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Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :

As I mentioned in another topic I'm looking for a new computer. What type of computer do you own, or would recommend?

I have an old Packard Bell 486DX2 50MHz, and using my dad's Tiger Pro 300MHz computer right now. Interestingly enough, I haven't had half the problems with my old 486 that I do with this computer.

In my Graphics Communications class we used Gateway's, 1 Gateway Destination, and 1 Mac G3. But my teacher complained on how uncompatible Gateway's are with 3rd party products.

So Gateway's crossed off my list of what computer to get. Friends have also told me that Compaq's suck to.

Which leads me to Dell. So far I haven't heard any complaints about Dell computers which is why, despite the higher price tag I've considered getting one. But I wouldn't mind some suggestions before I spend $1,300 on a PC.

Oh and Frank, I don't care how great you think Mac's are, there's no way in hell I'd ever buy one.

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Calvin: "Isn't that weird?? If computers can think, what will people be better at than machines?"
Hobbes: "Irrational behavior."
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Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

You wouldn't buy a Mac? Despite the recent VOY eps which have shown conclusive proof that Starfleet computers *are* Macintoshes???

I use a Hewlett Packard -- something or other. I'm not at home (not even in my home state), so I can't tell you what model number or any of the details. It's got a 17" monitor, if that helps!!!

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Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :

At Colortyme I sell HP, MiTac, Sunset, and Compaq, at home I have an HP and a Gateway.

HP: Never a problem with that i couldn't take care of within an hour or so.

MiTac: Same thing, although after a restore the modem isn't always installed.

Sunset: Crap.

Compaq: Man, I told them not to get these.....
45 systems ordered, what a great price... 9 months later 43 systems on service. The sound died on the motherboards of several, the monitors power converters die, they lock up if you install software that interfers with it's software to run, say the hard-drive, the motherboard, the modem......

Gateway: (After they sent my a new RAM chip) Works great, never a problem, although I tear up mice quickly. I did install one of those free ISPs, actually several, and one locked up my system severely. I didn't get much past the RAM check. The Goback program is wonderful. A few minutes to back up in time and I was good to go....
My warrenty expires the middle of next month....

To sum this up go Gateway or go HP.

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**...****...**

Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :

All brand names are evil. Have a shop build one for you with generic parts. No planned obsolesence.

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"Omigod. Singing meat. This is altogether too much."

Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :

When I worked for a computer store in Oscoda I discovered that they used the same parts that are in my Gateway, at twice the cost.

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Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :

Well, I've had my Compaq for almost a year now, and I have yet to have and hardware-related problems. Now, software related - don't go there. To sum it up, Microsoft sucks, but then again, we all know that

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Hunt: "You cheated!"
Rhade: "It's only cheating if you get caught."
-Andromeda, "Double Helix"

Posted by Dani (Member # 57) on :

I custom built my computer with a couple of my friends, asked what the best parts are, got the best prices and we sat down and put it together. (I needed help - was the only time I have assembled a machine from scratch.)

I have not had one single non-user caused problem with my machine in the almost 2 years I have now had it.

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

What's that Dani? Oh, no, I couldn't ... well, if you insist, I guess you can build my next computer for me ... =)

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Star Trek Gamma Quadrant
Rated 7 out of 10 Smileys by Fabrux

Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :

It's a bit of a toss-up, really. I like my custom built computer much more than this one (a Compaq), but that's largely due to it being twice as fast.

It is easier to sort out hardware conflicts and things of that nature. On the other hand, I could tell some CD drive horror stories that would make your eyes peel.

Maybe not. My point is, just make sure it's got good stuff inside it, whichever route you choose.

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What did it mean to you
An early chat with death
To pull your body for a moment from your soul
--
Camper Van Beethoven
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Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

Nah. I'm just having some fun. I bought my computer 6 months ago or so, maxing out my MBNA M/C as I did so. Ugh. I'll be paying it off for a LONG time ...

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Star Trek Gamma Quadrant
Rated 7 out of 10 Smileys by Fabrux

Posted by Jeff Raven (Member # 20) on :

Dude, go to a local computer company to buy your computer, but talk to them to make sure they know what they're talking about.

My dad just purchased an AMD Athalon 1000mghz processor, 128MB ram, 20gig hdd, with 32MB nvidia TNT 2 video card.... all for $1,000. That includes a cd burner and monitor/keyboard/mouse/speakers.

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"I'm not like George Bush. If he wins or loses, life goes on. I will do anything to win." - Al Gore, Newsweek, 1999

Posted by Aethelwer (Member # 36) on :

"Oh and Frank, I don't care how great you think Mac's are, there's no way in hell I'd ever buy one."

Glad to hear that you thought about it enough to include this in your original post.

(Although you really won't find reliability in most of the major PC manufacturers, even if you run Linux or whatever...)

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"I remember my mum telling me 'don't wear that jacket, it doesn't go with your top.' And I said 'Screw you mum, I'll wear what I'll like'. And then I went and changed tops." - Liam Ka--thingy

Posted by LOA (Member # 49) on :

Well... I HAD my computer "custom built".... but my parents cut a LOT of corners. And right now, I'm having more problems with this machine than I could ever even BEGIN to go into. And it hurts too much to try to fix it. Pleh.

So all i've got to say, is if you're going to have one BUILT, make sure you don't cut corners AND the store you buy it from knows what they're doing.

Computer Renaissance, where my parents got MY machine, seems to be clueless. Seriously, they're idiots. But I won't go there.........

~LOA

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"The purple elephants have conquered my pants! Weasels to the rescue!!!" ~TSN, Oct. 23, 2000

Posted by Charles Capps (Member # 9) on :

A while ago I allocated a good chunk of money to getting a kickass new computer to suplement and replace the ones I already have.

All the configurations were generally the same... At first, I was going to hand-build the system. Then I ran into a little problem - sales tax! I could have spent $2900 on the computer, but would have gotten charged another $300-400 on sales tax overall. I decided to spend $3100 and get a Dell... Saved me a bit on sales tax, and I got some nice software to boot.

The Dell system is pretty good... I'd recommend them.

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"Uh, Cody, what has the Mullah of Cappistan been smoking?"
"MILKSHAKES. I HAVE BEEN SMOKING MILKSHAKES!"

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

I hate Computer Renaissance, we've got one up here in Timonium...

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Posted by MsChris (Member # 445) on :

I think I'll have to agree with Charles. I have a Dell at work - Pentium III - Office 2000 - 17in monitor - and everything possible! My only recommendation with Dell...load up on RAM. It's not expensive to do so. It would seem that the Dell's don't like extremely huge files. But hey, what PC does?

I have a Packard Bell at home. It's not given me too much trouble. We've only ever had to replace the modem in it. But if I had my choice....DELL!

Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :

How huge? 20MB, 30MB, 50MB?

Posted by Jeff Raven (Member # 20) on :

You guys pay waaaaay too much for a computer. I've got a 600 celeron, 15gig hdd, 192MB of RAM(133mghz) A DVD player AND a CDRW, with 15in Monitor, all for under $1000.

And I haven't had a problem since.

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"I'm not like George Bush. If he wins or loses, life goes on. I will do anything to win." - Al Gore, Newsweek, 1999

Posted by MsChris (Member # 445) on :

How huge? 20MB, 30MB, 50MB?-Hobbes

Ya know, I never really paid attention to the size when the Dell crashes on me...the most important thing is that I've lost several hours of work! But to just to give you a general idea...an Excel spreadsheet with approximately 10,000 lines X 8 columns (or so). After it crashed on me though, CIS came in and loaded it with more RAM. No more problems.

The extra RAM should only cost you about $25.00 per 32MG. Worth it - especially if you plan to have several windows running at one time. Best PC I've ever had to work with!

[This message has been edited by MsChris (edited November 25, 2000).]

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

Well, that's it, then. You didn't have enough RAM. It wasn't the fact that it was a Dell that was the problem. Any computer w/o enough RAM will have trouble handling too much work at once.

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"What he did to that walrus gentle-man was inexcusable."
-T. Herman Zweibel on "Mr. Woodrow Wood-pecker", The Onion, 7-Nov-2000

Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :

So, MsChris, tell us ... does size really matter?

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Posted by Mikey T (Member # 144) on :

Well I had a Packard Bell, until it caught fire and burned down.

Now I have some comments about the computers I use;

Gateway: Okay if desparate

Dell: Great, only if the system has the maximum amount of ram and is the most expensive

Compaq: My aunt's laptop cannot run on the battery...

Sony: Good, if the system is the most expensive laptop and has a CD-RW and all the goodies

Micron: Great, but too expensive for some people

IBM: Why bother when there are lots of cheaper substitutes

And this ends my two francs

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So why don't we make a little room in my BMW babe
Searching for some peace of mind
Hey I'll help you find it
I do believe that we are practicing the same religion
- from the song "Fastlove"

[This message has been edited by Michael_T (edited November 26, 2000).]

Posted by MsChris (Member # 445) on :

So, MsChris, tell us ... does size really matter?-JeffKardde

Ummm....Well...yeah - especially if you loose it before you have finished your work.

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

Chris (can we call you "Chris"?): Congratulations. You've passed the innuendo test. You're well on your way to fitting right in around here... *L*

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"What he did to that walrus gentle-man was inexcusable."
-T. Herman Zweibel on "Mr. Woodrow Wood-pecker", The Onion, 7-Nov-2000

Posted by Teelie (Member # 280) on :

I have a Compaq Presario running Win 98 SE and other than a few MIRCOSOFT problems, it runs great.

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[6th Sense] I see dumbass people [/6th Sense]

Posted by Vacuum robot lady from Spaceballs (Member # 239) on :

Mircosoft, eh? I wouldn't trust them either, although bugs in the operating system are a given really, considering what the space station was like.

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"Karate is a form of martial arts in which people who have had years and years of training can, using only their hands and feet, make some of the worst movies in the history of the world." - Dave Barry

[This message has been edited by Ultra Magnus (edited November 26, 2000).]

Posted by Teelie (Member # 280) on :

A given? Yes. A constant? I wish not.

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[6th Sense] I see dumbass people [/6th Sense]

Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :

Throw you Compaq in to the Pacific, off the coast of Australia.....

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Well, it's done, yes, the deed is done.

Posted by MsChris (Member # 445) on :

Chris (can we call you "Chris"?): Congratulations. You've passed the innuendo test. You're well on your way to fitting right in around here... *L*-TSN

Please do - call me Chris.
Why - thank you! *bows head*
I'm full of 'em...innuendos that is.

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

Then you'll definetly fit in. Most of the people around here are also full of it.

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"I am in one of those rare periods of life where I am convinced I am a sexy devil."- Simon "Sol System" Sizer

Posted by Hobbes (Member # 138) on :

Thanks for everyone's input. I'm glad my original decision to get a Dell seems to be the best idea.

Now if I can get one with my own set of specs:

800MHz (or more)
128MB SDRAM
30GB Harddrive
16MB OpenGL video card
DVD-ROM drive
CD Writer drive.

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"There's a new Mexico?" - Mr. Burns
This post is sponsored in part by the Federation Starship Datalink

Posted by The Talented Mr. Gurgeh (Member # 318) on :

That spec, while hefty at the moment, seems a bit conservative if you want to resist obsolescence.

Gateways have been good in my experience, good warranty and support, configsafe program is good.

Another thing. Make sure you specify a good frequency mother board and RAM if you want to be able to upgrade.

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"Baby. The other, other white meat." Fat Bastard.

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

Er, it's impossible to resist obsolescence with any computer you buy, if you're not going to upgrade it. And, since ATM and Intel are now considerate enough to change the CPU adaptor type every half a year or so, you get to spend extra money on a brand new motherboard whenever you want a faster processor too. Goodee!

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"I am in one of those rare periods of life where I am convinced I am a sexy devil."- Simon "Sol System" Sizer

Posted by Mikey T (Member # 144) on :

And people said Microsoft was evil...

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"Oh for fuck's sake, stop your moaning,
If you fancy a threesome at this time of night, you can't get start getting choosey about which particular three!
-Queer As Folk, UK

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

Everyone with more money than me is evil.

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"I am in one of those rare periods of life where I am convinced I am a sexy devil."- Simon "Sol System" Sizer

Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :

What's money?

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Well, it's done, yes, the deed is done.

Posted by The Talented Mr. Gurgeh (Member # 318) on :

Liam: Er, I'm not naive enough to believe that you can completely avoid obsolescence. When I said "resist" I meant "try to avoid". One can "resist" arrest and still be arrested.

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"Baby. The other, other white meat." Fat Bastard.

Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :

But with computers, you can never resist obscelensence. The only way you can do that is to upgrade constantly.

But, on the other hand, you shouldn't upgrade just for the sake of it. You got a PII 400? And it runs all your games fine? Then don't panic because everyone else had PII's. You should only upgrade when you need to to run specific software. You shouldn't upgrade because people have better computers than you.

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"I am in one of those rare periods of life where I am convinced I am a sexy devil."- Simon "Sol System" Sizer

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

Unless you have the necessary money readily at your disposal. In that case, go for it. :-)

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"I suppose it's possible my mother is a product of my imagination, but that raises more questions than it solves, really."
-Simon Sizer, 4-Dec-2000