Buying a PC?

[robotrenegade]

Sorry guys, but i need to own both PC and Mac platforms. I need a PC so i can test my projects on windows and mac format and play some games here and there. I was wondering what your guys thoughts were a good pc is?(Sony/Alienware) I'm looking for something that i can own for a while.(not have to upgrade in 4 months) I would like it to work with my 802.11b basestation / Apple cinema displays / firewire ports / file sharing. I don't care about- CD burners/ floppy drive / big HD.

[patrick0brien]

-robotrenegade

My professional PC preference is Sony for the quality and [Apple-like] included tech.

My second choice would be IBM for the solidity and industrial nature. Also remember, DOS and Windows were originaly written for IBM MoBos, and still require the lease hardware drivers for the software.

AlienWare, while nice, such a specialized high-end machine most likely skew the results of your testing effors thus negating the value. Get a nice machine, but one closer to the reality of your client base.

I hope this helps.

[vniow]

If you've got the time, don't buy one, build it.

Fav places to shop are:


http://www.googlegear.com/jsp/Home.jsp

http://newegg.com/

and

http://www.pricewatch.com/ for price comparison.

[hugemullens]

I like the sony pc's. They have a nice software bundle and are pretty cool looking. Alienware seems to be overpriced for what you get in my opinion. Make sure you graphics card has DVI so you can get the adapter to run a cinema display.

[vniow]

The only reason I can think of that people would buy Sony PCs is because they're pretty.

My parents just bought one not too long ago (over a cheaper eMac nonetheless, grrrrr) and while it had some decent hardware, the software really really really stinks.

It's featureless, horribly managed, ugly and not user friendly by a long shot, when my sister wanted to burn some of her songs on a CD with the supplied software, she couldn't because she couldn't figure it out and neither could I. There was no 'burn' button anywhere and the help files were no help at all! (she even said she missed iTunes, hee hee hee...)

I could go on and on about the photo and video editing/managing software but I think you get the drift that it's poorly designed.

The hardware specs are decent but hardly impressive and the case is not one that will accept upgrades very easily.

So coming from the daughter of a couple who just bought a brand new Sony I can say that they're not all they're cracked up to be.

[lmalave]

Originally posted by vniow
If you've got the time, don't buy one, build it.

Fav places to shop are:


http://www.googlegear.com/jsp/Home.jsp

http://newegg.com/

and

http://www.pricewatch.com/ for price comparison.


I'd have to second this. You can get so much more bang for your buck. You can build yourself the equivalent of an Alienware or a high-end Sony for less than half the price.

[hugemullens]

Originally posted by vniow

while it had some decent hardware, the software really really really stinks.



Really? I've never really used one but my mom had a old viao desktop and a R505 and she really liked the software package. She is FAR from a poweruser but used the jukebox software and whatever photosoftware came with it. I guess i always thought better of sony's software. We still have the R505 (until the 12incher gets here, should be thursday or friday), i'll have to check it out.

[yogi477]

In addition to this thread, one of my freinds at college is wating a PC laptop for uni, his budget is anything up to £900 but I guess he could go beyond that if there was somethig really worth it. He will only need word processing, web surfing etc etc but not bad specs so Champ Man will run without taking a week to do a match. Any thoughts on what is best....IBM, Sony, Toshiba?

[MrMacMan]

Originally posted by lmalave
I'd have to second this. You can get so much more bang for your buck. You can build yourself the equivalent of an Alienware or a high-end Sony for less than half the price.

If your good with a Pc and non't need tech support then buy one easily shaves a good half off your price. I did it with my friend, good machine, AMD processor... killer.
I third this.

[steeleclipse]

DONT BUY SONY!

I do a little PC tech work on the side, and Sony breaks down the most frequently, they are hard to troubleshoot, and support is terrible. In fact I have a VAIO sitting here ready to be worked on right now :D

They also get the award for most useless software bundle!

The desktops and especially laptops that i work on the least is IBM's. They have outstanding support too (Apple take note!)

[steeleclipse]

BTW when I say Apple should take note... I mean Applecare phone support

[robotrenegade]

Thanks guys for the help.

[scem0]

I got a real great PC (good to go out of the box) for $700 on
eBay. NEVER BUY A MAC ON EBAY, but PCs sell ultra cheap.
Companies, and individuals, make their living by custom building
PCs and selling them on eBay. So check eBay out if you haven't
already.

Custom building it would be even cheaper, but you won't have
to worry about the hassle if you order it already built, and wouldnt
have to worry about messing up etc. ;)

[vniow]

Originally posted by yogi477
Any thoughts on what is best....IBM, Sony, Toshiba?


My dad likes his Toshiba notebook that was provided by his job, it's pretty thin, but doesn't come with an optical drive but it's of pretty good build quality.

Fujitsu and Sharp also make good notebooks I hear and you should also look out for the new ones with the Centrino chipset.

[scem0]

yeah, wireless internet access is a BIG plus on a laptop. ;)

(porn anywhere.) :rolleyes:

[caveman_uk]

Originally posted by vniow
My dad likes his Toshiba notebook that was provided by his job, it's pretty thin, but doesn't come with an optical drive but it's of pretty good build quality.

Fujitsu and Sharp also make good notebooks I hear and you should also look out for the new ones with the Centrino chipset.
The IT guys at work seem to swear by Toshiba and Compaq(not HP) laptops and swear at Dell ones...

[iWantAMac]

Yeah, my father gets on with his Toshiba Satellite really well. I've only ever used two Dell machines in my life, both were notebooks, and both gave me bad impressions. From my own, personal experience, I would also say that Sony's VAIO range are of good quality, contrary to steeleclipse's opinion.

[Bear]

Originally posted by caveman_uk
The IT guys at work seem to swear by Toshiba and Compaq(not HP) laptops and swear at Dell ones...
Toshiba is real good. IBM Thinkpads are good. Some say Sony laptops are good.

The toshiba Satellite series have been very rugged in my experience.

I've heard too many complaints about Dell, Gateway and COmpaq laptops.

[Bear]

Originally posted by robotrenegade
Sorry guys, but i need to own both PC and Mac platforms. I need a PC so i can test my projects on windows and mac format and play some games here and there. I was wondering what your guys thoughts were a good pc is?(Sony/Alienware) I'm looking for something that i can own for a while.(not have to upgrade in 4 months) I would like it to work with my 802.11b basestation / Apple cinema displays / firewire ports / file sharing. I don't care about- CD burners/ floppy drive / big HD.
To answer your question, buy the fastest processor you can afford, the best video card, and buy the biggest dimm(s) of ram you can get. You can add more ram later, but don't waste money and slots by buying small memory dimms.

Sony's have firewire ports. Dell allows you a fairly good customization range for their computers.

You can get 802.11b/g cards for any system. firewire ports can be added. You will need adapter cables to hook a PC to an Apple Cinema Display.

[robotrenegade]

You can get 802.11b/g cards for any system. firewire ports can be added. You will need adapter cables to hook a PC to an Apple Cinema Display.

Will the 802.11g work with my 802.11b hub? If I get the ATI 9700 can't just hook straight to the card?

[Bear]

Originally posted by robotrenegade
Will the 802.11g work with my 802.11b hub? If I get the ATI 9700 can't just hook straight to the card?
Yes 802.11b and 802.11g work together, just that they talk at 802.11b speeds.

The ATI card for the PC won't have the ADC connector on it. It will have some combination of DVI and/or S-VGA connectors.

And there is guarantee that the Mac version of the card will work with drivers for MS Winblows.

[robotrenegade]

I've heard both are better. Any info?

[Bear]

Originally posted by robotrenegade
I've heard both are better. Any info?
You want DDR RAM.

Somewhere in the forums there was an extensive discussion of the two. Go with DDR RAM. You'll save a bundle and get better berformance.

[Grimace]

Definitely check out www.accessmicro.com

Go to build to order complete systems (or even barebones)

You put in exactly what you want, and they have a very good turnaround time. I've used a bunch of different companies to build PCs and this one is solid. Almost all of the major brand PC makers - Dell, Sony, Gateway - put ***** components inside and slap their name on the front. They are just glorified typewriters! Pick your parts and save thousands! :D

[steeleclipse]

Originally posted by iWantAMac

, I would also say that Sony's VAIO range are of good quality, contrary to steeleclipse's opinion.

really... how many have you owned and/or worked on? :D

[D0ct0rteeth]

Originally posted by scem0
I got a real great PC (good to go out of the box) for $700 on
eBay. NEVER BUY A MAC ON EBAY, but PCs sell ultra cheap.
Companies, and individuals, make their living by custom building
PCs and selling them on eBay. So check eBay out if you haven't
already.

Custom building it would be even cheaper, but you won't have
to worry about the hassle if you order it already built, and wouldnt
have to worry about messing up etc. ;)

I am setting up a client who is doing this exact thing. Here is some photography of their product. A rip off of an Apple Cube, but if you have to use a PC this is the way to go.

I will be happy to hook you up if you want more info.

http://mythologieproductions.com/nanorb/cube_small.jpg

http://mythologieproductions.com/nanorb/setup_01_small.jpg

-Doc

[iWantAMac]

Originally posted by steeleclipse
really... how many have you owned and/or worked on? :D
My experience may not be as extensive as yours (if that is what you're implying), but I have owned one (still do), and, in addition, have been using two others for the past 3 years. They have all been solid machines thus far.

[ewinemiller]

Originally posted by carletonmusic
Definitely check out www.accessmicro.com

Go to build to order complete systems (or even barebones)



Check out their merchant rating and some of the horror stories on pricegrabber before spending too much time there. I bought from a company called McGlen, who strangly answered their phone as access micro. Seems they have a few store fronts, but all the same company. Anyways, six months after ordering something, never getting it, and cancelling the order, they plopped a charge on my credit card. I called and they "fixed" it by adding a credit and another charge! It took 4 phone calls to finally get the second charge removed. Each time I was promised it would be taken care of. Way too much hassle when there are much better venders out there.