🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <35cebs$1ei@kao.cs.duke.edu>, Ming Kao <kao@kao.cs.duke.edu> wrote:
>
>Could you comment on the quality of Packard Bell's personal
>computers? I am thinking about buying one with Pentium chips.
>What brands and models would you recommend?

DON'T DO IT!!!  Packard Bells are cheap for a reason - they're built that 
way, and they don't last (as a general rule).  Walk into Wal-Mart's 
electronics section next time you're there picking up toilet paper.  Look 
at the fron of the case(s) of the machine(s) there.  You will notice that 
there is no way that air flow could get INSIDE the case to cool down 
whatever's in there (not to mention a Pentium egg-frier!).

This is only one thing I can point out, but it's a quick and easy item 
that anyone can understand.  No air-flow = quick death.

From a service standpoint (I work in the comp. service industry as a 
Field Service Engineer), I can tell you that PB parts are difficult to 
get ahold of, AND that PBs break down -- on average -- more than any 
other machine, followed closely by ASTs, and then by several IBM lines 
(ValuePoints and Stinkpads have a high DOA rate).  AST parts are more 
difficult to come by than PB parts these days.

If you want a good machine (and "good" is subjective, obviously), you're 
going to pay a little extra for it.  If you want to build your own, a 
good place to get parts is Mitsuba off Pylon Drive in Raleigh (cross 
railroad tracks on Blue Ridge near fairgrounds, take left on Pylon 
Drive).  They will also build them for you for a small fee ($40 or so 
last time I checked).

If you're willing to pay a little more, buy a machine from a respected 
company (Compaq is a good example) and make sure it's got a good warranty 
period (Compaqs come w/ a 3-year warranty).  I have heard others 
recommend Gateway (having business troubles, I would avoid) and Dell 
(mid-life crisis, but still make good machines).

Best of luck in your search.  If you have specific questions about 
specific brands (repair frequency, service issues, parts, etc), I may be 
able to answer them.

Scott