PC price wars: Good time for a deal
Is it just us or is the PC manufacturers starting to sound a lot like the airlines? Last week Dell cut prices on corporate desktops by 10 percent, prompting competitors to announce even deeper cuts. Next thing you know we'll have discounts for 7-day advance purchases, better deals if you're willing to stay on hold with a sales rep on a Saturday night, and soon, maybe you'll even get a packet of nuts to along with your new system.
Although the growth in new PCs has been slowing, it appears that all of the major companies have come to the conclusion the only way out of this slowdown is to be aggressive--very aggressive. Dell is eliminating thousands of jobs and asking its employees to take mandatory vacation time so that it can meet it numbers, without having to abandon it's price cuts. Compaq has reduced prices on some PCs by 31 percent and HP has reduced prices by 28 percent.
But after you've shed a tear for these struggling companies, your next move should be to get yourself a new PC. Because these price wars mean there are some great deals to be had now. Even on some of the newest configurations--like those based on the 1.7GHz Pentium 4 processor that we reviewed just a couple weeks ago--have already been reduced. Here are some examples:
Dell Dimension 8100, with a 1.5GHz Pentium 4 processor; 128MB of RAM; a 40GB hard drive; an 18-inch monitor; a GeForce2 graphics card with 64MB DDR memory; and DVD and CD-RW drives cost $3,308 when we reviewed it last November. Today you can get almost the identical system--albeit with a faster DVD drive--for $2,657.
Gateway Performance 1700XL with a 1.7GHz Pentium 4 processor; 128MB of RAM; a 75GB hard drive; a 19-inch monitor, a GeForce2 graphics card with 64MB DDR memory, and DVD and CD-RW drives was $2,699 direct when we reviewed it on April 23. Just two weeks later, it's selling for $2,533 direct, and you'll even get an 80GB hard drive.
Compaq Presario 7000Z-1.2 with a 1.2 GHz Athlon processor; 256MB of RAM; a 75GB hard drive; a 19-inch monitor; a GeForce2 graphics card with 64MB DDR memory; and DVD and CD-RW drives was $2,958 direct when we reviewed it in late March. Today? You can buy it for an astonishing $2,341.
In addition to lower prices, computer makers are throwing in some extras to entice customers. For example, both Dell and Gateway rotate different offers, ranging from free shipping (which can save you $100), to free upgrades and peripherals, such as CD-RW drives, printers, scanners, etc.
The point is, don't get stuck paying full fare. Take advantage of the increased competition, do a little research at ZDNet's Desktop SuperCenter and book yourself a deal on a first-class computer.
See Also: This week's Hottest Desktops Talkback
Have you found a great deal on a desktop? Any tips for others looking to buy? Tell us in Talkback.
Is it just us or is the PC manufacturers starting to sound a lot like the airlines? Last week Dell cut prices on corporate desktops by 10 percent, prompting competitors to announce even deeper cuts. Next thing you know we'll have discounts for 7-day advance purchases, better deals if you're willing to stay on hold with a sales rep on a Saturday night, and soon, maybe you'll even get a packet of nuts to along with your new system.
Although the growth in new PCs has been slowing, it appears that all of the major companies have come to the conclusion the only way out of this slowdown is to be aggressive--very aggressive. Dell is eliminating thousands of jobs and asking its employees to take mandatory vacation time so that it can meet it numbers, without having to abandon it's price cuts. Compaq has reduced prices on some PCs by 31 percent and HP has reduced prices by 28 percent.
But after you've shed a tear for these struggling companies, your next move should be to get yourself a new PC. Because these price wars mean there are some great deals to be had now. Even on some of the newest configurations--like those based on the 1.7GHz Pentium 4 processor that we reviewed just a couple weeks ago--have already been reduced. Here are some examples:
Dell Dimension 8100, with a 1.5GHz Pentium 4 processor; 128MB of RAM; a 40GB hard drive; an 18-inch monitor; a GeForce2 graphics card with 64MB DDR memory; and DVD and CD-RW drives cost $3,308 when we reviewed it last November. Today you can get almost the identical system--albeit with a faster DVD drive--for $2,657.
Gateway Performance 1700XL with a 1.7GHz Pentium 4 processor; 128MB of RAM; a 75GB hard drive; a 19-inch monitor, a GeForce2 graphics card with 64MB DDR memory, and DVD and CD-RW drives was $2,699 direct when we reviewed it on April 23. Just two weeks later, it's selling for $2,533 direct, and you'll even get an 80GB hard drive.
Compaq Presario 7000Z-1.2 with a 1.2 GHz Athlon processor; 256MB of RAM; a 75GB hard drive; a 19-inch monitor; a GeForce2 graphics card with 64MB DDR memory; and DVD and CD-RW drives was $2,958 direct when we reviewed it in late March. Today? You can buy it for an astonishing $2,341.
In addition to lower prices, computer makers are throwing in some extras to entice customers. For example, both Dell and Gateway rotate different offers, ranging from free shipping (which can save you $100), to free upgrades and peripherals, such as CD-RW drives, printers, scanners, etc.
The point is, don't get stuck paying full fare. Take advantage of the increased competition, do a little research at ZDNet's Desktop SuperCenter and book yourself a deal on a first-class computer.
See Also: This week's Hottest Desktops Talkback
Have you found a great deal on a desktop? Any tips for others looking to buy? Tell us in Talkback.