Jeff
Stop Staring!!!!!
Dell IS ok.. But I have about 9 of them here. I think it's about time I built my own
Dell IS ok.. But I have about 9 of them here. I think it's about time I built my own
W
WildCherry
Guest
I have the HP Touchsmart all in one computer and absolutely love it. Dell has something similar but without the touchscreen. :shrug:
BoyGenius
Cyber Bully Victim
Those days are gone
The satisfaction is nice, but I've found that unless you're building something extremely specialized, you simply can't compete parts price wise with Dell, HP etc.
By the time you buy the parts and if necessary put a legitimate copy of Windows on it, you're way underwater on what it would cost to buy from them.
And we lack any close-by stores like Microcenter etc. that carry the really good parts for a decent price. Sure, you can mail order, but when it doesn't work it's a headache.
The satisfaction is nice, but I've found that unless you're building something extremely specialized, you simply can't compete parts price wise with Dell, HP etc.
By the time you buy the parts and if necessary put a legitimate copy of Windows on it, you're way underwater on what it would cost to buy from them.
And we lack any close-by stores like Microcenter etc. that carry the really good parts for a decent price. Sure, you can mail order, but when it doesn't work it's a headache.
Jeff
Stop Staring!!!!!
The satisfaction is nice, but I've found that unless you're building something extremely specialized, you simply can't compete parts price wise with Dell, HP etc.
By the time you buy the parts and if necessary put a legitimate copy of Windows on it, you're way underwater on what it would cost to buy from them.
And we lack any close-by stores like Microcenter etc. that carry the really good parts for a decent price. Sure, you can mail order, but when it doesn't work it's a headache.
True.... Absolutley true... Hence the rreason I have nine Dells.
BUt on the flip side of the coin it might be nice having some somthing without Dells Pre-installed crap on
Chasey_Lane
Salt Life
Do you know why my computer won't load Adobe? Hubby tried several times over the weekend and nothing?? Is it a Vista thing? BTW, this is our brand new computer, straight from Dell. It was delivered last Friday.
The satisfaction is nice, but I've found that unless you're building something extremely specialized, you simply can't compete parts price wise with Dell, HP etc.
By the time you buy the parts and if necessary put a legitimate copy of Windows on it, you're way underwater on what it would cost to buy from them.
And we lack any close-by stores like Microcenter etc. that carry the really good parts for a decent price. Sure, you can mail order, but when it doesn't work it's a headache.
Assuming you aren't re-using monitors, case, PSU, HDD. Once you get all those things you can build an incredibly powerful machine for ~$500 that at dell would cost you ~$1500.
And what person that builds their own computers actually have legit OS's? Cmon now.
clevalley
...
Vista is fine once you get use to the interface. Service Pack 1 made a HUGE difference in stability and speed.
I will address peoples memory woes below (not really woes, but read on...)
I hate, hate, HATE Vista for the memory-hogging, bloated operating system it is.I just bought a desktop system with XP and will be transitioning over to that shortly.
:sigh:
It is not Vista per-say that is the memory hog, it is the way Vista utilizes memory with the applications you as the user utilizes. Follow me for a second;
When you first start using Vista, there is a period of about 7 - 10 days where the operating system is going through a learning process. It averages out what programs you start when you first login and what programs you use the most. After this learning process, Vista pre-loads the "kernels" (for lack of a better term) of these programs into physical memory. When you go to launch the program, it loads faster - it is a performance enhancer. With this feature disabled, it REALLY does impact performance - but it frees up memory.
If you call a program which uses (or wants to use) all of your physical memory, Vista's memory management handlers dumps the pre-loading kernels out of physical memory.
Yes, you see more memory being used when Vista starts and stabilizes, but most of it really is pre-loaded applications ready to be started. Other factors are your vendors add-ins or "cutsie programs" that "enhance" Vista - these little programs and vendor add-ons KILL any O/S (Vista or XP) I can take a Dell or HP and reload the O/S with the same discs but omit the vendor supplied crap and the machine will scream - don't blame the O/S.
We have been playing with Windows 7 beta (RadioPatrol - I am trying to get an answer on the 64bit beta) and it looks promising - for a beta, MS did a good job with it. We did not even get out of the beta phase with Vista before we said "NO" - but after following the O/S and further testing post Service Pack 1 allowed us to say "yes" you can move to Vista as long as your applications and vendors support Vista. We do have some specialty apps that are not compatible (NASTRAN and OrCad)
Bottom line, Vista is fine - I was EXTREMELY against it when it first released as MS tried to push it out the door and it was no where ready. Post Service Pack 1, it is EXTREMELY stable and runs fine. As a matter of fact, the workstation I am on right now only has 2GB and it screams - and this is with IE7, Outlook 2007, Word 2007, all my preloaded crap (scanner tools, parachute UPS software, etc...) and my management tools and I am only chewing up 1.2 GB - when I fire up Adobe CS4 it runs fine.
clevalley
...
Adobe what? We have had a TON of issues with upgrading Adobe Reader 8 to Adobe Reader 9... Adobe screwed the pooch with their installer/deinstaller on the upgrade and it has been 50/50 on it working/not-working...
Unfortunately we have not found a way to get out of this mess when it yacks, we have moved to a different PDF reader (FoxIt Reader). We are tired of upgrading Adobe Reader because of reported security vulnerabilities.
You or Day PM me for more info if you need to.
clevalley
...
foodcritic
New Member
I bought the Acer Aspire from Best Buy. So far it seems flawless with Vista. I liked XP but no one is selling a desktop with XP all are transitioning to Vista. I was on the internet almost immedialtely using my Metrocast Cable Modem. Recently installed a wireless routher no probs.
Internet Explorer freezes every once in a while. I have not tried to fix it yet..
For the price the Acer comes with 4 gb ram and 320 GB HD. My research led me to not buy anything Vista with less than 4gb Ram.
Chasey_Lane
Salt Life
I'll have to check when I'm at home. I'm not sure which version it is. If I need to, I will. Thanks!
R
RadioPatrol
Guest
Computer Show in Bowie this weekend ....... and I dropped $$ 2600 on mine with a 24 inch wide screen FP
worth every penny ..... Off the Shelf crap cannot give me what I want for less than $5 from a Boutique PC Maker .... like Alienware or Voodoo ....
yeah I know Alienware is now part of dell .......
R
RadioPatrol
Guest
I am a Microsoft Action Pack Subscriber .... I get most everything MS puts out for $300 bucks
Windows Vista Ultimate ... 10 copies of Vista Business, Server 2003, 20008 Small business Server .. SQL, Office Enterprise 10 copies, One Note, Project, Visual Studio, etc ....
and I still download because I hate the Activation ...........
R
RadioPatrol
Guest
so the Rule of Thumb still follows,
do not adopt new MS OS until after the 1st Service Pack .... MS is really releasing a beta and making people pay for it ............
IMHO ... MS should give away the New OS and make people pay for the 1st Service Pack .............
R
RadioPatrol
Guest
You or Day PM me for more info if you need to.
did you know there is an office add on fr "SAVE AS" pdf ?
right from M$