I give up (on technology)..

[av8rmike]

The home computer died again Saturday morning. I was screwing around with this BitTorrent client called Azureus when the whole thing locked up on me. I tried to reboot it, and all I got was a text error saying something like, "Windows protection error", which of course I couldn't Google. I called my brother, got him to look up stuff for me, and of course he asked, "why are you still using that thing? It's like six years old! Why don't you get a new one?" I'm getting really sick of having to re-install Windows AND all the drivers and all the programs. So I think I'll stop by the local shop by my office and see if they have any weekly specials.

Every single school in the state seems to be closed, which probably means no rehearsal tonight. That's usually not a good thing less than a week before the concert and without having heard the soloists. I brought my violin with me (as I usually do), but right now my money's on me going back home after work.

Comments

[rtfirefly.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, planned obselescence is alive and well in the computer business.

But at least it's not nearly as bad as it was with automobiles back in the 1950s and 60s. I'm typing this on a $400 desktop that I bought last summer. The first computer that Jacki and I bought new - a 486-66, not even a Pentium, that we bought in January 1995 - cost us $1400. And the $400 desktop is a good machine - processor that would have been blindingly fast a year or two back, decent RAM, CD burner, DVD player, slots for digicam, etc. memory cards, the usual USB ports front and back - a perfectly good machine for everything but the most high-end apps.

I'd suggest picking up a couple weeks of the Sunday WaPo just to scan the computer ads from the usual suspects - Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Office Depot, and the Dell ads on the back of Parade. Or go to their respective websites while you're at work to see that their specials are. It's worth taking an hour or two to get a sense of where the market is before you buy.

[av8rmike.livejournal.com]

$400 is pretty good. Where was this computer from?

At the moment, I'm torn between a $400-500 machine or doing what I did last time, researching a bunch of components and buying to order from a "chop shop". I'm still looking at replacing my monitor as well, so if I want a LCD, that'll add a good $300 onto the price tag.

[dantheman70.livejournal.com]

Old computers suck. Hope you find a decent one.

[danceswithcats1.livejournal.com]

A fellow local to me does a brisk business in factory returned Dell equipment. I picked up a Dimension 2400 with 512Mb of SDRAM,a 40GB HDD and Win XP for $500 last fall. Let me know if you're interested, and I'll see what Sam has on the shelf.

This weekend I wiped the old machine and reinstalled Win 98SE so I can sell it. It's an old Pentium II-233 but I upgraded the SDRAM to the maximum capacity of the mobo, and it would be OK for someone who doesn't have a gazillion processes open (like I sometimes do). :D

[av8rmike.livejournal.com]

Definitely interested in the Dell stuff. What'cha got? (Or, what's your friend got, I guess..)

[danceswithcats1.livejournal.com]

I tried to reply to the email addy listed on your front page, and it bounced. Sam isn't always there at night-he does consulting and network setup stuff by day. I left a message. It would help if you told me what you're looking for. What I have is a 2.4Gig Celeron processor, 512Mb of SDRAM, and a 40Gig HDD. That would be minimum for a Dell Dimension 2400. Do you want more in terms of drive space, processing speed, or not? Since you're not a gamer, I'd think no. Base units come with a CD-R, do you want a CD-RW or a DVD-R or DVD-RW? If you have one of the better units and a driver, I can help you add it, if you're not familiar.
Do you want a floppy disk drive? Do you want a bulk restore utility? I remember you've had problems with your monitor-do you want prices on monitors and flat screen displays-if so, what size? What is your means of internet connection-dialup, DSL, cable? Base units come with keyboards, rodent, and rodent pad. Once you've answered those questions, it will help me to get a realistic quote from Sam. Feel free to send me an email-I'll either call you or we can chat via IM, it all works. :D

[violaman.livejournal.com]

I like that you're feeling "stabby." Home computer problems leave me feeling that way too.

Rob Pegoraro wrote about old and obsolete OSes in his Fast Forward column in the WaPo yesterday. I thought of you when I read it.

You could always put your favorite Linux flavor on the old PC and keep using it, at least for a while. But even if you want to be cheap it's time for you to get a PC made in this century. Try techbargains.com (http://www.techbargains.com) for special offers on PCs and components. They post secret codes and hidden deals that you don't hear about anywhere else.

[av8rmike.livejournal.com]

I think I got the "stabby" thing from bristlesage and scout1222, especially Scout's pictures (http://www.livejournal.com/allpics.bml?user=scout1222).

And I'll have to check out the techbargains.com thing, after I go to the local Korean vendor place.

[danceswithcats1.livejournal.com]

Talked to Sam a few minutes ago. A 2.4 Celeron Dell with 40Gig HDD, 256 SDRAM, CD-read/burner, keyboard, rodent, and 17" CRT monitor, and XP home can be had for $500. If you want flat panel 15", add $125. If you want DVD play, add $35. If you want DVD burn, add $100.