Exploding Myths

It is cheaper to buy computers in large local stores

When you buy a computer from a large store, you may save a small amount on the cost of the computer you buy.  However, you may find that in the long run you are not saving as much as you think.

Firstly most of these stores make you pay for after sales service which is often provided exclusively in Spanish.  Whilst you may be able to speak Spanish, can you speak technical Spanish? 

SandS Computers provides free technical support for the first year with a very cheap rate for support (presently €35) for support after this.

Secondly the computer will come with a Spanish keyboard and no option for an English keyboard if this is what you are used to.

SandS Computers  gives you the option of what language keyboard you want included in the price.

Thirdly, and possibly most importantly.  The windows operating system you will get will be Vista in Spanish.  To change the language they will charge €150, and there is no option to have windows XP if you prefer.

SandS Computers  gives the option of Spanish or English Windows XP or Vista, again included in the price.

Finally, a computer bought from a large store will not have any of the updates that Microsoft has published since the publication of the installation CD.

SandS Computers  runs all updates and system checks (including, in the case of XP, a new version of Internet explorer).  With optional free installation of other software on request.

Getting ADSL is easy

In Spain, ADSL (called Broadband in the UK) is expensive.  Whilst the deregulation of Telefonica happened in January 2007; there has not been any real reduction in the price of ADSL despite the new competition.  However, it is anticipated that there will soon be a price-war and ADSL may then become more reasonably priced.  You may see various companies offering cheaper (or faster, but we will come to that) deals; just beware, many of these are for a limited time or have download limits attached to them.

The speed of ADSL is solely to do with the telephone exchange you are connected to.  Many of the local exchanges have been, or are being, upgraded to 3Mb.  This means that all providers will be providing 3Mb; no-one can provide faster service without additional software to speed up the connection by means of data compression which is available to anyone (at a small price).  Having said this many customers get less than the stated speed, especially if they are located a long way from their local exchange (it may even be they get no service at all if they are far enough away).

Laptops save space

With Flat screen monitors and tower CPU’s this is simply not the case. The desktop footprint of a laptop is not much less than the size of a T.F.T. monitor and a keyboard. 

Laptops are designed to be mobile.  They include a large amount of technology that is solely for the purposes of computing whilst “on the move”.  This means that you will be paying for technology that you will not be using if it just sits on a desk.  This results in laptops costing around 150% of a similarly specified desktop.

Laptops are really only justified in the following circumstances:

·          You want to be able to clear the computer away when not being used.

·          You really are intending it to be mobile (you want to take it with you wherever you go).

We provide reasonably priced new computers to suit your needs not ours.

We can provide ADSL without frills but with free calls to the UK for €39.90 (plus i.v.a.) per month.

We are Dell dealers and can provide Dell laptops (or even desktops) with windows XP or Vista in English