Desktop 'puter recommendations...?

[fkovalski]

I am looking for a desktop at the most reasonable price. It only has to perform at current standards for me for the next 2 years or so to which I will buy a top of the line laptop.



There was a loss leader in the stores advertised on Black Friday for $200. It was an "E-Machine" brand, 2. 8 Celeron with 60 HD and 512 RAM with CD/ DVD read only. It included a 17” monitor! This is what I am looking for (but was not going to get to the store at 4:30 in the AM just to stand in line!) The sores allotment was sold out in 20 minutes!



I am looking at all the Sunday flyers to see what comes along in the next few weeks. Any suggestions or recommendation would be appreciated.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Check the classifieds. Over new years I picked up a Mac 9500 with 400 G3 card, monitor, printer, and doodaws for $60. Also picked up a Mac 8500/150 at Salvation Army for $10. Both running 9. 1.



I am going to try running Linux on the PowerPC and didn't want to spend much for the experiment. However, I am considering donating one to the wife because Macs are suppose to be easy to learn and use. My current home box is an old put together P90 running Linux that I built from parts at Salvation Army and the internet for around $100 (back in the $1500 PC price days). It has done everything I need it to do for a decade.



When MS finally gets everything written for the 64 bit systems I'll bet you see a lot of obsolete machines overnight. Figure this will get me by for a couple years and then either Mac G5 or Itanium box since Linux is has been 64 bit for quite a while already. Its all a matter of opportunity costs (econ 101), which means I'll have more to dump into the CTD. But then again, I'm weird. :-laf

 

[MichaelWright]

I was going to say Mac too. Real easy to use and no virus stuff to worry about. Just wake it up and go. But, they hold their value$$$, more so then the pc boxes. Best I can say is check on ebay. Heck, I'd give you my PC, but I got to many $$$$ invested in it. I figure it will make a good $2000 boat anchor one day, I should have bought another Mac.



Make note to self: Buy a boat and some rope.



Mike

 

[RonaldLarson]

E machine

Son bought one from Costco at a very good price. He's had it six months, ans it's been a good unit. Make sure you get the sound card, as some don't come with it. Were I to buy right now, it would be my choice.

Ron

 

[mberry]

I'm in the IT field (I fix them for a living) and I have a question. What do you want it to do? That is the most important thing. Are you just going to checking email and cruising the web? Are you going to be making presentations or lots of printing? Video or audio editing? All of the above?



Feel free to email me if you want to take it offline.



-- email address removed --

 

[nickleinonen]

we just got a new pc... p4 3Ghz, 512 ram, 160gb hd, 16xdvd burner [dual layer]... 17"lcd moniter, wireless router,



now i have to get use to this xp operating system... it is much harder to use than win98 i think...



now i also have to figure out how to transfer my coral photohouse and jasc paint shop pro and a few other programs from the old pc to new one [without original cd's... ]

 

[fkovalski]

... What do you want it to do?...

I am mainly going to use it for all the normal stuff that you mentioned, but will be using it primarily for AutoCad. I just need it to support program files (ie 512 RAM min. ) While I am used to a 3. 4G processor at work, I can get by at home with a 2. 6 or so. I do not care what the hard drive is as I plan on getting an external HD for further expansion. Will be also looking at an external CD/DVD writer mainly for data storage and transfer dwgs. to and from work as req'd. XP Pro or NT for the OS would be preferable.



My eventual goal is to get a top notch power thumpin' laptop but do not need it as a desktop replacement right now. BUT, I have heard that 64 but processors are on the horizon. While the new machines when they come out will be downward compatible with the current 32 bit programs I eventually see AutoDesk going to the new processor technology with thier programs. I do not want to spend a fair sum of money on a decent laptop at this point, but do want to get something for the home.



End Goal:

To spend as little as possible for a decent system in the eventuality of programs and processors catching up (up to the 64 bit,) THEN spend some serious jack for the laptop.



My Theory:

Yes, processor speeds and technology will always be improving and I will always be behind the curve no matter what. BUT- It has been a fair amount of time since programs and processors went from 16 to the current 32. If we are getting close to the next "bit" advance, I would like to wait till then eking out the meantime with the "cheapo" desktop.



Thanks for the input. –frank.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

While the new machines when they come out will be downward compatible with the current 32 bit programs

Yeah, right, seems like I've heard that song and dance before. I remember the 16 to 32 bit shift. Heck, they have problems enough with having software version compatibility. I've read the AMD processor does a decent job of running both. BUT, mark my words, it won't be long and the 32 bit programs will be paperweights. Promises, promises... not that I'm paranoid (bbahahahah) or anything... opps I think I hear somebody coming.



Seriously, classifieds, ebay, local bulletin boards, local used computer store for used at substantial savings or ebay, Costco, WalMart, or Dell for new seems to about cover it. I just wouldn't pay a premium price, e. g. for tomorrow's obsolescence. And good luck.

 

[rkressg]

AMD's give you much more bang for the buck, but be careful. I personally love AMD processors, but some CAD programs strickly require a Pentium, SPARC, Itanium processors, some do not work with Athalon processors. If you CAD will work with AMD, I would suggest that. Also, build it your self. It is not complicated, can cost less, and will not have all that crap software that comes with OEM machines.



-Rich

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Well an update on the PowerPC Mac to Linux project:



Had one, shall we say, very challanging time. The IMS twin turbo PCI video card on the 9500 drove me crazy. Actually had to memorize the steps for the installation and do it with a black screen - until the Installer fired up. Got Linux installed on the second hard drive. But then the video was still unworkable and no X11.



So I tore apart both boxes about five times and exchanged parts back and forth until I now have IT UP AND RUNNING Oo. YAHOO! Mac OS 9. 1 on one drive and Linux PPC on the other. For a total of $70. I scarfed the Mandrake Linux CD images of the net and burned them to a CD. Came with Lots of Free software on the new box too. Everything I need to keep me happy ... . for a while.