Post #31,294
3/7/02 10:22:58 PM
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Hypothetical question
You have 3 grand to spend. what is the best system you can build with the money? Not entirely hypothetical, I've got the cash, just dont know if I want to spend it on a computer Convince me. Time limit says I will spend the cash on a vacation in Bali without evidence to say otherwise.
Clock is ticking.
With this much manure around, there must be a pony somewhere.
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Post #31,300
3/7/02 10:38:36 PM
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To do what?
Were you thinking of buying a computer just to buy a computer? Or did you have some probable use for it? I mean, it might be quite pointless suggesting what I'd spend 3 grand on. In fact, I'm not sure I'd buy a PC with it.
Wade.
"All around me are nothing but fakes
Come with me on the biggest fake of all!"
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Post #31,302
3/7/02 10:50:57 PM
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Wish I had money like that
but if I did, it would go to house payments, utilities, etc.
But if you did want a b*lls to the wall, *ss kicking, high octane dream system. Go to any PC Webstore, find the fastest AMD CPU, and motherboard, slap it into a large ATX case, use SCSI hard drives and controllers, and use mutliple hard drives via a switcher device (Tiger Direct has them, but I forgot the name of them) to select your OS to boot from them. Get that LCD screen you've been waiting for. Buy XP Pro, Windows 98SE, Red Hat Linux, and eCS.
Or heck, why not, get that dual 1Ghz G4 Mac! Then just run OSX and Virtual PC to run the PC stuff.
"Will code Visual BASIC for cash."
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Post #31,317
3/8/02 2:35:39 AM
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Feh.
x86, shmx86.
Build a dual 1GHz Alpha system.
Run Red Hat Linux on it.
Be happy.
Peter
Shill For Hire
[link|http://www.kuro5hin.org|There is no K5 Cabal]
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Post #31,305
3/7/02 11:02:25 PM
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What do you have to gain from either one?
Write down the good things that each one will benefit you. Then total them up and see which one has more.
Kick *ss Computer:
1. Don't have to worry about upgrading for a while.
2. Something to show for your money investment.
3. Can run the latest software and OSes.
4. Can be used for entertainment, education, business, etc.
5. A status symbol to show off to friends and family.
Vacation in Bali:
1. Fun in the sun.
2. Peace and quiet.
3. Away from your troubles.
4. No work, just relax.
5. Create good memories.
Well that is five for five on each one that I could think up. Maybe you can come up with more?
"Will code Visual BASIC for cash."
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Post #31,306
3/7/02 11:05:22 PM
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If you're not sure, invest it.
That way, when you do decide what you want to spend it on, you'll have more to spend.
And with the beauty of computers being the price point stays ~ the same whilst the specs get better and better over time ... you can't really lose!
On and on and on and on,
and on and on and on goes John.
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Post #31,309
3/7/02 11:36:56 PM
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$3k's a lot, but not enough.
Hi,
First, get a nice tube while you can. A 19" Hitachi is very nice. I've not seen a 21", but if you can get one with a large enough bandwidth and small enough dot pitch that would be great if you can afford it. Hitachi's getting out of the CRT monitor business soon (if they haven't already).
Get SCSI. Ultra-160 may have been superceded on the desktop now. You'll get arguments about whether you should get Adaptec or something else. SCSI puts less load on the system and you have a lot more flexibility in adding more drives than with IDE. (Though you'll probably still want IDE for DVD, CD-RW and the like). But SCSI can easily add $500-$1000 to the cost of a top-of-the-line IDE PC. If you want hardware RAID it'll jack up the price too.
Get a USB-2 and FireWire interface. That way you can hook up your USB-2 devices and Firewire digital camera and digital camcorder. You do have those too, don't you? ;-)
What OS are you planning to use? Does it support SMP? You might want an SMP motherboard. SMP motherboards can cost $200 - $500 depending on the CPU sockets and what peripherals are integrated.
If you're limited to $3k, I'd say wait or get something else. Or go to Bali. Unless you really can't think of what else to spend the money on.
I had a similar dilema a couple of months ago. Spend $2-2.5K for a system with the best of everything, or $1k for a good-enough PC. I decided for the good enough box (refurbished Compaq Presaio 7000 US (1.2 GHz Athlon, 128 MB, 80 GB, DVD, CD-RW, 32 MB TNT2, SB audio, modem, 10/100 NIC, USB + Firewire), 768 MB Crucial RAM (to max it out), refurbished 19" Hitachi CM771). I wish it had SCSI, but I'm happy.
Good luck with your decision.
Cheers,
Scott.
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Post #31,336
3/8/02 8:56:41 AM
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My take
I wouldn't buy top of the line, ever. You pay a hefty premium for that.
Instead I would take that $3K, take a cheaper vacation elsewhere, then come back and buy a nice system for $1600 or so, get a larger hard drive and more RAM than is normal.
In 2 years the difference between the two systems will pale next to the difference between them and then current hardware, but you will still have a decent computer and some happy memories. :-)
Cheers,
Ben
"... I couldn't see how anyone could be educated by this self-propagating system in which people pass exams, teach others to pass exams, but nobody knows anything."
--Richard Feynman
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Post #31,344
3/8/02 9:38:38 AM
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Depends if you are single or not
The machine you need is what you want. My at home needs are pretty minimal. If I was single and it was 1970 I would spend 3 days at the Mustang Ranch. Seeing it is 2002 I would go scuba diving in the caribbean or visit our buds in OZ.
thanx,
bill
There is no difference between a "settler," "soldier," "secular," or "Chassidic Jew." The target is the JEW.
\ufffd Harvey Tannenbaum
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Post #31,352
3/8/02 10:08:53 AM
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Good idea
Visiting Australia sounds like a heck of an idea. Maybe try out the local version of the Mustang Ranch. Aren't bordellos legal in Oz? BTW, I'm single (divorced) so no worries mate.
With this much manure around, there must be a pony somewhere.
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Post #31,358
3/8/02 10:51:56 AM
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disease, son disease.
I figger to wait until within 10yrs of my natural lifespan before venturing out into the world again. By then if I am single I will be too ugly to get it unless I paid, so no harm done.
thanx,
bill
There is no difference between a "settler," "soldier," "secular," or "Chassidic Jew." The target is the JEW.
\ufffd Harvey Tannenbaum
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Post #31,360
3/8/02 10:59:47 AM
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Condoms pop, condoms.
With this much manure around, there must be a pony somewhere.
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Post #31,452
3/9/02 3:37:04 AM
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Visits Welcome!
Karsten's been, so it ain't hard. :-)
Besides, I'm gonna try to visit the US later this year.
Wade.
"All around me are nothing but fakes
Come with me on the biggest fake of all!"
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Post #31,351
3/8/02 10:06:29 AM
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You can do both!
Take 1800 of that...book yourself a week for 2 at an all inclusive. You should be able to do that and have enough left for a little spending money (which is all you need...hence the term all inclusive)
Then...take the rest (1k to 1.2k)...get yourself an Athlon XP 1800 and motherboard..100 gig drive, dvd/cd/rx combo, one of the new Soudblaster cards (5.1 plugs in external) and a motherboard with TV out. Then get some Harmon Kardons.
You will have a system that does pretty much everything you need...and will be relaxed enough to put it together ;)
You were born...and so you're free...so Happy Birthday! Laurie Anderson
[link|mailto:bepatient@aol.com|BePatient]
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Post #31,527
3/10/02 11:43:29 AM
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Other alternative: split it among several systems
I'm pricing desktop systems for work, and am finding base-unit (CPU, w/o monitor, though may include K/M), for as low as US$375. Raising that to $550 or so produces an entirely respectable IDE unit with network, decent video, and sound, and a healthy chunk of memory (512MiB). From there, upgrades would include SCSI, higher-end video, and peripherals such as tape, CD-W, DVD, etc., but not necessary.
The line that computer prices don't change, the specs just rise, is not true. Specs double on Moore's schedule, prices seem to fall about 5% per year, and this has been accelerated by the current soft market. I'd probably spec out a few systems and pick up at least two. Then spend the remaining grand and a half on a nice trip.
OTOH, if you just want to gold-plate a system, see [link|http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/writings/ultimate-linux-box/ulb2001.html|ESR's dream box spec]. Even bricked out, he couldn't raise the price over $7,000, and halving this is eminantly possible. Extras include a really nice case, quiet fans, and mondo power supply.
--
Karsten M. Self [link|mailto:kmself@ix.netcom.com|kmself@ix.netcom.com]
[link|http://kmself.ix.netcom.com/|[link|http://kmself.ix.netcom.com/|http://kmself.ix.netcom.com/]]
What part of "gestalt" don't you understand?
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Post #31,544
3/10/02 4:34:22 PM
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Been thinking about that
With system's so cheap, it seems that hooking up a parallel system in house shouldn't be much of a problem. Of course it would be nice to actually DO something when complete. The only operating systems I've heard of that will manage multiple systems (effectively) are pretty heavy duty.
With this much manure around, there must be a pony somewhere.
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Post #31,546
3/10/02 5:25:22 PM
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Hey.. is that our very own
Rick Moen - in on this project?
Anyway.. a good primer on figuring out what's important and what - just appeals to Bigger is Better.
(Imagine.. some folk paying $200+ more.. to get a 2.1 GHz CPU vs a 2.0 of same config.)
A.
Now see, with Windoze:
Whatcha need is: a CD changer. Separate images of system with only ONE (er large) ap loaded and debugged. Wanna change aps? Reload it all. Registry doesn't have to walk OR chew gum. OH - a couple images for the daredevils: with TWO large aps loaded. It's always FRESH and that means it may go a whole day...
\ufffd 2002 Ashton Windoze Fixes AG
see, this WILL be "XP-II" in 2004 - WFT, it'll sell more hardware too...
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Post #31,604
3/11/02 10:05:07 AM
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Won't work
CD Changers aren't popular in the desktop market. As I mentioned recently in another thread, the few that were on the market withered when Windows kept trying to auto-run every disk it cycled through. Without registry hacks, there is no way of disabling auto-play on later WinOS's. So the chagers couldn't check disk title info (ie: search for the right disk) without playing whatever was on the first one it hit.
I can't be a Democrat because I like to spend the money I make.
I can't be a Republican because I like to spend the money I make on drugs and whores.
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Post #31,700
3/11/02 4:53:23 PM
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Auto insert notification?
There is a checkbox on the device "Settings" tab that can be turned off from the Device Manager. I think that this is in 2000 and XP as well. Auto insert notification. If turned off, it doesn't seem to search my CD drive when I insert a CD. Of course I also have Autoplay disabled, my Nero software did it for me as soon as I installed it for my CD Burner that it came with.
"Will work for fair salary and benefits, seeking company with integrity."
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Post #31,710
3/11/02 5:17:37 PM
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Just double-checked
There is no way to disable it from the settings tab from device manager. Maybe some CD drives ship with other drivers that would add this, but it's not an option on mine.
I can't be a Democrat because I like to spend the money I make.
I can't be a Republican because I like to spend the money I make on drugs and whores.
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Post #31,715
3/11/02 5:26:16 PM
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Sorry I thought all drivers were equal?
Every CD drive that I checked had this checkbox. I am sorry to hear that yours does not.
"Will work for fair salary and benefits, seeking company with integrity."
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