Can You Build Me a Computer?

"Can you build me a computer?" I used to get that question a lot, and most of the time I was happy to reply "Yes, I can". But in the recent year, I opt for the reply "Just buy one". One of the good things about the world we are living in is that technology costs cheaper and cheaper everyday.

I recall the old day when we used to go to the Pomona computer fair, where you can get computer parts at a significant cheaper price. You could build a computer at a significant cheaper price yourself than buying one, the difference was about $800~ for a $1400~ computer retail on the same specs. You can even build a computer for as cheap as around $600, back then you have to pay at least a grand for any computer. It totally worth the time to build one... back then.

Not anymore, you can get a computer nowadays for about $500, $400, $300, or maybe even $200 retail! With a legit OS installed (that's right, no more FCKGW-RHQQ2...), and all the good stuffs like warranty that comes with a computer. There is no way you can build a computer yourself to beat those prices plus the benefit of buying a retail one. You can see how true this is by looking at those computer fair too. No one goes anymore, and those fair only sells LEDs, keychains, random import electronics... as far as I heard.

The only special case is where you want a performance computer with customized specs. Since those are more advanced and less demanded, there aren't a lot of deals out there. So unless this is the case, "No, go buy a new one."

Donald

Donald Wapo is a ninja.