Forum Home
PC World Chat
Thread ID: 62651	2005-10-14 20:30:00	Why are 'puters so cheap these days?	Strommer (42)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
396342	2005-10-14 20:30:00	Prices of desktops, laptops and LCD screens seem to be nearly half of what they were just a year or so ago. Does anyone know the real reason for this price drop? Competition? New manufacturing processes? Made in China? The Kiwi dollar has not changed much in the last 12-18 months, so the exchange rate cannot me the reason. LCD screen technology, like most all tech advances, probably involve cheaper - more efficient manufacturing. But would this apply to complete systems?	Strommer (42)
396343	2005-10-14 20:41:00	I think technology get obsolete after some time in the market...I think around 2 years ago some xtreme PCs will cost around $5000...now you can get one for around $1500-$2000	Mr Wetzyl (362)
396344	2005-10-14 20:45:00	I think technology get obsolete after some time in the market. Yes, but it still seems to me that good basic systems are much cheaper these days than a year or two ago. By this I do not mean extreme systems used for gaming or other heavy uses - these will always be expensive and will devalue rapidly. Decent systems good for general family use (but not the best games) just seem to be at bargain prices.	Strommer (42)
396345	2005-10-14 21:30:00	Well,I think its because no new Windows has been released to cripple low end systems, so you can get the cheapest junk on the market and its still not obsolete. Runs XP just fine for most people.And seeing as there is no R&D associated with this gear plus the fact that the factories have been turning them out for years means the cost to manufactur is low, as is the quality in most cases.Ram, Harddrives, Optical drives have all been drooping in price constantly for the last year. Going back to no new OS on the market then only gamers have a real reason to upgrade, So the shops are cutting each others throats to provide an incentive....price. Then factor in the internet and the Auckland stores that charge $1 markup on hardware, fine for them as they sell thousands of items a week, Hurts every other shop in the country. Then we get Dell and other big brands dumping rubbish stock into NZ by the truckload via The Warehouse and Warehouse Stataionary. Anyhow, If you think costs are low, Check out your local Harvey Normans or Noel Leemings, they are selling low quality rubbish for a premium and dressing it up in so much marketing people think they are getting a good deal.	Metla (12)
396346	2005-10-15 01:03:00	I think technology get obsolete after some time in the market...I think around 2 years ago some xtreme PCs will cost around $5000...now you can get one for around $1500-$2000 Well no. Everytime I buy a new PC or the parts for one I guess, its around the same. I just get the latest snazzy hardware. But you are probably talking about these cheap Dell and Acer type rubbish PCs you see in pamphlets all the time. Tak a look at the specs, well, that could be tricky unless you know where to look as often they're not telling you all of them. I too could churn out cheap nasty things like that but I refuse to. I only build PCs with 1)Quality parts 2) Fairly recent specs - not last years.	pctek (84)
396347	2005-10-15 01:18:00	The original IBM PC had about 150 integrated circuit packages on the motherboard, all in sockets . The resistors and capacitors were soldered into holes . A modern motherboard has about three packages . The capacitors and resistors are almost all minute dots, surface mounted . The IBM PC's motherboard could be repaired . Parts could be replaced . But it was an expensive board . The modern board is intended to (1) never fail :D, and (2) be binned when it does fail . The modern production methods make the boards much more cheaply . No human fingers are used in their assembly . However, there are various quality standards . I supect that some of the cheapest boards would be more "flexible" (to put it charitably), than a top line one . The assumption would probably be that the cheap one won't be subjected to the stresses involved in "upgrades" . All consumer electronics is like this . I've been looking at some DVD players recently (bought for $2 each on the basis that I can repair power supply boards) . The PSU cards still have "parts" . The logic boards are not repairable . For a long time, a middle of the road computer cost about $2000 . Now that seems to be $1000 . But the 1990 $2000 computer weighed a lot more than a $1000 one today . There was more steel in the case . LCDs are cheaper because manufacturers have learned how to make them . It's not an easy process . Bigger screens took longer to drop in price, because it's much harder to make big ones .	Graham L (2)
396348	2005-10-15 01:39:00	Competition? New manufacturing processes? Made in China? Mass production, followed by cheap labour (200 Euro annually per worker) have been proved as an effective method in producing cheap computers, really. Lenovo now holds a partial share of IBM, which could trigger even cheaper computer production - I don't know, just speculating. Software piracy like OSes makes the overall cost of a computer cheaper still. Cheers :)	Renmoo (66)
396349	2005-10-15 02:48:00	Prices of desktops, laptops and LCD screens seem to be nearly half of what they were just a year or so ago . Does anyone know the real reason for this price drop? Competition? New manufacturing processes? Made in China? The Kiwi dollar has not changed much in the last 12-18 months, so the exchange rate cannot me the reason . LCD screen technology, like most all tech advances, probably involve cheaper - more efficient manufacturing . But would this apply to complete systems? You've been around long enough to answer your own question . Most of what you call cheap are way overpriced rubbish .	JJJJJ (528)
396350	2005-10-15 03:56:00	... But you are probably talking about these cheap Dell and Acer type rubbish PCs you see in pamphlets all the time. Nah the ones from QMB, PBtech etc...I don't trust Dell...I got my PC from QMB computers.	Mr Wetzyl (362)
1