High Street showdown

Life

1 April 2005

The cost of living in Ireland may be spiralling, but shopping around can often bring some surprising results. The same can be true when you are shopping for your PC peripherals and software. With this in mind, we set out to test Ireland’s major PC retailers, armed with a list of products, a notepad and a pen.

We took products that many computer users would look for and compared prices in Dublin’s Compustore, St Stephen’s Green; PC Superstore, Coolock; Beyond 2000, Chatham Street; Dixons, Jervis Street; and PC World, Blanchardstown. Galway’s Compustore, Galway Retail Park, and PC Superstore, Galway Shopping Centre, were also included.

PC protection

Antivirus software was first on the list. It’s a basic requirement for PC users these days — with the number of viruses and other malicious applications doing the rounds, users can ill-afford to ignore this vital piece of software if they want to protect their valuable data. Two of the best known antivirus programs are Norton Antivirus and McAfee. However, one proved decidedly more difficult to get hold of than the other.

While all the stores carried boxed versions of Norton Antivirus 2003, McAfee wasn’t as easy to locate. PC World in Blanchardstown was the only store that carried the boxed version of McAfee Virus Scan; as a salesperson in Compustore Galway pointed out, more customers would download McAfee from the company’s website than buy it in a bricks and mortar store. The program will set you back EUR29.99 in PC World. Buying it online from McAfee’s Website will cost EUR46.01 for the downloadable version and EUR51.97 for physical shipment.

Norton Antivirus 2003 is a bit more expensive than McAfee, at EUR52.99 in PC World. However, this was also the cheapest price for the software in the stores we reviewed. The most expensive store to buy Norton Antivirus 2003 was Beyond 2000; the Dublin shop was selling the antivirus package for EUR74.99. However, this was only marginally more expensive than PC Superstore in Dublin, which priced the software at EUR71.99.

One thing struck the PC Live! team about PC World. The shop is well stocked and for the most part, there are many different products to choose from, even down to a components centre to help you build your own PC. However, although the staff in PC World are helpful, there just doesn’t seem to be enough of them. There always seems to be a few wandering around, offering advice to those who look a little lost, but the store is quite large, so it makes sense that they can’t be everywhere at once. As a result, while customers were being taken through the finer points of each PC, we stood waiting at the (empty) counter to get a price for an MP3 player. After ten minutes of standing around, we eventually gave up. When we rang the store to get the price, there wasn’t a salesperson available to take our call. The girl who answered the phone offered to take our number and get someone to ring us back, but we declined. Instead, we rang the store again a few hours later — attempt number three to get the price for this device, but without success. At this point we gave up.

Apple in sight

The search for Apple products was a bit of a hit and miss affair. The Apple section of PC World was looking a bit empty when we visited; there was a lonely iMac and very little else. In the past, we have seen the Harmon Kardon Sound Sticks on the shop floor — the clear speakers are designed specifically for Macs — but on this occasion, the Sound Sticks weren’t to be found. PC Superstore doesn’t carry any Apple products at the moment; however, we had a quick chat with a salesperson on the shop floor and discovered that they were hoping to start carrying the stock soon. We did find a solitary set of Sound Sticks on the shelves, which cost a respectable EUR259.99.  

Compustore is quite good for Apple products. In Dublin, the store has its own Apple store on Kildare Street, around the corner from its Stephen’s Green shop. The entire store is devoted to Apple products; it may not be as big as its PC counterpart but it certainly has more than enough stock to keep Apple fans happy. Harman Kardon Sound Sticks were available in the Dublin store for EUR250. The 20Gbyte iPod was available in the store for EUR649, and for exactly the same price in Galway. It was almost impossible to find the iPod elsewhere though.  

In the interests of fairness, we must point out that Dixons is not a specialised computer store; it shares its floor space in the Jervis Street Shopping Centre with audiovisual equipment and accessories. The store doesn’t carry any Apple products; however, we were disappointed to learn that staff members weren’t even aware of the iPod’s existence. Asking about the device produced a blank look before the sales person asked what it was. Maybe we’re being typical techies, but is it really too much to ask that staff selling MP3 players would know about other MP3 products on the market?

We were also on the lookout for a brand new Apple Powerbook G4, the 12.1-in. Combo version. This has a combined DVD/CD-RW drive, an 867 Mhz Power PC G4 processor and 256Mbyte DDr266 RAM. The machine is priced at EUR2298 in both the Galway and Dublin stores. Compustore also offers a 12-month interest-free option on all Macs. 

Dixons didn’t do too badly on the laptop and PC front, but fell down badly when it came to accessories. Software was almost non-existent in the store — even for the most basic and necessary packages, such as antivirus software. Ideally, we’d like to see some sort of software of this type on the shelves — after all, it is a basic necessity.

Tablet technology

Tablet PCs are the latest in mobile technology; however, most stores we visited had yet to stock the tablet devices. That said, Beyond 2000 did have an Acer model on display — the C100. When we enquired about other models, the salesperson was more than happy to search through the system for the prices and if possible, would order in the stock for customers.

Other retailers appear to be operating a ‘wait and see’ approach to this new technology. Compustore staff in Dublin told us that they were hoping to get Tablet PCs into the store in the near future, but did not have any yet.

Notebooks aplenty

However, there were still plenty of notebooks available in all the stores. In Dixon’s, Jervis Centre, a salesperson recommended the Toshiba Satellite 1900-303, which costs EUR1,799. The machine uses Windows XP as an operating system and Works Suite for productivity. The 2Ghz Pentium 4 is supported by 256Mbyte DDR RAM; a 30Gbyte hard drive, DVD/CD RW drive and a 15-in. TFT monitor are also included as part of the package, which costs EUR1,799.

Desktop dauphins

When it came to desktop machines, there weren’t quite as many on offer that fit our criteria, mainly due to the type of processor the machines contained. For the purposes of this test, we were specifically looking for a Pentium 4 processor, at least 2.4Ghz, with 128Mbyte DDR RAM and a 30Gbyte hard drive. As with the other stores, Dixons shelves also had machines with Athlon and Celeron processors, which ruled them out of the test. This is no reflection on the performance of these processors or the machines; to keep things simple, we needed to set some limitations for the review and were searching with higher than averagely demanding users in mind.

After a trip to Dixons, we settled on the Emachine 770 as our PC of choice from this store. The Emachine is powered by a 2.4Ghz Pentium 4 processor, has 256Mbyte DDR RAM and an 80Gbyte hard drive. A 16x DVD, 40x CD RW drive is included with the machine, and the required 64Mbyte Geforce 4 was also present in this machine. Windows XP Home Edition is the operating system that is included with the machine, with MS Works 7 and Money 2002. The Emachine 770 is priced at EUR1199. However, if you want a machine with a higher spec, you could go for the Packard Bell 5095, which has a 2.8Ghz Pentium 4, 512Mbyte DDR RAM, a 60Gbyte hard drive and Geforce 4 graphics. The machine also has a Firewire port, DVD and CD RW drive and XP Home as an operating system. This machine will cost you EUR1699 in Dixons.

PC World had an impressive range of PCs and notebooks. Many didn’t meet the basic criteria we laid down for this test, but there were still plenty of machines to choose from.

Our notebook of choice was the Advent 7012, which runs on a 2.6Ghz Pentium 4 processor, has 256Mbyte DDR RAM and a 40Gbyte hard drive. It has a standard 15.1-in. TFT screen and the almost ubiquitous DVD/ CD RW drive. The machine also has the advantage of a Firewire port (IEEE 1394), which allows fast data transfer between your laptop and another device. The Advent machine uses Microsoft XP Home as its operating system, but if you want to upgrade to XP Professional, you can do so for about EUR200 extra.  

It was difficult to pick out one PC that stood head and shoulders above the rest while still giving value for money. We had a couple of PCs shortlisted, but in the end, we had to bite the bullet and make our choice. The eventual winner was the Packard Bell Ixtream 9085, with a 2.8Ghz Pentium 4 processor and 512 Mbyte DDR RAM. The 80Gbyte hard drive was impressive and this machine had the advantage of having a 2x Pioneer DVD R drive and a 16x DVD ROM. Once again, Microsoft XP Home Edition was the operating system, and graphics were powered by 128Mbyte ATI Radeon 9000. A 17-in. monitor was included with the bundle, for a VAT inclusive price of EUR2,399. PC World also actively encourages its customers to upgrade their CRT monitor to a flat panel display.  

The laptop we chose from Beyond 2000 was the Sony Vaio GRV516-G. The machine had a 2.4Ghz Pentium 4 processor, 256Mbyte DDR Ram and a 30Gbyte Hard Drive. ATI Radeon Mobility 7500 with 32Mbyte of video memory controls graphics. The notebook has a 16-in. TFT display and uses Microsoft XP Home as an operating system. A DVD/ CD RW is included. This machine will set you back EUR2399.

The star offering from Beyond 2000 in the PC section was a family PC. Powered by a 2.4Ghz Pentium 4 processor, the machine also had 256Mbyte DDR RAM, Microsoft XP Home and a 40Gbyte hard drive. A 16x DVD ROM drive and a 48x 12x 52x CD RW drive cover the optical drives requirement. For the listed price of EUR1149, a 17-in. SVGA monitor is included; however for EUR149, PC users can upgrade to a 15-in. TFT monitor. Stereo sound and speakers are also included in the package, along with Works software for productivity.

In Compustore, we found three desktop machines that were definitely worth mentioning. The first is the Packard Bell Imedia 5094. This machine, costing EUR1,599, is powered by a 2.53Ghz Pentium 4 processor, has 512Mbyte of DDR RAM and a 512Kbyte cache — more than adequate for home use. An 80Gbyte hard drive, floppy drive, CD RW and DVD drives also fit the description of what we were looking for when we set down the PC spec for this test. A GeForce4 MX graphics card is supported by 64Mbyte DDR Video RAM, while the sound is integrated. The PC also has a Firewire port and a 17-in. monitor, while software includes Microsoft XP Home and MS Works Suite, in addition to other family-orientated software.

The HP Pavilion 734 (EUR1598.99) is also worth a mention, with its 2.66Ghz Pentium 4 processor, 512Mbyte DDR RAM and 80Gbyte Ultra DMA hard drive. Although some PC manufacturers are planning to phase out floppy disk drives on their machines, the HP Pavillion has retained its floppy drive, for the moment at least. The machine also boasts 16x DVD ROM and 32x 10x 40x CD RW drives. Once again, sound is integrated and graphics are powered by an Nvidia Geforce 4 MX 420 card. Five USB ports, a Firewire port and 17-in. monitor completes the package. The machine also uses Microsoft XP Home as the operating system, with Works Suite for productivity.

Those who want to be able to write to DVD discs instead of CDs can do so with the Compaq Presario 6570ea. The machine has an Intel Pentium 4 2.8Ghz processor, 512Mbyte DDR RAM and an 80Gbyte hard drive. DVD and DVD R drives are included, along with Radeon 9000 graphics and AC’97 Sound Solution Audio. JBL speakers are also part of the package, along with a 17-in. monitor, Windows XP Home, MS Works and Word. This will cost you about EUR1,899.

The best notebook we found in Compustore, in our opinion, was the Toshiba Satellite 1410-801. The 2.66Ghz Pentium 4-powered machine has 512Mbyte RAM, a 40Gbyte hard drive and a DVD R/RW drive. A 16-in. TFT display and 64Mbyte DDR Video memory make up the remainder of the EUR3,599 package.

Any bargains?

It’s good news for consumers on both sides of the country; there are some bargains to be had out there. However, while some retailers stuck rigidly to their prices throughout the chain, others weren’t so rigid. The biggest difference we found was in a PC on sale in PC Superstore in Galway; at EUR1599, the HP Pavillion 734 came in about EUR150 cheaper than the one on offer in its Dublin store. However, a phone call to Fred Sorensen, PC Superstore, revealed that this was a mistake as prices should be the same in all PC Superstore stores. As far as the company is concerned, the prices should be the same throughout the chain. He said that this error would be rectified.

A sign displayed in PC Superstore in Dublin indicated that new notebook stock was due in the coming weeks. However, we had to judge the store on what was currently on the shelves. The HP Pavilion ze5232 caught our eye, with its 2.53Ghz Pentium 4 and 256Mbyte DDR RAM. A 40Gbyte hard drive is more than adequate for most tasks undertaken by notebook users, while graphics are looked after by the integrated ATI Mobility Radeon graphics and 64Mbyte shared video memory. A DVD/CD RW combo drive is included.  

With all these DVD drives on the market, computer users could easily get into making their own digital films, with the help of digital video equipment of course. While the equipment itself hasn’t been included in this test, we did check out some video editing software. The two programs we searched the stores for were Pinnacle Expressions and Roxio Videowave. We had mixed results. Pinnacle Expressions was found in both Compustore shops for EUR49.01, but elsewhere all we could find on the shelves was Pinnacle Studio software. However, it is always worth asking the sales representatives, as some stores are willing to order it in for you (if you ask politely!). The only place we could find Roxio Videowave was in PC World in Blanchardstown. This isn’t surprising as PC World gives over quite a bit of shelf space to software of all types — from business and productivity to educational and children’s software.

Sound can also be an important part of a PC, especially if the user is heavily interested in multimedia tasks. With this in mind, we checked the price and availability of the SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Platinum. This proved a little tricky as there are several products with similar names — the Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum, the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Ex being just two — so we had to be careful that we were getting the right product. We couldn’t find the product on PC World’s shelves, nor on Dixons’. The cheapest we could find was in PC Superstore, Coolock, which sold the card for EUR294.95 compared to Compustore’s EUR319.

Printer power

Canon printers proved elusive — at least, when it came to the models we were looking out for. The only place we found the Canon i320 was in PC Superstore, in Coolock and Galway. The printer will set you back EUR126.95 in both stores. The i320 is a previous recipient of the PC Live! Best Buy award; the Bubblejet printer has a resolution of 2400 x 1200dpi and produces up to ten pages per minute in monochrome and seven pages per minute in colour. 

The Epson C62 printer was a bit easier to find. The C62 is an A4 inkjet printer aimed at the home user. It supports USB for Microsoft Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 2000, Windows XP users and the more recent Apple Macs. PC World and Beyond 2000 provided us with the cheapest price for the C62 — at EUR129.99, it cost EUR9 less than in Compustore and EUR6 less than PC Superstore.

Also on the list was the HP Photosmart 7550 printer and the HP Deskjet 3820. The Photosmart 7550 is a high resolution printer for those who want to use it to record memories with their digital cameras. Photo enthusiasts can buy it in Compustore and PC Superstore for EUR499. The 3820 can be bought in Compustore for EUR149.99, but we couldn’t see it on the shelves in any other store when we visited. 

In general, we were a bit disappointed with the variety of printers on offer in PC World. With such as large amount of space devoted to printers, we still couldn’t find the HP Photosmart 7550 on display when we visited. In fact, from our list of printers, only the Epson C62 could be found in PC World. More variety would definitely be welcome.

Beyond 2000 in Chatham Street carries mostly Hewlett Packard, Epson and Lexmark printers. However, a few questions to the salesperson in the store revealed that they will order in almost anything that you are looking for (within reason, of course). Limited floor space means that only a certain amount of stock can be held on the premises at anyone time.

Optical devices

If you want to jazz up your PC with a few new accessories, the Logitech MX700 Cordless Optical Mouse is one that we recommend. Because it’s cordless, it is ideal for presentations or even just for clearing the numerous cables from your desk. It uses its own Cruise Control system to scroll through Web pages or long documents, and two thumb buttons to switch between Web pages. A Quick Switch Program Selector switches between active documents and programs. Prices for this mouse vary from store to store. Beyond 2000 offers it for EUR89.99, while PC World offers it at the more expensive price of EUR99.99. Compustore in Galway had the mouse on their shelves for the slightly cheaper price of EUR94.98, but we couldn’t find it in the Stephen’s Green store.

Retailer feedback

After the test was finished, we contacted retailers to get some comments on our findings. The general feedback from the stores is that if the customer finds a product cheaper elsewhere, the store will attempt to match it. According to Vannessa Torsney, Compustore, the store is always trying to get the best deal and give the best price to their customers. Consequently, Compustore will match lower prices for the same products.

PC Superstore also adopts the same attitude. Fred Sorensen points out that once a customer claims to have found a cheaper price elsewhere, PC Superstore will confirm it and adjust their prices accordingly.

08/05/2003

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