Computer question

[oyceter]

I'm trying to decide if I should get a new computer or not. I think the mouse driver on my laptop is broken, because my mouse basically stops working every other minute, which is extraordinarily annoying. Also, since I never actually move my laptop, now that I'm out of college, it might make more sense for me to get a desktop. Plus, cheaper.

Since obviously my flist contains all the knowledge of the world, I shall beg for advice.

I am not getting a Mac. I like them, and they are gorgeous, but I am too lazy to re-figure out an operating system (yes, I know everyone says it's easy, but I used a Mac back in the bookstore and I still couldn't figure out how to do simple things that I know how to do in Windows).

I've never actually built a computer before. I suspect I would be willing to try, especially if it gets me all the functionality I want (horrors, I am using "functionality" in a non-ironic way. Businesspeak!).

Wishlist:

• Watch files from my PC on my TV (I suspect this is difficult and/or impractical though), because I am lazy and like my couch.


• Burn DVDs. Aka, I want a dual-drive DVD-RW and DVD-ROM or something.


• I want it to be wireless, because I am too lazy to buy a really long ethernet cable. If it's not, I guess this is compromisable.


• Built-in Firewire and 9-in-1 flash memory readers would be really nice


• I want enough memory or i/o or whatever it is so that I can run Photoshop, but in general I doubt speed is a problem


• Lots of hard drive space


• Really that's it. I think. Well, I figure people here probably use their computers in a way fairly similar to the way that I do, so.. yeah.

So... would it be more expensive to build a computer or to buy one? And which brands are better? I've had a laptop for 6 years now, and I am not versed in the world of desktops anymore ;). And how do you guys customize your computers? I am, alas, not much of a computer person, tech-wise, but I love my gadgets. Especially when I can make them do precisely what I want them to do.

Comments

[qiihoskeh]

First, I'd just like to point out that a mouse driver is software and can be reloaded from diskette/CD-ROM and reinstalled, assuming you still have it.

I haven't kept up with the latest technology, due to poverty, but I'm pretty sure your wish-list is attainable, some of it readily, some not so readily.

I always have trouble with Macs too. The first time somebody let me use their Mac, I couldn't figure out how to power it on. As someone who used IBM-style PCs since they first came out, my instincts were to crawl under the table and reach for the most inaccessible point trying to find the switch.

I'd prefer to build my own so I could control what software got put on it.

[oyceter]

Hrm, I guess it's not the driver then, since I already did that. Mouse hardware? Have no idea what the term for that is.

Thanks for the advice!

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

Sorry if you already tried this, but the usual reason for a mouse to not work is grubby contacts. There should be a little disc in the bottom of the mouse, around the ball, that you can twist and remove. Thake the ball out and you should be able to see little plastic wheels and spindles around it. If they're grungey, clean them off with a dry cotton bud and shake the dust out of the casing, then reassemble. Or, of course, you could do as I did and get an optical mouse, which isn't that expensive and doesn't have the problem of dust clogging up the works.

[oyceter]

Thanks! Er, I actually have an optical mouse though, so the track ball isn't so much the problem ;). It just does this really weird thing in which I'll be not mousing or something, and the pointer will just automatically move all the way across the screen and keep bumping against the side, like it's trying to mouse over to waaaaay off the screen. And all I can do is wait for it to stop trying to go off the monitor so I can do what I do. Also, the trackpoint thing for the laptop is broken so that it will mouse horizontally but not vertically... no idea.