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

[cychi.livejournal.com]

So i'm not an awesome computer person, but I do have a little background. You might want to see if you can find another driver online. They can be easily downloaded and replaced, so if you haven't already you might to give it a shot. It might save you from an expensive purchase.

So all of the things you want can easily be found on either a laptop, or a desktop. Though watching things on your TV would definitely be easier with a laptop (unless your computer is normally next to your TV) and wireless is really only useful if you have a laptop. Hard drive space, esp portable hard drive space, is just getting cheaper and cheaper, so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Pricewise, Desktops always have more power for the same price when compared to laptops. Though I'm not completely sure, I suspect buying a complete computer is actually cheaper than building your own. Dell has some pretty crazy deals, or so I've heard.

In the end, I think it really depends on what you plan on doing. Desktops are good for tinkering, keeping up to date with technology, and playing games. One good this is that if something goes bad you can replace just that. The bad part is that there are more things that can go bad. Laptops are just as good for everything else. I just got my first laptop not too long ago (whee!!) and it's pretty useful. The only think I really worry about how long my monitor will last, since i've never had one before. It doesn't have enough battery life, but I rarely use it away from a plug anyway.

Dell has been having a lot of deals for PCs and Laptops... Everyone on campus has one aparrently. Personally though I got my laptop from Averatec, they had some nice stuff =)

[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.

[yhlee.livejournal.com]

Flag my sister. Seriously. She may not know all this stuff offhand, but she's very good at figuring things out and how to customize options, and she has techie friends. (She also says her next computer is going to be a Mac, bwahahaha--although I understand very much sticking to the operating system you're comfortable with! It is all about the computer that works best for you.) She should be able to help you out. Everything you mention ought to be very doable, and for cheaper on a PC, at that.

[oyceter]

Oh, I guess it's not the driver than, since I already reinstalled software stuff. Mostly now I'm looking for cheaper and more bang for the buck, so to speak, but I still have to think a bit and save up before deciding.

[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!

[oyceter]

Ooo, haha! More tech friends! Thanks!

[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.

[fiveandfour.livejournal.com]

A return question for you....our house is undergoing the great computer purchase debate right now, so your comments re: Macs caught my attention. My reasons for wanting an Apple have to do with their gorgeousness and elegance of design (fewer cords, less bulk, etc.), that they aren't Microsoft-related, that the odds of getting a virus are lower since most are aimed at Microsoft products, and my daughter uses Apples in school. My husband's reasons for wanting Microsoft-related products are better/more reasonable than my arguments against them, so I feel like it's a debate along the lines of art vs. commerce. The nail in the coffin for me is that I have no personal experience of Apple products; I've always used those driven by Microsoft.

So my question is: can you elucidate a little more the ways in which the two compare and Apple comes up wanting?

[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.

[oyceter]

I think a lot of it is just different shortcuts and stuff. Also, I know the names for things in Windows, while I don't in Apple (aka My Computer and Windows Explorer vs. whatever it is), so I couldn't even figure out how to browse to something else. And things like not knowing how to set up an Apple network, little things like not having a toolbar at the bottom were irritating.

I can't really go into depth, because I've had very minimal experience with a Mac, but it was enough so that I had to call my boss whenever I needed to reconnect to another computer on the network, which would have been fairly easy for me on Windows.