We're entering the prime PC buying season, and along with the dozens and dozens of Web ads we're bombarded with each day, our Sunday newspapers are virtually bursting with flyers hawking enticing system deals. But how good are these deals, really?
I'm all for the $500 (or less) computer and have even bought one myself, but I did so with a clear understanding of what I was and was not getting. The other day I spent some time really looking carefully at a half dozen or so of these flyer inserts from Dell, Circuit City, Best Buy, and Staples. Each of them offered attractive-looking systems for roughly $500, and the ads adroitly listed system specs that, on the surface, looked quite good. But closer inspection reveals somewhat disturbing patterns that, if ignored, could result in extreme customer dissatisfaction.
Everyone knows that you get what you pay for, but with PCs it's important to understand the nuances.