A Computer For My Gal....

[Infoman]

...hopefully, I put this in the correct area.   

It's been a LONG time since I have been here at the forum.  I have recently returned from a two-week visit to my lady friend and her daughters in Yoshkar-Ola...simply the best thing I have done since I was married (my wife passed away at the beginning of January 1999).  I intend to write a trip report with photos when I get a little time, and time has really been at a premium for me of late.  I need to send a shout out to Vaughn - who helped me so much on this and I haven't talked to in such a long time - Vaughn, THANK YOU for setting me up with Natalia as a contact in Yoshkar-Ola.  She has been more of a help to Larisa and me than I can express here.  Thanks again!!

Now, the purpose of THIS post...

I want to get a desktop computer for my Larisa and her daughters.  I am pretty PC-savvy, and I have always had Dell since they started, but I know that HP is very good, too.  Others - I am not too sure about.  Here in the states, you can customize and order from either Dell or HP to your specifications, but of course, I can't use these sites because they are USA only.  Dell has a DELL.RU, HP has a HP.RU, and even Logitech has a LOGITECH.RU (for webcams, keyboard / mouse, etc.) - but on Dell and HP, the sites are in Russian (no surprise) - and from what I can tell, you can not customize or purchase from these sites.  You are led to online retailers via "WHERE TO BUY".  That makes me a little cautious because I don't know any of these places.  So, I contacted Dell and HP here in the USA to find out how I can customize and order a PC and peripherals to send to Yoshkar-Ola. 

Dell and HP weren't much help, as even though it's the same company, it's "separate" - and they both gave me Moscow phone numbers to call.  It's been difficult, to say the least, because of a 9-hour time difference and my work schedule.  Tried to call Dell - so far, no answer - keeps ringing.  HP answered, gave me another number to call - I called it - got a recording that there is "no such number" - called back the original number - they gave me ANOTHER number to call which turned out is not even a valid Russian phone number.  I'm frustrated and pretty much disgruntled with both of their lack of help.

So, when I was in Yoshkar-Ola, I was right across from MVIDEO (http://www.mvideo.ru) - kind of like a small Russian version of Best Buy.  The PCs they had - ACER, one of two HPs, and lots of Russian ones that I don't know from Adam.  Furthermore, it seems like they sell everything separately - PC, monitor, keyboard / mouse, etc.  And...seems like prices for PCs and electronics in Russia are a lot higher than they are here....most $$$ gets you less out there, so I don't know.  And I have to get it in Russia due to the power supply and English / Russian keyboard, at a minimum.

Then, Larisa was told about (Russian) DEPO computers (http://www.depo.ru).  Supposedly, these are the most popular PCs in Russia, and I see they have the good internals (Intel CORE DUO / QUAD / etc.) - but I know NOTHING about these PCs.  Are they any good?

I am all over the place on this, but I am really not getting the information or assistance I need.  So, it occurred to me - who better to ask about this then those that WOULD know about things of this nature - the great members of this board!  And that's the first part of why I am back here.

Any and all comments and suggestions would be most welcome.

Thanks!!

Andy

[JR]

From everyting I've read the consensus is "buy it there."

I bought my ex MIL a laptop and a desktop, both here and man what a pain it was....

[Doll]

How much can you spend on it? I can ask my son (he is a computer guy in Russia) what is good for you. I think you could just send money

[GQBlues]

How much can you spend on it? I can ask my son (he is a computer guy in Russia) what is good for you. I think you could just send money

  Should he send him pictures first, Doll?



(sorry, can't help it)

[Doll]

You scare me! Picture of whom?

[JR]

You scare me! Picture of whom?

I think GQ is referencing one of the comandmants "Don't send money" and making a joke about scammers

[Doll]

still don't get it 

[MatryoshkaMan]

My ex's neice from Moscow was just in Alaska on some sort of youth camp and she had a 1 night layover in Seattle so my ex drove down to meet her. The niece was given $800US to buy a new laptop in the US because they are much cheaper than in Moscow. So on the drive down to Seatac, my ex stopped at BestBuy and bought a laptop & case for her neice. Point is....computers are a better deal here than there. Same with most electronics. I can't understand why, but that's beside the point...they just are. So I am going to present a netbook or iPhone to my gal, knowing that they are cheaper here than there.

[JR]

If you get it here it'll have the English (US) version of Windows. If you get it there it'll have their version. Unless your gal is profecient with English it may be better to get it there. Or you can have the Russian version installed over the top of the US version but it'll most likely be pirated and the therefor unable to be updated. If Engish isn't a problem then it may be less expensive to get it there as MM stated.

[Infoman]

Thanks for the replies, guys - and I don't get the joke, either.      Don't tell me - Yoshkar-Ola is still known as a haven for scammers?  May be...but I can personally vouch for one OUTSTANDING, REAL woman beyond my wildest expectations that DOES live in Yoshkar-Ola, including all of her family, extended family, and friends, all of whom I met during my time there.  The city is real and the people are real - unfortunately, scammers exist everywhere, including in the US.  Right, Bernie Madoff?

The fact of the matter is that getting it HERE in the states is NOT an option...it's cheaper here for better PCs, yes - but all English is no good for Larisa - not yet anyhow; 110V vs. 220v; shipping costs astronomical, all software in English, etc.  I have to get it there...period....either online at some website or from one of their very limited retailers.

Now, I would like to at least check out Dell or HP, but almost shockingly, thus far, they have been no help.  So maybe I just send Larisa money to get a HP at MVIDEO in Yoshkar-Ola.  Or have her go to this other place that was trying to sell her a DEPO pc.  It's more money there, but it HAS to be bought there - also, she needs to have a 1-2 year in-house service contract.  It's just that I wish I could get some help from Dell or HP to get her what I think would be better than DEPO.  I don't know.

Anyone else have any insight to this?  Don't tell me that I am the first one here to have this particular "dilemma"?   

Andy

[Missouri-Hunter]

How much can you spend on it? I can ask my son (he is a computer guy in Russia) what is good for you. I think you could just send money

I think this is your best way to go. Just give her the info on what you want and let her find out what it will cost. 

[kievstar]

I have ordered a Dell in Ukraine before and the price is the same as in the USA. 
You should be able to buy a top line desk top with excellent processor and install all the software you will ever need for under 1,000 usd.  Including a color printer. Buy the software on the street for any language you want for pennies.  Do not pay for the software in advance as in Russia and Ukraine it is legal to buy counterfeit. 

[Aloe]

If you get it here it'll have the English (US) version of Windows. If you get it there it'll have their version. Unless your gal is profecient with English it may be better to get it there. Or you can have the Russian version installed over the top of the US version but it'll most likely be pirated and the therefor unable to be updated. If Engish isn't a problem then it may be less expensive to get it there as MM stated.

You obviously have no experience with pirated software, it updates just fine, including windows  

To the topic starter... We do NOT have brand computers in Russia, except laptops, all your dear DELL or HP does is take parts from different manufacturers, put them together, then slap their logo on the case, and voila. In Russia you just get different parts yourself and make your own pc that is adequate for your demands, you can ask the store where you are buying it to put it all together for you if you want, but they dont put their logos on the case, they just sell parts as they are, and offer putting it together as a separate service. For noobs, you can just say something like: i want pc to email and chat online, or "i want pc to play games" and tell them your budget, they will help you pick the parts, but 99% of cases people pick their own parts based on internet reviews and etc, thats how i bought some upgrades here in belgium, we needed a new video card, so i went and looked at reviews and charts that compare ALL the current videocards performance in different games and benchmarks, and i picked the one with best price/performance ratio, thats how russians do it, we dont go to some company to pick parts for us Unless you are a noob...

[GQBlues]

Well, FWIW, buying a good PC where she's at (Depo or local) will be the better way to go. Highly accessible for hardware upgrade.

When she gets to the US, she can leave the PC behind to her family. It would be a HUGE tool to help her keep in constant contact with people she will be leaving behind. Even if the price differential is +$500, that's nothing to what it can do for her in the overall scheme of things and any future hassle for warranty repairs will be much easier to handle.

[boaterguy]

I bought a computer for my wife in Novosibirsk. It has been over 6 years ago so it might be dated. We found the best route to go was to find a shop that custom builds computers. The canned ones in the store were actually more expensive. When we bought the computer the prices were virtually the same as here in the states. I will admit there was probably a little buddy price going on since her agency and the computer shop were sharing a large office.  Another huge benifit was the service after the sale. They delivered and set up the computer,were available if there were any problems as well. The cost to me was less than $600...this included a 2K acceleron processor(about 2nd or 3rd inline as the fastest at the time),17 inch monitor,setting up the internet,email and a certain amount of prepaid access,all normal software and added 2 translation programs. LOL, shouldda seen the look on the agency owners faces when they realized what was going on! They milked us 1 time to many. Computer more than paid for itself.

The other option is to shop around for a used one.

Almost forgot...picked up a keyboard(their better one) for a tad over $20!

[Infoman]

Thanks, Guys, for all the posts and advice.

What I have decided, and I think that most of you will agree, is that I am going to have Larisa go to the local MVIDEO and the other place that sells DEPO PCs...have her tell me (from the vendors) what the detailed specs are, and then send her money to get the stuff.  I know enough about PCs where I will know what I feel she needs.  Plus, she will need LOCAL installation help and a LOCAL service plan, so really, that's the only way to go.  The suggestion about "when she leaves, give it to a relative....when she is here, then you can get what you want" was a good one, too.

It just bothers me that in Russia, apparently, PCs more expensive that they are in the states - at least from what I am finding - and for the most part, they are NOT bundled, nor can you configure and purchase from a main website like DELL.RU and HP.RU.  Again, it doesn't have to be Dell or HP as long as the internals are what we want.  From what I hear, this DEPO (DEPO.RU) is the king of Russian PCs.  So, at least I have a game plan now between DEPO and MVIDEO.RU.

Thanks again, everybody!

Andy

[Aloe]

never heard of depo before

[Infoman]

I didn't either - until Larisa told me about them.  Apparently, they are HUGE in Russia.

Check out:

http://www.depo.ru


Andy