Nov 01, 2001 01:54 AM
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(Updated Nov 01, 2001 01:54 AM)
Hello everybody. It is a while since I frequented this site due to a number of reasons. The main one being, I haven't had access to the computer for quite a while due to travelling the country. Anyway, I know this comment may not be ideal to this section and that some people may not have heard of Time Computers but please read on anyway.
The following review on Time Computers is only from my personal experience only. I say this because some reports that I hear from people are generally not their own, it is more that people don't recommend the company on a whole and therefore pass on the'good' news.
It all started one Saturday morning in April 2000. The morning after a good night out(as you do) I was reading a magazine with a Time Computers advert on the back. I wanted to change myself from a'console playing berk' in to the'netmaniac' that I am today. It seemed as though the prices were pretty reasonable for the specification so I thought that I would go to the nearest store for a look. I arrived with very little money in my pocket so I figured that If I was to get one, it would have to be on credit.
After perusing the various computers around the store for a while I decided to buy the following model. Please bear in mind this is April 2000. It was the 550 - 3D Time Machine XL+ 4 and the specification was as follows:-
550mhz AMD K6 Processor
17' Colour Monitor
128mb RAM
20gb Hard Disk
DVD ROM Drive
Logitech Web Cam
Epson Stylus 460 Printer
Mustek 1200UB Scanner
Plus All Of The Needless Software (Well Some Of It Was Useful)
The price, including VAT and the finance arrangement was £1712.85p. The actual computer without VAT and delivery etc was £1091.58p.
Now, the first thing I want to say about this is the Time Computers advert in todays newspaper. The following computer costs £1099 and has free VAT and delivery. Please bear in mind also that this is only 18 months later.
1600mhz+ AMD Athlon Processor
512mb RAM
60gb Hard Disk
CDRw Copier Drive
DVD Rom Drive
17' Colour Monitor
Lexmark Z22 Colour Laser Printer
3 in 1 Digital Camera
Workstation Desk
1200 dpi Scanner
Plus more of that needless software
So, compare the two and tell me that I should have waited a year. I know that I should have but I cannot get it in to my head that technology has moved so quickly, coupled with the fact that most components needed to build a computer are now a lot cheaper. I strongly believe that people like me have been done a disservice by not being informed of the advances that were to follow me buying this model. In saying this, I realise that this problem is not only confined to Time Computers.
The computer was now purchased and I was told that it would have to be built and that I would have to wait for 7 - 10 days before it was delivered. For the money I was spending on delivery(about £110) I expected it to be quicker but I was quite excited so I didn't think much more about it. On the following Tuesday I returned from work to find the computer waiting for me. Full marks there as delivery was established in 3 days. I am not sure though, whether the 7 - 10 days statement is just a ploy to make you think that they have rushed the computer to you as you are a'valued customer'. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt on that one.
Ok then. When you are going to buy a computer you will normally not only buy it because of the price and spec but you may be interested in the after sales sevice. I was, and it was one of the questions I asked before buying the computer. The first time I was involved with this service was a week after taking delivery of the computer. I received a phonecall at work from a Time representative who asked me a lot of questions based on whether the computer had been easy to set up and if it was working ok etc. I explained that everything was fine and then expected that to be the end of the call. If only it was. For the next ten minutes the person on the other end of the line was trying to sell me another £1000 worth of software for the bargain price of £110. I explained that I wasn't interested but for another 5 minutes the rep kept waffling on until he got the point. Maybe this should be renamed to'We're after more sales' service.
The next instance of this service was when I felt the force of nature reach me in a lightning strike resulting in my modem being fried. I had been given some good advice from a friend to deny that there had been a lightning strike as this would ruin my guarantee. Apparently they won't replace items destroyed by nature. Anyway, I rang up and explained that the modem had broken down and wasn't reading the phone line correctly. The Time operator gave me a list of tasks to determine whether the modem was broken completely. I tried these and when I rang back to explain that nothing worked I was then given a barrage of questions regarding whether there had been a lightning strike in the area. I denied everything, stating that there hadn't been a strike that I had known of and that the computer is never connected to the phone line when I am away. What a bloody liar. Everybody should take this advice to ensure that you are covered for anything that you claim. In the end though, everything came good and I was sent a new modem throught the post as long as I sent the old one back.
This is the time to make the good point that this is the only problem that I have had with the computer and this wasn't the fault of Time Computers. Because of this I recommend Time highly if you want a reliable computer.
The final conclusion is that Time Computers are good overall. The prices are competitive, the packages are good and the reliability of the product is also good. The only sour point that I can come up with though is the after sales service. It is, as if once you have bought the product, they don't want to talk to you anymore unless they want you to buy something extra from them. Once again though, I cannot imagine that this is a problem only related to Time Computers.
