Geek Spot 5 by Jeff Timm

Hi! I’m Jeff Timm, personal computer user since 1983. My wife Holly insisted I share my knowledge and answer your basic computer hardware questions.

Some thoughts on January White Sales.

After Christmas sales are an old established tradition. Just don’t let a low price influence your decision.

Quality still counts. Check out www.zdnet.com/pcmag for reviews on equipment. Sometimes their search is a little stupid, but it remains a good source of equipment reviews.

Close outs: Equipment models that have been discontinued. This equipment is often available at low prices, we use a generic computer bought on close out ($299 marked down from $549) it runs the printers and it works. Its modem was slow, it’s hard disk small, but Nick is good enough. Make sure you are buying new equipment, not returned or rebuilt. Check out the specifications on the equipment you are considering and compare it to the newer models. Sometimes the difference is just the speed of the processor and the size of the hard disk. If the only difference is minor it might be an excellent buy.

Demo Models: Systems and components that have been abused by hundreds of shoppers during the season. I don’t generally suggest you buy a computer that’s been used as a demonstrator, I have done it and been pleased with the result. Monitors, as long as you can get a very good price, a "Carry In" extended warrantee (check and see if the Sales Rep will give you the extended warrantee free) and stick to major name brands, (Hitachi, Sony, and NEC are good bets in monitors)

Returns: Let the buyer beware. This is equipment someone else found a problem. Do you bet that is was a non-fault problem (wrong size, wrong shade of beige,) and believe the seller actually checked it out and fixed the problem? Is the warrantee still in effect? Is it something you really need? Once again I have a returned hard disk which has been subjected to heavy use for years and is still running, I saved $100 compared to a new unit.

Rebuilds: Equipment that has been returned and repaired. You must assume the repairer was knowledgeable and diagnosed and repaired the problem properly. (Example: If you replace a failed Hard Disk, but it failed because of a bad power supply, it’s going to fail again Real Real Soon Now.) Make sure you have a warrantee and all the appropriate manuals and documents.

Surplus Warehouses: Generally the on-line surplus warehouses are NOT A GOOD DEAL, even the clearance divisions of the big manufacturers. I looked at Compaq ™ computers a few years ago. They were closing out computers on line for almost $200 MORE than the same model was selling at Office Max ™ down the street.