Customization is just one option.
AllBusiness went shopping to learn about the process of selecting the right Dell desktop computer for business -- and found much to be desired in that experience. Let's see if HP can be any more clear with its Compaq line of computers aimed at the corporate market.
Like Dell, HP has a configurator that lets you go crazy upgrading components--but HP prefers that you select from among a number of preconfigured models, find the one that comes closest to what you want, and buy that. So HP's Web store offers quite a few models that are pretty well configured to begin with; in some cases, all you have to do is add a monitor.
The HP-Compaq dx2000 line is for the budget-conscious business buyer. "Great for office productivity applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, and e-mail." Sounds like just what the doctor ordered. And the Web site offers half a dozen configurations starting at under $400. None was exactly what we wanted. The closest "Recommended configuration," priced at $579, let us upgrade the hard drive to 80GB and add a monitor, totaling $803, but we couldn't buy the Office Suite so it's not comparable.
So we went to the configurator, which starts at $546 with a 2.8GHz Pentium 4. We upgraded to our AllBusiness.com Recommended Standard Business Desktop Computer Configuration, and ended up at $1,073 (plus shipping of course).
AllBusiness.com Standard Business Desktop Computer — HP-Compaq
As of Jan 19, 2006. Totals based on vendor configurator.
The HP-Compaq 5000 series is the mainstream product line, a step up from the 2000. This line comes with a three-year warranty.
The standard model, the dx5150, comes as a Microtower or as a "Small Form Factor Desktop PC," the latter of which is one of those boxes that sits on your desk with the monitor on top, instead of going under the desk. The smaller one has less upgrade capacity, of course, but both start at the same price and end up at the same price —from the "Customize & Buy" configurator, the displayed "System Price" is $784 with an AMD Athlon 3000+ 32/64 processor, 512MB of RAM, and even a CD-ROM! All we had to do was up the drive to 80GB, add a monitor--here's a 17-inch CRT on special offer for only $149 —and Microsoft Office Small Business (at $219, cheaper than Dell's offer), and we pay $1,182.
AllBusiness.com Standard Business Desktop Computer — HP-Compaq
As of Jan 19, 2006. Totals based on vendor configurator.
Hmm, not bad for a high-powered processor. But wait--what if we knock the 64-bit AMD Athlon down to a regular 32-bit Sempron 3000+, which is adequate to our needs, we can take $70 off, bringing our total down to $1,112? Right in the ballpark. In fact, we're paying only $39 more than for the dx2000--and get better graphics, a better sound system, "fault-managed" hard drives, and a three-year warranty versus the dx2000's 1-year warranty. So that's the direction we'd suggest you go. (Of course, the exact prices and add-on costs will vary up or down by the time you get there.)
Our Shopping Experience on the HP-Compaq Site
Information folding — figuring out how to present a vast amount of info and number of choices clearly and efficiently — is hard, and these vendor Web stores are living examples of just how hard. It's easy to get confused and frustrated. Of course, we were drilling down on and comparing multiple systems for publication and trying to keep track of everything, so we were pushing harder than you would be.
If you can find a preconfigured HP-Compaq system on this site that meets your needs, then shopping can be pretty straightforward. There's a "Business" link on the main HP site to take you to the three recommended business product lines — the 2000, the 5000, and the 7000. Throw a dart and pick one, click through to a page of stock configurations, and buy one. There are few configuration decisions you need to make.
If you want to configure your system completely, you can do that too — you just have to figure out that only one of the many links on the page will take you to the full-fledged configurator. You can click on the model number itself, on the Recommended Models button, or on the Buy Online button — those will all lead you to standard configurations with only very limited options. You have to find the red 'Customize & Buy' "Windows" button — that one will take you to a full-fledged configurator that would do Dell proud. It took us a while to figure this out, unfortunately — we freely give you this handy tip so that, unlike us, you won't make that dent in the desk with the coffee cup.
As we keep saying, because we kept bumping into it in trying to recheck our figures — the exact prices and configurations we show here are for the specific days and times we happened to be shopping these sites. Prices, base configurations, and upgrade prices are all constantly changing. Every time you go back to check on a component, the price and/or the options change. Which can make planning slightly maddening.
We also found that, with HP-Compaq as well as with other vendors, upgrade costs vary by model. For example, upgrading the 80GB hard drive to 160GB on the dc7600 convertible minitower cost only $19 (as of January 19) — while the same upgrade on the dx5150 cost $50. Upgrading from a CD-ROM to a CD-RW plus a DVD-ROM (two drives) is also pricier on the 5000 line than on the 7000.
On the other hand, the same LCD monitor (the L1906) was a lot cheaper for the 5150 (only $185) than for the 7600 ($334).
I find a lot of such discrepancies on the various vendor Web sales sites. I wonder if it's just too many balls up in the air. I asked HP and got this response:
"...[T]here is a high level of fluidity in terms of pricing over time. And customers can often benefit from pricing specials from HP direct (such as the current free LCD monitor special)... HP... is always looking for ways to extend value to their customers through bundled products, or other offers.
"Occasionally costs can differ for specific hardware devices within a given PC. This can occur for many reasons. Each of HP's business desktop lines are manufactured to offer optimal performance for their price points, but because of differences in hardware compatibility, hardware manufacturer, etc, similar hardware devices may not be priced identically across the various HP PC lines. Because of this high-level of customization and engineering that goes into each HP PC, customers can always be sure that they are purchasing a PC that is optimally configured."
Ummhmm. You know, I think they're all just moving too fast. Running a components-based business at this speed on the Web, you just can't guarantee that every last thing is consistent at all times.
There's another possibly reason: The managers of each product line being sold on the Web have some limited degree of freedom to tinker with some prices on the margin. Want to move more units of that model by bringing the price down under $1,200? Offer a discount on a monitor or a free RAM upgrade. Prices aren't consistent because each product manager is doing the best he or she can to maximize sales while protecting margins using the tools at hand--components and their prices. That's maybe a good thing: It means that if you really want to shave a few extra bucks off that system, you can do it if you're willing to work the system.
AllBusiness.com Power-User Configuration — HP-Compaq
The Power User's Office Desktop ups the processor to a 3.0GHz Intel Pentium 4 or equivalent AMD; a full 1GB RAM; a 120GB or more hard drive; a writable CD/DVD; and a slightly larger 19-in LCD monitor; everything else stays the same. It should cost more, but how much more?
We'll shop in the 7000 line because that's the performance line, which sounds like it would be more suited to our power user. The HP-Compaq dc7600 Convertible Minitower PC is so called because you can put it under your desk like a normal minitower, or put it under your monitor like a desktop model.
AllBusiness.com Power User Desktop Computer — HP-Compaq
HP-Compaq dc7600 Convertible Minitower PC As of Jan 17-19, 2006. Totals based on vendor configurator.
The System Price is $987 with a 3.0GHz Pentium 4 (though, oddly enough for this high-end line, they also offer a slow Celeron if you want), Windows Pro, 512MB RAM, an 80GB hard drive, and a CD-ROM. We make it a Power User model and the final price becomes $1,443 — but the configurator for this dc7600 doesn't offer an Office suite option, so that price should actually about $275 higher (what HP charges for Office SB elsewhere) to be comparable to the other models, or $1,718 total.
This Power User configuration of the 7000 line (with Office) is about $600 more than our Standard configuration of the 5000 line. Seems like a lot.
So let's take a look at the 5000 line, see if we can save a buck on the Power User configuration. We'll upgrade from our Standard configuration.
AllBusiness.com Power-User Configuration — HP-Compaq
HP- Compaq dx5150 Microtower As of Jan 19, 2006. Totals based on vendor configurator.
It cost us $485 to upgrade the 5150 from Standard to Power User — and we saved $191 over the 7000 Power User.
Notice the different upgrade prices for various components: Upgrading the hard drive from 80GB to 160GB on the 7000 costs a lot less — $19 — than on the 5000, where it costs $50. The optical drive upgrades are pricier on the 5000 too. On the other hand, the same LCD monitor is a lot cheaper for the 5000 than for the 7000.
This is fun! Let's try this with the 2000 line, again upgrading from our Standard configuration.
AllBusiness.com Power-User Configuration — HP-Compaq
HP-Compaq dx2000 Microtower As of Jan. 19, 2006. Totals based on vendor configurator.
Well, that only saved $29. And we only get a 1-year warranty on the 2000s.
Still, this exercise demonstrates that with HP-Compaq, and with everybody else too, a given configuratoin is priced differently in different models from the same vendor — so don't hesitate to try the same configuration on different product lines — if you have the patience, that is. And see if you can figure out really what the underlying difference is among the various product lines — and please let me know when you do.
