Serious PC Problems
 

Just wanted to give you guys a warning. I am having some serious PC problems. They started a few weeks ago with my PC kind of locking up and rebooting itself. Now, it does it several times/day and there is a squealing sound from my hard drive. I ordered a new PC but it probably won't be here until Monday. So, if you don't see me around, that's why.

If you have some access- what new system did you get?

Insert Mac comment…

I seriously would not believe you don't have shares in Apple. :D

http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeis...ist-nov03.html

Mac users can give thanks that so few people use them. |thumb

no MAc for me, sticking to my PC

I actually bought a new laptop with a docking station. I always liked the idea of only using a laptop so when I go somewhere, I would have the same system I use at home.

So, here is what it has
3.2GHz processor, 17in. LCD Active Matrix display, 80 Gig HD, 1 Gig of RAM, Bluetooth and CD/DVD Read/Write. I think that is the important stuff :)

And, Cleo...since this is a hardware problem, I don't think having a mac would have made a diference. I have copied all my important files and such but still hope that this PC holds up until the new one comes in.

good that you backed everything up, I've had a similar problem once as well, but the only difference is that I lost around a week of work

That's a desktop replacement laptop- but yeah..that's all good.

I haven't heard 'active matrix' used since the mid 90's for laptops. :)

If it's a dell inspirion that's what I used when I was at my friends house in Florida.

WUXGA screen with all the bits.

I don't hink you'll be to thrilled lugging the thing around. But good to know you can if ya want.

Where'd you get that cursed computer from anyway?

|couch|

Active Matrix - This technology is used in high-quality flat-panel displays, such as laptop screens and thin computer monitors. The images on active matrix screens are created by laying diodes, or small semiconductors, over a grid of ultra-small wires. When a current passes through the diodes, they light up in different colors, depending on the strength of the current. Thousands of these diodes next to each other form an image on the screen.

To keep the diodes in an on or off state, active-matrix displays use transistors, which are not found in the lower-quality passive-matrix displays. The transistors help make the active-matrix displays brighter and give them more contrast than passive-matrix displays.

Oh yeah...I would never buy a Dell again. To tell you the truth, I never even looked at the brand name. I just went with the features. It was reasonably priced too. I think it was $1800 with shipping.

And, I will finally be wireless :) Working from my living room will be sweet.

Yeah- wireless on a laptop is cool stuff. :)

Bluetooth is real sweet if you get a compatible cell phone.

I have a crontab setup on my laptop that syncs all my contacts, calendars, and notes each night. I stopped carrying a PDA and now just use my cell phone for everything.

It's also nice that if something happens to your phone everything is backed up on your laptop.

A 17" laptop isn't bad to carry. Mine is 17" and actually weighs much less then the 15" that it replaced.

Get a good bag for it. This is what I use.
http://www.booqbags.com/Detail.bok?no=21

Cleo, I do have a bluetooth cell phone. But, the only thing I can do with it is talk on the phone and use my cordless headset :) I just haven't found the time to figure anything else out.

Make sure you backup your important documents and such quickly. If the hard drive is squeeling it is probably going out.

As far as using a laptop I think you will like it, unless you do real intense operations like movie editing etc. Otherwise I think you will enjoy using the laptop. I have been using just a laptop for the last year and whenever I go out of town I dont have to worry about leaving important documents or emails behind.

Andy

Once you get your laptop be sure to do regular backups. Laptops tend to get smashed, drinks spilled in them, or stolen.

A lot of the better laptops support external monitors so when you are home just plug in a monitor keyboard and mouse and it is the same as using a desktop box.

I do Photoshop and light movie editing on mine. A laptop is all I need and I can't see ever going back to a desktop machine. It is truly sweet always having all your stuff with you and being able to work anyplace.

I will be honest I prefer for me a desktop because it has the ability to house several hard drives, which I personally like.
I use my laptop and remote into the desktop upstairs and tcb that way.
One hard drive is strictly for games, the other for documents, another just for installed programs, the other for porn, etc..I have a small one only for the os.

Works for me. and I back up email and stuff daily. if the small os goes, I have only to reinstall the operating system and my socuments are not affected. Yes I have to reinstall the programs but at least I know which ones, etc..

anyway, works for me

Cleo
I got the docking station with it. So, when I am in my office, it will be just like a desktop using my keyboard, mouse and monitor. All I have to do is pop the laptop in the dock. The only difference I will have will be that I am using a 1.6 Ghz now (I think) and I am going to 3.2. I also have a few servers on my network with a total of about 500 gigs of disk space. So, I don't have to worry about filling the laptop's HD anytime soon.

Don't be like a tranny website owner that I do work for and show up with your laptop to give me the videos that are stored on the RAID that is located back at the office. :D

Amber with today's stuff you just plug your laptop into either FireWire or USB drives and you can have all the drives that you want. Plus you can keep some of them at another location in case of disaster like fire or theft.

Speaking of cell phones/pda's the new treo 650 is starting to come out:

http://www.palmone.com/us/products/smartphones/treo650/

Jim, you may want to check out www.grc.com specifically SpinRite.

Anyone interested in an amazing story about how Steve Gibson thwarted DrDOS attacks against him should read this: http://www.grc.com/dos/grcdos.htm
It's a pretty amazing story.

Jim.. break down and buy a 19 inch at least :P (that is the minimum size needed to view mr marylou's hooter hats)

|rasta|

I have never seen a 19" laptop. And, to tell you the truth...I could do without the boobhats :)

Personally I'm looking forward to that 30" laptop.