Need a new Computer!

[Bertilak]

OK, I need a new computer. My current one is a dell tower-style desktop that is over 5 years old and since it has started making funny noises I figured I should start thinking about a new one.

Criteria:

• Runs Linux. This really not an issue except that I am thinking about a Thinkpad and I wonder if the video and wireless on newer laptops might be problems.
• Laptop, preferably a Thinkpad. I have experience with a T41, T42p and a T61P. All run Linux with no problems.
• e-Sata compatibility for external backup drive. I doubt very much I will find a laptop with this capability built in but might there be plugin cards that provide the capability without reducing it to USB speeds?

 

[ek.310]

look at a Netbook or if you want bigger than a 12" screen go to the retail stores n see if u can snag a deal with a printer or vid card or something...combined..is my point

 

[Matt555]

I have a Toshiba laptop (14.1 inch) and its great. Toshiba truly provides the most bang for the buck and the LCD screens are great. The customer service is pretty hassle free as well, they never hesitate to repair if something goes wrong. I have been through several laptops including HP (they make ok desktops but the laptops suck and the LCD screens suck even more) and I have also had Dell which I was not pleased with. Office Depot, Office Max, and Best Buy have Toshiba's on sale all the time (don't ever buy one if its not on sale). Check em out.....

 

[jjjackso]

Love my thinkpad T60p.

Has survived through 3 years of college beatings.

 

[StillShaving]

OK, I need a new computer. My current one is a dell tower-style desktop that is over 5 years old and since it has started making funny noises I figured I should start thinking about a new one.

Criteria:

• Runs Linux. This really not an issue except that I am thinking about a Thinkpad and I wonder if the video and wireless on newer laptops might be problems.
• Laptop, preferably a Thinkpad. I have experience with a T41, T42p and a T61P. All run Linux with no problems.
• e-Sata compatibility for external backup drive. I doubt very much I will find a laptop with this capability built in but might there be plugin cards that provide the capability without reducing it to USB speeds?

What, you don't want the latest and greatest windows 7?
I have not looked, but I suspect finding a laptop with e-sata would mean a high end system and big $. Making you realize that backups over USB is good enough.
A funny noise sounds like a power supply (fan) or hard drive, either which is replaceable as you well know, but I agree after 5 years it is probably time to upgrade. If you want to run linux I would find out which graphics and network chips are used in the laptop of your choice and search to see if there are already linux drivers for them.

 

[NightLad]

OK, I need a new computer. My current one is a dell tower-style desktop that is over 5 years old and since it has started making funny noises I figured I should start thinking about a new one.

Funny noises?

1) It could be a fan on its last legs. After 5 years of use, it would not surprise me. They cost a few dollars and are easy as pie to replace.

2) If the sound seems to be coming from the top-back of the computer, than it might be your power supply. Any serious issue with it would be accompanied by random shut-downs, as the fans fail and it over-heats. You may or may not also smell ozone.

But fear not, although a little more complicated to replace it can be done and they are not expensive. A good discount computer store can hook you up with a new one for about $20.

3) If the sound is coming from the bottom-front of your computer, and it is an on-again-off-again clicking/chattering noise, than it is most likely your Hard Drive. This can potentially be the most problematic. A faulty Hard Drive can only last so long. However, if you own your Operating System (or your computer can handle a newer OS) you can just replace the Hard Drive and install a new OS. They are far cheaper than a new computer, and you can pick what size (in gigs) best suits your needs.

If #3 strikes you as sounding the closest to your situation, than I'd advise you to back up whatever files you would rather keep ASAP.

However, if you really want a new one, and you can't get a friend or family member to build you one, than I'd go with Dell. From what I hear they have good support, and their prices are mostly fair.

Also, if you do not need a laptop, I'd not recommend getting one. Their small size is attractive, but if you use your computer a lot they don't generally have long lifespans IMO. Not these newer ones, anyway. I actually know a guy who owns and uses a really old (early 90s) laptop that he found in a snow-bank after it was scooped up by a snow plow. It works perfectly, and in all the years he has had it he only needed to change 1 fan in it.

 

[SRock]

I'd suggest this if you want a laptop or this if you want to replace your PC.

We made the switch a few months ago and it was the best thing (in terms of computers) that we'd ever done.

 

[Bertilak]

Funny noises?

.. clip various causes of noises ...

Thanks. I know there is a good chance of a successful repair but my gut feel is whatever I fix will just be the first in a series of repairs. I am taking the noise as an omen -- a bad one.

However, if you really want a new one, and you can't get a friend or family member to build you one, than I'd go with Dell. From what I hear they have good support, and their prices are mostly fair.

That's what I have now and it has been pretty reliable for a long time now. The one I had before was built by me but with the last one I decided that prices have come down enough it is not worth the trouble to do it myself.

Also, if you do not need a laptop, I'd not recommend getting one. Their small size is attractive, but if you use your computer a lot they don't generally have long lifespans IMO. Not these newer ones, anyway. I actually know a guy who owns and uses a really old (early 90s) laptop that he found in a snow-bank after it was scooped up by a snow plow. It works perfectly, and in all the years he has had it he only needed to change 1 fan in it.

You are probably right and I should stick with a desktop/tower style for now. I am also a little concerned over the quality of the keyboard. Both my current Thinkpads (T42p, T61p -- company supplied and used for company business) are a little shaky in the keyboard area -- tend to miss keystrokes. The T61p is not too bad, though.

 

[Bertilak]

I'd suggest this if you want a laptop or this if you want to replace your PC.

We made the switch a few months ago and it was the best thing (in terms of computers) that we'd ever done.

If I were going to buy TWO computers, one might be a Apple but I have too much riding on Linux to make an Apple my only computer. I know Linux will run on Apple, but the people I know who do that are much more willing to fiddle with things than I am. It is a hobby to them.

Also Apples are quite expensive and all the apps on Linux are not only free but come mostly pre-installed.

 

[Arkansas]

I would build it myself. You'll get much higher quality that way, and you'll also get everything you want. Here's a parts list with prices from newegg.

Component Item Price
Processor AMD Athlon II X3 435 $89.99
Motherboard GA-MA785GMT-UD2H $89.99
Memory Crucial 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR3-1333 $55.99
Graphics onboard graphics $0
Storage Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB $74.99
Samsung dvd burner SH-S223L $31.99
Audio Integrated $0
Enclosure Antec NSK 4480 II w/380W PSU $79.99
Total Buy this complete system at Newegg $422.94

 

[Bertilak]

I would build it myself. You'll get much higher quality that way, and you'll also get everything you want. Here's a parts list with prices from newegg.

Component Item Price
Processor AMD Athlon II X3 435 $89.99
Motherboard GA-MA785GMT-UD2H $89.99
Memory Crucial 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR3-1333 $55.99
Graphics onboard graphics $0
Storage Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB $74.99
Samsung dvd burner SH-S223L $31.99
Audio Integrated $0
Enclosure Antec NSK 4480 II w/380W PSU $79.99
Total Buy this complete system at Newegg $422.94

Well, that's a possibility. I thought I remembered Newegg had a way for you to select various components and they would (for a fee) assemble them for you but I couldn't find that on their web site. Maybe they have discontinued that or maybe it was some other retailer I am getting confused with.

 

[Arkansas]

Well, that's a possibility. I thought I remembered Newegg had a way for you to select various components and they would (for a fee) assemble them for you but I couldn't find that on their web site. Maybe they have discontinued that or maybe it was some other retailer I am getting confused with.

I am not aware of newegg providing that service, but I wouldn't have been looking for it, so it certainly could have escaped my notice. I know you could get it done at any local computer store, but not sure of the cost.

Putting together a pc only takes an hour or two. Of course you then have to load the operating system, transfer your files, etc.

There are plenty of how to guides on the net. I would be happy to help, and I'm sure other members would too.

 

[Swampfox]

Putting together a pc only takes an hour or two. Of course you then have to load the operating system, transfer your files, etc.

There are plenty of how to guides on the net. I would be happy to help, and I'm sure other members would too.

This is what I am planning to do this year, hopefully in the next couple of months.

 

[Bertilak]

I am not aware of newegg providing that service, but I wouldn't have been looking for it, so it certainly could have escaped my notice. I know you could get it done at any local computer store, but not sure of the cost.

Putting together a pc only takes an hour or two. Of course you then have to load the operating system, transfer your files, etc.

There are plenty of how to guides on the net. I would be happy to help, and I'm sure other members would too.

Thanks for the offer, but I'm pretty sure I could do it myself. I would rather get something that worked out-of-the box and had a good warranty behind it. For example, my six-year old Dell had a problem almost immediately after I got it -- The hard drive's "smart" technology started popping up warnings about an impending failure. Because of Dell's on-site warranty they sent a guy right to my house the very next day to replace the drive.

 

[Calder]

What do you use this computer for anyway?

Hardcore gaming, intermittent internet use, occasional word processing?

To give you the best suggestion I would be interested to know what you will be using the computer for.

 

[Alacrity59]

My Lenovo T60 is fine with wireless when I boot Linux. I've never used video myself.

 

[Bertilak]

What do you use this computer for anyway?

Hardcore gaming, intermittent internet use, occasional word processing?

To give you the best suggestion I would be interested to know what you will be using the computer for.

Web browsing, email, typical office software. Web hosting (Apache) backed by Postgresql database, File sharing for my Windows Quicken system (keeping the important data on Linux system which gets backed up), Linux software development, occasional gaming (flight sim, Go), general data storage, "control center" for maintenance of other systems in the house, including wireless router, access to my work's VPN. Probably more.

 

[perlslacker]

If I were going to buy TWO computers, one might be a Apple but I have too much riding on Linux to make an Apple my only computer. I know Linux will run on Apple, but the people I know who do that are much more willing to fiddle with things than I am. It is a hobby to them.

Also Apples are quite expensive and all the apps on Linux are not only free but come mostly pre-installed.

Playing devil's advocate:

I'd like to introduce you to my friend VirtualBox: http://www.virtualbox.org/

Or, if you actually want to spend money for a better-quality product, VMWare Fusion: http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/

I got Linux & Windows running in VirtualBox with no effort, and I hate hate hate fiddling with this stuff.

But seriously:

Ubuntu Linux will run on pretty much anything these days. I suppose you could check http://www.linux-laptop.net/ if you're worried, but everything should Just Work. I haven't had to screw with ndiswrapper or whatever in years. The only time you have to be picky with wireless cards is if you want to do things involving packet injection, which you probably don't.

But if you do you're super cool. You should go to aircrack-ng's site and check.