Computers

[caddyman]

With the move coming up and the consequent expense that involves - effectively three months' rent, removal costs and, if I'm properly unlucky (which in fiscal terms, is the Lea way), two sets of council tax in June, plus getting TV and broadband installed et cetera and so forth, I should not be thinking about additional expenditure.

Nonetheless, I am finding it very difficult not to keep looking at new computers. Moreover, I am toying with the idea of moving to a Mac, because I am weary of the expense and time taken with anti virus software, firewalls and other annoyances brought about by benighted, buck-toothed, bespectacled and loveless idiots of the modern world whose mission in life it is just to stop everything working properly. The problem, of course, with Macs is the initial expense and the difficulty in getting something that is affordable and expandable. By expandable I basically mean hard drives and memory. I don't tend to play games, so I don't generally speaking, need the latest graphics card, and am happy if I can surf the net, write and calculate stuff, burn DVDs, listen to music and watch the odd video.

I guess that I am going to have to stick with this cranky olf thing for a while yet, but...

Comments

[invisible-al.livejournal.com]

Have you considered a second hand or reconditioned Mac? If you buy a generation or two behind the latest ones you could probably find a bargain somewhere.

[bluesman.livejournal.com]

We find ourselves in the same position, Bwy. A computer-wiz friend printed out a recent PC mag review for me, in which five "bargain" PCs were tested and compared. The Dell Inspiron 530 came up tops. Just so you know. I have further info if required - unless you really are going for a Mac.

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Undecided, Old Boy. Undecided.

I'm pretty sure that I shall be getting a new computer of some kith, kin or kine in the next year, but I really don't know what or when. Other things like the flat come first!

[bluesman.livejournal.com]

I am told that hard drives, motherboards and processors are changing right now. You can't yank an old, working hard drive from a PC you bought three years ago and use it in your new PC (unless you intentionally buy a compatible one - which will be outmoded in a few months' time) so if you want to get a basic new one to upgrade later, you'll have to buy a new-style hard drive and your perfectly good old one will be junk.

Grr!

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Hmm.

I was unaware of that detail. Grumble. I have a perfectly serviceable 200gig hard drive sitting in my current machine and I was hoping that if I bought anew one, I could transfer this over as additional storage space.

Mutter, grumble.

[bluesman.livejournal.com]

Yes indeedy. That much space is not to be sniffed at. I could give you better info if I still had the e-mail that my PC-building mate Berto sent me last week. Your computer-savvy mates may be able to confirm all this or refute it, but a used Mac may indeed be the way to go.

Of course, there's always a perpetually recommended separate hard drive - but you already paid for your 200gig one.

[jfs.livejournal.com]

It's relatively easy (as in, I've done it) to get a hard drive enclosure for about £20, plonk your 200gig drive into it and connect it to any new computer via USB.

You don't have to stop using your hard drive.

WRT a new Mac, if by expansion you're only talking about extra memory and HD space, then they're pretty expandable.