Favorite computer brand

[Haeloth 0]

I got mixed feelings about Dell. I tried to order a laptop from Dell last winter. There was only one problem: I was in Kosovo, still a Serbian province. Back then Serbia was still on some kind of US shitlist (they didn't call it axis of eeeviil back then) so I had to sign 10+ pages where I declared that I was not a rocket scientist, didn't work with serbian govt, and that I had no intention of exporting my laptop to a number of backward countries. It took Dell 2 months to decide that I was worthy enough to be allowed to by a laptop.
Other than the troubles getting the machine, I think Dell have been great. A good build to order system and excelent support.
Just be sure you don't buy the computer with win/2k/xp/me. Pirate instead.
A good alternative is to get a geek friend to set up a list of parts, and let a smaller firm build the PC from that list.
- I Fart In Your General Direction!

[Haeloth 0]

I just installed Mandrake 8.1 on my dell laptop. Worked great. Mandrake detected and set up all the hardware. Even my oddball 3d card.
- I Fart In Your General Direction!

[Stumpy 284]

can you get decent versions of all the essentil software types that will be compatible with windows - you know, your normal applications and stuff?

[PhreeZone 20]

Linux has a similar version of most major software types. There are word processors, photo editers, etc....
Cause I don't wanna come back down from this cloud... ~ Bush

[Haeloth 0]

Yes and no.
You will be able to listen to mp3, watch movies in many formats, surf the web with Konq, Mozilla or, my favorite Opera, read mail with Kmail and write letters with Koffice or Staroffice. The problem is reading .doc (and other MsOffice formats) files since MS is changing the format with every release of Office. (IMHO no USEFULL features have been added to Word since -95.)
Both Staroffice and Koffice can read .doc, just not as well as MSWord (I refuse to write M$haft).
Of course there is no auto execution of email viruses sent to your computer.
I, fart In your general direction

[Haeloth 0]

After reading my own post I realise I am getting incoherent. *I need to get some sleep*
I, fart In your general direction

[nacmacfeegle 0]

Nah, you just need to start talking about beer, bigways, and BOOBIES again, everything will start to make sense.
Cya
D

[AndyMan 7]

We've had very good experiences with Dell Desktops and Servers.
However, to anyone considering a laptop, AVOID DELL LIKE THE PLAGUE.
Of the 8 people in my company, everyone has had their motherboards replaced at least once by Dell. We've all had our cases cracked, we've all had major components in the video system replaced.
Thank god Dell has good warantee support.
On average, a Dell service representative visits us once a month to fix one of our laptops.
That said, their desktops and servers are bulletproof.
_Am
ICQ: 5578907
MSN Messenger: andrewdmetcalfe at hotmail dot com
Yahoo IM: ametcalf_1999

[Haeloth 0]

In the name of trolls everywhere, I hereby hijack this thread.
BOOBIES!!
I, fart In your general direction

[Zinger 0]

Might want to check out www.videoguys.com Great sight to learn the ins/outs of digital video editing and what cards work best with what computer. I suggest buying the best editing card you can afford and build a Gateway computer around it and you can learn how on videoguys.com sight.

[Haeloth 0]

BEER!!!
(first hijack attempt)
ok, I am dating myself here
I, fart In your general direction

[nacmacfeegle 0]

Also check out www.computervideo.net it has a very good forum and message board......HINT, HINT .
Oh my giddy aunt, all this techno babble has distracted me from my mission....
BOOBIES,
Thass better
Cya
D
"Your mother was a hamster, and your father stank of elderberries"

[PhillyKev 0]

Quote

We've had very good experiences with Dell Desktops and Servers.
However, to anyone considering a laptop, AVOID DELL LIKE THE PLAGUE.

100% agreement with this. Have had the same experience.
Oh yeah, and boobies! Dell's are great for surfing porno sites. Now is this thread a little more pallatable to some of you? cielos azules y cerveza fría
-Kevin

[skybytch 273]

Quote

(first hijack attempt)

Repeat after me - Hijacking is bad, mmmkay?
Now be a good boy and step away from the keyboard...
pull and flare,
lisa
--
I'll be in the bar... you'll find me...

[DENGOPHER 0]

I love my dell!!!!!!!!!!
just jump!!
gopher

[skycat 0]

Also check out http://www.techtv.com it's a channel that is local here and very addictive. Plus the site has lots of information, including stupid stuff like how to change that little icon on the top right side of your IE browser.

[Iflyme 0]

I spend hours saving time with computers...
"Men weren't meant to ride
With clouds between their knees"
Five For Fighting

[mountainman 0]

Quote

Also check out http://www.techtv.com it's a channel that is local here and very addictive. Plus the site has lots of information, including stupid stuff like how to change that little icon on the top right side of your IE browser.

I learned how to change that icon that shows up to the left of the URL on our webpage. It seems to work sometimes and sometimes not. I think you may need to bookmark it to see it. Pretty cool though. Check it out!
JumpinDuo.com...come and sign the guestbook.

[flyingferret 0]

See what you get for asking us geeks? You expressly say, I want pre-fab, and what does everyone answer...Build your own!
Well for myself I would build my own, but I really understand your position. I have the ability to fix anything that might go wrong with mine, a lot of people don't. I built one for my parents, and I am always fixing little simple things, because they cannot. Also, while you might be able to put one together cheaper that really only applies to people who know exactly what type of hardware they want, and it is usually high-end. For someone who is satisfied by average components it is impossible to beat some of the deals manufacturers have right now.
That said, Dell freaking kicks-ass. I worked for a company that was a Dell reseller, and now I work for a company that uses Dell exclusively for our desktops. While there cases are proprietary, they are incredibly convenient to work on. Plus with their warranty, you will probably never work it. Their Complete Care package pretty much means you could accidentally drop your computer and they would fix it, onsite too. Pretty awesome stuff from my experience. Plus their components are decent, and their software bundles are cheap. And you can customize your machine. You can easily get a good computer with your choice of stuff and a 3-year Complete Care warranty for under $1000. So why bother with anything else? If I did not build my own I would buy Dell.
As for Hewlett-crapper, they have always sucked in my opinion, they should stick to building printers. Packard-Bell is no longer making machines, and neither is Compaq. Don't buy one even if you find it, as support is going to be really tought to get when they no longer make desktops. They are shifting to all servers, and selling their desktop service contracts to external helpdesks.
So, that is my 2 cents, anyway.

[PhreeZone 20]

Quote

Packard-Bell is no longer making machines, and neither is Compaq.

Nope..... Compaq just relaesed a whole new line of desktops aimed at small/mid sized businesses that work really nice fora home machine if you don't need 15 USB ports and all that worthless software. The EVO's are just tight with all black and silver components....
Thier home machines are getting a complete make over really soon too acourding to my Compaq Rep...
Cause I don't wanna come back down from this cloud... ~ Bush

[flyingferret 0]

Well, the word was they were going to cater completely to the business market. I guess it all depends on how you see 'desktop.'
Malachi

[jfields 0]

Mountainman,
I'd go with a Dell. Actually, I have. I have two of them personally, and run an almost all Dell shop at work. We have 5 Dell servers and a dozen Dell desktops. They run like champs. Even the one that was accidently dropped about 3 feet. (I didn't do it.)
Dell pretty much has the best price/performance/support mix among the factory machines. If you are looking for long-term support, Dell is great. You can go and download drivers for old machines, look up installed components to get updates for when you upgrade the OS.
As to the whole pre-built vs. home-built issue, I have done both. The ones I've put together have been scavenger boxes, rather than setting out with all fresh components. I did it to give a cheap computer to a relative who couldn't afford one. It worked well enough until it got replaced a few years later. But you have to look at your time and effort. If you enjoy building computers for the fun and challenge, go for it. If it is just the means to an end, then forget it. Spend 10 minutes, buy a Dell and move on. That way, the drivers, compatibility, testing and all is done by somebody else. I work on computers all day. About the last thing I want to do when I get home is sit around for hours trying to put together a computer from scratch to save a hundred bucks. In the long run, it just isn't worth it.
Just my $.02.
Justin

[scottbre 0]

I would say that if you are going to buy a computer that is already put together for you, go with Dell. They have good customer service and use name brand parts at a more than reasonable price. The only thing I don't like about Dell is that they are pretty much the only company left that still sell exclusively Intel processors. (No AMD)
However, more important than brand is simply product range. If you buy the cheapest thing out there, you are going to get a computer with have of the cards (sound, network, video) hardwired onto the motherboard. This generally means that it isn't easy to replace just the video card or just the sound card without jumping through a lot of hoops. If you aren't going to build your own, then at least spend the extra bucks to get a "second tier" system that actually has all the separate pieces. It will last a lot longer because it is more conducive to taking one thing out and replacing it or adding something else.
Personally, I have a Dell desktop that I use right now, that I have since added a CD-RW to, and will probably soon be adding another harddrive to. I also still have the computer that I had before it that is still totally functional but in storage because I don't have the space for it. My only other advice is get the next step up from what you need, if you can afford it. By this I mean if the standard RAM is 128, then get 256. I bought my Dell almost 2 years ago when 64mb RAM was standard and got 256mb with it. It isn't top of the line anymore, but it is in no way obsolete or even approaching that. Everything I have ever tried to do on it, it has handled fine.
20 million bathtubs can't be wrong. . .

[jfields 0]

I agree with Scott on the RAM. Whether you are building or buying, pile on the RAM. The last computer I bought came "stock" with 128mb. I added 1024mb. If you do buy a Dell, don't buy any more memory than you have to from them. That is one place they gouge. Buy good aftermarket memory from somebody like Crucial. Much more for your money.
Justin

[skycat 0]

ok you all are evil...I was perfectly happy with my 3 year old system, figured I could suck at least another 6 months to a year of life out of it, but NOOOOOOO.....
Now I want a new system and after look at all the models out there will probably be buying myself a Dell in the next few weeks.....ACK!!! My tax return was suppose to be the last payment on my car not a new computer!!!