THE COMPUTER THREAD

[Rude]

...

You guys know of any good hard drive docks? I'm pretty sure everything is still there. I'd love something with a USB connection and that uses software which will allow the files to be immediately readable via Windows Vista. In fact, i have a few old hard drives lying around that might be worth scavenging.

-Rude

[kodiakthejuggler]

...

You guys know of any good hard drive docks? I'm pretty sure everything is still there. I'd love something with a USB connection and that uses software which will allow the files to be immediately readable via Windows Vista. In fact, i have a few old hard drives lying around that might be worth scavenging.

-Rude

As far as I know, Vista uses the same file system as XP(which I assume you had), so you can go to Radio Shack or an electronics store and purchase an external hard drive enclosure. Many of them have USB connections, so all you have to do is plug it in. Easy peasy.

[MSTJedi]

I take it your old computer used IDE connections and the new one has SATA. I have to do minor work on my work computer from time to time and I've noticed my work PC has SATA instead of IDE like my old school PC at home. I'd love to upgrade, but as Rude pointed out, you basically have to buy a whole new computer in order to upgrade. New motherboard, new RAM, new HDs. Not to mention my old CRT monitor is constantly threatening to crap out on me (keeps flickering a little on the sides). Computers are such a pain to keep current.

[kodiakthejuggler]

Not to mention my old CRT monitor is constantly threatening to crap out on me (keeps flickering a little on the sides).

Perhaps you can use that as an excuse to purchase a shiny new LCD on Black Friday?

Just sayin'... 

[saltwrench]

Not to mention my old CRT monitor is constantly threatening to crap out on me (keeps flickering a little on the sides).

Perhaps you can use that as an excuse to purchase a shiny new LCD on Black Friday?

Just sayin'... 

As long as you're not married....in which case there is never any justification for buying anything, ever...unless its for her.  I've been lobbying for a new monitor for 2 years....but...well...its just too cliche to expound upon...

[kodiakthejuggler]

Not to mention my old CRT monitor is constantly threatening to crap out on me (keeps flickering a little on the sides).

Perhaps you can use that as an excuse to purchase a shiny new LCD on Black Friday?

Just sayin'... 

As long as you're not married....in which case there is never any justification for buying anything, ever...unless its for her.  I've been lobbying for a new monitor for 2 years....but...well...its just too cliche to expound upon...

Sometimes you really DO have to put your foot down. All the way. Until it reaches the floor. And don't let her tell you no. Like that commercial where the guy and his wife are watching TV, and their TV is so crappy it actually fails in a cloud of smoke, then the wife lets him go buy a new one... NOT IN MY HOUSEHOLD. She can have whatever she wants, but I require a working TV. Anyone who is so whipped they can't even get rid of an OBVIOUSLY bad TV, well, there's just no excuse for that. Someone should punch that idiot in the head for not standing up for what is right.

[RVR II]

Aw Rude.. A Gateway?! With Vista?!?!

May your patience be one with The Force young Jedi..

[MSTJedi]

Not to mention my old CRT monitor is constantly threatening to crap out on me (keeps flickering a little on the sides).

Perhaps you can use that as an excuse to purchase a shiny new LCD on Black Friday?

Just sayin'... 

As long as you're not married....in which case there is never any justification for buying anything, ever...unless its for her.  I've been lobbying for a new monitor for 2 years....but...well...its just too cliche to expound upon...

Sometimes you really DO have to put your foot down. All the way. Until it reaches the floor. And don't let her tell you no. Like that commercial where the guy and his wife are watching TV, and their TV is so crappy it actually fails in a cloud of smoke, then the wife lets him go buy a new one... NOT IN MY HOUSEHOLD. She can have whatever she wants, but I require a working TV. Anyone who is so whipped they can't even get rid of an OBVIOUSLY bad TV, well, there's just no excuse for that. Someone should punch that idiot in the head for not standing up for what is right.

I am married . . . with children, so for the most part, I don't get the shiny toys to play with that I want. Still don't have a 360, for instance. Or an HD TV. She's admitted that we'll have to get another monitor when this one goes out, but I don't think she'll let me until it actually happens.

[kodiakthejuggler]

Not to mention my old CRT monitor is constantly threatening to crap out on me (keeps flickering a little on the sides).

Perhaps you can use that as an excuse to purchase a shiny new LCD on Black Friday?

Just sayin'... 

As long as you're not married....in which case there is never any justification for buying anything, ever...unless its for her.  I've been lobbying for a new monitor for 2 years....but...well...its just too cliche to expound upon...

Sometimes you really DO have to put your foot down. All the way. Until it reaches the floor. And don't let her tell you no. Like that commercial where the guy and his wife are watching TV, and their TV is so crappy it actually fails in a cloud of smoke, then the wife lets him go buy a new one... NOT IN MY HOUSEHOLD. She can have whatever she wants, but I require a working TV. Anyone who is so whipped they can't even get rid of an OBVIOUSLY bad TV, well, there's just no excuse for that. Someone should punch that idiot in the head for not standing up for what is right.

I am married . . . with children, so for the most part, I don't get the shiny toys to play with that I want. Still don't have a 360, for instance. Or an HD TV. She's admitted that we'll have to get another monitor when this one goes out, but I don't think she'll let me until it actually happens.

Okay, since you have kids, I completely understand your situation. They are far more important that your choice of monitor. Well, I hope you're able to get a new one soon.

[Chaos]

I've honestly never understood the "you can't have X" thing between married couples. How is it a partnership if one person needs PERMISSION from the other to do something? Especially if the other buys whatever the fuck they want without clearing it first. Buying little things for $10-20 at a time adds up to a new $200 monitor pretty damn fast.

The "shit I want" fund is built right into our budget. If we want to get something for ourselves, we just save that money up for a couple of months or however long it takes to save up enough, and buy it, no questions asked. We also use that fund for things like buying ourselves lunch when we just can't be arsed to pack one to take to work. But even if we didn't have a budget for this kind of stuff, my wife still wouldn't stop me from buying something I wanted as long as it wasn't going to break us, just like I'm not going to tell her she can't have a new purse if she wants it (because frankly, hers is looking pretty old and busted anyway - I wish she'd buy a damn new one already...).

If your significant other tries to pull the money nazi act on you, and you can't break out of it any other way, I suggest you try the budget approach.

[RVR II]

Since I have a small business in my house, my explanation to the wife is .. 'We NEED This for Tax Season!' And it soon arrives

[Bob]

Since I have a small business in my house, my explanation to the wife is .. 'We NEED This for Tax Season!' And it soon arrives

Just THINK of all the trouble you will be in if your wife ever signs up for a Rifftrax forum ID   


But, back on topic, I really DO recommend an external hard drive to store all your music, files, videos, etc.     This way, if your PC crashes, you do have some insurance.    Now, keep in mind, hard drives fail too, so backing up on DVDs every so often is recommended too.

[RVR II]

Since I have a small business in my house, my explanation to the wife is .. 'We NEED This for Tax Season!' And it soon arrives

Just THINK of all the trouble you will be in if your wife ever signs up for a Rifftrax forum ID   

I got that covered too

[mrbasehart]

Yeah, he'll pretend to be someone else on the forum. 

That or RVR will suddenly become a "guest."

[RVR II]

Yeah, he'll pretend to be someone else on the forum. 

That or RVR will suddenly become a "guest."

Or, I'll be talkin in nothing but Spanish in the hopes I can get back home