Archive through May 14, 2001

The ClubHouse: General Archives: June - July Archives: Computer Questions???: Archive through May 14, 2001

Ryn

Monday, April 30, 2001 - 08:58 pm Click here to edit this post
Gail Gail Gail....

Gateway bashing??? lol

I imaging gooch has a computer by now but I will toss in my 2 cents.

Unless you are going to buy a computer for hard core gaming, you can go with pretty in-expensive ones. I recommend Gateways or Dells to the people that ask me.

I maintain computers and the network, etc etc for a University department, and before that I was a "Network Engineer" for a company that supported a ton of clients.

I only buy Gateways, not because I think they are better than Dell, but just for consistancy. Matter of fact the last computer my in-laws purchased with my guidance was a Dell and I set it up and loved it.

You will always have people that HATE one brand or another. But gateway and Dell seem - over the long run - to both provide good systems and decent service. Compaq sets their systems up in such a way that if anything goes wrong with the hard drive you are in trouble, stay clear of them (imho). Packard bell?? I think they are out of business (thank god!!!).

When I order a new system for general use in the department I spend about $1500 max (more for certain systems). That has been the average price I have paid for about the last 4 years.

Here is one thing to keep an eye out for. How long is the warranty?? Dell (and maybe Gateway) only have 1 year warranty on their cheapest systems (under $1k or so). Spend the extra bucks and get a nicer system with a 3 year warranty. Especially if you are going to use your computer a lot.

Ok, thats it. Oh, we do have 1 Mac user in the department. Had to go get a file off his computer the other day and I forgot NO FLOPPY DRIVE!!! Ended up ftping the file to my computer - what a pain!!!!

-ryn (please excuse any and all spelling or syntax errors - My typing sucks)

Gail

Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 04:15 am Click here to edit this post
Ryn, my issue with Gateways is several things. Probably my biggest beef is that they load so much crap on them to impress the users. As a courtesy to friends and some of my customers, if they need me to work on their home computer, I do. Gateways are the ones I get called on to fix the most. The biggest complaint is all the extra stuff that comes preloaded.

At work, about once a week, I send out a good computer tip for people - one of my best ones is how to tune up your home computer. One of the final steps is to defrag your hard drive. Just last month I had to go to someone's house because they could not get it to run because something kept interferring. I had it down to just explorer running and it still wouldn't run more then 1 percent before restarting. I never did figure out what was keeping it from funning. I finally brought it up in safemode and that did it. I have seen that problem with gateways a few times. There is so much stuff preloaded, it chokes the computer.

The reason I am so "pro" Dell is because of that service tag number that lets you get up on the net and download drivers, system information, etc so easily. Also, 2 weeks ago, I had to call in a computer at work. I called on a Friday, by Monday the part I needed was in. I wasn't on hold for an hour - actually, I might have been on hold for 2 minutes (maybe) These things are important to me.

When I had my Packard Bell about 5 years ago, I was on the phone all the time and was on hold between 45 - 90 minutes each time. Do you have any idea what it takes to get a sound driver from Packard Bell? I don't - though, I tried for 4 months to get one from them. It arrived about 3 days after I pulled all the parts off the PB and had them put into another computer (minus the sound card).

I guess I like that all the parts on a Dell are replaceable. Sound card goes bad or you want a better one, no problem. Same with the video card and everything else.

My Packard Bell I junked because I could not change out the video card. It wasn't good enough to play the latest King's Quest game. That computer was just over a year old. I think what I have now is about 5 years old - at least parts of it are. Every year or so, I switch out a few things here and there to keep it current. Mine is one that was built for me.

If I buy a new computer someday, it will be a Dell. The more I work on them, the more I like them. I don't have a problem with Microns either.

Ocean_Islands

Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 05:11 am Click here to edit this post
My old Gateway that I bought in 1994 is still up and running (Gateway Europe). I sold it to a friend who loved it. Then he sold it to another friend, and it's still working fine. It's quite a workhorse.

I now have a Compaq that is three years old; I've not had any real problems with it but some strange sticking points (non-essential) are irritating. For instance I never was able to get the fax to work, and there are strange conflict floating around from time to time.

I hear the Dell laptops have problems.

Zeb

Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 08:41 am Click here to edit this post
Actually, all laptops eventually have some sort of a problem. That's electronics for you. As far as a laptop is concerned, it's best to go with a company that has an extended 3 year warranty plan. I had a guy the other day ask me if I build laptops. Each one is built differently and it's not like you can run down to the local Fry's Electronics and buy a laptop case, motherboard, keyboard etc. They all have to be mainly serviced by the company you buy it from.

I'll try not to start a computer war, but tell you what I see from everyday business. Compaqs are designed to be only fixed by Compaq. They contain proprietary hardware. I've seen Compaqs that don't even have a fan on the CPU. They have a cardboard tunnel running from the power supply fan to the CPU. I thought, "What a cheap quality company." They have proprietary motherboards (meaning you have to have Compaq replace them; you can't run down to the store and buy a new motherboard). Also, beware that the computers built in the futuristic looking cases more than likely contain proprietary parts (strange non-standard shaped CD ROMs, Floppy drives, etc). For someone who wants to buy a nice non-upgradable throwaway / giveaway computer then Compaq is a great lowcost choice. They will get you on the internet and run business and games software.

Gateways have improved over the last few years. They used to be available with only proprietary motherboards but now I think they are universal. I have to go take a look at one today where the hard drive crashed completely after a year of use but any computer can have a bad hard drive. That just happens and is usually serviced by the hard drive warranty. Gateway has good tech support but I've heard of people holding for up to 45 min. However, Gateway is still one of the top mail-order computer companies and mail-order computer companies usually make computers with quality name brand parts.

I have had very little difficulty / hassle with Dell computers. Most of the time it's just a software issue and not a hardware issue. If something does go out, like a hard drive or memory, they usually give you an RMA # to ship the item back but will go ahead and send the replacement part to you or send a technician straight to your home or business. Some companies wait until they receive the defective part in the mail before shipping a new one out and that can be a hassle if you need your computer right away. Dell also has great warranty and trade-in options.

Of course, my favorite computers are those that I build myself. I put what I want in them and make sure the whole computer is "universal" meaning if something fails, I can remove the part and exchange it where I got it or run to just about any computer store and get an equal replacement. Some stores, like Fry's Electronics, sell what's called "Bare Bones" Computers meaning they have everything all put together except a hard drive, memory, video card and a monitor. I saw a bare bones Athlon 1000mhz system with CD ROM and all that for like $369 just yesterday and some computer stores offer their own 3 year coverage on parts. By the time you spend $110 for 256M of RAM, $130 for a 40 GIG hard drive, and as low as $60 for an acceptable video card (about $120 if you want a Geforce 2 for games) and about $200 for a good 17" monitor(although most people already have a monitor) then you're looking at about $669 +tax for a fast computer without a monitor and about $869 +tax for a computer with a monitor. If you want a better sound card, you have the option of spending another $99 (less if you order it over the internet) for a SoundBlaster LIVE 5.1

Benefit: You get what you want.

Hindrance: It's "do it yourself" or "hire someone" upgrade and repair. Although, that's not a bad thing if you get someone who knows what they're doing and has your best interests at heart.

Karuuna

Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 10:01 am Click here to edit this post
I've owned *three* Mac laptops, and never had a problem with any of them. I'm able to do simple upgrades myself cause they come with instructions (including memory and accelerators). My church has a Gateway laptop, which drives me insane; and a friend of mine has a Toshiba, which he had to trade in twice during the warranty period.

Go Mac! :)

Ocean_Islands

Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 10:40 am Click here to edit this post
Of course I forgot to mention my favoritest computer of all, a Texas Instruments laptop which had a clip on trackball which was the easiest to use of any mouse or track ball I've ever had; the laptop was stolen in a brazen raid on my Paris home when I left the one-foot-wide watercloset window open when absent.

Zeb

Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 11:10 am Click here to edit this post
Ouch

Bijoux

Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 11:54 am Click here to edit this post
Ça alors!

Zeb

Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 11:55 am Click here to edit this post
Que?

Ocean_Islands

Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 12:03 pm Click here to edit this post
Bijoux tu parles francais?

Bijoux

Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 01:50 pm Click here to edit this post
Bien sur.

Gail

Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 04:12 pm Click here to edit this post
Moi aussi - j'ai embrasse mon cheins sur la bouche :)

Bijoux

Tuesday, May 01, 2001 - 05:30 pm Click here to edit this post
Vraiment! Je te dit. Mais c'est normal no? (Moi, je parle le patois de l'afrique francophone bien que j'ai passe une annee a Bordeaux).

Bijoux

Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 01:09 pm Click here to edit this post
This seemed the best place for this:

Dell recalls 284,000 Inspiron notebook batteries


BY BOB BREWIN
(May 03, 2001) The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Dell Computer Corp. is voluntarily recalling 284,000 batteries used in its Inspiron line of laptop computers because they can overcharge, become very hot, release smoke and possibly catch fire.

Round Rock, Texas-based Dell said it has received one report of a battery that overcharged, resulting in minor property damage. The commission said no injuries were reported.

The batteries covered by the recall are used in Dell Inspiron 5000 and 5000e notebook computers that the company introduced in January 2000 and sold through this past March.

This is the second battery recall for Dell and the third reported problem with defective components in the Inspiron line in 14 months. In October, Dell recalled 27,000 batteries used in its Inspiron and Latitude notebook lines (see story). In March last year, the company had to replace flawed memory modules that could cause data to be lost or corrupted in as many as 400,000 of the PCs that were sold during 1999 (see story).

Two weeks later, rival Compaq Computer Corp. had to recall 55,000 battery packs used in its Armada E500 and V300 notebook computers because the batteries could short-circuit and potentially cause fires in the machines (see story).

The commission said batteries covered by the current recall cost between $100 and $130 when sold separately from the notebook.

Users can identify the batteries covered by the recall announced today by identifying marks, which include "Dell," "Made in Japan" and "Inspiron Battery module" printed on the top. Those batteries that have colored stickers containing either the number series "99" or the series "00 51" or less and the letter "P" in the first line are being recalled.

The commission said customers should stop using these batteries immediately and call Dell toll-free at (877) 217-3355 or check the company's Web site to order a free replacement battery.

Zeb

Thursday, May 03, 2001 - 01:24 pm Click here to edit this post
All these companies have a screwup every once in a while. It's good they are recalling the batteries and rectifying the problem.

Admin

Friday, May 04, 2001 - 06:19 am Click here to edit this post
While you were reading this thread, your new computer became obsolete. :)

Grooch

Monday, May 07, 2001 - 09:23 am Click here to edit this post
Well, I finally ordered a new computer on Saturday.

We were originally going to buy a better model last week, but my husband finally went and signed up for his private pilot lessons. Right now he is a flight engineer and one day his job will be obsolete.

So after paying for the lessons (argggh!) we decided to hold off on the computer. All I really needed it for is the internet and for his games.

Well a few days later the school gave him his computer cd's for the ground class that he has to learn and do his tests on, and they won't play on my 100 Mhz computer. So we had to bite the bullet. But we went for a lower model that hopefully won't be obsolete in a year or two.

We bought a Dell 4100 series with 1 Ghz, 128 MB SDRam, 40 GB Ulta ATA Hard drive.

We held off on the printer for now. I'll buy that next month. The salesman kept pushing the extended warrenty, but I skipped it.

It comes with a free year of internet service. Yipee! My husband tried to make me promise I won't get addicted to the internet. I couldn't promise him. And next week, after it arrives, if he's not home, I can start going to chat. :)

If we had bought the computer 2 days earlier we would have had free shipping. Oh well. We looked at a bunch of different stores and for the price, we got a much better and faster computer for about an extra $200 with Dell.


Thanks everyone for your input.

Gail

Monday, May 07, 2001 - 12:05 pm Click here to edit this post
Good choice!!

Zeb

Monday, May 07, 2001 - 12:11 pm Click here to edit this post
Congrats Grooch. Nice computer.

Schoolmarm

Monday, May 07, 2001 - 06:24 pm Click here to edit this post
My Titanium powerbook came today!!!! But I've been so busy with grading and exams that I haven't even gotten it out of the box. It certainly doesn't weigh very much!!

Tess

Monday, May 07, 2001 - 07:50 pm Click here to edit this post
Congratulations Grooch and Marm on the new additions to your families.


Marm, when you get the powerbook out of the box I want to hear all about it. I'm still saving my pennies.

Schoolmarm

Monday, May 07, 2001 - 09:11 pm Click here to edit this post
It's really great!! All I've done is install software...I need to contact the university to get online with a different machine. The screen is REALLY thin...about 1/4 -1/3 of an inch. It's BIG and wide. It runs a little hot if it's right on your lap, which will probably be annoying in the summer. The DVD/CDRom drive was working great until I put in an "odd" disc and it started vibrating and sounding like a plane taking off. The other discs had no problem, so I hope it was the disc and not the drive! It looks good and feels good!! I think that I have a new "best friend". It's really fast. I'll take it for a test drive on Finale (music writing) next week when finals/grading are over.
More as I discover it!! Suppose I should read the instruction book!!

Grooch

Friday, May 11, 2001 - 01:51 pm Click here to edit this post
It's here! My new computer arrived today and my husband has already set it up. I can't wait to go home and check it out! Now we'll be fighting all weekend to use it. :)

Grooch

Monday, May 14, 2001 - 10:09 am Click here to edit this post
Now that my computer is set up, do I really need to save those huge boxes? And if I do, for how long? I have no room for them.

Gail

Monday, May 14, 2001 - 10:31 am Click here to edit this post
If your computer is running good, you should be able to get rid of them. If your monitor was to quit working, you would have to call Dell and they would ship out a new one and then you put the bad one in the box that comes with the new monitor.

I hope your enjoying your new computer!!