The only system's i buy are from Research Machines, but they do not sell to the general public only to schools/colleges/unis so i dont think a overview/review of one of them would be much use.

The problem with the systems forum i think Dave, is that most of our readers are actually far above buying from Dell, we all build ours ourselves, thats why we read Hexus!

Butuz

Butuz - I think David has plans for this forum in the future. Don't know for certain but I get that impression from what he's been saying.

We need to create something to give people reason to be active in the forum. I just haven't worked out what yet…

An automatic redirect to Scan if anyone opens it ? :)

Lol :o

Butuz

kez
Butuz - I think David has plans for this forum in the future. Don't know for certain but I get that impression from what he's been saying.

We need to create something to give people reason to be active in the forum. I just haven't worked out what yet…

I know that people currently build a lot of systems but with the more price drops and such there is more chance for people to buy ready made PCs. Look at the number of peoples in GD not all of them have custom built PCs.

We are looking at covering more widespread IT not just the crazy OC and Enthuisast arena. You may have noticed us slowly move away from Overclocking 90% - this has its place, but we want to also target the more mainstream audience.

However, currently I agree with you but with threads in there and more discussion it would be good.

Maybe talk about Savrow, Alienware, VoodooPCs for the high end people are the dell deals and stuff for cheaper systems.

People have this idea it is always cheaper to build their own. This is not always the case, 90% of the time it is because they do not buy licencese for the software that they are running.

Just my 2ps worth, if the forum grabs attention we can drive it forward. I know people on these forums have systems from Mesh, Evesham, Tiny, Simply etc and I don't think they should be affraid to talk about them and their experiences.

I see your point about RM - but they really are nothing like dell - RM have the education market, overprice and sell under rated systems…. but thats also down to personal viewpoint.

I thought this was where it was going…

So, are we getting more pre-built systems in to review? Sounds like the best way to get the forum and the whole site even livelier.

David
We are looking at covering more widespread IT not just the crazy OC and Enthuisast arena. You may have noticed us slowly move away from Overclocking 90% - this has its place, but we want to also target the more mainstream audience.

Good! I am glad about that because there is much more to life than overclocking. Infact, i am no longer an overclocker. I can not be bothered with the constant fiddling, new heatsinks, super thermal paste, always swapping for a slightly better chip any more. I just want my PC to work, preferably quietly. You could say, I've grown up. I am glad to see Hexus is growing up with me!

David
People have this idea it is always cheaper to build their own. This is not always the case, 90% of the time it is because they do not buy licencese for the software that they are running.

Totally true, they don't buy a licence and they do not get any support or warranty. The Total Cost of Ownership of a home made PC will on average be considerably more than the TCO of a Dell, because of warranty, and because of the time taken to send stuff back to overclockers.co.uk get it tested and RMA'd for example. People don't factor in those hidden costs of I.T.

David
I see your point about RM - but they really are nothing like dell - RM have the education market, overprice and sell under rated systems…. but thats also down to personal viewpoint.

They are nothing like dell, but they are not as overpriced as you may think nowadays (they too have had to cut profits in order to stay competitive) and they are not so underated. Open up the RM PC sitting on my desk and you'll find an P42.8. a MSI motherboard with AGP etc, 512 of PC2700DDR, a WD Caviar Special Edition hard disk a sony CDRW all in a nice slimline half height case with a reasonable spec PSU and front USB and sound ports. A far cry from the RM systems we all used to loath at school. They must be doing something right, no other Tier1 OEM has managed to make much inroads to the education market, and the education market is huge.

David
However, currently I agree with you but with threads in there and more discussion it would be good.

Maybe talk about Savrow, Alienware, VoodooPCs for the high end people are the dell deals and stuff for cheaper systems.

Just my 2ps worth, if the forum grabs attention we can drive it forward. I know people on these forums have systems from Mesh, Evesham, Tiny, Simply etc and I don't think they should be affraid to talk about them and their experiences.

I think part of the problem is, that the layout of the forums doesnt match the categories on the main site. You have a “Complete Systems” category for reviews and this contains all systems, PC's, Laptops, Tablet PC's. But on the forums only PC's are catered for in the Systems forum, Laptops and Tablet PC's are in the Mobile forum. This dilutes the Systems category too much.

Could be worth considering merging the mobile forum into the systems forum? After all, stricly speaking, Laptops, Tablet PC's, PDA's are all Systems - you can not generally build them yourself.

Just my 12p

Butuz

kez
I thought this was where it was going…

So, are we getting more pre-built systems in to review? Sounds like the best way to get the forum and the whole site even livelier.

We now do systems from:

Scan, Evesham, Time, Mesh, Savrow, Alienware, VoodooPC, Poweroid and more soon :)

Butuz
Good! I am glad about that because there is much more to life than overclocking. Infact, i am no longer an overclocker. I can not be bothered with the constant fiddling, new heatsinks, super thermal paste, always swapping for a slightly better chip any more. I just want my PC to work, preferably quietly. You could say, I've grown up. I am glad to see Hexus is growing up with me!

See :) Someone sees my points :)

Totally true, they don't buy a licence and they do not get any support or warranty. The Total Cost of Ownership of a home made PC will on average be considerably more than the TCO of a Dell, because of warranty, and because of the time taken to send stuff back to overclockers.co.uk get it tested and RMA'd for example. People don't factor in those hidden costs of I.T.

Indeed you also need to look at the effort needed too :)

They are nothing like dell, but they are not as overpriced as you may think nowadays (they too have had to cut profits in order to stay competitive) and they are not so underated. Open up the RM PC sitting on my desk and you'll find an P42.8. a MSI motherboard with AGP etc, 512 of PC2700DDR, a WD Caviar Special Edition hard disk a sony CDRW all in a nice slimline half height case with a reasonable spec PSU and front USB and sound ports. A far cry from the RM systems we all used to loath at school. They must be doing something right, no other Tier1 OEM has managed to make much inroads to the education market, and the education market is huge.

Goodd to see them changing

I think part of the problem is, that the layout of the forums doesnt match the categories on the main site. You have a “Complete Systems” category for reviews and this contains all systems, PC's, Laptops, Tablet PC's. But on the forums only PC's are catered for in the Systems forum, Laptops and Tablet PC's are in the Mobile forum. This dilutes the Systems category too much.

The main site will follow, but at the moment we wanted the forums to start to change since it is a quicker, more dynamic change. People don't like blanket change and it is a case of doing things one step at a time :) We will have HEXUS Portable and HEXUS Systems on the main site too :)

Could be worth considering merging the mobile forum into the systems forum? After all, stricly speaking, Laptops, Tablet PC's, PDA's are all Systems - you can not generally build them yourself.

Just my 12p

Butuz

Mobile computing is a different tagent, that is what we are trying :) of course if all fails then… we go back :)

David
We now do systems from:

Scan, Evesham, Time, Mesh, Savrow, Alienware, VoodooPC, Poweroid and more soon :)

Nice variety there, HEXUS will be able to build up some good comparisons.

See if we can get any HP stuff in, I really like their business desktops. Might be a bit difficult persuading HP to give us stuff though.

The tier 1's will come in time. Let's not run before we can walk! Throw out loads of review from the companies we have now, do roundups and shootouts of systems and laptops, build the relavent forums, then the tier 1's will come.

Butuz

Butuz
The tier 1's will come in time. Let's not run before we can walk! Throw out loads of review from the companies we have now, do roundups and shootouts of systems and laptops, build the relavent forums, then the tier 1's will come.

Butuz

Exactly - once the reviews start flooding out - a whole new audience will come in, in addition to the enthusiast audience, and more companies will suddenly want to jump on board.

I think as long as we make sure both enthusiast equipment and pre-built systems have their own places on HEXUS, the hits will rise…

in FACT..it might even create some firndly In House banter…

the Modders and Builders, vs the Ready Made's :)

I do minor overclocks and stuff still, but it is MINIMAL…cos PC's are fast as hell now anyway.

The Windows XP pre install is a thing of beauty in Cost Terms….ie you end up with lots of legit copies out there…as it should be.

Benchamrks will HAVE to be based on PRICE and ONLY PRICE…..

so a group test of £599 plus VAT jobs etc..

but…LETS GET IT RIGHT FROM THE START….the prices MUST REFLECT DELIVERED AND INC VAT……..

no added costs or extras…LOOK AT THE FORUM WHINING about delivery costs as it is…so when Dell offer a £299 plus vat basic model and then want £50 plus vat to deliver it…you end up with all sorts of negative feedback.

So reviews based on price ALL INCLUSIVE :)

Exciting isn't it :)

Zak33
Exciting isn't it :)

Very much so!

The focus of reviews has to move towards other things such as office application performance, ease of upgrade, bundled software, warranty/delivery etc.

Also, the use of the HEXUS crew's technical expertise allows a peek inside to see how well the thing is put together and what is REALLY inside that case.