I would think that the biggest reason to go DIY is cost savings. The middle alternative which DieselPower alludes to and I have done which is purchase a built system. That's a system with best of breed components ordered to your spec.

I think that major manufacturers like Compac and Gateway rely on selling systems which use generic components and then brand label them. This may mean that the system components interoperate, but does not ensure reliability or performance! In some recent surveys of customer satisfaction, the quality of customer support from some major manufacturers was a factor in their low ratings.

I'm sure if a DIY built their own computer using the same cost parts that go into system packages, there would be a great cost savings. The reason the prices differences are slight is we aren't talking apples and apples!

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Ed "Don't Benz's just feel better..."

Current wives...
2000 ML430 Skyview "The Mel"
2000 CLK430 Cab "The Cab"
85 300D Turbo "The Diesel"

Past wives...
92 300E
85 190E

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to
avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond
this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to
interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."
Bertrand Russell