Computer Hardware

[Zaranthos]

If it's a computer or plugs into one you might be able to post here.

[zomguberclubber]

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/devices/143&cl=us,en

The mouse I have. Best. Mouse. Evar!


Also, if anyone has any recommendations on a joystick, mine was recently destroyed. I'm running low on my Flight Sim X!

Also also, if you know how to repair a USB plug, that would also be awesome. I don't know if this is possible, but one can hope

[Zaranthos]

That mouse looks really cool. I might get a couple. I like that you can put the USB receiver in it to turn it off. The old one I have turns on and off in the laptop bag as it moves around. For a desktop I'd still use a cord since there is never any delay over a hard wired connection vs a wireless. I hate delays of any kind or even the thought of any.

[scottsaxman]

Any suggestions? I am considering Dell refurbished computers, mostly the lower-end home user Inspiron 531. Stock changes, but an AMD dual core 64 2100, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB HD, DVD/RW, Windows Vista Home Premium, no monitor, runs about $300.

Computer Geeks has an HP DeBranded Athlon64 X2 3800+ 2.0GHz, 1GB RAM, 200GB HD, DVD±RW DVD, no OS, no monitor, also about $300.

Are there concerns with HP? With Dell? I'm just looking for something that will be a solid, even if a little slow, home computer for general internet, word processing, scanning, and light to moderate use of photography and home video. I could cabbage some extra memory from my current computer to help out the HP, or I'd buy another GB. Will I want the extra processing speed? Is 2 GB RAM "enough"? Let me know your thoughts, or if I should be looking somewhere else. Thanks!!

[lechef]

One thing people probably don't think to look for, is noise.. I bought a computer that makes quite a bit of noise and am a little disappointed by it. Even turning the cpu fan down and still quite noisy.

I don't know if they rate the noise they make or not or if you can actually go in a store that sell them or models close enough to see if they are noisy.. anyway for me its now a factor

(i've even modified my setup for the computer in the living room so that only the monitor, keyboard, mouse, usb port are upstairs, the box is actually downstairs with all the wires running down ahhh zero noise now )

[Zaranthos]

Vista = crap (but just my opinion)
Probably a good computer for the price. If you go with Vista double the RAM.

[Daitezen]

Dell is good, band with Vista Premium at that price is a bargain (i'm working from UK equivalent prices, so may be that they are all that cheap there). But Vista is rubbish i think, though i disagree with Z, 2GB from everything i've heard runs it fine (i've seen laptops trying to squeeze Vista running on 512MB)

[Xaldain]

I would not try to run vista on 512, isn't the suggested minimum 1 gig? I would probably go with an HP, Dell has been making crap recently and would never go back to them. As for Vista if you don't like it just reformat and install xp but if you have some computer knowledge you can get vista running better than xp.

[pat pat the monkey king]

I run Vista premium on my laptop with 2GB...it's completely serviceable, but I would prefer 4GB.

[kazzer]

I'll be in the market for a new comp come May rebate time.  Noise is a problem with Dells and Emachines at times.  Believe it or not, my dang cd/dvd drive is so loud I often wish it was gone.  Good thing I don't use it much.

Get as much RAM as you can afford.  If you are ditching your old machine, be sure to take the hard drive out and plug it into the new machine...worth it to keep your data, etc.  I spent like $40 to get a new hd to put in a machine I sold last time, saved my songs.

[anonsi]

I would never go with HP! I have one for work and it breaks down constantly.  My keyboard on the laptop had to be completely replaced after only a month, and I hadn't even used it that much!  Since then it has had several other major problems and it is only a little over a year old.  It's not just my particular laptop either. I frequently hear people complain about things breaking on their work laptops.  Different models, etc. But all are HP.

I personally just got a Dell and it works great so far. I had a Dell before that for my personal computer, too, and I've never had any problems.

[Zaranthos]

The last time I checked HP/Compaq was rated #1 and Dell was #2. I still prefer building my own systems though.

No matter what you do to Vista it won't run anywhere near as fast as XP. I've tried. They put some effort into making XP faster and none into making Vista faster. Some people think we'll all run Vista eventually. I'm not so sure. If Vista is replaced in 2010 as planned many people may wait and skip Vista completely.

I don't care how fancy your car looks, if you have to get out and push you won't like it as much even if all your friends think it looks cool. 

[zomguberclubber]

I don't care how fancy your car looks, if you have to get out and push you won't like it as much even if all your friends think it looks cool. 

Speaking from experience here?

[Daitezen]

Microsoft are planning to stop sales of XP this year though, which means soon people will have to buy Vista if upgrading. Vista is only faster if you are running lots of different programs with their Superfetch thing, and switching between them, with as much RAM as you can physically fit in your computer....

I'd say just see Vista as the new ME, and wait for the next one to come along if you have any sort of choice right now with a new computer. Or just try to disable all of Vistas more fancy features, to try to get it to run at any sort of decent speed.

[Zaranthos]

Microsoft are planning to stop sales of XP this year though...

Three cheers for ebay !!!