If you are in the market for a new PC, there are three primary alternatives to consider:

Purchase a pre-assembled PC from a reseller like Dell, Gateway, Compaq, or others

Purchase individual PC components from a retailer like Radio Shack or Best Buy and assemble them on your own

Purchase a PC Kit from a retailer like Easy As My PC

Option 1: Purchase a Pre-assembled PC

Generally speaking, resellers like Dell charge a premium for the assembly services that they offer. It makes sense that they pay people to assemble custom PCs and, as a result, their PCs carry a price premium when compared to the raw cost of the parts contained within.

Pre-assembled PCs make sense for purchasers who can afford to pay a premium price for a PC, and they also make sense for people who are uncomfortable with general tools like a screw driver.

Pre-assembled PCs do not make sense for purchasers willing to invest a few hours of their own time in order to get high quality at a low price.

Option 2: Purchase Individual Components

There are a number of retailers that sell new and refurbished computer parts. Typically, the prices on these parts are affordable, and probably offer the cheapest path to owning a PC. That said, at these rock bottom prices, retailers often cannot afford to help consumers select compatible parts or help them during the assembly process.

Purchasing individual components makes sense for those people affectionately referred to as "computer geeks" who need no help assembling a PC from scratch.

Purchasing individual components does not make sense for first-time computer builders or for people who prefer not to become experts in computer hardware design.

Option 3: Purchase a Computer Kit

Several retailers offer an option that falls somewhere between the two listed above. At these retailers, you may find items called "barebone" systems, diy pc kits, computer kits or some might just have a product category called barebones. In any case, what you’re looking for is a set of pre-tested but unassembled computer conponents that you can put together to build your own pc. If you’re lucky, your kit may also come with assembly instructions - but, that’s too typical.

Kits, from retailers like Easy As My PC, take the risk out of purchasing PC components and offer prices well below that of pre-assembled machines.

Unlike the typical parts retailer like Radio Shack, kits often are pre-tested and guaranted to have full component compatibility. Some retailers also offer customized assembly instructions and phone support to ensure your PC is up and running in only a few hours. And, unlike the typical pre-assembled reseller like Dell, buying a kit offers significant savings because the retailers is not paying for someone to assemble the PC for you.

Computer Kits make sense for people willing to invest a few hours of time to save a couple hundred bucks on the purchase of a home, office or gaming PC.

PC Kits do not make sense for people that don’t care about price or are uncomfortable using a screwdriver.