Need computer recommendations

[Aloha_Shooter]

+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]

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]

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]

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.

[rondog]

No air compressors???? Uh..... But I dialed the regulator down low.....

[Byte Stryke]

No air compressors???? Uh..... But I dialed the regulator down low.....

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]

Windows 7 sucks less than any previous version of Windows.

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

[spyder]

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

+1

[DOC]

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]

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.