JediDefender.com Forums
Community => Watto's Junk Yard => Topic started by: JediMAC on December 22, 2002, 12:36 AM
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Hey everybody! I'm looking to buy a new computer pretty soon, since the one we've currently got at home is about 6 years dated now (P2 266 Mhz). We've got a Compaq right now, and have generally been pretty happy with it, but are open to exploring some new options. I'm inclined to stick with either Compaq, HP, Dell, or Gateway.
What do you all have and are you happy with it? Any computer geeks (no offense) out there who have some good insight on what I should be looking for? What brand names do you most recommend? How 'bout monitors as well?
Thanks for any input - I greatly appreciate it!
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Hey, here is what I think would be good.
Brand:
Dell
Compaq
HP
NOT GATEWAY- they are not all that they are cracked up to be. Lot's of problems in my experiance.
I would get:
2.0 GHZ Pentium 4 Processor
533 Ram
40 + GB Hard Drive (40 is fine, if you want more, go for it)
DVD
Cd Burner
You could pick this package up for around $899.
Anything else, let me know.
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Well, After minutes of research, I took the plunge and went with a Dell...
2.2 GHz Pentium 4
256 MB RAM (I have another 256 Card in my current computer)
30 GB Hard Drive
17" Mointor
CD and CD-RW
Which pretty much covers the highlights, all for $600 shipped after applicable rebates and junk. I was quite pleased with what I am getting and can finally retire old Bessy, a 233 MHz with 1 GB Hard Drive which is about plum full. I am going to suprise my wife next week...hopefully she doesn't read this :-*
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I have an iMac at home. After years of using Apples for graphic design and even illustration, I just had to have a Macintosh at home. I use it for everything from freelance to shopping. I'm pretty excited about Apple's iTunes Music Store (http://www.apple.com/music/), too. It'll give me an excuse to upgrade my system. ;)
I know that doesn't help you, Matt, but I take every opportunity I can to gush about my Mac. ;D
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Scott, good choice. I just got myself a new Dell 2 weeks ago, I love it. Here are the specs:
Intel Pentium 4 Processor 2.52 Ghz (512 MB Front Side Bus)
512 MB of DDR Ram
60 GB Hard Drive
17" Monitor
One DVD Drive and One CD-RW Drive
128 MB ATI Radeon Pro 9700 Graphics Card
I even purchased a Bass for the speaker system on this baby
The old computer now is plugged into a hub and is my new server (not for JediDefender. :P)
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I know that doesn't help you, Matt, but I take every opportunity I can to gush about my Mac. ;D
This is me showing some self control and not making any sarcastic and/or deragatory comments towards a Mac user... :-X But I tell ya', you artists (and teachers it seems too) are just a sucker for these machines - ain'tchya?! :-* I think Angry Ewok's a little confused too and has a Mac also, right Brad? Coincidentally, Brad fancies himself an artist as well!
Sadly enough, I'm glad this thread got bumped back up, as I still haven't gotten around to buying a new computer - now 4 months after I originally posted this thread. We've just been saving all of our money for the down payment on the new house that we're never going to get!!! >:( (not that I'm getting bitter about it or anything) :P
So I'm still leaning towards either Dell, Compaq, or HP. Any more thoughts on any of those brands anyone? I also want to get a good 3D graphics card for any of the SW games that have been released to date. Any suggestions on that front as well?
Also, does anyone know when the Pentium 5's are due to come out? Are we still a good year or more away from them?
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I am not sure about the Pentium 5. Right now computers are cheaper that they have been and the Pentium 4 is a great chip.
My graphics card is one of the best out their and it works like a charm (that Star Trek Bridge Commander is quite awesome on this sucker!!). :-*
Dell is nice!
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This is me showing some self control and not making any sarcastic and/or deragatory comments towards a Mac user...
Please notice that I can gush about my computer without bashing others' choices. :)
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My graphics card is one of the best out their and it works like a charm (that Star Trek Bridge Commander is quite awesome on this sucker!!). :-*
Don't you start up with that Star Trek nonsense again boss! You know how I feel about that! ::) :P :-*
/me slaps the Trekkie ;D
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This is me showing some self control and not making any sarcastic and/or deragatory comments towards a Mac user...
Please notice that I can gush about my computer without bashing others' choices. :)
Ah, feel free to bash us Bill Gates supporters all you want too John! ;) I'm just messin' with you and Brad though! Kinda like the whole Star Wars/Star Trek debate. Just a fun rivalry really! 8) I don't honestly think less of you for using a Mac, well not much less anyways... ;D
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I was a Mac fan until I graduated from College...I had to make the switch since Windows is pretty much standard in the business and science. There are tons o' problems with Windows stuff too so I am not a total fanatic, the memories of my Mac continually crashing while writing term papers still haunts me
The concept of a monitor and computer in one thing is a great one methinks
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My first computer was a MacIntosh Classic. A stunning piece of machinery and anyone that remembers better can correct me, but I think 2 Mb or Ram and 40 Mb hard drive. Ah, the glory days. Still like Macs, just not much point for the same reasons as Scott.
I'm kind of in the same boat as Matt, but not in any hurry to get a new one. Running a P II 333, 384 Mb Ram, 64 Mb Vid card, so all is still pretty good, at least for what I use it for. Waiting for DVD burners to come down in price a bit more, and get the spin rate up.
By the time I get a new one (late fall maybe), I'm hoping for 3+ GHz, 512 Mb Ram, 60+ GHz hard drive, 128 Mb Vid card, (probably pull my soundblaster Audigy out of this one and put the old one back in), CD-RW and DVD RW, Zip and away she goes. But the price for that needs to come down quite a bit. What is it, 3 months for processor turnover in terms of price? 6 months should make that all quite affordable. Monitors should be good by then too.
My wife (the boss) has a Dell laptop she loves, so probably another Dell. It all depends on price for the same quality of components.
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I still have my Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 1. 16K of Ram upgraded to 64. Disk drive 5 1/4 inch floppy. Cassette tape player for that fast loading of basic programs. ::)
Still a classic from the past & it still works. :o
Nothing like playing classic arcade games. ;D
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Im definately going to suggest Sony, especially if you're a mediaphile. Not only are these probably some of the most aesthetically pleasing computers on the market, but their prices are competitive, and they are very reliable machines.
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I've got a pretty nice HP Pentium 3 that I'm very happy with. I hear good things about Dell as well, so that's a good choice also. I used to have a Compaq several years ago and had a couple problems with it, so it's not a brand I recommend anymore. Prices have dropped a bit in the last 6 months so you can can a real nice desktop for under a grand for sure.
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We use Dells at work and I got a older Dell P2-400 at a computer show 2 years ago, it runs good and other than an occasional freeze up, I'm happy with it. Just can't play new games though. But I'd dig a Mac also if I had the extra fundage. 8)
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I own a Systemax computer from the company I recently quit from, and it's my second Systemax computer. I love it! Everything is brand name in it, and it has tons of room for upgrades. Here are some of the specs on it (with some slight modifications done by me)...
-- AMD Athlon XP 2100+ with QuantiSpeed Architecture
-- 80gb 7200rpm hard drive
-- 768mb DDR memory
-- ATI Radeon 7000 64mb video card w/TV out
-- 24x10x40 CDRW
-- 16x DVD player
-- 56k modem
-- 10/100 NIC
-- 4 USB and 4 Firewire ports
-- ATX case
As far as some suggestions you could always go with this brand that I have (I'd buy another one in a heart beat). Dell is a pretty good company, but I would NOT go with an HP/Compaq (their merger IMHO hurt them bad) or Gateway. Those are just my opinions, and I can back them up if anyone needs reasons because I've worked on all the brands out there.
Whatever one you get though, make sure you have tons of room to upgrade (i.e. several PCI slots, memory slots, memory that can max out to at least a minimum of 1gb, and plenty of 3.5" and 5.25" bays). HP/Compaq are problematic computers when it comes to doing upgrades on them.
Hope some of that helps you out Matt.
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Personally Matt,
I've never been happier with a PC than I am with the one I have now. I bought mine from a reputable guy in my area that hand builds PC's and also does maintenance. He's nearby, and usually able to help me right away when I have any problems.
The great thing is though, that I rarely have problems with my PC. As a matter of fact, the only problems I've had have been outside troubles like a power surge.
The machine iteself has never given me any problems that would have been the builder's fault.
He also works out pretty decent deals for me when I get upgrades and he does them all himself. Since I send business his way, he's always willing to sell me stuff like say RAM when it's at its lowest price (He lets me know) and cuts me deals on extra stuff sometimes. He's even installed software he knows I want, but can't buy (ssssshhh) :D
I feel sure there's someone like that in your immediate area that you could go to as well.
With that said, if you're gonna game my suggestion to you is to get one with extra RAM, a TOP end video card (Geforce 4 or higher if they've got newer ones out), and a fair sized hard drive.
I do a fair bit of gaming (especially on PC) and so my machine's built around that. Games take up a bit of space, but are usually great fun... The higher the RAM and vid card you get though, the less likely an upgrade is for you in the near future. I have run off my vid card for a couple years now, and it isn't even top end.
That's my general advice though... I like the convenience of the guy that built my PC. I never worry about it, and so long as I do the regular maintenance it stays in great shape. :)
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Alright... I think the day has finally arrived!
Pretty sure I'll be buying this new beauty (http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=307521&pfp=srch1&sid=3FDE4B004A90617F) in just a few hours... 8)
Hewlett Packard Pavilion a362n desktop computer, featuring:
Intel Pentium 4 Processor, 3.00GHz, with Hyper-Threading Technology, 512MB RAM, 160GB Hard Drive, 4X DVD+RW and 16X DVD Drives, Microsoft Windows XP, ATI® RADEON™ 9200 graphics card, etc...
From CompUSA, for a couple hundred less than the list price they've got there (4 day sale right now). Problem is, I haven't picked a monitor yet. I'm gonna go 19" for sure, and thought I'd just get the bundle deal at Costco right now, but found out that the contrast ratio and response time on the HP monitors sucked. So I've got a bit more research to do in that department. But at least I've finally got the computer pegged, and for a reasonable price and at a good deal IMO.
Any of you gamers know if the ATI® RADEON™ 9200 graphics card is decent? I know they're up to the 9800 series now, but hopefully this one is still a solid addition for those many SW games I've had sitting around for the past couple years, but haven't played yet... :-\
Any recommendations on good 19" monitors, or monitor brands in general? Or crappy brands to steer clear of?
Exciting to finally almost be retiring the old Compaq 266 Mhz piece of garbage we've had for the past 6 years! My wife snagged a P3 Dell laptop for cheap last year, but I freaking HATE using laptops! Time to join the modern era again, with something decent finally... :)
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Looks pretty nice, some very nice specs. Now, go and get it!
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Matt, very nice system there! Definitely go out and get it!
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Very nice. I keep watching Dell and when (if?) I clear the CC bill, I'll be joining you at some point.
At this point I will again indicate Canada sucks, that listed price is around $1000 less than what I'd pay :'( even from Dell. I'm looking at dropping around $2500-3000 shipped including monitor for a system not too different from yours. I'll be going with 1 GHz of RAM and a 256 MB video card though. Also adding a zip drive for the missus as she has one for work. Soundblaster audigy 2 sound card as well. Two disc drives like yours.
Only thing I didn't see listed (might be age related) was the sound card +/or speakers with your system. If they aren't included and at least half way decent, I'm not so keen on that price.
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Looks like a nice 'puter there, congrats on your decision. My wife and I have been hoping to get a new computer pretty soon as well. We currently have a P3 Dell that we got about 4 years ago, and once we have the money, it will be time to upgrade. My place of work also has Dells (P4s), and I have been very happy with them...so we will probably go that route again. We are kind of thinking about getting a laptop this time though, we have always liked those, and it would be nice to have the extra space too. Hopefully someday....
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Update: Yes, I did buy the thing!
Very nice. I keep watching Dell and when (if?) I clear the CC bill, I'll be joining you at some point.
I'd been watching the Dell site too, and in fact, still am. I won't be opening this up right away, since we don't have the monitor for it quite yet, so in the meantime, I'll be keeping a keen eye on the Dell site to see if there's anything better worth buying there, in which case I'll return this one...
Only thing I didn't see listed (might be age related) was the sound card +/or speakers with your system. If they aren't included and at least half way decent, I'm not so keen on that price.
No speakers, but don't those usually come with the monitor? Hopefully that's the case. Not sure on the sound card, but I'd assume it's definitely got a decent one in there somwhere...
So, any input on whether the ATI Radeon is still a decent card for gaming, or is it already completely outdated? And give me some good monitor brands too, while you're at it! :-*
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Matt, I can answer on the Radeon to some extent. Right now they're the benchmark for game performance, but a 9200 might be a bit underpowered if you're looking to run something like Galaxies, or going for Half Life 2 (when my ex employer gets around to shipping it). It may be worth looking at a 9600 or 9700 (9700 is what's in my machine as well) or if you want to go super-crazy, the 9800XT!
That's a really nice rig you've just bought!
J
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Well I had to wait a lot longer than planned, but finally ordered a new computer last night. Should have it in a couple of weeks. Not quite what I had planned above, but it only cost $1650 Cdn delivered with a 17" monitor (just a regular CRT). Went with Dell, really not much else choice up here IMO.
P4 3.0 GB with 800 MHz front side bus
512 MB DDR SDRAM at 400 MHz
128 MB GeForce FX5200 vid card
120 GB SATA hard drive
8x DVD+RW
16xDVD-ROM
Sound Blaster Live! 5.1
My old PII 300 just wasn't cutting the mustard. It was crashing four or five times a night for reasons I just couldn't fix. I could go into the same thread on here two different times, one time it would lock, the other not. Tres frustrating. So only a couple more weeks of cursing while online at night. Whoo-hoo!
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Nice score B!
Alright... I think the day has finally arrived!
.
.
.
Problem is, I haven't picked a monitor yet. I'm gonna go 19" for sure, and thought I'd just get the bundle deal at Costco right now, but found out that the contrast ratio and response time on the HP monitors sucked. So I've got a bit more research to do in that department. But at least I've finally got the computer pegged, and for a reasonable price and at a good deal IMO.
Good Lord. Has it really been 3 months since I bought that thing?! What's totally pathetic is that I STILL haven't gotten around to buying my new monitor, so I haven't even hooked the thing up! ::) Sad, huh?
But at least I'm finished with my monitor research, and have picked one out! 8) I'm going with this (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=S4LuZqO9e_Huf-Pvm0XkbeyzftjRQGOSt2U=?ProductSKU=SDMHX93%2fB) sexy new 19" Sony beauty... Just waiting to find a decent sale price somewhere still. Best I've seen so far is $300 off (of the $1,000 tag). :-\ I think I need $100 more off, to finally pull the trigger! Soon baby. Soon!
(http://www.sonystyle.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/en/imagesProducts/180x180/SDMHX53B.jpg)
Then I can finally join all you clowns in the JD chatroom again, since that thing doesn't work on my wife's crappy Dell laptop. >:(
Even got the cable modem installed in the office a couple months ago for the new computer too, which remains unused as well. Still fartin' around on the 56K here... ::)
Maybe we should just rename this thread "Matt's a dumbass". Yeah, that sounds about right! :P
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Maybe we should just rename this thread "Matt's a dumbass". Yeah, that sounds about right! :P
I'm all for it! ;D :P
Looks like a nice monitor Matt. I'm sure it will come down in price. 56K, yuck.
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Maybe we should just rename this thread "Matt's a dumbass".
Just make sure it reads:
"Matt Colman's a dumbass".
:-\
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Maybe we should just rename this thread "Matt's a dumbass".
Just make sure it reads:
"Matt Colman's a dumbass".
:-\
Yes sir, you are correct. Gotta make sure we have the right Matt here! ;)
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Well, my new pet has arrived.
Quick like a bunny she is. And unlike a certain someone, I thought it best to actually set it up and use it ::) :-*
I must confess, being able to read all the threads here without them freezing is quite the treat.
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Here's a suggestion Matt...go buy a monitor ::)
Welcome to the mid years of the first decade of the 2000's (BTW...WTF is E! and VH1 going to do when they do their craptacular I Love the 80's, 90's etc...what the hell do people call this decade???)
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I always wondered that too Scott.....my wife and I were talking about that a few months back. When we were in HS, the cheerleaders/class did a cheer along the lines of "95, 95 we're the class of 95...let's go seniors!" or something along those lines. I always wondered what the class of 2000 said.
Congrats to everyone on their new 'puters too. We have been wanting to get a new one as well, but are holding off for now. Our computer now is a little over 4 years old, which isn't terrible at all, and it still works for us I guess. Hoping to get either a laptop or something with a flat panel monitor....so that it takes up less space. I've always had Dell computers (at work and home), and have been very happy with them...so I guess we'll look that route if we ever get to that point. It has been nice reading everyone' suggestions here too.
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Just got my first DVD-rewriter (internal 8x used with USB2 external drive enclosure).
It's giving my newest PC a lot to do with DVD encoding, which it enjoys since it's never been "pushed" so far, and my 3-year old computer is very pleased that it can clear out a few gigs of its HD to DVD-R backup.
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For those of you that have one, or the other, or both...which do you prefer: Laptops or Desktops?
We are hoping to get a new computer sometime in the next few months, and are trying to figure out which route we would like to go. We currently have a 5 year old Dell desktop, and I've worked with a number of Dells now (with work, ordering/setting up my parents/friends computers), and have had really great luck with them. With that in mind, we will likely be going with Dell for our computer either way. I've always been kind of interested in getting a laptop, although I admit it isn't really "necessary" because its not like we're computing on the road or anything :). If we go the desktop route, it will definitely be with a flat panel monitor. They look nice, and I enjoy the space saving aspect as well. Anyways, do any of you prefer one over the other? Some people say that laptops are more "high maintenance" and other say they really like them. Desktops seem to be a fair amount cheaper, overall, so that would be another selling point to us too. Plus the fact that my wife doesn't think a laptop is necessary either :). Probably leaning towards a desktop, but I was just curious if anyone had opinions on the subject.
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A laptop is great when traveling, but at home I want my desktop.
I just bought a Dell Dimension 8400 2 months ago, thus far I'm quite happy with it.
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Desktop.
I seldom go anywhere that actually has a login available to me and most hotels have a work station if I get desperate enough. I like the ability to upgrade more easily and personally. It's not that hard to switch components so I like the freedom to do that. Laptops tend to be somewhat more sensitive to movement than I'd like them to be. My wife's Dell laptop has given her some grief, all covered by warranty but still a pain. My recommendation is to go with a desktop unless you really need a laptop. More stable, more easily upgraded.
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Well, for the last 4 years, I've been using one of these at home:
VPR Matrix 1600 (http://www.vprmatrix.com/products_desktop_1600.asp)
- 1.6 GHz Intel Pentium 4 (400 MHz frontside bus)
- 512 MB DDR SDRAM
- 80.0 GB hard drive (7200 rpm)
- 16x maximum speed DVD-ROM drive (40x maximum speed CD-ROM)
- 24x10x40 CD-RW drive
- nVidia TNT2 M64 32 MB video card replaced with a GeForce FX 5200 128MB video card 2.5 yrs ago
After 4 years, this little guy is just not pulling his weight anymore - slow response time (partially due to Norton AV 2005 ::)), slow loading time, Hard Drive is getting full, 512MB is a bit too slow for newer games, etc.
Anyway, I started looking into an upgrade, but after I started adding up what I wanted to upgrade (RAM, Hard Drive space, vid card, DVD writer), well it seemed easier to just buy a brand new PC. So, over the last 3 weeks, I've been doing a bit of research into stuff I can grab at my price range and last night I pulled the trigger on this set-up from Best Buy:
HP a1250n:
• AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ dual-core processor (2000MHz system bus)
• 1.0GB PC3200 DDR SDRAM memory (2 x 512MB), expandable to 4GB
• 250GB Serial ATA hard drive (7200 rpm)
• Double-layer DVD±R/RW drive with CD-writing capabilities and separate DVD-ROM drive
• LightScribe in-line CD label creation
• HP 17" LCD Flat Panel Monitor
• HP Photosmart All-In-One Printer/Scanner/Copier (2575)
Since it came with an integrated Radeon Xpress 200, I had to spice it up a few notches:
• PNY Verto GeForce 6600 256MB DDR PCI Express Graphics Card
I got everything set up last night. Tonight I should be able to re-install all my games (SWG, CoH, WoW) and see what this thing can really do... :)
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Congrats Jeff. Mine is still working great, can't believe it's been a year and half already :o Bet Colman still doesn't have a monitor though. 18 billion on toys, but won't drop $300 for a monitor ::) ;)
I should add some RAM though, just on principle.
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This probably isn't gonna be very helpful to anyone here, but it's my understanding that Best Buy will be selling a desktop computer for $150, and a laptop (or "labtop") for $250 the day after Thanksgiving.
Not that I would be interested in buying either--they're probably crap, and I can't tolerate the Black Friday crowds--but I just think it's really amazing how low the prices have dropped on computers over the years.
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- 80.0 GB hard drive (7200 rpm)
....Hard Drive is getting full.....
Forgive my stoopid question, and no offense intended, but how you even fill up 80 gigs? What do you have on there? I've been using the same computer since '98, and I've still only used under 5 of my 12-gig drive.
You stockpiled thousands of hours of porn or something? ;)
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- 80.0 GB hard drive (7200 rpm)
....Hard Drive is getting full.....
Forgive my stoopid question, and no offense intended, but how you even fill up 80 gigs?
It looks something like this (estimates):
Video Games (~20-25GB):
Everquest (and a pile of expansions)
EQ2
Star Wars Galaxies (and 3 expansions)
City of Heroes (and City of Villians expansion)
World of Warcraft
KotOR 1 & 2
Battlefront 1 & 2
and many, many, many other VGs that I am too lazy to un-install and then re-install when I want to play them ::)
iTunes (~21GB):
- ALL of my CDs (over 3000 songs)
- ALL of my wife's CDs (over 1000 songs)
Digital Photos (~3GB)
(again, too lazy to burn them to CDs since my wife does a lot of scrapbooking stuff with them)
All sorts of Software (~10-12 GB)
- Full Adobe plus Adobe Reader
- Photoshop
- MS Office (Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Access)
- Digital Camera software
- all sorts of other crap I have "accumulated" over the 4 years ::)
I know there is other stuff I am forgetting, but I know there is easily close to 50GB in music and video games alone... :-[
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So, I gotta ask, are people stupid? Here's why...
We picked up a printer last week (finally) and while I was browsing I came across a wireless LAN setup that looked pretty darn nifty. Regular price was $179 for it with two wireless USB adapters included. Now that's not a great price but it had a $40 instant rebate (= sale price) PLUS it had a $100 mail in rebate. I know why they do mail in rebates, most folks forget and they end up ahead of the game. Well we always mail in. Shipping was free, so $45 after the taxes. More than reasonable.
Here's where we get to the stupid part:
I get three pieces - the two USB adapters for the wireless connection and the base. On the box is a "difficulty of installation" portion that ranges from one to five stars. The USB thingies are two stars but the router itself is four stars out of five. Whoa, I'm not happy seeing that. I'm ok with computers but c'mon, at my age it could get tricky. I never used a computer until university and in high school they were doing the punch card schtick, no thanks.
So I pull out the gear for the router. Disc, power cord, internet connection cord thingamabob and the router itself. I look at the manual and go ok, here's what I need to do:
1. unplug the cable connection from the computer
2. plug the cable connection into the WLAN slot
3. plug the computer connection that used to be hooked to the cable box into a LAN slot
4. plug in the power cable.
5. wait 55 seconds for the router to warm up
That's it. That rates a four out of five stars?? Honestly, how stupid do you have to be to **** this up. It took about a minute and a half to gear up my wife's laptop and now she's on MSN in the other room.
I'm ready for five out of five or maybe I can be a computer tech now. ::)
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Morgbug, I've been wanting to do the wireless lan in the home. Which one did you go with?
BTW, nice story. One doesn't have to a brain in computers to do this.
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This one (http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=BDL10001130&catid=19994).
What I can't tell you is relatively how good it is compared to other routers. We both have been online for a couple of hours and didn't notice any impact really. Nice and quick with no interference.
I see the price is down by the sale amount from last week ::) So the only real savings I had was the mail in rebate of $100. Prices are CAD as well, so yours will be cheaper. And that includes two USB 2.0 adapters. So just the router itself will be cheaper but you have to keep in mind the other computers need to be hooked in somehow as well.
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We bought a Linksys (sp?) wireless router for our place - I think we paid about $90.00 for the router and a wireless card for the laptop - and Comp USA installed it and set up the network for free.
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We've been eyeing a Mac G4 Ibook for a while now. It may finally happen for Christmas.
Too bad Mac is switching to the Intel processors which will mean that the operating system will be outdated in 2 - 2 1/2 years. :(
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Intel iBooks should be out in Jan/Feb, or so the rumors say.
And switching to Intel won't necessarily cause the OS to be outdated any faster than any other OS gets outdated. But, if you are really worried about that, I'd wait a month fo the intel models.
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Interesting, I heard, from my buddy who works for Apple, that the intel towers would be out in about a year and the lap tops a year to a year in a half after that. I'll have to check into that.
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No, that's not true at all. All reputable Mac websites expect the first Intel systems in the next couple months. Probably iBooks and iMacs first, then Powerbooks and Powermacs to follow around May/June. Even Apple themselves has said to expect the first intel systems in early to mid 2006.
This site, for instance, is almost ALWAYS right on the money:
http://www.thinksecret.com/news/0511intelibook.html
If you really are thinking of getting an ibook, I'd definitely hold off until MacExpo in the first week of January. The new systems will probably be announced then. You might be able to get a good deal on the current models if you buy now, but rumors are the Intel systems are going to be much cheaper anyway.
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Thanks a ton Steve! Very helpfull. Given the date and the context in which I was talking to my friend, I can see how the information I had is no longer valid.
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Just don't go about your purchase the way these (http://www.wtsp.com/weird/weird_article.aspx?storyid=21724) people did.
Do watch the video. It was pretty cool to see a dude get taken down.
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I liked the footage of the woman getting trampled and rather than even remotely trying to get her fat ass off the floor, she simply laid there and tried to save her wig that had fallen off during the rush.
Ya know what it's like, ya know this is gonna happen... Wigs are probably NOT a good idea, and really is laying on the floor when you obviously have the ability to move/get back up really all that good of a choice to make? I mean, really? :-\
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I liked the footage of the woman getting trampled and rather than even remotely trying to get her fat ass off the floor, she simply laid there and tried to save her wig that had fallen off during the rush.
where was this footage?
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It ran on the Daily Show last night Name, but I'm not sure where it was exactly. I think the Colbert Report ran it too in their lead story...
Basically it isjust a news person watching as the doors opened at one Wal-Mart. The Stampede was comical and disturbing. One woman fell and her wig fell off. She just laid there (the full footage from this had an interview with this woman but that was cut off from the CC shows last night. I saw the full story on my local NBC station the night of Black Friday), and she admitted she just didn't get up... She was moving, she put her wig back on, so I don't think she was hurt... She just laid there and people were running like mad to whatever the big deal was at Wal-Mart.
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Jeez, that could have been here. Boxing day sales at Walmart generate that sort of herd mentality and it's downright frightening. Why they tolerate and encourage it is beyond me, but that's Walmart for ya. ::)
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Wal-Mart tolerates it because that kind of nonsense gets them headlines, and there's no such thing as bad publicity.
I'm still baffled by the whole Black Friday mentality. What would make someone get up way early on a day off to buy an item that will likely be cheaper the closer it gets to Christmas?
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After months of threats, I'm finally visiting JD on my new ibookG4. It's been a long time coming, I don't know how I was able to keep up on my old G3 running classic. :P
Anyway, with luck, I'll have things set up really nice in the next few days and may be able to start uploading pictures of stuff. 8)
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Darn. Here I thought Colman had finally sprung for a monitor :-\
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Here at work we have whats called a Learning & Wellness program, this is entitled to Books & Subscriptions, Heath & Fitness, Professional Membership Fee, Courses, Internet Subscription and Computer & Accessories. We are allowed to claim up to $500.00 per year back.
Just after the new year, I picked up a used laptop from Sherry's brotherinlaw for $125., a new mouse for it ($20.) & a Canon CanoScan Scanner ($99.99). Got me bucks back for them. ;)
Overtime my PC was telling me it's time to change so last Sunday I picked up a Compaq AMD Athlon 64 3400+ 2.2GHz Computer (1820NX) (http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10073100&catid=10607)for $569.99.
So far I'm liking this puppy & like I said the best part is I get $500. back through work. ;D
Now to get a new monitor & printer but that may have to wait till next year. :-\
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Sort of revising an old thread here but I figured it might be better than starting a new one....
So for many years I was a Mac Diehard. I defended Apple's little corner of the market until I was blue in the face. Then I left graduate school (circa 2000) and entered corporate America where the PC reigned supreme. I succumbed to the evils that is Windows and have since purchased several Dell PCs. I've consistently had 2 PCs at home and I buy a new one ever 3-4 years when the older one gets long in the tooth (buying a new one every 2 years or so).
Well, I'm looking at getting back into market to get a new computer. For the first time in ages, I'm thinking of getting a Mac. I haven't used one since before OS X debuted (I had a OS 9 as my last version). However, I've grown out of the stage in my life where I was playing a lot of video games. I've a got a PC laptop at work that I can bring home when I need to work from home so there is very little reason for me to actually own a PC. I do a lot of digital photos and make DVDs on my home computer (both of which I can easily do on the Mac). So I'm thinking of taking the plunge (assuming the boss at home agrees). If so, I'll swap out one Dell for a Mac (probably an iMac) and then in a couple years I might completely go PC free and swap out the second.
Anyone have thoughts on the Mac vs PC for a new computer purchase. I hate to keep up two platforms but I think it would only be for a couple years.
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Personally, I build my own computers with the exact hardware and operating system I want and don't like to deal with one company for all my technology needs. I like to shop for deals and pick up the latest technology. As a programmer I hate dealing with proprietary products and software. It just limits my choices and forces me into markets I really don't want to stay in. (ie iTunes)
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Newegg.com Most parts are sold at wholesale and not bumped up for retail. Great deals. Good company. That's where I'm looking to buy, and my friends have in the past, and highly recommend it.
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I have been after a laptop for along time & today I picked up this new toy at Future Shop, a Toshiba Satellite Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 2.0GHz Laptop (http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10109650&catid=25315&logon=&langid=EN#) & for an extra $10., I got a HP OfficeJet all-in-one printer (http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0665000FS10100966&logon=&langid=EN). Whoot! 8)
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/DSJcdn/Random/ToshibaSatelliteIntelCore2DuoT57502.jpg)(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i306/DSJcdn/Random/HPOfficeJetAll-In-OnePrinter.jpg)
We still have at work the Learning & Wellness program so I can claim up to $500.00 per year so that's still a big plus in my books so when all said & done this thing is costing me $206. plus I save 10% on ink for a full year :-*
This Windows Vista gonna take a bit of getting use to tho.
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Vista = Satan.
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I agree, vista= Satan. I wife hated the new computer that came with vista so much she went and bought a new mac powerbook and has been happy as a clam ever since.
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Still stuck with PCs at work, but have an iMac at home. Go back to Mac, dude. PCs suck.
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Is what they say true, that once you go Mac, you never go back?
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yes, Matthew, that is correct.