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Where do you fill your computer needs in the UK ?

El Greco

Summer worshipper
El Greco
Joined
Nov 11, 2003
Messages
17,604
I've got a friend who currently lives in Bristol and would like to buy a PC. Meanwhile, I may also get him to buy a netbook for me. From what I see prices are about the same here and there but unfortunately many computers here only come with preinstalled Greek versions of the OS and I really want my OS to be in English. So, I've been wondering which computer stores (either in London/Bristol or online) the resident brits would recommend for shopping PCs in the UK.
 
I tend to visit PC World just to see what's new. I note what machines are on demo, then watch how long they are there. After about 4- 8 weeks I enquire if they have a "used" deal on a specific demo machine. This has resulted in a couple of decent deals.

My ASUS EEE I bought online- "Simply Electronics" I think. Decent price and quick delivery.

If not a daft question, why not buy an OEM version of the OS in English?

Or indeed download an Ubuntu / other Linux distro if it's for a netbook?
 
Last edited:
Thanks all, I'll check out the suggestions


Soapy Sam said:
If not a daft question, why not buy an OEM version of the OS in English?

Or indeed download an Ubuntu / other Linux distro if it's for a netbook?
Click to expand...

Well, it's difficult to find a new netbook without an OS. And since I will pay for the OS, why not get the language I want ? (at one time I was running 3 pirated English versions of Windows while I was having 3 unused genuine Greek ones). Sometimes it is possible to swap the Greek for the English version at the store but this is the exception rather than the rule.

The term "netbook" here describes the form factor rather than the function. I will be using it with applications that require Windows.
 
Thanks. I recently stumbled upon this and I intend to use it on a Greek XP copy, but since I will be buying a new OS I prefer it to be in English from the start.

I found out that several brands (Acer and Sony among them) offer a language choice on first activation. A less elegant but still effective solution was offered to me in the past by HP, when they ordered and sent me the English CDs at no cost (the funny thing is that since that OS was Vista, after a while I ended up again with a pirated XP copy).
 
Bigppockets are pretty good (online). I've bought motherboards and other components off them and they do 'full' PCs as well. Usually good vfm and the service was fine as well.
 
When in the UK I used morecomputers.co.uk

Also ebuyer, staples, comet and, of course, amazon.co.uk
 
The Apple online store.

I've avoided PC World ever since they tried to charge me £50 for a DVI cable, claiming its lifetime guarantee justified the price. Instead, I bought the exact same cable from Amazon for £8.31.
 
I am not sure, but I think that the serial used to activate Windows (7 and maybe XP), can be used on any language disk.

From what I remember, when Windows 7 came out, one could get multiple language versions from legit sources and use French, Chinese and German serials on the English version of the ISO.
 
These guys custom built my PC:

Armari

It's worked very well for 5 years.

Not necessaily the cheapest, but you can jiggle about with your requirements and get pretty reasonable prices.
 
I've always liked Scan.co.uk

Not always the cheapest for bits but very good if things go wrong, if your friend wants to go down the home build route.
They also offer 'realistic' pre-builts so you don't have to add a decent amount of RAM or a proper graphics card at ludicrous markups (like Dell)
 
Professor Yaffle said:
My mam and dad got their computer from ALDI!
Click to expand...

I buy all my biscuits there.

Aldi / Lidl tend to be either good value for money, or total junk.
Occasionally both.
They are also the only shops I know that are truly addictive.
I was giggling the other day with the client at work who is from Germany, where both shops originate. We both bought a laser spirit level from Aldi. Neither of us has found any actual use for it yet, but we couldn't resist.
Two grown men. We should be ashamed of ourselves, but it's got this button you press and...
 
Ian Osborne said:
The Apple online store.

I've avoided PC World ever since they tried to charge me £50 for a DVI cable, claiming its lifetime guarantee justified the price. Instead, I bought the exact same cable from Amazon for £8.31.
Click to expand...

A few years ago they tried to charge my girlfriend £85 for a dial-up modem :mad:

Think I'm still banned from any PC-World in the country :D
 
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