Need a new desktop computer....

[sendero]

... my machine had been getting flakier and flakier, and now it has the dreaded mup.sys boot error,. it won't boot at all. I've tried every trick I could find on the net, looks like this box is toast.

I'm a total nerd, I've build a gazillion machines over the years, but I'm thinking about just buying a machine this time.

I'm cheap, I won't buy a high end machine because 6 months later it will be costing what the average machine I actually would buy would cost now.

Here are my options:

I've checked out the local retailers. They have HP, Compaq, eMachines, Gateways and assorted niche players. I have had bad luck with every Compaq I've been near, so they are out. HP bought Compaq, but I have no idea if their machines are ok. I've had an eMachine, and so has my brother, we both had good luck with them but they are not very expandable. A tech I know HATES Gateways :)

I could look at a Dell (of course I hate doing biz with Repukes) and my wife does get a "employee discount" of some kind....

Or, I could do what I usually do, go to arstechnica.com and basically build the "Hot Rod Box". But that would take a while.

Looking from advice from DUers, because I'm totally tossed :)

[sendero]

1. bumping ...

..

[newcriminal]

2. We have had several ( 3 are still working out of 6) HP's,

I am not thrilled with them. We have an emachine at the office and haven't had any problems with it. We have an averatic laptop and haven't had a problem with it except the one that my husband poured coffee on (Staples gave me a new one anyway, I love that store.) I hate to tell you but my favorite is my dell laptop. Was a reasonable price and haven't had a problem with it once.My husband really liked he's sony.

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. Am getting a new 'puter soon, too

and have decided on getting a Mac. No viruses, can run Windows through it, and has good prices on upgrades on RAM and hard drive, can use a two button mouse with it. I do a lot of graphics, and think this is going to be much better for me. Am tired of the viruses. (Yes, I run firewall/antivirus/use anti-spyware/adware.) Am tired of having to do restores, of having restore points not take and losing saves because of starting at a much earlier restore point, and other Windows "gotta get a fix" problems.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

4. Apple.

They last forever and now you can even run Windows on it to, although I don't know why people prefer Windows.

[sendero]

5. Macs are cool..

... but I'm a programmer on the Windows platform for ages and I'm not changing now :)

[Dangerously Amused]

7. Don't think of it as "changing"...

Think of it as "expanding"...


:7

[sendero]

9. LOL....

. Hey, I'm having enough trouble expanding from writing native Windows application programs to writing Web based stuff.

One expansion at a time :)

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

11. I prefer "evolving."

[Dangerously Amused]

12. Heh.

Welcome to the Apple family.


:hi:




"Once you go Mac, you never go back."


:7

[Dangerously Amused]

6. You won't like to hear this probably, but...

...get a Mac. Yes they are more expensive up front but you get a TON of software included (it more than makes up for any price difference) and they run well for freakin' evah.

You can get some truly amazing deals with an educational discount. All I had to do to get an "educational discount" was sign up for a one day class at a local tech college (the tuition was all of $12) to get a student ID. Then after I bought the laptop, the class (which was still a few weeks away) was cancelled so I got a refund of my tuition. You can also find some good deals on eBay for Macs which are still under the original warranty, and as long as they are you can always extend the warranty. Mac is also a VERY blue company.


There's a reason why Mac people are so brand-loyal and fanatical.

Good luck, whatever you decide.


:hi:

[Xipe Totec]

8. Sounds like a bad hard drive,

or possibly overheating.

I have one older system that's heat intolerant. I can't use it during the summer, but once the temps go down it's fine.

[sendero]

10. Yes..

... rhis problem is definitely heat related. But the MB is old and I don't feel like standing over an open case with freeze spray :)

You didn't answer the OP :)

[Xipe Totec]

13. My primary system is an HP

A250Y, Intel Stingray MB. I chose it to be heat tolerant. It is not a top performer, so it does not tend to overheat. It's a trade off. The hard drives are 7200RPM for the same reason; the higher the RPM, the more heat they shed. I'm running it with a 2.4GHz Pentium, and 2.5GB memory.

On your existing system, you might get it to run cooler by installing slower memory (CAS 3, instead of CAS 2, or 2.5).

I have no A/C in my house and the second floor is a toasty 90 degrees until around 10:00PM in the Summer. That's why heat management is so important.

:thumbsup:

[Zech Marquis]

14. easy answer

get a Mac, especially an iMac :-) I have the iMac G5, and for my birthday in Ocotber, I'm going to buy a MacBook Pro :bounce: