Upgrading and Replacing Computer Hardware.
When it comes time to buy new Hardware Unique Computing Solutions highly recommends that
you buy your computer from an Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM), such as Gateway
or Dell. Why?
The OEM always provides you with the software and drivers loaded on the computer. The
software is the most expensive part of the transaction and is required to operate the
computer. When buying computers from retail stores:
- You may or may not get software
- The software may be loaded on the hard drive and you are responsible for burning
your own recover disk.
- The system may come with a recover disk that can only be reloaded on the original
hard drive. When the hard drive fails you are not able to replace the drive and
reload the software.
- The computer typically comes bundle with a bunch of useless software that takes
up resource and will never be used by you. This useless software is extremely
difficult to remove. If you are successful at removing this software you might
end up having to reinstall the operating system, and all the useless software is
reinstalled when you perform the recovery.
- You typically have no technical support to help you when a problem does occur.
The manufacturer tells you to take it back to the store and the store charges
you a fee. With the OEM you call them up and they walk you through the step
necessary to fix the problem.
When buying computers from a guy who builds computers from scratch:
- You may not get properly licensed software.
- You may get charge for the software but never receive the media.
- Three years in the future when the computer starts to have problem you most
likely will not be able to get drivers or technical support.
Unique Computing Solutions is an authorized Gateway reseller. When Unique Computing
Solution does a proposal for new or replacement hardware we recommend that you
purchase Gateway products. Why?
- The Business Technical Support at Gateway is excellent. We are always able to
talk with someone here in the United States that is knowledgeable and
understandable. Often time when contacting technical support of other PC makers,
you get someone overseas. The help desk person talks you through a Primus script
and because of the language barrier and lack of personal knowledge of the product
forty minutes of time is consumed to redo the troubleshooting that was completed
before you called technical support. The unnecessary time consumption is because
the oversea help desks must follow the Primus script and cannot deviate from the
script. For those of you not familiar with Primus, Primus is a software package
used by help desk facilities to document and track help desk calls.
- Unique Computing Solutions is able to issue purchase orders and place the orders
on our customer behalf. If you chose to order Dell computers, Unique Computing
Solution will help you get the quotes but then you as the customer are responsible
for ordering the equipment.
No mater what your choice of hardware, always remember the software is the most costly
part of the purchase and make sure:
- You have the software media and licenses for each computer you purchase.
- You store all the original software for each unit together in a safe place. Unique
Computing Solutions typically places all the software in an expandable hanging
folder and places the units serial number on the folder.
- You protect the software from damage or theft.
- You never allow anyone to install the software on home computers
- You never allow anyone to have possession of the software. The software could be
copied and illegally used or sold over and over again.
