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what kind of computer should I buy?
12/26/02

Posted on 12/26/2002 3:47:58 PM PST by knak

I need a new computer and hear conflicting things about different brands. Can anyone recommend one or tell me why not to buy a particular brand?

I also want to know if an intel celeron? is the same as a pentium 4


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
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To: gitmo; krb
Right on - I built mine a few months ago with a XP 1900+ bundled with a motherboard for $150 - it rocks.

It's sad so many people believe one must be a computer specialist to build one these days...

41 posted on 12/26/2002 4:12:34 PM PST by Senator Pardek
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Comment #42 Removed by Moderator

To: Eaker
"Dell supports the Anti-gunners."

A low level anti working at Dell refused to sell a computer to a gunsmith becasue the name of his business mentioned weapons. There was a big fuss about it and Dell apologized and sent the gunsmith a new computer for free. I just bought my second Dell and the service was as excellent as the first one I bought in 1991.

Pssssssssss. Don't pass this reply on to Boris. i got the riot act from him last time I defended Dell. I think he has me on the "Jew for the Preservation of Firearms" sh*t list.

43 posted on 12/26/2002 4:13:09 PM PST by SSN558
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To: boris
Er, "Noris"="Boris"
44 posted on 12/26/2002 4:13:47 PM PST by boris
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Comment #45 Removed by Moderator

To: krb
I don't know?? I want one that has an usb port on the front though.
46 posted on 12/26/2002 4:14:41 PM PST by knak
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To: knak
I got a new nokia digital camera for christmas and it won't work with what I've got. I don't really do a lot on my computer except for the internet.

Lets see Digital camera-making and maintaining your own website - didling with some photos-surfing the net- plus adding few other programs, all you would need is a 733MHZ Pentium III cpu, with Win 2000 and 256 memory and you should live happily for the next 3 years. -Tom

47 posted on 12/26/2002 4:15:10 PM PST by Capt. Tom
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To: knak
As someone who uses both kinds of computers on a regular basis, I must agree that a Mac is a much better choice than a PC unless you have specialized business/industrial needs or intend to spend much of your time using it to play video games.

But since chances are you'll go PC anyway, I'll tell you this much: A Celeron is to a Pentium 4 what a Yugo is to a Hummer. No matter what, do NOT get a computer with a Celeron processor. They're not inherently bad or anything, but they're very weak and slow compared to just about anything else on the market. Since, unlike Macs, PCs tend to need to be replaced every two to three years no matter what (mainly because Microsoft keeps bloating up their software on a regular basis, in order to force you to have to upgrade just to run Windows at a tolerable speed), you don't want to buy a computer that's already on the edge of obsolescence. And that's where Celerons are at this point. Go for a computer with a Pentium 4, or an AMD Athlon, with as fast a chip speed as you can afford.

Or just get the Mac and live in peace. ;)

48 posted on 12/26/2002 4:15:10 PM PST by Timesink
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To: knak
I also want to know if an intel celeron? is the same as a pentium 4

No. Celeron is Intel's "value" line; it's almost the same chip, but it has only 1/2 or 1/4 (depending on model) the on-board cache of a Pentium 4. That turns out to have a sigificant performance impact. But it's cheaper. Basically, you get what you pay for.

The AMD line has a similar 'value' brand called "Duron." It's the same issue: the Duron is cheaper than the Athlon, but slower.

If you would even consider a Celeron in order to save money, go with an Athlon instead. That's a way to save money and still get the performance.

As for what brand to buy, there is no vendor who does not have a lemon or two to his credit, so no matter what brand gets mentioned, somebody will have had a bad experience with it. So don't listen to anecdotal evidence. Use the market: who's up, who's down, who's making money in a tough market? I build my own, but if I had to pick a packaged brand today, I'd probably pick Dell.

49 posted on 12/26/2002 4:15:37 PM PST by Nick Danger
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To: krb
"A celeron is not the same thing as a Pentium 4. A Celeron is a Pentium 3"

It was my impression that the Celeron is a crippled Pentium 4 with the math coprocessor disabled.

Evidently there is a fusible link on the chip. All the chips are made on the same production line; to make a Celeron, they just 'burn thru' the link.

I could be wrong, but that's how they used to do it.

--Boris

50 posted on 12/26/2002 4:16:15 PM PST by boris
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To: knak
I just bought these parts from NewEgg.com and built a great computer for under $500. The motherboard comes with all the instructions you need.

However, if you are not mechanically inclined, do not try this at home.

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51 posted on 12/26/2002 4:16:33 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
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Comment #52 Removed by Moderator

To: hole_n_one
Wonder what size the hard drive is on that antique? Probably 20 MB.
53 posted on 12/26/2002 4:19:00 PM PST by Brett66
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To: Senator Pardek
Is it hard to build your own? All I've ever done was change my modem, power supply and cd drive.
54 posted on 12/26/2002 4:19:40 PM PST by knak
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To: SSN558
"A low level anti working at Dell refused to sell a computer to a gunsmith becasue the name of his business mentioned weapons. There was a big fuss about it and Dell apologized and sent the gunsmith a new computer for free. I just bought my second Dell and the service was as excellent as the first one I bought in 1991."

"Pssssssssss. Don't pass this reply on to Boris. i got the riot act from him last time I defended Dell. I think he has me on the "Jew for the Preservation of Firearms" sh*t list."

Riot act time again. Once is all it takes. Dell has shown its stripes and all the apologies in the world mean nothing. S&W made a deal with the Clintons and are now apologizing and pleading and so forth. Never buy another S&W. Never buy another Dell. Hurt these people where it counts--in the pocketbook.

Maybe will serve as an example to Dell's competitors to treat gun owners with respect.

--Boris

55 posted on 12/26/2002 4:19:54 PM PST by boris
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To: knak; Dark Wing
If you don't have a local dealer you trust, get a Dell with the Windows XP Professional upgrade. Do not get Windows XP Personal edition - it is a flat-out disaster. Avoid Gateway in buying a new PC - they're real good at dying just after the warranty expires.

The major difference between Intel and AMD processors is that the latter are very susceptible to heat death from dust-clogged fans. If you don't live in an area with lots of dust, or sand, or wind (any of the three), you should be safe with an AMD processor. Otherwise pay a bit more for an Intel cpu. I live in a moderately-sized town (40-50k) surrounded by dusty agricultural areas. AMD cpu's generally last only 8-15 months here. The nearest larger city - Modesto, California - has this problem only on its western side.

If you don't know for sure that your area is safe for AMD cpu's, get an Intel. A Celeron is a crippled and therefore cheapter version of an Intel Pentium III. It's OK for most purposes. The two things Celeron's choke on are video-intensive games and programs which require lots of number-crunching.

I'm picking up a college son's new computer tomorrow from my local dealer. 2 gigahertz Intel Pentium IV cpu, 512 meg RAM, Windows XP Professional operating system, 80-gig hard drive, CD-RW drive, 128meg GeForce 3 Ti200 video card, Soundblaster Audigy 2 soundcard, built-in Ethernet connection, 56k modem, floppy disk, mouse & keyboard made from melted-down credit cards. It will be $1079.

I got a 17" NEC flat-screen (not LCD) tube monitor from Staples on Sunday for $165. Leo already has superb speakers (Logitech Z-560's) plus a Logitech trackball and decent keyboard. His computer is designed for the best possible sound as he is a music minor, plus reasonable video for computer games. My daughter will get his old cheap PC (Hewlett-Packard Pavilion) for her college computer. I went cheap for my sons' first college PC's as they were twins and I had a $2000 budget for two complete systems.

My personal recommendation is an Intel cpu of 1-2 gigahertz speed (Celeron or better), 256-512 meg RAM, a 60 gigabyte hard drive, CD-RW drive, etc., and a 17" NEC tube monitor. Get a NEC monitor and use it forever. Last Christmas I gave away a 14" NEC 3D monitor I bought new in 1988. It still worked fine and looked good, but just couldn't produce the video resolution required for today's computers.

56 posted on 12/26/2002 4:20:05 PM PST by Thud
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To: Senator Pardek
It's sad so many people believe one must be a computer specialist to build one these days...

I know it's not hard, but since I've never thought about doing it, I've never paid much attention to that scene. I have considered putting one together lately though; can you suggest where to go online just to get a basic how-to guide? Not a "this-is-a-MO-ther-board" dumbbell site, just somewhere that can help you figure out where are the best places to get components these days, make sure you don't order a power supply that won't even fit in the case you just bought, etc. TIA...

57 posted on 12/26/2002 4:21:46 PM PST by Timesink
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Comment #58 Removed by Moderator

Comment #59 Removed by Moderator

To: Nick Danger; knak
Use the market: who's up, who's down, who's making money in a tough market? I build my own, but if I had to pick a packaged brand today, I'd probably pick Dell.

And using the market, avoid Gateway like the plague. There a pretty decent chance they won't be around in a couple of years.

60 posted on 12/26/2002 4:23:32 PM PST by Timesink
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