Buying computers

[Webstuff]

I've been giving consideration to opening an internet cafe (though the ideas still very much just an idea, with no specific plans as of yet). Whilst I can find the other nescessary equipment (such as operating system, lan hardware and software) at fair prices, the only computers I've been able to find so far have been a little too expensive, primarily because all I've found include additional hardware (such as dvd/cd burning drives) which wouldn't be needed. Has anyone else here had to buy a large number of PC's for business, and if so what sort of prices have you found? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.

[Jodimyatt]

We have numerous trade accounts and could build you machines to order. As well as offering advice and support contracts to ensure it is all working correctlty.

[Webstuff]

Just out of interest, could you give me a very rough quote for 10 machines, w/o monitors, keyboards, or mice, but with 10/100mbps internal lan cards, 128mb ram, pentium 3 (or AMD equivalent) processors, a good video card, CD rom (any speed) drive and at least 40GB HD? I'm currently shopping around for best places if I decide to go through with the business, my best quote being £200 per PC at current.

[microbe]

Depends what you want to get, but you might want to take a look at people like Hireit.

There are quite a lot of refurb machines being sold off, and if they are going to be used for surfing/email/word processing then you don't need anything that flash. I would have thought pretty much anything with a PIII 800 or better would do.

I own two Compaq AP 550 workstations, which are very well put together and robust machines and you can pick them up for peanuts http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3746&item=5183057944 but you can get Compaq D500s for very little as well. I have never bought from them but http://www.6thplanet.com/ always have a load of machines available, as do Morgan, for example.

[Webstuff]

Thank you for your advice, I've been looking at some ebay comp's already ;) However, they would need to run some higher-end games (lan gaming partys seem to be one of the best ways to make money), as well as winxp, a network monitoring / command programme, and office 2k (or something of that sort), so a refurb might fall a bit short... Thanks for the 6thplanet link as well, theres a lot of useful hardware on there.

[VeryMark]

Dell are very cheap, robust and you can tweak the specs via Dell Outlet. However, technical help is a friendly engineer in Bangalore.

[Webstuff]

lol! Still, it can't be worse than compaq's support.

[kyber]

It depends on what you are going to do in the internet cafe.

If it is, for example, focused on gameplaying then you need highend standard machines from a good supplier who can support them. If on the other hand it is just basic email/surfing use, then why not use some thin client terminals against a linux server.

Lots of options between those two.

If you do need just some basic PCs for email/web, then I would suggest you approach one of the more serious looking outfits at a computer fair and ask them for a quote for a custom build of the number of machines you want. You want all of the machines to be identical using standard components (no bleading edge technology). You may even find a decent local computer shop in your area that does its own builds and regularly sells at fairs. You are looking for someone who really knows what they are doing, is passionate about it, and can work with you.

Please let us know what you decide to do.

Stuart

[FICBA]

Hiya, I could also quote you for custom built machines - give me a shout if you would like me to do this.

[Jodimyatt]

To be honest the best way to get cheap PC's would to buy refurbed machines

Somewhere like http://www.pcdepotonline.co.uk should be able to help

[BMS]

Hi Webstuff

Seems like all the bases have been covered in these replies.

Dell are good at customising machines to your spec and will be happy to quote you (you could also visit their website), as this is a business they offer a number of maintenance schemes such as onsite repair which you would almost certainly need.....However with Dell you have the option of financing your purchase and hence spreading the outlay over a period of time (3 years ?)

Buying reconditioned units would no doubt be cheaper but to be honest this would scare the hell out of me and again you would definitely need onsite back-up with this.

You could have bespoke units made for you and as above I could pass your specs onto one of my clients who does just that, or give you their number and you could deal direct.

[microbe]

Buying reconditioned units would no doubt be cheaper but to be honest this would scare the hell out of me and again you would definitely need onsite back-up with this.

A point well made! Depends though, if you have a stack of recons at the right price, you can afford to throw away any that don't perform and still be quids in.

Some recon vendors will be better than others, some clearly have a load of old tat to get rid of, while there are some well set up people selling very good kit at very good prices. HP shift there own kit, recons and overstocks, on Ebay, with warranties. I bought two brand new workstations and some printers from them when the were on Dabs Auctions and saved a fortune, with no regrets or problems.

Caveat Emptor!