Computer for College: Buy Now or Wait?

[Mav451]

Regardless of whether you go Mac or PC, you will have to relearn. I think it "may" be easier to use Windows XP since it has such a wider user base and some common windows roots and would be more familiar to you.

If you want to take the plunge--of course go Mac. It is incredibly different from Windows...but since your're here i think this place wll help you along.

Regarding Windows ME -- yes it is one of the worst OSes, next to 98SE (if it was not tweaked) or old skl guaranteed BSOD windows 95 🙂

If you are not really familiar with the whole Windows environment, but still want to give them a chance, i think XP could still work for you. As someone mentioned before, colleges offer that OS for INCREDIBLY cheap.

Laptops can go either way though--i personally dont' have much experience with laptops b/c i custom build all of my PC's since i was 16.

Many user errors in windows are linked with bad drivers or bad memory (some are not aware of this).

Random restarts and BSOD's are not necessarily always software.
Nonetheless, if you ARE tired of BSOD's, i think you should give the G5 a try--unfortunately you have to wait 🙁

ANd thus--i agree with Sweetfeld28 to wait and see...

When you install windows xp sp1 correctly (no outdated drivers) with a decent system behind it, all of your "compaq" problems will disappear. I'm surprised you actually put up with compaq's BSOD's as most users would have given up/swiftched to a dell (box pc's) or other pc.

but anyway, GL.

 

[Nawlins]

I don't know how to install the RAM, and paying someone to install it could easily cost $100.

 

[tazo]

Originally posted by Nawlins
I don't know how to install the RAM, and paying someone to install it could easily cost $100.

you take the ram, ok, and line it up with the slot. push the ram in all the way. then push the holder things into the sides of the ram 🙂

NOTE: Do not touch the contacts of the ram. only the sides.

 

[Mav451]

hmm one thing i learned about computers in general is that the only way to learn is YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES.

I broke my old PC's and it took a while to fix them, sure.

But now, i'm not afraid to go into my case and fiddle around with the heatsink/ram/videocard/hd's or whatever is causing my problem.

B/c of my own personal experience, i don't have to send it to a technician who will charge me 50 bucks for somethign i can ALREADY do in a few seconds of my own time.

Installing Ram is easy--line up the small gap in the middle with the arch found at the bottom of the ram dimms. Pretty straightforward. Push it down until both sides click down (the brackets will come down and lock onto the ram when its fully in place)

Btw, when you're at college, find some people who are experienced with computers--not only will computer headaches be easier to solve, but you will also be able to learn from them how to solve your own problems.

It is not good to get frustrated on a basic problem when an experienced computer user is right next door (benefits of living in dorms).

 

[therevolution]

Originally posted by Nawlins
I don't know how to install the RAM, and paying someone to install it could easily cost $100.

The documentation that will come with your computer gives you step-by-step instructions on installing RAM, with diagrams and everything. Installing RAM is meant to be easy enough to be done by the average Joe. Really, it's not very difficult.

If worst comes to worst, it won't cost $100 to install. At my work, we charge customers $25 to do that... just open the phone book and call some local computer repair shops. It really shouldn't come to that, however.

 

[solvs]

The 12" PBook would be a good choice. I'm hoping they release an upgraded model in the coming weeks with the ability to add more RAM. And yes, upgrading yourself can be harder, but it's much cheaper (and not that hard, even on a 'Book). You can always find someone to help. Just be sure to buy AppleCare.

And don't forget the student discount. The Apple Store I went to said to just bring in proof of the school I was going to and they'd deduct the discount at the register. So you could pick it up then and there.

Edu. discount pricing:

$1499 for the Combo 12" ($100 discount)
$143 for the 512 MB RAM upgrade
$47 for the 60 GB hd upgrade
$332 for Apple Care (or $262 from MacSolutions)

Good luck, and let us know how it went.

 

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by Shadowfax
heh. try double clicking on my pictures folder--open it all in adobe photoshop, and then open the entire apps folder. 8 GB will get used at some point 😀

i had a friend with 100s of showering college girls in a hidden camera website he belonged to, or hacked into, in some dorms open up on his windows machine at bootup and the thing needed tons of ram...i think he had a boring job and being all male programmers, they got away with such drivel at his workplace...his machine would always crash

the only thing i have when i bootup that is not regular with my pc is a somewhat large photo of a ship on my desktop and the booup time has increased 30 seconds because of it...i have my laptop maxed out at 160 MBs and i wish i had more ram for the machine

but for most normal computer users starting out at college, i think one gig of ram is more than enough