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02/03/2005 04:40:13 PM · #26 |
Originally posted by Kylie:
I am afraid I am too entrenched in Windows. I have to be able to coordinate with work and my family's PC's easily, also. But I have always heard how great Mac's are for graphics and photos. |
They actually work together quite well. You can get most software for either, they talk together out of the box for networking. The only real drawback to mac is the gaming isn't there. The flip side is you don't have to worry about every virus and security hole that shows up. I think it's easier to get a mac to talk to a pc than it is to get pcs running different versions of windows...
As for memory, just check //www.crucial.com, they can make sure you get the right memory for your system, and it's simple to install, even if you go with a sony or any other brand pc. I'd personally suggest going with one of the shuttle systems, or a mid-tier dell rather than sony, and then get the apple cinema display for it. They work on pcs as well as macs, and are very true to life for photos. |
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02/03/2005 04:42:28 PM · #27 |
Geez, I am very happy I posted this, and very unhappy that I did! LOL
Now I have no idea what I should do. The concensus seems to be that it is a good machine, but over-priced for what I need and maybe not even what I need. The point made about the Media center is well taken (thank you). Now what!???
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02/03/2005 04:44:34 PM · #28 |
Originally posted by grawk:
Originally posted by Kylie:
I am afraid I am too entrenched in Windows. I have to be able to coordinate with work and my family's PC's easily, also. But I have always heard how great Mac's are for graphics and photos. |
They actually work together quite well. You can get most software for either, they talk together out of the box for networking. The only real drawback to mac is the gaming isn't there. The flip side is you don't have to worry about every virus and security hole that shows up. I think it's easier to get a mac to talk to a pc than it is to get pcs running different versions of windows...
As for memory, just check //www.crucial.com, they can make sure you get the right memory for your system, and it's simple to install, even if you go with a sony or any other brand pc. I'd personally suggest going with one of the shuttle systems, or a mid-tier dell rather than sony, and then get the apple cinema display for it. They work on pcs as well as macs, and are very true to life for photos. |
Thank you also!! I have worried about even combining monitors with PC's. I have been told one not be more than the other can "take" or vice versa.
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02/03/2005 04:45:03 PM · #29 |
I'm running an old Gateway Pentium III 600Mhz machine with 512Mb ram, and I don't have any problems opening/editing large (40Meg) PSD or TIFF files in Photoshop. It looks like what you have come up with is more than sufficient for your photography needs.
Just make sure you have a decent video card (128Mb to 256Mb). BTW - I'm running on an old Nvidia card with 32Mb memory, without a problem. But, it is the only thing besides memory that I feel is important enough to upgrade. Now if I could just get some money back from taxes. (:
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02/03/2005 05:26:52 PM · #30 |
| Kylie, your not shopping at bestbuy again are you? Actually not a bad price for that unit...but you could get more bang for the buck on a different model. |
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02/03/2005 05:29:07 PM · #31 |
Originally posted by grawk:
They actually work together quite well. You can get most software for either, they talk together out of the box for networking. The only real drawback to mac is the gaming isn't there. The flip side is you don't have to worry about every virus and security hole that shows up. I think it's easier to get a mac to talk to a pc than it is to get pcs running different versions of windows...
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Macs can be great machines, if you are very familar wiht Windows, you will have slight learning curve, just as if you went from any Operating System to any other Operating System. The good thing being that you are already familar with how computers work, so learning a new OS will be slightly easier then starting from scratch.
As for getting a Mac to talk to a PC being easier then to get PCs running different versions of Windows to talk to one another... That is dependent upon the skills that one has.
I run a multi-platform small business network consisting of Windows 95, Windows 95B(OSR2), Windows 98, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Professional and Linux Servers acting as Primary and Back-up Domain Controllers, no servers are running Windows. All the systems talk to eachother as they are supposed to and if pressed, I could recreate the entire network within a few days, that is loading all PCs, configuring all systems, rebuilding the Samba Domain Controllers and everything.
I wouldn't know the first thing about accessing the Apple Mac Network configuration settings, but I figure that it wouldn't be to difficult to get going. It might take me twice as long to get it hooked into my network, but it would happen, if I needed to.
It's just what you know. |
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02/03/2005 05:32:30 PM · #32 |
Originally posted by awpollard:
Kylie, your not shopping at bestbuy again are you? Actually not a bad price for that unit...but you could get more bang for the buck on a different model. |
BestBuy? What made you ask? LOL Seriously, have any suggestions? I am all ears!!!!!! I thought I had it all figured out, then I have to go asking questions!!
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02/03/2005 05:36:12 PM · #33 |
For what it's worth Kyle, I help my neighbor put together a no-holds barred system a few months ago.
3.4Ghz, 800Mhz FSB, 2 GB matched Kingston RAM, dual 74MB Raptor Hard drives, Plextor CDRW & DVD, 256MB ATI AGP Video card w/dvi, 24"LCD Samsung monitor, LAN, Soundblaster, extra fans, etc, etc, etc..
It's an absolute monster and was about $4K total. (A good chunk was the huge LCD monitor).
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02/03/2005 05:37:59 PM · #34 |
Originally posted by BradP:
For what it's worth Kyle, I help my neighbor put together a no-holds barred system a few months ago.
3.4Ghz, 800Mhz FSB, 2 GB matched Kingston RAM, dual 74MB Raptor Hard drives, Plextor CDRW & DVD, 256MB ATI AGP Video card w/dvi, 24"LCD Samsung monitor, LAN, Soundblaster, extra fans, etc, etc, etc..
It's an absolute monster and was about $4K total. (A good chunk was the huge LCD monitor). |
Yikes! $4K??? So . . . . .are you offering to build me one? LOL Seriously, do you have any suggestions?
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02/03/2005 05:41:14 PM · #35 |
| The new MacOS is built on top of FreeBSD, which is a linux like operating system. Runs Samba and talks to the rest of the windows world with no problem. |
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02/03/2005 05:45:07 PM · #36 |
check out www.tigerdirect.com
i do a fair amount of business with them, and have no complaints.
they offer 'barebones' kits, and you can basically build a top end machine for under $800 excluding the monitor.
worth checking out.
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02/03/2005 05:48:34 PM · #37 |
Originally posted by soup:
check out //www.tigerdirect.com
i do a fair amount of business with them, and have no complaints.
they offer 'barebones' kits, and you can basically build a top end machine for under $800 excluding the monitor.
worth checking out. |
I don't feel like I know enough to "build" a good, integrated machine. That is my weakness I think. I am going to check them out at any rate; someone else once brought them up to me. THANK YOU.
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02/03/2005 05:52:53 PM · #38 |
Seen the description at Bestbuy but could be a cut and paste from anywhere I spose. They have that unit there for like 1599.00
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02/03/2005 05:54:53 PM · #39 |
Originally posted by awpollard:
Seen the description at Bestbuy but could be a cut and paste from anywhere I spose. They have that unit there for like 1599.00 |
Oh, you were dead on! I was thinking that might be it. Good eye. I am having a huge problem with the XP Media issue, though. I wish I knew someplace to test drive it. I am not interested in having a "media" set-up like that.
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02/03/2005 05:56:10 PM · #40 |
Originally posted by Kylie:
Yikes! $4K??? So . . . . .are you offering to build me one? |
Tiger Direct and Systemax are also options for ones put together, with cust support available & warranty.
Only downside to pre-configured is their integrated software & hardware. They do cut corners.
No local independants in your area?
Putting another system together would be fun.
Message edited by author 2005-02-03 17:58:00.
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02/03/2005 05:57:22 PM · #41 |
Originally posted by BradP:
Originally posted by Kylie:
Yikes! $4K??? So . . . . .are you offering to build me one? |
Tiger Direct and Systemax are also options for ones put together, with cust support available & warranty.
Only downside to pre-configured is their integrated software & hardware. They do cut corners.
No local independants in your area? |
No one I actually know of or trust. Funny thing is, my husband works for HP!
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02/03/2005 05:59:33 PM · #42 |
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02/03/2005 06:05:45 PM · #43 |
Thanks. Now when you come over this weekend, we will configure me the perfect system and get it ordered! lol
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02/03/2005 06:07:30 PM · #44 |
A better way may be not to build your own but configure your own like here...
Monarch Computer Systems theres a customize your system link on the right where you add or delete from the system to configure it the way you want it.
Kind of like what gateway did in the old days but we all know that gateways are really eMachines now and vice-versa and sold at BB.
Most of these on-line shops are a lot better than what people think, the units are hand built and tested by someone that knows and cares about computers. Almost always better components than what the other big (in their own mind) name computers use.
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02/03/2005 06:07:37 PM · #45 |
I have the HP with WinXP Media Center 2005, and the Radeon Card you're planning on getting.
If I had my choice, I would be back on Win2k Adv Server with the Nvidia GForce 256 card, but the PC was a gift and so I use it.
Media 2005 is XP Professional based. That alone will give you a bit more stability. I have yet to crash this system. It can be used like normal windows or with Media Center as the 'front end' interface. I use the normal windows. I am often caught in PScs when a recording starts and have yet to see a big hit on performance, but the integrated Intel Realtek Sound Card and the Video do share an IRQ (think distributor cap on a car) and sometimes there is a small hiccup where the machine seems to stall, then pick up again.
Media Center will not be your downfall. If anything it will be the Vid Card or amount of RAM you choose to work with. I certainly would purchase Media Center 2005 over vanilla XP or XP pro anyday. It has already proven to me that it is far more stable than either, just not as solid as 2k. (I do Software/Hardware support in real life. I revive systems that other systems admins kill and I'm using XPsp2 with no issues.)
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02/03/2005 06:11:00 PM · #46 |
Originally posted by Nelzie:
...As for getting a Mac to talk to a PC being easier then to get PCs running different versions of Windows to talk to one another... That is dependent upon the skills that one has...I wouldn't know the first thing about accessing the Apple Mac Network configuration settings, but I figure that it wouldn't be to difficult to get going. It might take me twice as long to get it hooked into my network, but it would happen, if I needed to.
It's just what you know. |
This is what you would be looking at in Mac OS X: 
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02/03/2005 06:12:27 PM · #47 |
Originally posted by Arcanist:
I have the HP with WinXP Media Center 2005, and the Radeon Card you're planning on getting.
If I had my choice, I would be back on Win2k Adv Server with the Nvidia GForce 256 card, but the PC was a gift and so I use it.
Media 2005 is XP Professional based. That alone will give you a bit more stability. I have yet to crash this system. It can be used like normal windows or with Media Center as the 'front end' interface. I use the normal windows. I am often caught in PScs when a recording starts and have yet to see a big hit on performance, but the integrated Intel Realtek Sound Card and the Video do share an IRQ (think distributor cap on a car) and sometimes there is a small hiccup where the machine seems to stall, then pick up again.
Media Center will not be your downfall. If anything it will be the Vid Card or amount of RAM you choose to work with. I certainly would purchase Media Center 2005 over vanilla XP or XP pro anyday. It has already proven to me that it is far more stable than either, just not as solid as 2k. (I do Software/Hardware support in real life. I revive systems that other systems admins kill and I'm using XPsp2 with no issues.) |
Another huge thank you. That really helps calm my fears over the Media part; I will just not use that interface. What is your personal opinion on the RAM and video card - you mentioned that you saw those as key factors. Also, simply out of curiosity, what is that system you were saying you would still be using if you could?
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02/03/2005 06:13:39 PM · #48 |
What he said...that 3G HP for 999.00 has some good stuff in it...and those are complete...there's no configuring.
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02/03/2005 06:14:05 PM · #49 |
Originally posted by zeuszen:
Originally posted by Nelzie:
...As for getting a Mac to talk to a PC being easier then to get PCs running different versions of Windows to talk to one another... That is dependent upon the skills that one has...I wouldn't know the first thing about accessing the Apple Mac Network configuration settings, but I figure that it wouldn't be to difficult to get going. It might take me twice as long to get it hooked into my network, but it would happen, if I needed to.
It's just what you know. |
This is what you would be looking at in Mac OS X: |
Excuse my ignorance - I don'tknow anyone with a Mac. Can you say, create a document in Windows Word and bring it up in Mac OS? Simple conversions like that?
Message edited by author 2005-02-03 18:14:39.
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02/03/2005 06:50:12 PM · #50 |
I have the off-the-shelf circuit city HP Media Center PC m1170n with a 1gb upgrade (1.5gb ram). Now that I have the extra RAM, PScs is much faster, but still not extremely fast. I wish I had just gone all the way to 2gigs (forget if this thing can actually go higher, but I would If I could.)
My old machine was (and still is my roadie) Toshiba Satellite Laptop 1.8ghz with 1gb ram and an on-board Nvidia 32mb Gforce Card. Windows 2k Professional would have been sufficient, but I had the opportunity for work to install Advanced Server (way more than anyone needs) so I did. I have found the Win2000 Professional and server Operating systems to be the best and most stable environments ever (although 2003 Server is starting to look good too.) You would have a hard time finding it now, I think MS has decided to table their support for 2k.
Nothing, and I mean nothing was able to crash that setup, until I decided to throw PScs on there and open a 1.5gb image. Smoke started pouring out the sides, I heard a scream from somewhere deep in teh bowels of the laptop's belly and about 20 minutes later, it finished the 3/4 image burn I had assaulted it with. No really, it was slow as molasses, but it just kept chanting I think I can, then did. The 3ghz multi-threaded processor in this little HP is like a microwave - fast and I'm not gaming anymore, so it has yet to tell me there is something I can't get done on it. But I still would rather have the Nvidia Gforce FX series video card in it.
Edit: OH, and the DVDburner is the BOMB! I have never ever in my 20+ years of computing had any portable media writer work as well as this DVD writer.
Message edited by author 2005-02-03 18:53:25.
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