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HP.com |
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Apple.com |
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Buy.com |
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Dell.com |
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McAfee.com |
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| SITE: |
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www.hp.com |
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www.apple.com |
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www.buy.com |
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www.dell.com |
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www.mcafee.com |
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| PRODUCTS: |
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Computer and hardware manufacturer's Web site |
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Computer manufacturer's Web site |
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Electronics and software retailer |
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Computer manufacturer's Web site |
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Security software manufacturer |
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| BEST FOR: |
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| PLUS: |
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30-day "no questions asked" return policy; HP picks up shipping costs. |
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No charge for UPS shipping. Has a useful, searchable index of Mac-compatible software that connects to Mac software retailers. |
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Will refund the difference if you find a better price at another online retailer. |
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You can configure your dream machine to your heart's content here. |
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Much of the software is instantly downloadable on purchase, making it
a last-minute option for the family geek.
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| MINUS: |
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Like the other manufacturer sites in this category, only products made by this company are offered. |
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If you're not into the cult of Mac, this site is utterly useless to you. |
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Search function could be better. Some "Special Returns" products cannot be returned but will be replaced if defective. |
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Lead times for Dell systems range from one to two weeks. |
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Who really wants to get anti-virus software as a present? |
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| ORDER BY: |
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Slowest option is FedEx two-weekday delivery (add eight to 10 days
if you configure your own system here).
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Estimated shipping time is three to seven days. |
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Ground shipping can take as long as seven days. |
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No date listed. Considering assembly time for systems, this is no place for last-minute shoppers. |
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What's your download speed? |
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| BOTTOM LINE: |
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A no-nonsense site for buying desktops and HP hardware. A good site for customizing an HP PC, though there aren't quite as many customization choices for computers as at Dell's Web site. |
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If you're an Apple user, this site can be a major resource for hardware
and info. Apple makes some cool-looking, easy-to-use computers; that would also be a fair description of the company's site.
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Looks and runs almost exactly like Amazon.com, though it also throws in a few of those pesky pop-up ads. |
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Dell is very flexible about computer configurations. Site is decent for window shopping too. A nice touch: a two-question form for those who don't know what they're looking for. |
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Has a good reputation, but its software is for the serious propeller- head only. Offers gift certificates. Also has a search function for finding good prices for other gadgets on the Web. |
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| SUMMARY: |
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It seems like obvious good sense to buy software and hardware online. Ever walk into a brick-and-mortar superstore with the vague intention of picking up "a good language program" or "a good typing program" for somebody? It's a pretty overwhelming experience. This is where checking out customer reviews of software over at Amazon.com starts to come in really handy. Other hardware and software sites often do not have enough of this sort of useful user input.
If you really like to do your homework, I recommend going over to CNet's News.com site and clicking on the "hardware" button up at the top of the page. Often, you'll find a CNet review of the product you're looking for, as well as reviews of dozens of similar products you had never heard of.
The posted comments of (often rather geeky) people who have actually bought the DVD player you're considering can shed a lot of light.
You can also use this site to check for the current low prices at online shops across the Web for your gadget, though you'll sometimes find-and not just during the holiday season-that the shops with the lowest prices are already sold out of gadgets that have gotten a thumbs-up from CNet reviewers and users.
While it's tempting to go with the cheapest price, it's worth reading the fine print. Check out the shipping and handling charges and return policies, which may be the deciding factor in your bill. If you're too lazy to read the fine print, it might be worthwhile to spend a few extra dollars to go with a retailer you trust.
Who should buy computer hardware or software online? Anyone who hasn't waited until the absolute last minute to shop will save time by shopping online-or will at least spend the same amount of time making a more informed decision.
- Mike Musgrove
Other Category Comparison Charts:
Dep't Stores |
Beauty |
Books |
Clothing |
Computers |
Electronics |
Food |
Movies |
Music |
Toys
Online Holiday Shopping Stories:
Return to the Lead story, or read about:
Decking the Halls With a Mouse;
Avoiding Pitfalls;
Shopbots;
Foreign Purchases;
Online Greetings;
Customizing Gifts;
Comparison Shopping
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