I've been kicking around putting together a new P4 system and taking the rest of what I would have spent on the 17.1 G4 powerbook or Dual desktop and getting a large plasma screen or HDV screen.

Save some money IP. Go with a Athlon instead.

IP, if you're in the market for an extreme high-end machine, try this place. Water-cooled CPU's at subzero temps. Can you say...fast? Starting at just under $5,000 with no monitor sucks though...

http://www.hardwaregods.net/systems.html


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the computer might run faster... but those tower designs are pretty cheesy.

karma girl coffee and rum works great together

the computer might run faster... but those tower designs are pretty cheesy.

You can always change a case...quite easy. What is not that easy is making a case completely out of plexiglass.

I know you can change the case... but the thing is that I have never seen any real good looking cases.

Are MAC's the only ones who can make a case? sheesh.

anyway, I'll stick with Dell.

Actually, I don't like MAC cases, especially regarding the CD-ROM door. Sheesh! Idiots!
But I must admit that I really like the way most Macs are designed INSIDE. Very easy to access to components.

anyway, I'll stick with Dell.

my condolenses. Waste of money IMHO. you can build 2 top end computers for the price of one of their computers.

#33 by ~Legolas - 9/22/2003 8:18:14 AM anyway, I'll stick with Dell. my condolenses. Waste of money IMHO. you can build 2 top end computers for the price of one of their computers

Do a head to head comparison, then add in the cost of a copy of Windows and all the preloaded software.  I think you will see that you are not correct.  (We have done that comparison quite a few times). 

Use Linux and open source software packages and the cost of Windows and commercial software does not add to the cost of building a PC.

Can you run Photoshop on Linux?

Do a head to head comparison, then add in the cost of a copy of Windows and all the preloaded software. I think you will see that you are not correct. (We have done that comparison quite a few times).

might I add i already own all of the preinstalled programs? And I own Windows XP pro.

so...

to build a 2.8 ghz machine it costs me around 400 bucks. Sorry, i refuse to pay for the Dell name.

Can you run Photoshop on Linux?

You can using Wine. Codeweaver's Office Crossover supports Photoshop. There is also The Gimp, a Photoshop alternative that runs natively in Linux.

I own Windows XP pro.

Actually, you don't own Windows XP Pro, it's liscenced to you. Nitpicking aside, you would have to call Microsoft to activate WinXP if you have already activated on another PC before. Linux does not have these kind of restrictions.

How did this go from High-end PC's to Linux vs. XP?

Actually, you don't own Windows XP Pro, it's liscenced to you. Nitpicking aside, you would have to call Microsoft to activate WinXP if you have already activated on another PC before. Linux does not have these kind of restrictions.

not the point. I already know ways around "calling Microsoft" You are correct however about you do not qwn it and all that.

The popint was if you already have all the software it is cheaper to build your own machine instaed of getting a Dell or Campaq, etc.

qwn

own - spelling

$400?  Huh?

OK, 2.8ghz machine:

AMD Athlon (which is cheaper than Intel) 2800 processor and Mo bo combo: $220.00
512 DDR RAM: $145.00
Case w/power supply: $30.00
52x24x52xCD burner: $40.00 (deal on that one)
OEM nVidia, Geforce 4 vid card: $60.00
Ethernet card: $8.00
120 gig hard drive: $80.00

$583 + stuff I'm missing + time to set up and install everything.

I rather pay a bit more and have it delivered to my door ready to plug in and use.  No licensing hassles, no problems.

 

IP, did you ever find out what was wrong with it?  I hope you figured it
out.  I hate dealing with stuff like that.

How do you get around software activation without using a cracked pirated version?

You don't.   Doesn't necessarily have to be cracked...just illegally used on more than one machine.  We get around that at work by buying MSDN and being a Microsoft certified partner.  We still track installs, though.  Best to be legal with software, especially your OS.  I guess Photoshop is going to use MS way of activation from now.  Can't say I blame them- I'm sure their piracy rate is amazing.

How does a company measure piracy? Why doesn't Stardock use some form of internet activation? Wouldn't that cut down on your piracy losses?

I hate software activation as an end user. More software activation will just push me closer and closer to open source alternatives. I understand that software activation is meant to prevent software piracy and that software piracy is a bad thing, but I don't appreciate having to go through these kinds of hassles with software I paid for.

Hus, our main products are subscription services.  Your serial number is verified before you can use it.  Galactic Civilizations uses this with the boxed version, also, for updates. Serial numbers for stand alone products also roll with each new release and are tied to the originating user account, so if a number is found, it's easy to trace it back to its owner. We don't go any further with it, because any more than that annoys the customer.

KarmaGirl, yep you and Jafo hit the nail on the head; flakey (going bad) chip on a dimm... Took it up to the local CompUSA with a friend that does Network support for them and they just swapped it out for a known good one. Said they would just send it back for a replacement with one of their RMA's.

It was loading up fine and then when a program attempted to access that board for read/write it would blow the kernal off and tell it, nope no more...

neat huh?

damn fast system, though I did not get to see it render anything, streaming video on this 1.5 mbit connection was like watching a DVD movie without buffering or any other issues one IE would load and Quicktime. It was really odd when I put it next to my P4 and loaded the same stream. The P4 had to load, chug, chug, chug and then start playing. but the G4 hit the site, Quicktime loaded and was rolling instantly....