Computer...upgrade or new ?????

[craigb]

I reckon that it comes down to how you want to spend your hobby time.

If you like pr1cking around with computers (and NOTHING ever takes 10mins EVER) then build your own.

If you want to spend your valuable time on woodwork, then do as the silent one says and buy a Dell or something.

Lets face it, the bloody things are just commodities now anyway.

my 0.02

[bitingmidge]

Oh well.... all you non-believers asked for this:



On the 1st day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

Windows XP for my PC



On the 2nd day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

2 GPFs

and Windows XP for my PC



On the 3rd day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

3 ports not responding

2 GPFs

and Windows XP for my PC



On the 4th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

4 sectors bad

3 ports not responding

2 GPFs

and Windows XP for my PC



On the 5th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

5 eighty six

4 sectors bad

3 ports not responding

2 GPFs

and Windows XP for my PC



On the 6th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

6 ints conflictin'

5 eighty six

4 sectors bad

3 ports not responding

2 GPFs

and Windows XP for my PC



On the 7th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

7 files missin'

6 ints conflictin'

5 eighty six

4 sectors bad

3 ports not responding

2 GPFs

and Windows XP for my PC



On the 8th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

8 Megs overflowin'

7 files missin'

6 ints conflictin'

5 eighty six

4 sectors bad

3 ports not responding

2 GPFs

and Windows XP for my PC



On the 9th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

9 apps a crashin'

8 Megs overflowin'

7 files missin'

6 ints conflictin'

5 eighty six

4 sectors bad

3 ports not responding

2 GPFs

and Windows XP for my PC



On the 10th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

10 modes not supported

9 apps a crashin'

8 Megs overflowin'

7 files missin'

6 ints conflictin'

5 eighty six

4 sectors bad

3 ports not responding

2 GPFs

and Windows XP for my PC



On the 11th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

11 instructions faulty

10 modes not supported

9 apps a crashin'

8 Megs overflowin'

7 files missin'

6 ints conflictin'

5 eighty six

4 sectors bad

3 ports not responding

2 GPFs

and Windows XP for my PC



On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

12 sound cards silent

11 instructions faulty

10 modes not supported

9 apps a crashin'

8 Megs overflowin'

7 files missin'

6 ints conflictin'

5 eighty six

4 sectors bad

3 ports not responding

2 GPFs

and Windows XP for my PC



And the drum roll begins.......



And now, the long awaited folow-up:



On the 1st day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

A Macintosh instead of a PC



On the 2nd day of Christmas, my true love gave to...

hey wait a minute,

this thing works !!!!!





P (in his flame proof suit)

[echnidna]

We had the same problem as Macca about 6 months ago.

I looked around at prices including from the reputable ebay traders.
We bought 2 boxes setup for $400 each on a buy now basis.

I didn't go for the latest ripper stuff which would have been obsolete next week anyway.
We got 2 compouters each 2.4 mhz or is it ghz? with 80gig hardrives 256memory with cdrs etc.
Not cutting edge but good reliable workhorses cheap.

The old computers are still used offline to handle various large format printers

[Daddles]

Buy a name brand and I can recomend the Dell because that's what I'm writing on right now and it hasn't given me a drama in the seven months I've owned it - a record by a long shot.

I'm a writer - I spend my life on the computer. Mine is on from 8 in the morning till midnight every day and gets worked for much of that time. It's not unusual for me to have very large files open and four to five applications working on top of the usual windows crap. So my computers have to work and work reliably.

I've had shop built computers for many years and everyone of them has had troubles, some minor, some major, but none has been solid and reliable like my Dell. I've watched friends with similar experiences. I've found that small incompatibilities can really take the fun out of computing. My last computer kept killing CD burners. I don't know why, we never did find out for sure, but something in there didn't work, and at least one of those burners was taken out to have a happy life in another computer. Another of my old boxes, the one my son plays on now actually, has a love/hate relationship with video cards. And no, I don't buy cheap crappy computers or components, I've tried to buy quality every time.

You buy a good name brand computer, it will work as a unit. You can't guarantee that with a shop built item. Not in my experience anyway. I guess I should point out that I'm fussy and don't put up with any **** from a tool. A lot of what computer nuts consider just part of the game is intolerable to me - I use the brute to do work on, not to have to work on (to fix it).

I've gone for built up computers in the past because they are cheaper and easier to upgrade or repair than a name brand - ever tried to put parts in a Compaq that weren't Compaq parts? However, with the speed and power of modern computers, not to mention the price, I realised that I will not have to upgrade the thing within its working life. So I chose to go for the Dell and I'm happy I did. Best computer I've ever owned. But this doesn't just apply Dell. A mate, who builds computers for a hobby, chose an HP for his main machine at home for the same reasons and is just as happy as I am.

Just my twist on it as a computer user, not a computer tinkerer.

Richard
Windows XP - windows eXtra Problems

[namtrak]

Dont waste your energy on it. Save your pennies, buy a Dell laptop online (wait till they have a deal for extra memory and HD space) for about $1500, then get your self broadband through internode.on.net 16GB per month for $49 per month (we use about 1GB), then get a wireless access point and a wireless card for your laptop and bingo you are in the new age!! Guess you've figured that's what we have done. I have also wacked a wireless card in the kids PC which they reckon is pretty cool, and if your enterprising you may find 2 neighbours who are willing to part with some of the folding stuff or brews for access to the net across the wireless network (between the 6 connected users we use about 3 GB a month). The only drawback is that with the cheaper laptops you get what is called an integrated video card - they make it sound so new age!! All that means is that your video card shares it's memory and effectively you are precluded from playing the newest 3D games - this is the only drawback. The only other change I would have made is to get the longest possible warranty I could get (5 years) cause I reckon that'll just about see me out!!

Best of luck!!

PS I have some experience building PC's from scratch and whilst it is relatively straightforward - I would think long and hard about the value of a few hundred dollars difference. Anyway - best of luck.

[Grunt]

Ah yes, wireless laptops and broadband. Sit in front of the tele watching cricket and surfing this bb at the same time.

[Daddles]

[rant]
Broadband? Broadband? **sob** I'm in metropolitan Adelaide and it's not available to me. Yes, they've upgraded the exchange, the problem is in the wiring from the exchange to me. I log on so often that I'd actually save money going to broadband (because I can't keep the phone like tied up all day with dial up). But no, because Telstra are so modern and efficient, because our telephone system is so up to date and well maintained (I heard the liberals say so on tele the other night), I can't get bloody broadband and there's nothing on the horizon to say I will. My sister is in the same boat.
[/rant]

[echnidna]

Ahhh yess Broadband.
But we can't get it except by satellite so we get stuck with a degenerate isdn service
(which I think costs more than Broadband)
or a totally lousy dialup service that falls offline so often you'd reckon the computer is mounted on the trampoline.
Courtesy of that wonderful Telco.

The wireless bit is interesting though - if we can get a system to work between some buildings about 100 metres apart with scatterred trees in between.

[namtrak]

The wireless bit is interesting though - if we can get a system to work between some buildings about 100 metres apart with scatterred trees in between. 

Absolutely!! I can walk down our street with the laptop and get pretty good coverage for about 3 or 4 houses. You probably need to stick the access point up in the roof to provide a better line of sight, but other than that should be okay - still only really useful with broadband though

Best of luck

[bitingmidge]

Absolutely!! I can walk down our street with the laptop and get pretty good coverage for about 3 or 4 houses. You probably need to stick the access point up in the roof to provide a better line of sight, but other than that should be okay - still only really useful with broadband though

Me too! For a few years I used to have my server in my office which was actuall the house next door. Wireless = reliable flexible network albeit with some security precautions needed!

As for broadband: Check out the recent changes under the government's HIBIS Initiative (now there's a great oxymoron - Government Initiative, right up there with Microsoft Office Works!) You may actually be eligible for a subsidised two-way sattelite connection. The bigpond site has some info, but many ISP's can do the same.

I am involved in a semi- remote area project and the two way sat seems to work OK (mostly).

Cheers,

P

[Honest Gaza]

Macca2....it obviously depends on what you want to achieve. For some, building a computer is a hobby. You may not save much money, but you feel a sense of achievement ( much like woodworking ).

The biggest problem is that some of the no-name PC shops can provide them so cheaply, why bother expending your own time....unless you want to as a hobby. PC User magazine frequently offers articles on the best PC's for under $1,500, $2,500 etc and nominates suppliers.

I see from your profile you are based in WA. This may not help you, but here is a website to view to get an idea of prices offered by one of the suppliers that PC User frequently gives their No.1 award to. "www.pc-express.com.au"

An example : Athlon XP 2600+, 512Meg Memory, 80Gig HDD, DVD ROM, CD Writer, Win XP Operating System and 17inch monitor for $1,220. Pretty hard to build this yourself for less. There are cheaper PC's going around, but can they provide the same processing power when all components are taken into account ( ie. Motherboard, Graphics Card )

We bought a PC from this supplier about 18 months ago for my son and it's still going strong except for the viruses that he attracts from various websites. ( Must talk to him about that ).

[HappyHammer]

Alternatively you could cruise local car parks and nick a laptop from a car...

HH.

[Grunt]

Alternatively you could cruise local car parks and nick a laptop from a car...

HH.

You weren't down in Melbourne for last year Woodwork Show were you? I got my laptop nicked from my car. If it was you I want it back.

[echnidna]

And here woz I thinking "Grunt" must be the password into the technical innards of me new laptop. Geez maybe I orta scratch it off.

[macca2]

My thanks to all who have offered an amazing amount of advice. Not being a computer buff, and not even knowing what bits are desirable in a new computer I think I will take the advice of many and buy a ready built one.
Gaza.........I will look at your recomended web site, thanks.
A lot of good advice and as usual a bundle of humour.
No better BB anywhere

Macca