Full MAINGEAR/Prelude review.

[tommykid]

A couple of days ago I posted some pictures and specs of my new Prelude with a quick hello at this thread: http://www.maingearforums.com/showthread.php?t=1098

I wanted to follow up with a full review of my experience and my impressions so far. I've been using my Prelude non-stop since then so I had a chance to break her in.

First off is the path that lead me to MAINGEAR. My laptop crapped out and I decided it was time for a new desktop so I could upgrade easier in the future. I started researching (a psychotic amount of research) different builders and even Apple systems. I looked at the following companies: Puget, Vigor, Digital Storm, Voodoo, Falcon Northwest, Alienware, Cyberpower, iBuypower, Velocity Micro, Dell, Gateway, HP, Apple, and AVA Direct. I read magazines, talked to friends, got on Reseller (I already posted a good review there), CNET, H-Enthusiast, and numerous other websites. I priced out probably 30-40 different combinations in total (yes I'm crazy but I bet more than a few of you have done the same insane research I did). I had a budget (around $1500) and I really needed to stick to it. I ended up choosing MAINGEAR because of the components, price, this forum, and because for some reason I "trusted" these guys and believed in their product and company.

I placed my order on 2/16/08 (weekend) and received the PC at my house on 3/14/08. The wait was killing me but I expected it. The buying experience was great. Everything from ordering to communicating with Customer Support/Sales, and with Giovanni (my builder) was first rate. The packing job was excellent, all the items that were supposed to be in the box were there, and she booted up without any issues.

So now that the Prelude was running I loaded up a few things. Half-Life 2, STARCRAFT Battlechest, Crysis Demo, COD4 Demo, and Photoshop. I have encountered no issues so far, the system has been running flawlessly, and I am amazed at the build quality.

Overall, the whole experience has been great, I feel like I purchased a quality product for a fair price, and made the right decision after a maddening amount of research. I want to thank the MAINGEAR crew for sticking by their mission statement and truly delivering a top notch experience and product. I attached a few more pictures that I did not have a chance to post before.

Sorry if the thread is too long,

TommyKid

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2144/2348887574_d752118f3c_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/2348900202_4edaaa0f67_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2377/2348093911_0f80e69cc3_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/2348922322_ffc6a625ea_b.jpg

[RottynDawg]

Welcome aboard tommykid! Very nice review and thank you for the pics.

[golfman560]

Heh I'm wearing the shirt I got right now :) How many gloves did you get? I thought that it was weird that I got 5. And for the Starcraft Battlechest, does it work on Vista?

Great review btw, and nice pics

[Everett]

am looking forward to reading about the experience.

Nice to read about your experience, Tommy.

I like how you got a picture of the box. Cool looking box and I'll probably put my dog in mine to capture true devotion to a company. :p

"My dog likes this company as well" :mrgreen:

If you have a Facebook account, feel free to join the fan page of Maingear. You can upload fan videos and pictures there. I'm planning to post some pictures and maybe a video.

Oh yeah the review,

I've done what you did of doing "mad" research of looking into a PC company for my own personal configuration too. Looked at the similar companies but some are only USA ship based and others are tad bit expensive.

I like to read about other people's reviews using http://www.resellerratings.com/ as well. This helps me determine a solid considered choice for a PC company. Nice to read up about other's own PC experience, gives me insight of how the company treats someone.

Those the reasons I'm going with Maingear also. Really like the sense of belonging at the forum, it actually feels like being with an active community and everyone is cool and nice.

Seems like a wait but as I told others, it is worth it. Not sure during that amount of time what to do while waiting...probably read up on http://www.resellerratings.com/

Maingear does have a strong rep of reliability of customer service. I asked Giovanni about redline in an email one night and within the morning I got a response. The email itself was informative, knowledgeable, and no bs of avoiding the question. As said earlier in this paragraph, they're known for top notch customer service.

Packing of the supplied stuff does consern me of being damaged but luckily you received your PC with no dents or scratches.

Good to hear you were able to use those programs without any problems. As a future buyer customer, this news proofs my choice and makes me anticipate a PC from the company even more.

Speaking of build quality, in that guts photo I like how compoents can be easily identified as some PCs are just a mess inside you can't tell where the things be.

Glad to read that your experience as been a good one. Even though everyone's here has. :p

[tommykid]

Thanks to all for the positive comments. These were the types of pictures I was looking for when I researched my PC so hopefully it will help future buyers.



Heh I'm wearing the shirt I got right now :) How many gloves did you get? I thought that it was weird that I got 5. And for the Starcraft Battlechest, does it work on Vista?

Great review btw, and nice pics


I only got two gloves (which is plenty and a nice touch). StarCraft Battlechest works with Vista. You have to run the application in XP Compatibility mode, 256 Color, 640 x 480 resolution, and Admin (all under Properties/Compatibility of the launch file). It's weird on a big screen but still looks good.

TK

[RottynDawg]

A bit of a thread jack but since you mentioned StarCraft...I can not WAIT for StarCraft 2 :) StarCraft is still one of the best games ever made in my opinion.

[golfman560]

I cant wait either, and btw Everett doesn't Maingear only ship to the US? And about the shipping, the boxes that it all comes in (One giant box with other boxes of stuff inside) are packed very well. I'm not sure how they ship monitors though since I didn't get one.

Edit: Wow thread-jack to the extreme

[Everett]

and btw Everett doesn't Maingear only ship to the US?

Really? :confused:

Hope not since I'd like to own a Maingear PC.

[Plan1x]

Really? :confused:

Hope not since I'd like to own a Maingear PC.


absolutely not. We ship to Canada!

[Everett]

absolutely not. We ship to Canada!

What a relief. Had a feeling of sinking inside of reading about if you only shipped within US.

My own fault of asking

I forgot you were the one who told me about Canada.

And golfman, nice to read about the packing and sorry to not quote you with the rest of your message. Take care of their PCs and included stuff as they do with their guts of the machine.

Feel bad now for having to send Wallace an email about Canada. Came off being scared.

And sorry Tommy for making this thread of me in the end. Got a habit of talking about myself in replies and am sorry to everyone for that.

[tommykid]

And sorry Tommy for making this thread of me in the end. Got a habit of talking about myself in replies and am sorry to everyone for that.

NP Everett. Glad they ship to Canada for you... :D

[golfman560]

It must have been Europe then that they didn't ship to. And that picture of the box, thats scaled down (I think) My box was about 5ft x 7ft (Thats probably off, I'm horrible at judging distances)

[tommykid]

And that picture of the box, thats scaled down (I think) My box was about 5ft x 7ft (Thats probably off, I'm horrible at judging distances)


Your right Golfman the box looks smaller on that picture than it really was. Here is a better shot. (Altough a 5ft x 7ft box would probably have had room for a complemantary hot-tub along with the Prelude...;))

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/2348053703_7d177d9437_b.jpg