Interesting study on tech support quality over at Consumer Reports:
Where to go for computer tech support
The long and short of it: if you want good tech support, get a Mac. You'll get much better help overall, and you have access to largely free support from a wide retail network versus having to pay through the nose (or getting only limited assistance) at a big-box store.
Not to say that tech support is the be-all and end-all of buying a PC (many of us here can troubleshoot numerous issues on our own), but it's a reminder that you're not just paying for parts when you buy a pre-assembled computer.
Where to go for computer tech support
The long and short of it: if you want good tech support, get a Mac. You'll get much better help overall, and you have access to largely free support from a wide retail network versus having to pay through the nose (or getting only limited assistance) at a big-box store.
Not to say that tech support is the be-all and end-all of buying a PC (many of us here can troubleshoot numerous issues on our own), but it's a reminder that you're not just paying for parts when you buy a pre-assembled computer.