Branded vs unbranded

Computers can be bought from chain stores, independent firms or on the internet. The question of who and where to buy from is not easy to answer, but it’s worth bearing the following in mind.

All computers contain the same parts which are made by many companies, although rarely by the one that will have built your computer! The majority of components in most Sony televisions, for instance, will have been made by Sony, however very few of the parts in a Sony computer will have been made by Sony. A manufacturer looks around to find the best components for the job - maybe a processor from Intel, a hard disk from Seagate and a graphics card from ATI.

These components of a branded computer could all be found in a computer put together and sold by your local independent computer shop. What matters is that the parts work well together.