2/6     Okay, I've decided to roll my own x86 computer, what are the best
        price-comparison or e-commerce URLs you all can recommend to me? I
        see http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/weekly_cpu
        listed below. I know about cnet and mysimon. What else is good out
        there? What ones do you use? Thank you in advance, most wonderous motd.
        \_ Just grab a wad of cash and go to the next computer show...
           \_ When I was in SF, I went to both Robert Austin and the one at
              the Cow Palace.  I was underwhelmed, to say the least.  They
              had inferior-quality components, their prices were pretty
              ridiculous considering it was a computer show, the entry price
              was downright silly (at least RA sends out coupons) and the
              selection stank.  I'd rather recommend Spectrum computers in
              San Francisco, or some of the similar Asian fell-off-the-back-
              of-a-truck places.  If you know what you want, the service
              tends to be at least decent, sometimes even friendly, they
              honor their warranties, they have good components and don't try
              to bait-and-switch you too often, and the prices are good.  I've
              bought a lot of parts at these places while in the US, and also
              sent non-technical members of my family there to pick up PC
              hardware;  none of us has ever gotten a bad deal.  -John
        \_ http://Pricescan.com.  Buy parts from out of state and avoid the nasty
           sales tax.
        \_ http://Pricescan.com.  We buys partsss from out of state and avoid the
           nassssty saleses tax.
        \_ http://Pricescan.com.  Buy from out of state to avoid sales tax.
        \_ Don't use places like Sharkey's for hardware recs.  They have some
           biases towards particular vendors and also aren't necessarily using
           the system for the same thing as you.  They use Quake1/2/3 as a
           benchmark program, so go figure.  Unless you're a Q123 player, they
           won't be too useful for you.