Eugene Computer Geeks Blog

Solid State hard drives are half the price they were a year ago!  Maybe now is the time to buy? You can find them for as low as $1 a gigabyte on sites like New Egg, Ebay, and Amazon Market Place.

If you want to speed up your computer, solid state hard drives are probably the best upgrade you can spend your money on.  SSD’s are much faster than normal hard drives and speed up load times on your computer.

I recommend having your Operating System (Windows or Linux)  and programs installed on a solid state drive, while you use a regular drive to store your larger files and documents such as movies, pictures, and large documents.

If you are an Apple fan, the new Mac Book Air uses a SSD, which makes it lightening fast considering it’s processor.

Watch the video below to see the speed difference of solid state drives compared to really hard drives.

Keep in mind that if you ever plan on donating a computer with a solid state hard drive, you need to take out the drive and physically burn it in a fire.  You can’t wipe the free space properly with a solid state drive like a regular hard drive.  A data recovery can be performed and a lot of the original data can be recovered.

Living in Eugene, Oregon there are limited options for buying a new or used computer locally.  The following guide is a list of computer stores in Eugene where you can buy a new computer or computer parts.

BEST BUY – The store with the best selection is Best Buy in the Gateway Mall, but I don’t recommend them for several reasons.  They only have a 15 day return policy, unfriendly staff that are generally unhelpful and inexperienced.  They also try and get customers to use their Geek Squad repair service, which is a huge rip off.  Check their reviews on Google Places or Yelp, and you’ll see what I mean. There is a reason they are going out of business.

STAPLES  – Better return policy than best buy. Decent selection

OFFICE DEPOT - I’ve had good experiences here although I’ve noticed that a lot of the computers and printers they have on display they don’t have in their inventory.

VOS COMPUTERS-  People have told me mixed things about VOS.  I’ve heard they are slightly over priced, but they are local and family owned, and they parts in stock that nobody else in town likely has.

NEXTSTEP RECYCLING-  Personally I feel like they are way over-priced on a lot of items like used computers and cell phones, but have good deals on some parts and other items. They don’t have a return policy. They have a limited exchange policy and with a very short period after purchase.  I’ve noticed their used computers tend to be over priced, and you can get a much better deal on a used computer off of Craigslist.

RADIOSHACK- Radioshack just isn’t the store they used to be. They have a very small inventory, and high prices.  They do have a somewhat decent selection of electronics parts.

CRAIGSLIST- Craigslist is one of the best way to find good deals on Computers and Parts in Eugene.  Just make sure to do a full check on everything you buy, and their is always a small risk you take when buying from a stranger online.

MAC STORE- If you like apple products, the Mac store is the place to go.

EUGENE COMPUTER GEEKS-  We don’t sell computers but we will help you find the right computer for you, free of charge. For Computer Repair Services or web design, please try EUGENE COMPUTER GEEKS.
WHERE TO BUY ONLINE
If you don’t mind the wait, the best deals and selections can be found online.  The Internet is a buyers market and you can find great deals if you know where to look.

Newegg.com- Excellent prices and selection. Good return policy.

Amazon Market Place-  Amazon Market Place is an excellent way to buy computers, electronics or parts in new or used condition from sellers from around the world. This is not to be confused with regular Amazon.com.  Make sure the seller you buy from has lots of positive reviews and feedback. 

Ebay-  Now days, Ebay has become a buyer’s market.

Google Shopping- Google has added a shopping feature to their search, which allows you to search for millions of stores on the Internet.  I also use it to look up a certain item and get a good price comparison.

Thanks for reading my guide. I hope you now have a better idea of what the best computer stores in Eugene Oregon are.  Please Comment and Share.