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Grinning_Dragon 
rideo draconigena
Group: Members
Posts: 3095
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Mar. 28 2004,12:30 pm |
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Heres a thing thats been bugging me lately.
My parents neighboor, their boy called me a while back and asked if he could come over and ask questions about a project he was assigned in his computer class(he's going for his degree in computers). The project assigned was that he is to price out and configure a pc from individual parts.
So in the same fashion as I, he wanted a pc that was built to the hilt, the more the power the better it is, mentallity.
So we priced one out, and came up with a pc that used the highest Intel cpu, 2GB of DDR ram, a mother board that uses PCI-x slots, an Adaptec U320 SCSI, 4 Cheetah SCSI HD @15,333RPM w/ 73GB each, either the latest ATI or NVidia video card with 256mb of VRam, SoundBlaster Audigy card, a Server case that holds 4 redudant P/S @650watts each. A butt-load of case fans, a Zalman CPU heatsink and fan combo(copper), a northbridge heatsink w/fan to replace the stock heatsink w/o fan, a 21" monitor and the latest DVD reader/writer.
So this week he calls me and tells me the teacher, although impressed with the setup only gave him a B- on his research, with a note that said, "Why does anybody need that kind of setup" and "this setup is far beyond what anybody would ever need and the cost is to prohibitive to justify."
And that is what is bugging me, who is he to say that someone does not need that kind of a machine? If the boy can afford it why not?
I have a few buds that say the same thing when I buy something for the ol PC, "nobody needs that kind of power, or speed, or HD space" what do they care.
I also remember way back to the ol 286 days, my dad bought a computer and a few months later took it back to have it upgraded with a faster cpu and a bigger HD, and the guy who built it said,"what for? There ain't nothing wrong with, its fine the way it is, you don't need that kind of stuff" what did he care? he could have made a few more bucks, but no he was a dick about it, so my dad took it a place across the street and they did it.
I just don't get, where does this mentality come from?
If someone wants to spend the money, just shut-up and make the sale, is that so hard?
Nuff said, I feel better now..
so what are your thoughts?
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*SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS / MOLON LABE / Se Defendendo
memoria of cado frater ,Semper fidelis
*The object of war is NOT to DIE for YOUR Country, but to make the OTHER BASTARD DIE for HIS...Patton
My Constitutional Rights trump your dead.
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| Post Number: 2
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Hanna
Group: Members
Posts: 132
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Mar. 28 2004,1:33 pm |
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Grinning Dragon I do tend to agree with you. The price of computer and components have dropped considerably in the past few years that buying a high powered machine is not too far out of anyones budget.
I also started my business in the 286 era and have purchased about 20 computers since then. In the early 90's the cost of a 286 was higher than a 2.8G machine now. $1000 now-a-days buys you quite a computer.
K, now for the other side. Many people shopping for a computer are on a tight budget. They want to buy a computer to receive e-mail, do some web surfing, and maybe type a letter or two from time to time. A $500 computer will do everything they want it to do. I run into this all the time when people ask my assistance in purchasing one. This is what I normally ask before deciding what to buy and how much to spend.
What are you going to use it for?
Do you have any specific software programs you intend to use?
Are you planning to use it for anything else in the future?
What is your budget.
Typically, when purchasing a computer, you can cut corners in one area to gain something in another area for a fixed dollar amount. (Example: Trade less warranty for more memory etc.)
However if you can afford to spend alittle more, you can buy a computer that will do everything you want it to, now and in the future, for very reasonable money.
Just my 2 cents.
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| Post Number: 3
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Spidey
Group: Members
Posts: 1775
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Mar. 28 2004,3:10 pm |
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Grinning_Dragon --- I agree with you 100%! Finally someone else recognises this is a "wierd" thing!
I started out on the old Tandy ... green monitor .. dos system. I've worked my way up (a lot) since then, but when doing so it was like pulling teeth to get some of the stuff that I wanted. I think being a woman didn't help. I usually buy my computers from a store. I go in and tell them what I want ... and then they proceed to tell me what I don't need or "shouldn't" want.
I've always thought this was strange. And it isn't anyone elses business.
Your neighbor shouldn't have gotten a B- for that reason alone unless they instructed everyone to build a computer that was inexpensive.
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| Post Number: 4
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Truth
Group: Members
Posts: 552
Joined: Feb. 2004
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Posted on: Mar. 28 2004,4:28 pm |
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Yeah, poop on that instructor, you know unless there's more to the story.
I don't know any reason why, with the exception of a very tight budget and limited computer knowledge or contacts, anyone would not build or buy for the future. Buying a mediocre machine was maddening for me after the purchase of my first machine.
Within months I discovered it sucked because I couldn't run some of the graphics intense programs I wanted to, upgrading was biatch, and soon I couldn't even run contemporary stuff.
Go as big and bad as your resources will allow. 
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The best weapon against an enemy is another enemy.
Nietzsche
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| Post Number: 5
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minnow
Group: Members
Posts: 2243
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Mar. 28 2004,4:29 pm |
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Nope, you're all wrong. It's all about standards. Like my friends at Sony tell me...there are no standards in the computer business.
The best overall value is somewhere about midrange, that come from a major player like Dell or Sony. This way, you can rest assured "most" stuff will easily work with it. This can extend the shelf life of your machine significantly...
I'd say generally the teacher was right, but that is nothing that should be graded on...good lord...is that what they do now?! That's forcing kids thoughts down a narrow tube...it's stupid. In life we need all the brain expansion we can get. It's why I'm rich now, so to me it's all BS. I never let any teacher or mentor constrain my thoughts, ideas and opinions. Often the answer is where no one is looking.
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| Post Number: 6
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Truth
Group: Members
Posts: 552
Joined: Feb. 2004
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Posted on: Mar. 28 2004,4:41 pm |
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Dell is good; I've been happy with them.
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The best weapon against an enemy is another enemy.
Nietzsche
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| Post Number: 7
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MrTarzan
Group: Members
Posts: 564
Joined: Feb. 2004
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Posted on: Mar. 28 2004,5:05 pm |
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I agree with all of this with one caviat. No one should recommend a huge machine to people that are just beginning and need to grow and decide for themselves through experience what kind of machine is needed for what they want to do with it. I have often seen people oversold. A basic machine that will run with current games on the market, should be fine for a start machine, I passed mine down the line to my children as things changed and upgrades were needed. My 300 baud modem was the only thing I threw away instead of passing along. Modems grew so fast, no one would let me on a BBS at 300 baud with in a year of buying it new. My first machine was a tape feed 16K machine called the TRS-80, and the same summer I bought the brand new 64K Commodore 64, the first machine with stereo sound and great color. Talk about a leap up from my green screen. Cool, hooked right up to a color tv if you could not afford a monitor yet. Now I laugh looking back at those things. 
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Be not simply good, be good for something-Henry David Thoreau
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| Post Number: 8
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Grinning_Dragon
rideo draconigena
Group: Members
Posts: 3095
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Mar. 28 2004,6:25 pm |
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Hanna- I agree that most people that buy a computer need whats just off the shelf, but those of us that are power users we need the latest and greatest stuff, although we account for what 1%?
Spidey- LOL, the ol tandy, was that one with the plastic simulated brushed metal look, built in keyboard, and the need of a 5.25" floppy to boot it up?
And yes the guy behind the counter has no right to tell what a user needs and doesn't need. Just sell the damn thing.
The only instruction on the project was the students were to compile a list of componets with in industry standards.
Now everybodys opinion of standards differ from one to the other person. Was he refering to systems built by Dell, Gateway, or what about ones built by Alienware, FalconNorthwest, Diablo systems ect..
One thing I didn't think of before, his grade also could have been on the way he wrote up is paper, maybe that was part of the grade as well, kinda like an essay..
All I know is the boy wanted a computer for intense gaming, video/graphic editing, and general use. As we all know for the video and graphic part you need a system with some HD space plus the muscle to get it done...
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*SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS / MOLON LABE / Se Defendendo
memoria of cado frater ,Semper fidelis
*The object of war is NOT to DIE for YOUR Country, but to make the OTHER BASTARD DIE for HIS...Patton
My Constitutional Rights trump your dead.
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| Post Number: 9
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Grinning_Dragon
rideo draconigena
Group: Members
Posts: 3095
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: Mar. 28 2004,7:43 pm |
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I should also add, he is happy with his grade. He just called to let me know how it went as we did spend a considerable amount of time on it.
So its just me thats having the fit over this, guess in a way I could be re-living college through him and view it as a direct reflection on me...
[Homer]Stupid teachers.....[/Homer]
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*SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS / MOLON LABE / Se Defendendo
memoria of cado frater ,Semper fidelis
*The object of war is NOT to DIE for YOUR Country, but to make the OTHER BASTARD DIE for HIS...Patton
My Constitutional Rights trump your dead.
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