good
		25 to 30 days to return it, unconditionally.
	Ask for a 'burn in' of your system, in which the company
		sets up your disk partitions, operating system, etc,
		and runs them for a few days on your machine to make
		sure it works.
	Insist on at least 2 years of parts & labor warranty.  Sometimes
		parts warranties are only 1 year.  That's ok too.
	If FULL documentation is not included with all of your bundled 
		software, it very well may be pirated.  If you are 
		comfortable with that you can save alot of money on
		Windows, DOS, DRDOS, etc,. but you are compromising
		your security as well as your moral standards.

	Anyway, mail order is definately the way to go today, as the
	prices in the catalogs are much more compettetive than those
	in the Malls or Superstores.  NEVER buy just for the brand
	name:  You're better off getting 3 clones than 1 PS/2 for the
	same price.  Just throw them away as they break down... ;^>
	Actually, the service you pay for from the bigger companies
	is just not worth the premium you pay, as the smaller companies
	are now providing service too...

	Good luck!  
     ______________________________________________________________________
    / "Lo, Though I walk through the valley in the shadow of death,       /
    \    I fear not!                                        ______________\
    /  For I am the biggest son-of-a-bitch in the valley." / My favorite  /
    \______________________________________________________\ expression...\
    / Joel Kniaz   kniaz@garfield.cs.wisc.edu  kniaz@jomby /      __i     /
    \______________________________________________________\_yiLballe(Mu)_\


	
Xref: sparky comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:7236 comp.terminals:625