Need computer recommendations [Archive] - Colorado AR-15 Shooters Club Discussion Forums

van7559

01-12-2011, 22:57

Need a new computer badly. We have had the same computer since 2003, and I have nothing but issues with this fawking thing. I want something new. Prefer to stick with something like hp, or the like. I don't play games, and that kinda stuff, all we do is music, forums, and pics, general surfing and youtube kinda shit. Anybody know of any smoking deals as of right now? I don't really want used, somebody help!!!!!!!!!![Bang]

Scanker19

01-12-2011, 23:02

If you're willing to make the leap, My mac is the best thing ever in terms of computers. Pricey but worth every penny.

Almost like shooting a Hi-point all your life then finally getting a Glock.

There's no looking back.

van7559

01-12-2011, 23:07

i am retarted when it comes to this shit, but I always here people say never get a mac, what the hell is the difference?

Scanker19

01-12-2011, 23:14

Two completely different operating systems. I'm not sure how to explain it myself, but I think its the "language" they speak are different.

Makes it harder to get Windows based viruses. Although not virus proof my Mac hasn't had one yet, least not one i've noticed.

But you have some compatibility issues with some things but not a lot, mostly games. the only real problem i've had is army stuff, form program, websites.
I do have a program that runs windows as a separate program in a different window to do all this with.

There has to be an apple geek here that can break this down Barney Big Bird Style.

sniper7

01-12-2011, 23:14

van7559

01-12-2011, 23:15

paging byte stryke

van7559

01-12-2011, 23:17

little off topic, but I just relized I am now a gong shooter![ROFL1]

cstone

01-12-2011, 23:55

talk to byte stryke. i am sure he will be in here soon enough.

he can build you exactly what you need for far less that you would pay at wal-mart or best buy or dell for something generic. and he will help you out with software issues and anything that might come up.

my next desktop will be built by him when mine finally dies.

+1 on this.

Never pay more than $300 for a non-gaming computer. Always go with a local builder who will back up his work. Byte's reputation on this board is pretty easy to verify.

theGinsue

01-13-2011, 00:07

little off topic, but I just relized I am now a gong shooter![ROFL1]

Congratulations! Before you know it you've be a Grand Master Know It All.

+1 on this.

Never pay more than $300 for a non-gaming computer. Always go with a local builder who will back up his work. Byte's reputation on this board is pretty easy to verify.

Byte definitely knows his stuff (I'm in the biz and watching his posts and talking with him, I can tell he's really good at this sort of thing. Plus, with Byte, he is willing to back up his work - rare to find that these days.

Byte Stryke

01-13-2011, 00:09

Someone Called?

:D

You have to ask yourself a few things:

What am I going to use this for?
What is my Budget?
what is your aptitude and learning level?

If you are going to sit at Starbucks writing the next great American novel or "Cropping your shoot"
Go mac.
Macs have their Niche, they are stable, but they are very pricey and allot of users find the OS Differences are too much. I Actually know a young lady that just sold Her Mac-book air for $300 because it was "too hard"

If you are Just browsing the web and checking email, a PC or a Linux box is fine. There will always be the learning curve with Linux, but it is shrinking.
My Mom knows Ubuntu at a user level now.

Gamers will pretty much always be tethered to a windows box unless you get into an emulator.

so if you want to bring me that computer, we will see what we can do. but just to surf and watch youtube, you don't need allot of a computer.
Chances are I can clean that one up and get it running better for you.
I have a fixed or free guarantee.
Send me a PM with a phone number

Now if you are stuck on getting a new machine I would recommend dell returns for your uses. Solid, stable, nothing fancy
Refurbished Laptops (http://www.dfsdirectsales.com/dell-used-refurbished-laptops.htm) or refurbished Desktops (http://www.dfsdirectsales.com/dell/desktops/ctl641/cp11867/cl1)

gnihcraes

01-13-2011, 00:13

I'm a dell pimp. Others will hate them. (Ford/Chevy) kind of thing.

Dell Vostro 230 package deal, usually about $400 total. I've bought two for my kids, and they are working well so far with no issues.

http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/vostro-230/pd?oc=bv1cs3x2&model_id=vostro-230

Just like anything else in the world, you'll get 100's of opinions.

My suggestions, buy at much memory as you can afford, and warranty and support you can afford if you aren't a geek. Less frustration that way.

Pay for the MAC and learn something new, without the Windows/PC frustrations of viruses etc. I'd buy a mac too if I could afford one.

Stay away from the Best Buy type of stores, they will sell you a lot of stuff that you don't need on the computer. Extra software that you think you're getting in the price to find out it's just a "90 day demo/trial".

Buy directly from HP, Dell, whomever.

Go to Microcenter down in the tech center, see what they can offer, they have the mac's to play with and I don't think they will sell you items you don't need.

That's my 2 cents.

spyder

01-13-2011, 01:56

Computers are like cars. Do your research and buy one that has the hardware you need. Other than that, take care of the damn thing, and it will take care of your computer needs.

Zundfolge

01-13-2011, 12:45

With most windows based machines if you use good computer hygene habits (avoid the porn sites ... use some sort of popup blocking and good antivirus protection) and keep your data backed up it'll run fine for you (the occasional wipe and reinstall of the OS helps keep things fresh too).

As for Macs, I'm a mac fan but I'm also a professional graphic designer ... for 99% of users it really honest to God doesn't matter what OS you run (hell if Adobe would come out with Creative Suite for Linux I'd dump my Windows machine at work and Macs at home and run Ubuntu or Mint).

Also consider upgrading the RAM on your current machine. More RAM can't hurt.

Also noticed the OP is here in The Springs ... if you're going to buy a new machine go to Tech For Less (http://www.techforless.com/)(just off Garden of the Gods west of Centennial. Google map link here (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1610+Garden+of+the+Gods+Rd.+Colorado+Spring s,+CO+80907&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=1610+Garden+of+the+Gods+Rd,+Colorado+Springs ,+El+Paso,+Colorado+80907&gl=us&z=16)).

Mazin

01-13-2011, 13:35

I'm a Government Datatwhore and as such have been stuck on windows based systems for awhile now. I would perfeer a mac, better OS, less known to catch a virus, different way of navigating through the OS but if anyone tells you its too hard they are just lazy IMO.

Got my father in-law on one for his first computer and he loves it. There are compatiblity issues with running software (ie windows based stuff) but you could always run windows as a program through parellels, also they are starting to make more and more "universal" software to run on a broad range of OS's.

Last point for the mac is reliablity, my father in-laws just replaced his after 6 years of flawless day to day running (he is on that computer more than 8hrs a day). I cant afford a mac right now but bought a Asus for $500.00 it has a 15" screen, 4gb ram, i3 cpu, 500gb Hard drive. Runs great. I have had Dell's, HP, Crapac, Toshiba's, Sony's out of all I like ether Mac, Acer, Asus or build my own.

Just becareful building your own because if your like me I just wanna keep making if Beefer and beefer, last one I built was $4,200.00 in just hardware about 4 years agao but still it is a powerhouse.

GL with the purchase!

patrick0685

01-13-2011, 14:26

i have a dell and love it, its been a good computer for 4 years and my sister even dropped it down a flight of stairs didnt miss a beat

Lex_Luthor

01-13-2011, 15:20

+1 for Linux with Ubuntu. Not that hard to follow, in fact, weren't Windows platforms based off of Linux? No problems with mine, its very easy to use. I can up my learning curve when I have the time, tons of online support, free everything, so then you can concentrate on getting a more hardware based machine and still save a bunch of money.

ghettodub

01-13-2011, 15:21

All ASUS in my house, and an HP lappy and iMac at work. Love my Asus stuff

rondog

01-13-2011, 15:43

Computers are the debbil, IMO. I love to surf around the web on them, but I'm waaaay too stupid to make them work right. The hard drive crashed on my Dell, it was working fine and then just wouldn't anymore. I took it to Byte, and even he can't save the data off it. So all my stuff on that drive is either gone, or it'll cost me a fortune to have it recovered, if it even can be. Blows my mind.

Yes, I know, "back it up". But some of us aren't even sure how to do that. I've had to have that p.o.s. worked on so many times it's not even funny. I now have a new internal drive, and a 1tb external drive for backing up, but it remains to be seen if I can actually make it work.

Ridge

01-13-2011, 17:56

For just general usage, I'm pretty happy with mine of these. (http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-zino-hd-410/pd?p=inspiron-zino-hd-410&view=pdetails)

Can get it with a BluRay drive, and it comes with an HDMI out. Makes for a great home theater setup, takes up almost no space (half the size of my Canon printer), and still gets the job done.

van7559

01-13-2011, 20:55

Just got off the phone with byte stryke, thanks for the help.[Beer]

trlcavscout

01-13-2011, 21:17

gnihcraes

01-13-2011, 21:55

Here is one of those opinions every one has. I hate Dell like I hate fat chicks! I have had 2 personal ones and 4 work laptops. They dont last, they never run right from day one. My personal laptop I have now is an old school dell I need a power cord for I think, damn thing keeps shutting off. I use to build a lot of PC's but anymore I am not in to it. I agree with the MAC, they just take some gettin used to.

Its always interesting too, dell has several "lines" and if you buy the cheap stuff, you get just that. If you buy the business line of equipment, you get the good stuff. FYI.

trlcavscout

01-13-2011, 22:06

Its always interesting too, dell has several "lines" and if you buy the cheap stuff, you get just that. If you buy the business line of equipment, you get the good stuff. FYI.

My company buys the "good stuff", I buy the "cheap stuff".

Zundfolge

01-14-2011, 10:42

I hate Dell ...They dont last, they never run right from day one.

I dunno about that ... I'm at work and I'm typing this on a Dell Dimension 8400 that was purchased before I started here 7 years ago ... so its about 8 years old.

I've had zero hardware problems with it (and the only thing I've done to it is max out the RAM).

We have several other similar machines around the office that were purchased at the same time and they're all still running.

Byte Stryke

01-14-2011, 11:03

Computers are like anything else, they need maintenance. There are going to be "Friday Models" regardless of manufacturer or price.

I have seen systems so filthy inside of the case that the CPU fan was a spinning disc of hair, Cigarette smoke and dirt.
"I Dunno why it keeps rebooting."

I have seen systems improperly configured in Bios, Packed with Malware/Viruses/Auto-dialers etc...
Do yourself a favor, Never tell your Tech you don't surf Porn if you have a folder in My Documents Labeled "PORN" and it takes up 200GB of your 250GB Drive.

[LOL]

Zundfolge

01-14-2011, 11:12

Byte Stryke

01-14-2011, 11:25

On a side note, I'm a big believer that 90% of hardware issues can be avoided with the regular use of one of these

http://s6.thisnext.com/media/230x230/Canned-Air-Duster-10-Oz_2F9532B2.jpg

Also don't run the machine in an enclosed space (like one of those desks that hides the CPU) and keep it off the floor.

Heat, dust, lint and hair are the mortal enemies of computers.

+1

But Please, Disconnect the computer, take it outside to a clean area such as a porch or patio table.
Never invert or tip the can, Liquid Propellant sucks
Never place the nozzle within 2 inches of a Circuit board, computer life ends when cold soldered components fly away.
when blowing out a fan do not "Spin up" the fan, use a pencil to prevent the fan from spinning.
Pay particular attention to anything with fins or fans.

unless you REALLY know what you are doing, DO NOT USE AN AIR COMPRESSOR!
Pressure regulators, Dryers, Dischargers, etc

hope this helps someone

gnihcraes

01-14-2011, 11:40

But I like using my 60 Gallon 120 PSI compressor, really cleans things up! :)

Byte Stryke

01-14-2011, 12:02

But I like using my 60 Gallon 120 PSI compressor, really cleans things up! :)

one in every crowd...
[LOL]

patrick0685

01-14-2011, 12:08

But I like using my 60 Gallon 120 PSI compressor, really cleans things up! :)

im sure it does a great job, all the dust and lose part that are extra anyway just blow away[ROFL1]

Aloha_Shooter

01-14-2011, 12:11

+1 for building your own with a Linux OS or buying a Mac.

I've switched over to a Mac mini and MacBook Pro for my daily computing, am swapping one Windoze box to Linux and one to a Hackintosh.

I run Windows games on my Mac using Crossover Games from Codeweavers. $40 and I don't have to pay another license fee to Redmond, WA or bother rebooting the computer. The one drawback to Crossover (based on WINE) is that game patches sometimes require getting on the bulletin boards or digging into specific files -- nothing really hard and the folks on the bulletin boards are very helpful.

Byte Stryke

01-14-2011, 12:15

I run Windows games on my Mac using Crossover Games from Codeweavers. $40 and I don't have to pay another license fee to Redmond, WA or bother rebooting the computer. The one drawback to Crossover (based on WINE) is that game patches sometimes require getting on the bulletin boards or digging into specific files -- nothing really hard and the folks on the bulletin boards are very helpful.

Thing about that is most people wont go through all of that trouble
Most people wont go through the trouble of scheduling anti virus updates and scans, much less how to run an emulator or manually apply patches to their games.

Aloha_Shooter

01-14-2011, 12:51

True -- but that's why I called it a drawback. Doesn't bother me but I've been building my own for 20 years.

Zundfolge

01-14-2011, 12:53

Thing about that is most people wont go through all of that trouble
Most people wont go through the trouble of scheduling anti virus updates and scans, much less how to run an emulator or manually apply patches to their games.

This is why I no longer tell Windows users to switch to Mac or Linux (even though both are superior operating systems in almost every way).

Once one convinces some non computer literate person to switch one invariably becomes "free tech support for life" ... nothing more frustrating than trying to talk someone through terminal commands over the phone ... try explaining SUDO to your non computer literate 65 year old mother *shudder*

That and Windows 7 sucks less than any previous version of Windows. [Tooth]

rondog

01-14-2011, 14:33

No air compressors???? Uh.....[Shock] But I dialed the regulator down low.....http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/smilies/crying-1.gif

Byte Stryke

01-14-2011, 17:15

No air compressors???? Uh.....[Shock] But I dialed the regulator down low.....http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b150/rinselman/smilies/crying-1.gif

The problems with compressors:

Pressure, Inevitably someone forgets to turn it down and blows things off of the MB or another PCB, such as that new uber $400 Video card. Locking regulators are a must.
Moisture/Sediment, Drain the tank on a compressor that has run for some time. Rust and water always come out. do you really want that being forced under your Board components? This is usually corrected with an Air Dryer/Filter
STATIC! Most compressors MOTORS and Canisters are grounded. The Nozzles are not, They are usually isolated by a rubber hose. Unless you have a grounded Nozzle/Line, do not do it.

TFOGGER

01-14-2011, 18:30

Windows 7 sucks less than any previous version of Windows. [Tooth]

You should trademark that before M$ decides to use it in an advertising campaign....[LOL]

spyder

01-14-2011, 18:37

You should trademark that before M$ decides to use it in an advertising campaign....[LOL]

+1

DOC

01-15-2011, 07:55

I'm purty good with computers but I never thought that using an air compressor was a bad idea compared to those cans of air. Those cans suck bad. I've only gone through one fan after 2 years of regular cleaning.
I'm not saying you should put the air right next to board and let it rip. But a few feet away does a good job.
Some people here know more about the computers idiosyncrasies that I do.
Dell is reliable but not my fav.
Wally world sells new computers with monitors and everything but the printer for cheap. But everything I buy from them breaks and sucks and I wouldn't suggest going that route unless you are my worst enemy.
Microcenter has what you need. I love them and go there all the time.
Just my opinion and maybe its been mentioned before but its advice and that is what you were looking for.
ETA: Ubuntu is nice and free so is Knoppix.

gnihcraes

01-15-2011, 21:06

Compressor is regulated, filtered and drained regularly. I don't stick it down to blow parts off the MB. The can of air cannot get the inside of that power supply clean though.

Did get the nozzle too close once by accident and hit a power supply fan and took some blades off as it spun too fast. LOL. Whoops.

Byte Stryke

01-15-2011, 21:11