OT: geek stuff / discussion.

[SnowMule]

Skip all the cheap best-buy junk and go for the good stuff.



Outta be enough to do some solidworks projects with.

[Jaigh_Taylor]

I would certainly push for getting an SSD as a system/boot drive, then getting something with a spindle for wholesale storage.

You can typically do pretty good for yourself if you buy a cheaper box with "upgrading" it already in mind. For me this would typically include power supply, a bit more ram with a beefy graphics card.

Just remember that more ram == better. Any time Windows is forced to page anything to the disk, you're taking a performance hit.

Originally Posted by Olas

Man, I freaking hate shopping for a new computer. So many options and places to buy from. The time has come to get a desktop PC, as my laptop (ASUS, 4GB ram) is limiting me with what I need to get done for school.

I'm not a gamer. I basically just need a computer that can handle SolidWorks without issue (so no Macs). I figure if it can handle SolidWorks, it can probably handle everything else I need it to do. SolidWorks recommends 6GB of ram or more on Windows 7...

Anyway, can I get some pointers on what/who to avoid, common mistakes, any good deals going around, etc...? I know I could probably build a nice rig for cheaper than a complete one that is ready to go but I need this thing like yesterday.

Thanks.

[SnowMule]

Wildcat% uptime
23:31 up 363 days, 2:16, 2 users, load averages: 1.83 1.60 1.41

Not too bad for a 13-year-old 333MHz iMac with 96MB of RAM.
Original everything but hard drives and RAM.

Who says Macs aren't reliable.

[Zak Smith]

I recently bought a Lenovo x120e and it's a very, very nice form factor/weight for travel, but large enough to do real work on. I run Ubuntu. Replaced HD with Intel SSD.

-z

[thump_co]

Originally Posted by Zak Smith

I run Ubuntu.

^ +1.. geeks do not let friends run Windows.

[doc_ricketts]

Originally Posted by SnowMule

Wildcat% uptime
23:31 up 363 days, 2:16, 2 users, load averages: 1.83 1.60 1.41

Not too bad for a 13-year-old 333MHz iMac with 96MB of RAM.
Original everything but hard drives and RAM.

Who says Macs aren't reliable.

Well, I have a very old (bought in about 1990) ZEOS 286 notebook. This was the first 'notebook' made that I am aware of. It ran Windows 1 and had a very small disk drive and memory, but I carried it over a lot of Cascades mountains with my other gear doing field work and the damn thing still boots up and runs well. I don't use it for anything, of course, but just boot it up every year to see if it still works.

[SnowMule]

Originally Posted by doc_ricketts

Well, I have a very old (bought in about 1992) ZEOS 286 notebook. This was the first 'notebook' made that I am aware of. It ran Windows 1 and had a very small disk drive and memory, but I carried it over a lot of Cascades mountains with my other gear doing field work and the damn thing still boots up and runs well. I don't use it for anything, of course, but just boot it up every year to see if it still works.

I've got a Powerbook 140 that still works... Blazing fast 16MHz '030, 80MB HD (That's the upgrade), 4MB RAM, 640x400x1-bit LCD...

Did hit one year last night:
Wildcat% uptime
11:11 up 365 days, 13:55, 2 users, load averages: 1.47 1.38 1.37

[=o&o>]

I have a client who needs a lead on someone who can update / port / re-write a bidding template primarily used for residential electrical construction work. The custom bidding spreadsheet template he uses now is on Lotus 2.2, and he wants / needs to go to Excel 2010. He has tried several commercially available bidding packages over the years, but they don't suit... He would prefer someone reasonably proximate to Wheat Ridge (Denver, CO).