Comments | muchabstracted: Cry for help!

muchabstracted

Cry for help!

May 15, 2008 19:28

So I need to replace my computer. Hopefully quickly, as I currently have no access outside of the public library, despite my brother's and chanaleh's help and suggestions in that department. I am having lots of trouble making decisions, and my usual first source for information about computers is out of the state at the moment, so I throw myself on your ( Read more... )

help

Comments 19

rymenhild May 16 2008, 01:07:53 UTC

My new PC's quite friendly. I understand there are reasons to change to Macs, but I haven't bothered and it's all right so far.

muchabstracted May 16 2008, 01:31:34 UTC

What kind do you have? Did you need to get extra memory or anything like that?

gilana May 16 2008, 01:43:10 UTC

I'm a die-hard Mac user, so not really the person to ask. But as much as I love them, they are pretty expensive. You might consider looking at refurbished machines -- the Apple Store and Small Dog Elecronics carry some.

muchabstracted May 19 2008, 00:02:08 UTC

Refurbished machines do seem to be a good option. (I ended up with a MacBook anyway, apparently, but I'm not sure why.)

elfsdh May 16 2008, 02:23:39 UTC

One thing to consider is how portable you want the machine to be. If you're looking for a desktop, you can get away with more technology a lot cheaper than a laptop. Of course, you can't lug it on vacation ( ... )

muchabstracted May 18 2008, 23:59:57 UTC

Hmm, I will keep all this in mind for when I feel more adventurous. I don't really listen to music on the computer very much, so I don't think I would miss iTunes that much. There are places to buy mp3s via the web, anyway.

But I did end up with a Mac, this time, after all. It's very nice to be connected online again.

I've heard awful things about Windows Vista, so I'd have definitely wanted to avoid that anyway.

mbarr May 16 2008, 04:29:07 UTC

The major benefit to the mac is the not worrying about it. Also, the ease of use, but that's generally easier on folks that aren't familar with an OS. I wouldn't go linux on the desktop right yet, I suspect it'll drive you batty. That is, unless you have a tame Linux geek in your near environs.

(In this case, I am said linux geek, and *I* don't run it at home or work. I just use a Mac at both, to run 300 linux servers. )

But, Mac / PC? Some nice, cheap, PC laptops out there. Get a good warranty, they break. All of them. Plus, the dropping.

However, if you don't spend too much, it might not be worth the more than 1-2 yr warranty. It might just be cheaper to replace in 2 years than the cost of the warranty

elfsdh May 18 2008, 14:56:08 UTC

The major benefit to the mac is the not worrying about it. Also, the ease of use, but that's generally easier on folks that aren't familar with an OS.

Macs do have a learning curve for PC users (who would have ever thought to unmount a disk by *dragging it into the trash*?). Same goes for the reverse.

I wouldn't go linux on the desktop right yet, I suspect it'll drive you batty. That is, unless you have a tame Linux geek in your near environs.

I switched my parents over to Kubuntu. The reason: they had a Windows machine, and needed a Windows geek to support it. Now, they have a Linux machine and need a Linux geek to support it. There was a very short learning curve, but, it didn't change anything about the way they use the computer. A good number of their problems are between computer and keyboard. For example, they still don't know the difference between an application and the data it reads. The difference: Now, I actually have a chance of solving problems, when they're really system issues, or to see what's happening under ( ... )

muchabstracted May 18 2008, 23:33:38 UTC

Interesting that it worked to set up Linux with your parents. I am picturing my parents, and assuming that yours react similarly to computers, so that goes a long way to convincing me that at some point other than now Linux would be something I could use, assuming I decide to take the time to go through with the learning curve...

muchabstracted May 19 2008, 00:04:21 UTC

*nods* Thanks for the information; I admit the "not worrying about it" is a major plus and ended up selling me on the Mac. That, and that I suppose I don't really want to replace it in two years...

loveablebaruch May 16 2008, 06:51:51 UTC

Mac. I have been using them for years and even had a job for several years professionally fixing them. I also professionally fixed Windows PCs. One job was in a building of 200 computers. 120 Macs and 80 PCs. The ran the same programs (MS Office, Firefox, Thunderbird email and printed). The PCs were 80% of the calls for technical support. Viruses, spyware, hacks, breaking, hardware failures. Just endless. Kept me well employed until I decided I hated working on people's computers and would rather work on people.

I'll gladly go with you to the Apple Store at the Cambridgeside Galleria. As well, I'd be happy to let you play with my MacBook. You can get a nice iMac for a real competitive price these days. Or a Mac Mini, in which you reuse your PC's monitor, keyboard and mouse. They are very very inexpensive, totally silent and SOOO cute!

muchabstracted May 18 2008, 23:46:42 UTC

Hey, thanks so much for letting me pick your brain this week. After we talked last night, I borrowed some Internet and looked at the web site you sent, and -- while it was weird to feel like a bona-fide, uh, fuddy-duddy -- I decided I just wasn't comfortable with a non-Apple retailer. Fortunately, at that point, I felt like I had gathered enough information from y'all that I could actually go ahead and buy a computer, so I went to the store.

Am so excited to be online again. My hands are no longer twitching from withdrawal.