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"PC World - Not as Advertised"

Well, you all know those lovely PC World adverts where people come into the shop (via the internet, nothing like a bit of reality, then) and are served by some helpful assistants that reel off a load of facts and figures as soon as they start looking at something.

Well, my PC World visit didn't quite work like that. I stood by several PCs for at least 15 minutes, but could I find anyone like that? Could I, hell. The first person who came up to me was a bloke with a clip-board who wrote down my description so that someone else could speak to me when they were free.

20 minutes later, I'm still there waiting and some female assistant comes up to help me. I tell her that I'm interested in the Dual 2 Core processor PCs, but wanted something with Windows MCE if possible. She wasn't sure (it's not as if they have a lot of different PCs there, do they all go around with their eyes closed or something?) so we went to have a look.

Now, I'd obviously researched the PCs on the interweb before going, but they're always slightly different specs in store. But this one PC with the Dual Core and MCE had a 64mb Graphics card (allegedly). I pointed out that that probably wouldn't be possible, given the fussy operating system so she went to find out. Another 10 minutes later, she came back with someone else who didn't know either, so I asked them if they had a display model turned on, then checked the Device Manager to find out that it was 512mb, great advertising PC World.

She didn't really seem aware of much to do with PCs, and neither did another 2 members of staff I asked. Perhaps all the ones like in the advert were off on holiday for a week? I asked about processor speeds and alternatives (to which I got shown some standard P4's, hardly a comparative machine).

Anyway, then I asked about the Sony monitors, as they looked nice. Again, after another 10 minute wait she came back and told me that they only had the display models in store, so naturally I asked for a discount. Nope.

But...she could go and ask the manager. Forseeing another 10 minute wait, I declined and hastily left the shop, all my energy sapped from the experience. Certainly nothing like the advert...

Send me your dollah and I can get iPods at discount prices.

I'm not dodgy *shifty eyes*

(through work may I add, not some off-the-lorry job)

I know people who've been happy with both, though the Creative software isn't supposed to be that good.

Yea the Creative version is only about 185. Might get that one

Doubt the iPods will go down, they're pretty strict prices. Amazon were one of the cheapest around though.

oh yes there is that, totally forgot about the January sales. Might wait before i go buying myself that video ipod player thing as my Xmas present then

That's why it's a toss up between getting something new now or waiting...

They have good prices in the new year sales though.

That's because you didn't play ball and actually asked them things. In the advert they just show the customer the first thing tell them something like *It can play video games* tell them it'd be about 500 quid and the guy just says *I'll take it* without hearing any specs.

It's a Packard Bell, and I've seen the cases of the previous one I'd been working on. The motherboards have room for expansion and are full size, so there's no problem there. Just the cases look a bit cheap...

Hmm, not bad - but they might use custom motherboards, meaning future upgrading could be limited or not possible at all - something worth confirming with them - if you can find someone who knows what a PC actually is :D

Despite my bias against PC World, my Dad did pick up a very nice laptop there back in August - wasn't too pricey either.