Ask HN: hiring vs. buying to produce a prototype

Hi everyone, I am just getting up the courage to do my own startup, however I need a bit of guidance and advice. The product I have in mind consists of 3 pieces: a embedded piece, a windows app part, and a web services portion. I think the best thing to do is to produce a prototype paid for with my own savings before I try to get funded. I am a embedded software guy and I don't really have too much experience with the windows and web software (I do think I know enough to be able to identify what is BS). I was wondering what the experts here think about these 3 approaches: 1. Hire a couple of guys with this type of expertise to do the windows and web pieces. 2. Pay another company to develop the windows and web pieces I need. (would I just get my lunch money taken :-)?) 3. Partner with someone with that skill set (unfortunately I don't know anyone with this set of skills, so I think this is very similar to hiring). I am currently favoring choice 2 because I think a experience company can do what I need faster and probably cheaper since I need less infrastructure. I will then add the glue code to tie everything together. I would love to hear what others with personal experiences on what is the pro and con of these approaches. Thank you in advance for your help!