THE COMPUTER THREAD

[Tony]

I'm completely illiterate when it comes to building computers. I have a budget of $600 and a friend who builds computers for a living. How much should I pay him to build one for me?

I have no idea what people charge to do this sort of work. Why not ask him what he'd charge you for it, given your budget? What will you use it for?

Why have someone build you one instead of getting a pre-built box like a Dell? Most people who want to build one from scratch prefer to do the work themselves. Just curious.

[Tripe]

What can he build you for the full amount?

My budget for the whole thing is $600, whatever I pay him has to come out of that.

OK then, how much does the software suite cost, and what can he build you for the remainder?

[Trumpysgirl]

I have no idea what people charge to do this sort of work. Why not ask him what he'd charge you for it, given your budget? What will you use it for?

Why have someone build you one instead of getting a pre-built box like a Dell? Most people who want to build one from scratch prefer to do the work themselves. Just curious.

Well, I was just hired to film a 20-minute promotional video for a small company this summer. Trouble is, with all of the footage that I need to store in addition to the actual editing of the video, I can't imagine that I could find a desktop for $600 that has that much space. The CEO who hired me is just a tad computer illiterate, but I don't know if I could finagle more money considering the amazing fact that he was willing to buy me a computer in addition to my salary in the first place.

What can he build you for the full amount?

My budget for the whole thing is $600, whatever I pay him has to come out of that.

OK then, how much does the software suite cost, and what can he build you for the remainder?

I have no idea, I'm just starting this whole process.

[Tripe]

Well probably best to find out the price of the software first then, since there's unlikely to be much fluctuation in the price of that (some depending on where you buy it but not a great deal in the greater scheme of things).

Once you know how much of the budget that's going to eat up you'll be in a better position to haggle on the price of the machine.

[Doctor Who?]

Ok I don't want any fan boy answers please be honest.

Are apple laptops any better then windows based ones?

Lately my vista laptop seems to crash every ten minutes and I have never really been happy with any of my computers.

Do Macs really work any better,or do they just have their own set of problems and stupid glitches.

I am thinking of getting a Mac laptop after I finish catching up on bills in June.

[RVR II]

Put it this way..

They Both (Windows & Mac) use the Same Hardware..

I'd recommend just 'back stepping' to Windows XP and Save your money..

[Doctor Who?]

Sorry It's just durring my time on the internet I have seen so many people who worship everything apple does.

I just want to know the truth of what I can expect from an apple laptop.

I know it is going to cost a packet but it would be worth it at this point for a laptop that could surf the web for five minutes with out crashing.

Yes i have run every virus and spybot check out there this is just vista being the worst POS ever put out in human history.

Bill Gates should have to refund everyone who ever bought Vista's money.

Nothing on this thing works.

[Doctor Who?]

Yeah pretty much.

I don't have a lot of space and I do a lot of computing on the go.

My Laptop didn't give me any trouble until about a month ago,then Vista started upgrading it's self every time I go online and now it's crashing all the time.

[Doctor Who?]

Can that be done with Vista,and if so how?

[kodiakthejuggler]

Vista works best when you have good hardware. I have an Acer laptop running Windows Vista Home Basic, and it was a cheap machine too (less than $600). I don't really have too many issues with crashing, but it does glitch in certain apps and doesn't have many resources to pull from. I wouldn't even think of running any higher version of Vista because the laptop couldn't possibly keep up.

The price of admission for a Mac is a bit high, but it's well worth it. I think you'll be pleased. The OS is very intuitive and easy to figure out, and the system is pretty reliable. Depending on what you want to do with it...

[Doctor Who?]

I just want to write,surf the web,manage MP3 files,and burn the odd DVD and yet my $600 vista laptop can't seem to do that any more.

It has a 3 GHZ prosecore and 3 gigs of ram so I have no idea why there should be so much trouble.

Then again ever windows based PC I have ever used seems to give me nothing but trouble.

unless I hear something bad I may start saving for a mac in June.

[Doctor Who?]

A Vista disc didn't come with the computer so I can't do that.

All the software came preinstaled with no discs.

[Doctor Who?]

Oh ok thanks.

[kodiakthejuggler]

Here's the first images:
(used spoiler tags because of image sizes)

Spoiler

Spoiler

Spoiler

I'm quite pleased with the performance so far. Loaded both Painkiller and Unreal Tournament 2004. Both games played flawlessly with settings at max. Even in Painkiller, where boatloads of enemies charge you all at once, it didn't even bat an eyelash. I'll be purchasing a newer game soon to give it a real test. The comp is most definitely quieter than the previous incarnation. The temperature stays cool even after pushing the system for several hours.

[RVR II]

Not to shabby!