5 Reasons You Were Better Off Buying a Computer 10 Years Ago Instead of Today
How You Get Less Bang for Your Buck when Buying a New Computer Nowadays
#1 No Monitor
After browsing the entire selection of new computers at your local electronics store, you find a PC that meets your needs - and your wallet. You summon the salesperson and ask if they have the computer you want in stock. The salesperson looks puzzled and asks if you were just buying the computer or the computer with the monitor? "The whole thing, of course!" you explain. The sales guy starts flipping through the price cards and shows you a more expensive price; "This is the price of everything; that was the price of the computer by itself" he informs you. You feel like a contestant on "The Price is Right" - a contestant that just lost.
When you bought a new computer 10 years ago, you knew what you were getting and what you were spending without being confused. Buying a new computer with a monitor included was less expensive 10 years ago because they were bundled together to give you a better price.
#2 Microsoft Office is Not Preinstalled
10 years ago when you bought a new computer, the operating system came with Microsoft Office included. Without Microsoft Office, you can't use popular programs like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, and will be forced to pay an extra $149.99 to do something as simple as type a paper.
#3 Expandable Drives
When you bought your new computer, you assumed that you had two DVD drives because you saw two DVD slots - unfortunately, that's not the case. What was a second DVD or CD drive on a new computer 10 years ago is now an expandable drive. An expandable drive is a hollow slot on your computer for adding hardware later on. In theory, expandable drives give customers the option of adding the drive of their choice (DVD, CD, Lightscribe, or Blu-ray) instead of just having another DVD drive - in other words, you have to buy your own now.
#4 No Speakers
Speakers are a must have for new PC owner's that own a set of ears. As with expandable drives; most new computers don't come with external speakers and internal speakers no longer exist. Why is it that new PC owners are getting the "short end of the stick" when it comes to buying a new product? Would you buy a new car with extra room for adding an optional passenger seat; or with missing windshield wipers? Then why are we being forced to buy a new PC with missing parts?
#5 Restore Disks
Nowadays, if something goes wrong with your computer's system, you're stuck with a broken PC. 10 years ago, your computer came with a restore disk - a computer disk that took your PC back to its original state in the case of an emergency. I'm not sure if it were too expensive for computer manufacturer's to pay for a simple disk or if they simply just stopped caring. If you want a restore disk with your new computer, you'll have to pay to have one created or make one yourself.
Published by Millionaire Hoy - Featured Contributor in Technology
1 of 2 people in the world named Millionaire, I enjoy writing edgy and and sometimes warped articles (with a splash of humor). I'm from Chicago so I'm always inspired by the crazy things I see everyday. Enjoy. View profile
- The Internet 10 Years Ago - Remembered
- The HP Media Vault Mv2010: Protect and Share Your Data
- Computer Buying Guide for Freshmen
- Learn More About Microsoft Office 2007; Download the Free Trial
- Microsoft Office Download Templates for Valentines Day
- Top Three Reasons to Learn Microsoft Office Through a Distance Learning Course
- Top Baby Names for Boys from 100 Years Ago Are Still Popular Today
|
|
- Review: Soulo converts iPad into karaoke machine (AP)
- Lawsuit seeks to block Google's privacy changes (AP)
- Lenovo 3Q profit up by half, warns of disk supply (AP)
- Just Show Me: How to check your data usage on Android 4.0 (Yahoo! News)
- Far-out footage: Water droplets orbit a knitting needle on the International Space Station (Yahoo! News)
- When you bought a new computer 10 years ago, you knew what you were getting and what you were spendi
- When you bought your new computer, you assumed that you had two DVD drives because you saw two DVD s
- New computers don't come with external speakers and internal speakers no longer exist
13 Comments
Post a Comment(cont)
Owning an HP laptop that was decaying via Windows "Pissta" I attempted to use a restore disk to no avail. I rushed to rummage through all of the laptop packing, only to discover their was no restore disk unless i wanted to purchase one directly from HP.
So my friend what you have described is an ill conceived attempt to thwart software piracy. Which ultimately leaves one reliant on backup technologies one native to windows and maybe a 3rd party vendor.
My 2 cents.
3. Expandable drives - Again this falls within the area of evolving technologies. Basement bargain thumbdrives with unbelievable storage space coupled with cloud based technologies has negated the need for physical media. Hence no expandable drives. Also the greater interest to reduce the footprint of the physical machine itself (PC that is)
4. No speakers - See answer to "no monitor"
5. I think this is the most legitimate criticism leveled against pc manufacturers and has drawn my personal ire. Lets look back 10 yrs ago. I myself was a desktop tech myself, and most "restore disks" were actual OS install apps with formatting utilities. An additional disk was used to provide the sw drivers in most cases. Now imagine that I purchase a new computer with a newly minted OS restore disk. I could very easily use that disk and install it on a number of computers. The new restore/backup disk philosophy is still worthy of flagellation. Owning an HP laptop that was decay
While I applaud your effort to compare pc offerings from the past to the present. I think some of your assertions are off the mark and others need context.
1. No Monitor - With the advent of hdmi technology this has negated the need for many consumers to have to opt for a monitor, when they have the option to output their pc on a 46" to 50" HD flatscreen. Also with the popularity of laptops being the machine of choice and mobile computing manufacturers have opted out of offering a monitor
2. MS Office - I have to agree with a previous poster MS works was the factory installed word processing app. not MS Word. Still a valid point however that without a preinstalled app it sucks from the consumer perspective. I imagine MS found it too expensive to support a stripped down MS Word for a new pc owner.
(cont.)
If you need word processing, you can use Open Office. There's also Works, which is okay. Most people never use 10% of the features in Word or Excel.
I don't get all the hate. Valid points were brought up. Coprorations are taking us to the cleaners because we allow them to. Computers are coming with less because we accepted it.
Wow I can't believe people are such trolls. I enjoyed the trip down memory lane, thanks.
You guys are bonkers. @Brigid - not sure where you pulled my resume but I never put "retail salesman" as my claim to fame. Yes, I work at an electronics store (for the last 2 1/2 months) but I went to school for Information Technology and I've worked online for 5 years as a graphic designer and internet marketer. The reason for bringing up the retail store is because I talk to customers on a daily basis and write articles that answer the questions they ask. Besides, what are your credentials, exactly? If you can write great articles, I'd love to see them. You might be laughing but I got paid to write this and I get paid every time someone views it. I also get crawled more each time someone comments.
@ Mad- Seriously?
PS prior to 2002 Microsoft office usually came pre-installed on most computers.
Lol @ Brigid.... I don't care who you are, that's funny right there. I guess you need to put "humor consultant" on your resume now. :)
@Millionaire Hoy: As for Works, nobody uses it. My point was that Office was NEVER installed; you confused it with Works. But let me get this straight: Your credentials as a "technology consultant" is that you work at an electronics store? Seriously??
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....*breathe*...BWAHAHAHAHAHA...
@waste
I am 5 years old and my kindergarten teacher says I have lots of potential.
@Brigid
I think your IQ might have actually gone down- sry for that ("so can figure out"). #1 I work at a major electronics store and 7/10 customers don't know the difference between a bundle and desktop. #2 Who uses works? #3 People like to burn DVD to DVD or CD to CD. #4 Good for you. #5 I'm glad that you're in "the know" but this article was written for those who aren't.
The bottom line is that computer companies are cutting costs and it's only getting worse.
Thanks for reading guys. I love comments.