Getting a new computer

Topic: Getting a new computer (Read 6657 times) previous topic - next topic

Getting a new computer

September 15, 2008, 08:14:20 PM

First off, I want to assure Eric that I did consider getting a Mac, but the prices were just silly. Almost $700 for a Mac Mini, and iMac's starting at $1300? Thanksbutnothanks.

...So today my trusty Dell office machine shiznit the bed. Turn it on, nothing except a very loud fan. I opened it up and discovered several leaking capacitors near the CPU socket. Dells use proprietary motherboards and PSU's (I believe this machine may even have the rare BTX formfactor) so a new motherboard was out. A shame, because although not state-of-the-art it was certainly up to the task of general office work (P-4 3.06GHz, 2GB RAM, 100GB SATA HDD, integrated Intel graphics). It had served almost four troublefree years. I didn't even have to format-reinstall it except once, when it was brand new and straight out of the box contained seven viruses.

Time to move on. Since this is an office machine used primarily for emails, ebay and such, I didn't need top-of-the-line. Discrete video isn't even a necessity. I settled on a $349 "Refurbished" Compaq machine with a 2.2GHz Core2 Duo, 3GB RAM, 500GB SATA drive, 16X Lightscribe DVD burner, an onboard Intel graphics chip with 128MB dedicated memory, and Windows Vista Home Premuim. I couldn't even buy a decent chip and motherboard for the Dell case for that much, and a standard mobo wouldn't even fit the Dell anyway... the 5-fold increase in HDD space and triple the memory are icing on the cake :hick:

...Anyway, expect to hear me bitching and moaning about Vista over the next few weeks as I learn it, then get sick of it, and finally install XP or Ubuntu

I placed the order earlier today. I pick it up tomorrow. Here's full specs:
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10109015&catid=

Getting a new computer

Reply #1 – September 15, 2008, 08:20:32 PM

if you own xp throw it on. Vista automatically updates windows every time you shut down unless you unplug it from the internet. Also, all those resources will be used up about the same, but slightly higher then xp, so why not throw xp on?

Other then that, sounds like a good computer, and you can't beat the price now a days. I remember paying $75 for a 20 gig hard drive...

Getting a new computer

Reply #2 – September 15, 2008, 08:37:24 PM

It's not a bad price for an email machine.
as for the Mac part, if you ever do get one. I'm sure you'll never go back to windows. I used to build my own computers for myself, but will probably never do that again with the low cost of todays disposable computers. I only have 1 windows system left running all my tivo grabbers. been running nonstop for 8 years now, and i'm afraid to shut it off. LOL

Can't wait for the Vista bitching, that should be entertaining. LOL

You should try the Mac Leopard hack on the computer before you install XP. I hear it's blazing fast on a PC.

Getting a new computer

Reply #3 – September 15, 2008, 08:40:21 PM

Quote

I remember paying $75 for a 20 gig hard drive...

I remember paying $320 for a 110 meg drive. Yes I said meg.

Getting a new computer

Reply #4 – September 15, 2008, 08:50:41 PM

Quote from: Haystack;236303

if you own xp throw it on. Vista automatically updates windows every time you shut down unless you unplug it from the internet. Also, all those resources will be used up about the same, but slightly higher then xp, so why not throw xp on?

Other then that, sounds like a good computer, and you can't beat the price now a days. I remember paying $75 for a 20 gig hard drive...

I remember paying $400 for a 6.3GB hard drive... and $400 for a 17" monitor... and $300 for a SCSI 4X CD burner... and another $100 for the SCSI card so I could run the burner... and my father paying $600 for a 1MB ATI RAGE video card (as an add-on option for the new $2000 12-MHz 80286 he was buying when I was in high school - the ATI Rage was necessary to have color, otherwise it would've been Hercules monochrome graphics).

I used to build my own computers as well, but new retail machines are sooooooo much cheaper now. Unless you're building a super-high-end gaming machine that requires a custom build it's almost impossible to beat the likes of Dell, Gateway, Compaq, and the other retail machines. I mean, $350 for a dual-core Intel machine with lightscribe DVD burner, 3GB RAM and half a terabyte of storage? And it's not even a Celeron? I haven't built my own machine for years - the Dell was the first store-bought machine and heralded the end of building my own.

I'll play with Vista for a bit, just to try it out. I'd love to try the Mac Hack, but this is an office machine so I can't really screw around with it too much. I'll be keeping the old Dell for parts, so some day I might build another computer out of it and try the Mac OS...

Getting a new computer

Reply #5 – September 15, 2008, 08:55:40 PM

Quote from: daminc;236311

I remember paying $320 for a 110 meg drive. Yes I said meg.

I don't know what my father paid for the 20MB hard drive in that 286, but I'd wager it wasn't cheap. I remember running a program called "Stacker" on it that compressed the data on the fly and nearly doubled capacity to 40MB. I also remember my father using XTREE Gold and exploring the contents of said drive, only to discover a huge, nearly 20MB file called "Stackvol.dsk". He thought he'd free up a bunch of space by deleting it. It was the compressed contents of the hard drive, so he essentially formatted the drive with a single key press.

Price-per MB, though, it's pretty hard to beat the old TRS-80 8.4 MB hard disk:

I also remember trying to run Microsoft Windows 286 on that machine. Running a windows shell on a machine with 1MB RAM? Yeah, right...

Getting a new computer

Reply #6 – September 15, 2008, 08:59:35 PM

You know, at that price, you should get 2. It's a work write off.

Getting a new computer

Reply #7 – September 15, 2008, 09:08:28 PM

if its an option id go right to XP...the machine will run much faster. vista is a resorce hog. i have learned to like it but i realy would probably be happier with xp.

i would at least go over its "services" and tweak a little. i use black viper as my resorce...
http://www.blackviper.com/WinVista/servicecfg.htm

i would deffinetly disable the user account control, otherwise vista will ask you for permition to do prettey much anything other than to just sit there. its under the "super tweaks" section.

http://www.blackviper.com/WinVista/supertweaks.htm

id also consider getting an exturnal HD and backup to that and disable the system restore and indexing feature (also in supertweaks). i knew it used alot of memory but i about had a heart attack when i found the 35 GIGS i was missing....

sounds like a good little machine...

Getting a new computer

Reply #8 – September 15, 2008, 09:31:31 PM

I used x-tree all the way up to win 2000.
Great file program. fitted great on a 3-1/2 floppy boot disk.
as long as were on old expensive .
I still have a $650 mediavision video grabber card for a VL-bus 486 motherboard. If anyone is interested, I'll send it for free. LOL

I also still have Geoworks. A dos based graphical interface, before windows

I also have a Powerbook 160

Getting a new computer

Reply #9 – September 15, 2008, 10:26:12 PM

Remember installing Windows 95 with floppy disks? And having a disk read error when you insert the 23rd (last) disk, after sitting in front of the machine for half a day while the FDD squeaked and squawked through the previous 22 disks? I have actually experienced that (on a 486 computer). They were factory, Microsoft-issued floppies, too.

I imagine the big determining factor on whether Vista stays or not will be whether Mitchell OnDemand works. If it doesn't, Vista will be off before suppertime.

Getting a new computer

Reply #10 – September 15, 2008, 10:30:03 PM

Quote from: daminc;236309

It's not a bad price for an email machine.
as for the Mac part, if you ever do get one. I'm sure you'll never go back to windows. I used to build my own computers for myself, but will probably never do that again with the low cost of todays disposable computers. I only have 1 windows system left running all my tivo grabbers. been running nonstop for 8 years now, and i'm afraid to shut it off. LOL

Can't wait for the Vista bitching, that should be entertaining. LOL

You should try the Mac Leopard hack on the computer before you install XP. I hear it's blazing fast on a PC.

I hate mac
I cant stand to use it it drives me insane!

Getting a new computer

Reply #11 – September 16, 2008, 12:30:19 AM

i dunno...i heared all the compatability horror stories but in all honestly, i havent had a single compatability issue yet.

im sure it will work, if not, im sure theres a hack or fix for it....

if not (disclaimer) i hope it works but im a carpenter...not a computer tech guy....geesh....lol

Getting a new computer

Reply #12 – September 16, 2008, 07:16:58 AM

Quote

Remember installing Windows 95 with floppy disks? And having a disk read error when you insert the 23rd (last) disk, after sitting in front of the machine for half a day while the FDD squeaked and squawked through the previous 22 disks? I have actually experienced that (on a 486 computer). They were factory, Microsoft-issued floppies, too.

Ahh, Good Times
LOL

Getting a new computer

Reply #13 – September 16, 2008, 09:56:20 AM

Quote from: daboss351

I hate mac
I cant stand to use it it drives me insane!

Believe me, the feeling is mutual. It doesn't like you either.

Getting a new computer

Reply #14 – September 16, 2008, 05:15:52 PM

Uh-oh, he touched a nerve :D

New computer is off to a flying start. The B and V don't work on the keyboard. After 45 minutes on hold a new one is on the way.