Brand-name? A clone? A tough call

Question: I’ve decided to look into purchasing a new “powerhouse” computer. I’ve been thinking about getting a custom-built system and am debating whether this is a better idea than getting a brand name, all-in-one package. Could you tell me which is the best way to go, and what would be the best parts for a clone now? —Hafiz

Answer: Wool, four hooves, and a nice bell. Sorry, I couldn’t resist the baaaad sheep joke. Before you switch to another site, let’s get on with the question before the cat gets its paws on your mouse.

The key to your decision lies in your computer experience. Here’s a quick multiple-choice test: Have you ever opened up your computer and installed a peripheral successfully inside the case?

• A. – Um …What’s a peripheral?
• B. – Yes.
• C. – Not a chance.
• D. – That sheep joke was funny.

If you answered “A” or “B”, think about buying a name-brand computer with lots of 1-800 tech support. If you answered “C” you might consider a clone. If you answered “D”, as in Dolly, you’re on the wrong site, the funnies are in another part of the cyber world.

Let me explain. A peripheral is an external device that attaches to your computer, like a mouse, a printer or a keyboard. That takes care of the “A” answers. As for the folks who answered “B”: Installing a peripheral inside a computer isn’t technically possible because peripherals are EXTERNAL devices. For those of you who are shouting over your frosted flakes, “But, CyberStupid, an internal modem is a peripheral!”, sorry, technically an internal modem is an “expansion board”.

If you answered “C” because you knew the question was bogus, then I’d say you have what it takes to buy a clone.

My long-winded point is this: Clones are typically lower-cost locally-built machines that come with short warranties and little or no support, so clone owners have to know what they are doing.

Typically, the machines are assembled from a variety of parts from a variety of vendors. Often they are cheaper than name-brand computers but, as a result, they come without the 24-hour 1-800 number support and the in-home service that comes with many brand packages.

Now, if you got the test question wrong, but you have no fear of manual-diving and are willing to put in a little leg-work and know a trusty technician who can be baited with a direct-debit card, go for the clone. There’s nothing like a blank screen and a little fear to teach you the ropes of computer maintenance.

For a little insurance on this point, I asked a pro:

“I think users who are not comfortable with trouble-shooting software and hardware problems should stay away from buying a clone or having a machine built for them,” said Jeremy Schmuland, one of my trusty advisers who works as a support technician at GE Capital in Edmonton. “Sometimes, the advantages of getting 24-hour, seven-day-a-week support from a name-brand manufacturer, such as Compaq or IBM, can be worth the hit to your bank account if you are the type of user who will use these services.”

Schmuland also offers this tip: “The key here is to be careful, as many, possibly even most, clone makers will try to give you less than admirable components to keep their prices down so it looks like a deal that you cannot pass up.”

He added: “If you are going to build your own computer, or have one built for you, try to stick to stores that you know and do your research before going in. The major drawback to building your own is you will need to do a LOT of shopping and research if you want to get the best computer, and the best price.”

If you do choose a clone, you may want to ask your vendor to build it from familiar parts. Check out support forums on the Internet and on online services and ask local know-it-alls. If the part is common, you’ll have no trouble finding the latest drivers and most software titles will work magically with your configuration.

As for what to look for in a clone, here are some tips.

For those who want to say “no to Intel” and its record profits, you may want to consider an AMD or Cyrix chip. They’ve come a long way and some critics say their processing speed rivals or exceeds that of Intel chips. They’re also cheaper.

Computers today have connectors called Universal Serial Bus (or USB) Port. That’s a type of port that will allow you to daisy-chain several peripherals together and plug them into the same hole in the back of your computer.