pc buyers' guide: buyright
Wading in an IT jungle
Nov 5, 2003
Here is a survival kit for non-geeks who go...
The call of the wild - Sim Lim Square (SLS) - beckoned to non-techie Jerena Ng.
Braving tales of fierce salesmen and geeks out in force, comparing prices of anything from USB (universal serial bus) to FSB (front side bus), she stepped in there recently to buy an original copy of Microsoft Office at famous SLS prices - read: cheap.
She left empty-handed. Said the sub-editor: 'I was overwhelmed and felt that the salesmen were just out for my money.'
So she turned to CT's resident geek Chua Hian Hou for some answers.
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| Getting 25 pieces of CD-Rs for $13 is considered reasonable especially if the CD-Rs are of good quality. |
Some software and hardware without boxes were being sold at a discount. Why is that?
Some manufacturers produce original equipment manufacturer or OEM versions of software and hardware. These are sold to PC makers where they are installed into PCs before being sold to the end-customer. Which is why they come without the usual packaging.
Extra units make their way to the retail market. These are sold to consumers at a discount. The OEM pieces are exactly the same item as the retail products that come with the packaging, and are worth buying.
Is it safe to buy a product from a parallel importer instead of an authorised retailer or distributor?
Usually, the product is the same. The problem arises only when the product breaks down. The authorised dealer offers better support, for example, speedier repairs at a local repair centre or one-for-one exchange. If you buy from a parallel importer, service may be slower because he may have to send the defective product overseas for repairs.
Should I insist on a warranty from a manufacturer, or is the 'warranty' from the retail outlet good enough?
Insist on a warranty from the manufacturer. If it's a retailer warranty, the warranty period began when the retailer bought the unit. This also means that you have to go through the retail outlet to get repairs.
Also, don't forget that these retail outlets come and go - and your warranty with them. There is less chance of the equipment manufacturer going bust.
What does 'bundled price' mean?
This means that the price - usually discounted - is only available if you purchase other components from the same shop. Retailers use the 'bundled price' system frequently to push sales of parts like motherboards and CPUs together with other components like computer cases, power supplies and software.
How do I know whether the salesman is trying to rip me off?
There is no short cut. Do your homework before going to Sim Lim Square. Research the model you want, the features, expected price and so on.
Also, bring a pen and notebook to jot down prices as you go from shop to shop.
LOST AND FOUND
Still haven't found what you are looking for in Sim Lim Square? Check out this floor guide:
Consumer electronics
Floor 1 and 2: Hi-fi systems, plasma televisions, digital still and video cameras.
Software
Floor 4 and 5: Games and productivity software.
Computer hardware
Floor 4, 5 and 6: Computer systems, components, peripherals, notebooks, and networking equipment.
Consumables
Floor 4, 5 and 6: Blank CD and DVD discs, ink cartridges.
Mobile phones and accessories
Floor 1, 2 and 3: Mobile phones, batteries, hands-free kits, car-kits, aesthetic enhancements like patterned phone casings and other accessories.
STAYING SHARP AT SHOOTING
Armed with his Fujifilm FinePix A210 digital camera, retiree Andrew Sim makes it a point to document family occasions and other activities in the form of digital photos.
Mr Sim, 62, then compiles the photos on CD-ROMs after some image-editing, and sends the better ones for printing at a photo studio.
He bought the camera earlier this year after comparing reviews and prices on the Internet.
There is no quarrel with the image quality and features of the 3.2-megapixel digital camera - except for the 3x optical zoom.
Finding this inconvenient during events like prize-giving ceremonies, an upgrade to a digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera - with a more powerful zoom lens - is on the cards.
Mr Sim also volunteers his skills to organisations that need video footage of events like general meetings.
'These are just my hobbies, they are not money-making activities. Basically, there are so many things in IT which I want to try!'
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