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Q. Who are you guys?
A. ZCC was founded by Jordan Jenkins as a reaction to frustration over the current state of computers being built. Quite simply, people were paying too much for computers that weren't exactly what they wanted or needed. They came with software that was annoying and costly, and there were no options for a better solution. So ZCC was created to give consumers the power they had been denied by other companies - the power to build the perfect computer for them, for less than what the competition was charging. Q. Where are you located?
A. We are distributed over several locations. Currently we are in Dallas, Texas and Cherry Hill, New Jersey, with plans to expand elsewhere to better accommodate the physical locations of our customers. |
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Q. So how does this all work?
A. While the idea may sound complicated, we try to make it as easy on the consumer as possible. There are two methods of buying from us. WE have some "templates" of computers that give you a few options to choose from. If you've been to larger company's sites, this shouldn't seem strange. However, that's not a "real" customization. |
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The other option is full customization. The first step here is to contact us and set up an appointment to meet over the phone with one of our professionals. They will call you and walk you through the process of selecting your computer. It will be very helpful if you are at a computer. One of our professionals will ask you questions about your needs for the computer, your price range, and various accessories. They will explain exactly what they are doing, and please feel free to question them about anything you can think of during the phone call. After building you a computer from the inside, they will help you select a case. You can use any case that the parts will fit into, and here he or she may e-mail you links to case pictures for you to look at. Keep in mind this is your computer and you can, at any time, change what he or she is doing. If you prefer a certain brand of component, such as a Western Digital hard drive, please say so!
Next, our professional will put the specifications of the computer into an item on our website. Look over it carefully, and if you have any changes to make, go ahead and make them over the phone. The parts are all purchased once we receive payment. We will go into our system and create a link for you to click on quoting the price of your computer. Add that and any other software you need, and pay for it. Note that shipping to you is not part of the quoted price. Upon receiving payment, we will order your computer and ship it to us, assemble it, configure it, and then ship it to you. |
Q. How inexpensive a computer can you guys build? I want to save a lot of money.
A. That is a difficult question to answer. Because we have custom solutions, we can build a computer for as low as three hundred dollars. However, that does not include the operating system and our assembly fee. If you go with a Linux-based operating system, the fees stop at cost of components plus the assembly fee. If not, you will need to pay for a copy of Microsoft Windows, as well as any other Microsoft software, such as Office. |
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Q. What exactly does the “Assembly Fee” cover?
A. Our Assembly fee covers the installation of all your parts in your new computer, and the installation of the Operating System of your choice. It does NOT cover any software installation of any kind. For example, if you want us to install Microsoft Office, that is a separate item you need to add to your cart when you go to checkout. |
Q. What Operating Systems (OSs) do you offer?
A. Officially, we offer Windows XP and Vista (all versions), Ubuntu, Gentoo, CentOS, and Red Hat Linux for desktop computers, and Windows Server 2003, Ubuntu, CentOS, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux(RHEL) for servers, as well as all of the derivatives of those operating systems (for Ubuntu, this would include Kubuntu, Xubuntu, and Edubuntu, etc.). However, that does not by any means imply that we are limiting you to those options. If you should instead want Mandriva Linux as your operating system, we will accommodate your needs for no additional charge. If your chosen OS is one you must pay for, such as all copies of Windows, you will be charged the cost of the software, whatever that may be. Q. What OS would you recommend for this type of computer?
A. Generally, if you are building a computer for as little money as possible, we recommend some version of Linux. However, depending on your uses for your computer, you may be better off using Windows. For most other computers, ZCC recommends Windows XP. Vista is obviously a choice, but we have met very few people who prefer it over XP because of it's inability to work with some hardware, as well as system resource requirements. Windows Vista requires a much more powerful and thus more expensive computer to run it than Linux or Windows XP. |
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Q. Linux? What is that?
A. GNU/Linux is another type of Operating System like Windows. It's advantages include that it and 99% of software on it is entirely free of charge. It is also far more secure than Windows and has next to no viruses, spyware, or adware. It includes free alternatives to Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Office by default, as well as a slew of other software, most of which may be added by a simple interface. It is also "faster" than Windows, and can run on older (and thus less expensive) hardware with equal or greater performance. Once configured, Linux is known to need little maintenance after that. However, there is a downside to Linux. It is slightly more technical and there are times when it might be necessary to use the command line (in Windows known as the DOS black box) to change settings. There is also no "official" support for free Linux versions. There is, however, a large and growing community of users of Linux who are more than happy to help you through forums. They offer in most cases step-by-step guides, and your command line experience can be nothing more than copying what they tell you to type into the command line. And of course, it's different than Windows, and will take some time to get used to. Q. What are the differences in the different versions of Linux?
A. In many regards, there are no differences. They all use the same Linux behind the scenes, and are split mainly between three types of Windows-like graphic parts: Gnome, KDE, and Xfce. KDE is the closest in terms of layout to Windows. It has the bar at the bottom for all of your windows and the “start button,” and works as such much like Windows. In most cases, KDE versions of Linux use their own set of software, which typically starts with a “K” in the name. Linux versions which use KDE include Kubuntu and Gentoo. Gnome is slightly farther from the Windows method, and divides the bottom bar of Windows in half. There are two bars in the default layout of Gnome: the top one is used to launch applications (like the start menu), change settings, and view the time and other “task bar” items. The bottom bar shows all open windows, as well as the trashcan (Recycle Bin in Windows). Gnome flavors of Linux include Ubuntu, Edubuntu, Gentoo, and CentOS. Xfce is known for being able to run on even older hardware than KDE or Gnome. It's layout is similar to Gnome, but it uses far less system resources, allowing it to run faster on older hardware. Xfce Linux is available on Xubuntu, among other Linux versions. Ubuntu and it's derivatives (Kubuntu, etc) were created under the slogan “Linux for Human Beings” and continue to be one of the easiest versions of Linux to use. It is currently the most popular version of desktop Linux. As such, it has a large and ever-growing international community of users to support you with any question you may have. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a commercial solution to Linux. It is most popular with servers, and while it does cost money, that cost is for support only. It is typically used for businesses. CentOS is, almost entirely, Red Hat Linux. The CentOS developers use the exact same code as Red Hat, but distribute CentOS free, without any support. Gentoo is the niche Linux for “power users.” It is installed in two ways: the more standard method, and “compiling” - a technical process that optimizes every single part of Gentoo for the computer it is running on. In our testing, this has increased system performance by 10%. However, compiling takes around three days to complete, and is a lengthy and often very frustrating process not for the faint of heart. All Gentoo software is compiled as well, but it is done automatically. |
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