[NTLUG:Discuss] Hardware vendors in Dallas

[Leroy Tennison]

David Stanaway wrote:
> Thanks,
> I will definitely check out Fry's.
> Now to work out which chipset I want, and which processor, and then
> which barebones system fits, or build one from the case up.
>
> Is anyone using freevo?
>
> http://freevo.sourceforge.net/screenshots_blurr.html#freevo_ss2
>
> The one piece of hardware I am certain about is the Hauppauge WinTV
> PVR-500 card, which I will probably get from New Egg.
>
> Kipton Moravec wrote:
>   
>> On Sun, 2006-08-06 at 08:18 -0500, Jason Mock wrote:
>>     
>>> I would second the new egg....  I like the review system to because
>>> sometimes that has swayed me towards or away from certain products depending
>>> on the customer reviews.   Within Dallas, I'll stop by Fry's if I need
>>> something quick, when I'm over that way anyways (bit of a drive from
>>> Greenville).
>>>
>>> On 8/6/06, Dennis Myhand <dmyhand at cox-internet.com> wrote:
>>>       
>>>> David Stanaway wrote:
>>>>         
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>> It has been years (Probably about 7!) since I put together a system
>>>>> myself and that was in Australia. The hardware scene has changed a bit
>>>>> since then.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have been looking around at some site like newegg and mwave which have
>>>>> some interesting looking barebones systems which you pick with the
>>>>> chipset you like and add your choice of everything else. Has anyone had
>>>>> any good/bad experiences with any of these?
>>>>>
>>>>> I am going to be up in Dallas from the 15th to the 18th on business, and
>>>>> I am interested in visiting some good PC component stores if any still
>>>>> exist. Any recommendations? I have a CompUSA, Best Buy, Circuit City etc
>>>>> down where I am at (McAllen down on the Rio Grande).
>>>>>
>>>>> I am looking at building a MythTV box, so I was hoping for a fairly
>>>>> quiet box with a big SATA disk and a graphics card with composite or
>>>>> svideo out.
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> http://www.ntlug.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>           
>>>> Hi David:
>>>>
>>>> I have bought from NewEgg numerous times and I have always been
>>>> satisfied with the item and the price.  You might also look at Monarch
>>>> Computer System at:
>>>>
>>>> http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> http://www.ntlug.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>>>>
>>>>         
>> I like Fry's for everything except Motherboards. Almost everyone I have
>> purchased there I have had to return at least once because it did not
>> work out of the box. They have no new motherboards, only refurbished,
>> and it appears those have not been tested well.
>>
>> Kip
>>
>>     
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> http://www.ntlug.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
>
>   
Miscellaneous comments:

DON'T buy a VIA-based motherboard for Linux, if you want one for that 
other OS I have one available cheap.  Almost new, rarely used because of 
how bad it fared with Linux.

I just bought on the Web from eWiz and was satisfied but it's only one 
purchase.

Microcenter is simply another alternative to consider.  They are just 
north of 635 on 75 at approximately the Midpark exit (or it may be 
Spring Valley).  Like CompUSA, etc. - pick your item and pick your 
deal.  I have gotten some great deals there.  On the other hand that's 
where I bought the motherboard I have for sale.  If you buy and process 
rebates pay special attention to how little time you may have with 
theirs (as short as seven days from purchase).

Finally, if you can stay in town until Saturday morning then consider 
Third Saturday.  If you knew about the old First Saturday it's similar 
(BTW, First Saturday has moved and gotten a lot smaller.  Third Saturday 
is also small relative to what First Saturday used to be but not so 
small you can't find deals there.).  It "meets" (if you want to call it 
that) from around 8am to about noon near West End under the Woodall 
Rogers overpass heading to Denton and Commerce street.  If you know 
exactly what you're looking for and push you can cover it in 20-30 
minutes, a couple of hours should get you a thorough view and time to 
compare and possibly wrangle a bit.