Finance

[FuzzyLogic]

I'm looking to upgrade my pc (which while not absolutely necessary with my current setup is something i'm looking at anyway) and came to a price of ~£1100. It's payable though obviously a big hit to me account, which why when I noticed a finance option on ebuyer it got me wondering...


...is it worth doing?

I'm not after paying monthly since that knocks the price up with interest, but the pay in full in 6 months option. It would knock ~£600 off the initial cost, which would be a help, but does anyone have experience with using finance? Not looking for an excuse either way, common sense may prevail and I won't bother upgrading, but it's just something to mull over while I wait for payday to come by.

Edit: Oh, and where's the cheapest place to buy XP pro outside of ebay, best i've found so far is £90

 

[Embattle]

I have a few times but I would advise against it in some ways because when you finally do pay it leaves an odd feeling when you consider deprecation.

 

[Jonty]

Hi FuzzyLogic

Firstly, it's worth reitterating your point that common sense most always prevail No computer hardware is worth getting into serious debt for, so always check your financial situation both in the short and long term.

As for finance, many places are offering it now via third party companies such as V12 or able2buy. These are my personal feelings towards it:

• Always stick to interest-free options. Be it six, nine or twelve months, interest free options are a good way to help ease the cost of major purchases. Usually it involves a deposit, then monthly payments, then a final lump sum after the period is up. That said, it's not for everyone, and saving and waiting until you can afford hardware outright is always a good option as prices will drop and newer items be released.
• Always check when the interest-free option expires. Sometimes it will be down to you to pay the lump sum otherwise it will be presumed you want the longer, high-interest payment plans. Make a note of when the sum is due and anything you have to do (cancel direct debits, phone finance company etc.). Don't forget!
• Always avoid longer payment options. These invariably last two or three years and are charged at a cripplingly high rates of interest rate. Not only does it mean you'll be still paying when your once-new hardware needs upgrading, but the interest payments will make a severe dent in your bank balance.
• Always read the small print and ask any questions before applying. Find out exactly how the finance plan works, how much you'll have to pay, how to cancel the agreement, how to end it early, check for any penalty charges etc.
• Always plan ahead and don't get into unnecessary debt. As stated above, think about your ability to pay both now and in the future, planning for any unexpected outgoings as much as you can. Don't overstretch yourself and always remember that fancy hardware is a luxury, and definitely not worth being taken to court over or getting yourself into excessive debt for.

These are just fairly general points, everybody's financial situation is different so just trust your judgement and common sense and you should be fine

As for Windows XP Pro, £90 for an OEM version sounds about right, with the 64-bit 'x64' version costing around the same if you're so inclined (there's also a 180-day trial available if you wish to check compatability as driver support is still mixed).

Kind Regards

Jonty

P.S. If you're in education then you could be well be elligble to get Windows XP on an academic licence which will cost around £60-70. Or of course there's Windows XP Home, the OEM version of which can be found for around £58 now.

 

[Embattle]

On one of Jonty's points, be warned that should you fail to pay before the BNPL period ends then you are automatically put on a monthly plan that has around 30% interest on it normally.

 

[wyrd_fish]

if your doing computer science you may have access to the MSDNAA

you get loads of stuff, XP for example, for the price of a cdr or two, only problem i can find with it is you have to download the stuff in IE