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Registered
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 1,484
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Mac, definitely.
The *only* downsides I've seen are: 1) When people here post .wmv files, I can't watch them. 2) No games. Beyond that, the Mac has been fantastic. I just had to format my parent's Dell and my brother's (used to be mine) Dell. Both were P4 1.7 GHz, and we all feel lucky that it took 4 years until they needed a formatting. My old one had a gig of Rambus ($$$) RAM, 80 GB hard drive that was more than 50% free, and until recently it ran no faster than my Powerbook, which has a slower processor and half the RAM. Mac is the way to go if you just want video, Net, and basic word processing. Last edited by yellowline; 10-31-2005 at 08:00 AM.. |
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10-31-2005, 07:58 AM
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Where is that wrench?
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Irvine, CA
Posts: 1,415
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I like Dell as well. I use www.gotapex.com to watch for good deals and coupon codes. They have new ones every week, and sometimes mid-week too.
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10-31-2005, 07:58 AM
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Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 56,107
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Yeah, but when you buy a MAC don't you have to get a Beetle convertible and a rainbow sticker?? j/k
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Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa  SOLD 2004 - gone but not forgotten
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10-31-2005, 07:58 AM
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Registered
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Hardly seems worth upgrading such an old PC. By the time you add new hard drive, more DRAM, new video card, Win XP, antivirus, you'll have spent $250 or more, plenty of hours (installing hardware, setting jumpers, installing Windows, downloading patches and service packs, etc) and it'll still be an old PC. It'll also be hard to move the HDD and video card to your next machine if they are for the getting-obsolete parallel ATA and PCI buses.
Considering how cheap a new no-frills PCs are, is it worth it? If you are on a really tight budget, or just enjoy doing things as inexpensively as possible, drop by your local used computer store and see what they have. Or get a Mac mini. Tiny, affordable, and it's a Mac. BTW I can see WMV files fine using Windows Media Player for Mac OS. I guess I just got really sick of futzing with PCs. Our last home PC finally choked its (3rd?) hard drive, I'm going to toss it in the trash. I have formatted c: and reinstalled Windows for the LAST TIME.
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1989 3.2 Carrera coupe; 1988 Westy Vanagon, Zetec; 1986 E28 M30; 1994 W124; 2004 S211 What? Uh . . . “he” and “him”? Last edited by jyl; 10-31-2005 at 10:30 AM.. |
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10-31-2005, 10:26 AM
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A few months ago I was in the same situation as you. I really wanted to upgrade what I had but it just cascaded into an almost completely new machine. I was able to keep my old DVD burner and player two old harddrives and keyboard, moniter etc but added all this below.
A Dell woul have surely been cheaper but I don't know if it would be compatible to what I put together. I never built a computer before but it really wasn't too hard at all. Most dificult was setting up BIOS for the first time. Mechanically putting it together was quite easy and even fun. Theres so much help online for this stuff. 
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-Vinny 1983 911SC |
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10-31-2005, 10:50 AM
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Yellowline - you can download windows media player for OS X to watch WMVs. I sometimes have problems, but usually it works fine. I understand not wanting MS software on your computer though.
 I don't like Dells. They are fine for people who are on a 2 year upgrade cycle, but it sounds like asphaltgambler keeps his computers longer. The motherboard and power supply in a Dell box are proprietary. When (not if) they break, it'll basically force another updgrade. For most people that means buying another Dell, so they have no incentive to use better stuff. For people like me who stick with a 3-4 year cycle, an Apple is the way to go. Or build your own PC from parts of your choosing - but that takes a little more patience, or a nerdy friend who will do it for you. BTW, owning a Mac doesn't make you gay! I was really worried at first, but I think the sports car and the beer produces antibodies. I just gotta be careful not accidentally drink wine coolers.
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1987 325 eta |
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10-31-2005, 11:21 AM
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Still Doin Time
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nokesville, Va.
Posts: 8,225
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Main reason is I want win XP with office. If you try to buy the software alone; retail you are @$600.
New replacement machine with the latest OS & Office suite + firewall looks like the best and easist way to go. Dell may be the way after looking at their site, but I will wait until the xmas season to shop. I dunno about the Mac.........................everytime I walk into a computer store their stuff is always in the back, kinda like the porn section at the video store
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'15 Dodge - 'Dango R/T Hauls groceries and Kinda Hauls *ss '07 Jeep SRT-8 - Hauls groceries and Hauls *ss Sold '85 Guards Red Targa - Almost finished after 17 years '95 Road King w/117ci - No time to ride, see above '77 Sportster Pro-Street Drag Bike w/93ci - Sold |
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10-31-2005, 01:45 PM
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Registered
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Drive into Tysons Corner and go to the Apple Store there (in the mall). Third party retail has always been a sick joke in the Apple world.
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1987 325 eta |
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10-31-2005, 01:48 PM
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The Unsettler
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lantanna TX
Posts: 23,885
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For WMV files on the Mac you can use Microsoft Media Player for the Mac or this cool little app that I just discovered.
http://www.flip4mac.com/ the app is WMV Player. Let's you run wmv files right inside of Quicktime. A ton of pricing options, if you just want to play the files it's $9.99 All the way up to full editing capabilities for $179.99. Factor in that you can replace Microsoft Office with OpenOffice for FREE and your a happy camper. www.openoffice.org Scott
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"I want my two dollars" "Goodbye and thanks for the fish" "Proud Member and Supporter of the YWL" "Brandon Won" |
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10-31-2005, 01:56 PM
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Moderator
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Quote:
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1975 911S (in bits) 1969 911T (goes, but need fettling) 1973 BMW 2002tii (in bits, now with turbo) |
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10-31-2005, 02:12 PM
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Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 56,107
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Quote:
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Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa SOLD 2004 - gone but not forgotten
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10-31-2005, 02:36 PM
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Double Trouble
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: North of Pittsburgh
Posts: 11,705
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hmmm let's compare..
 
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I used to be addicted to the hokey pokey..........but I turned myself around.. 75 914 1.8 2010 Cayenne base |
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10-31-2005, 03:58 PM
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B58/732
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Hot as Hell, AZ
Posts: 12,313
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Mac Mini + NeoOffice or OpenOffice.org will solve your worries.
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ I don't always talk to vegetarians--but when I do, it's with a mouthful of bacon. |
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10-31-2005, 04:38 PM
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Double Trouble
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: North of Pittsburgh
Posts: 11,705
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mini
Quote:
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I used to be addicted to the hokey pokey..........but I turned myself around.. 75 914 1.8 2010 Cayenne base |
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10-31-2005, 06:02 PM
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Too big to fail
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Re: hmmm let's compare..
You are the king of disingenuous comparisons!
Quote:
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"You go to the track with the Porsche you have, not the Porsche you wish you had." '03 E46 M3 '57 356A Various VWs |
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11-01-2005, 06:48 AM
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Too big to fail
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 [CODE]http://voodoopc.blogspot.com/2005/10/its-24-karats-of-bling-bilng.html The OMEN 24K is a 24 Karat Gold Plated Luxury PC, featuring only the best of breed components on the market. Starting with the liquid cooler, even the blocks are hand picked. We use the best motherboard from ASUS, AMD Athlon 64 FX or Dual Core processor, and limited edition memory. We're shipping the OMEN 24K in a metal travel box (which also has wheels to make it easy to move around).
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"You go to the track with the Porsche you have, not the Porsche you wish you had." '03 E46 M3 '57 356A Various VWs |
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11-01-2005, 06:49 AM
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Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 56,107
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And in 6 months you'll have the most expensive outdated PC in the world?
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Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa SOLD 2004 - gone but not forgotten
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11-01-2005, 07:36 AM
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Too big to fail
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Quote:
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"You go to the track with the Porsche you have, not the Porsche you wish you had." '03 E46 M3 '57 356A Various VWs |
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11-01-2005, 07:47 AM
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Double Trouble
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: North of Pittsburgh
Posts: 11,705
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Re: Re: hmmm let's compare..
Quote:
i'm gonna have to look that word up.
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I used to be addicted to the hokey pokey..........but I turned myself around.. 75 914 1.8 2010 Cayenne base |
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11-01-2005, 09:10 AM
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Double Trouble
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: North of Pittsburgh
Posts: 11,705
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Re: Re: hmmm let's compare..
Quote:
dis·in·gen·u·ous Pronunciation: "di-s&n-'jen-y&-w&s Function: adjective : lacking in candor; also : giving a false appearance of simple frankness : CALCULATING - dis·in·gen·u·ous·ly adverb - dis·in·gen·u·ous·ness noun come here so i can slap you!
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I used to be addicted to the hokey pokey..........but I turned myself around.. 75 914 1.8 2010 Cayenne base |
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11-01-2005, 09:15 AM
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1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2
1983 911SC
1987 BMW 325e M20 eta
1975, 1969 Porsche 911S, 911T 2.7S CIS, 2.0T ca
