Econ 101
I have officially pronounced my laptop dead.
Its 7 years old. Its missing the "t" key. Its all garbled up with work software I don't need but can't get rid of. The USB connector is broken. And the death knell was some nasty malicious software it picked up during my travels in Bakersfield.
Now I have to bite the bullet and buy something else. I'd really rather not as I hate spending money on anything but bike stuff and food. And as I went searching for computers and looking at prices, I couldn't help but realize how I was evaluating the cost. All prices were relative to something bike.
That fancy laptop with all the cool bells and whistles for $2,500? No way. Thats more than a Campy Record Carbon gruppo for crying out loud.The middle of the road solid performer laptop for $1,200? No way. I could buy Michael a custom frame with all the weird angles and measurements he likes.
The good for web browsing and photo editing laptop for $700? Hmmm....but I could buy that 36" Fox Fork for my Dawg with that.
The cheapie bargain laptop for $500? Wheelset? laptop? Wheelset? Laptop?
Ah, poo. Who needs a "t" key anyway.
posted by Velo Bella @ 8:51 AM
49 Comments:
for 0.99 you can get a brand new T key here... is this micro or macro econ anyways, that might make a difference
$700 ??
that's like ... 350 corralitos sausages.
mmm ... sausages.
Have you ever tried to put those little buggers back on?
I tried over and over again. I finally threw the key away.
It woudn't have been so bad if it was the Z or Q key.
i'm trying to shop for one myself this week
so keep me posted on any wisdom or good deals....
as i am lame with computers
me = cheesy bavarian
I am seriously considering the Dell Inspiron E1405
Because its relatively smaller, lighter, and has enhanced video stuff (for pics).
The processor is not the best, but I won't be running mackdaddy excel sheets on it anyways.
And because its smaller and lighter it has a smaller screen.
about $700 = Fox 36 Fork
gotta sell that GTI
any recommendations on how much memory, speed, whatever i need?
i don't do anything fancy
you know, blog mostly
should be able to watch videos and do picture stuff
and i'd like a letter t
but i knew that
For blogging, surfing, email, loading music to your iPod and other similar fun computing tasks, the cheapest laptop with the cheapest chip will do. You'll be replacing it in a couple years anyway.
Typically a machine like that can be had for $400 to $700.
That said, you'd probably get better use out of a new set of wheels.
What Tony said. The only upgrade I made was in storage, video card, and monitor resolution, because of all the photography stuff I do. Otherwise everything else is the cheapie-est.
Oh yeah..the GTI. Maybe we can get a battery on Saturday.
ok
i'm getting there
windows xp home
or xp professional
i hate this
Home should be fine.
Pro has some security and backup/restore features that are nice, but I'll probably ever use them things anyway. The other stuff it has I'll never use.
if your mostly interested in the computer for pics, you want a macbook
apples are best for graphics
oh no.
MM, you are clouding the issue.
first decision was mac vs PC.
now we have to back up and start over.
wait--i don't have to, bunny has to.
i need to go back under the house and kill another scorpion...
Pictures are not graphics. I have no interest in graphic work.
And no interest in being incompatible with all the other computers/software in the house.
But I sure wish the PC makers had the design style of Apple. PCs are sooo ugly in comparison.
macs are definitely more moola
but i am hoping that my employer will reimburse me
but i don't know for sure
how much interfacing do you need to do with your other computers?
i have to admit the macs look snazzy and their website is so much easier to deal with....
i wish someone made a purple one
I interface between my laptop and my desktop/printer via the network. And I share all software between them. And I do work work at home and home work at work.
And lately Michael and I have been doing a lot of interfacing too...
Slick deals had some good prices for laptops come up recently.
http://www.slickdeals.net/
oh.. im headed to Oregon, no sales tax.. let me know if you want me to pick you anything up.
Maybe too low end for what people are looking for, but my old dual USB iBook was going to eBay. Maybe someone here would have a good home for it instead.
http://www.lowendmac.com/pb2/ibook3.html
Free to whoever can get me up to 6.2 watts per kilogram.
Check this page out for Dell deals:
http://www.xpbargains.com/dell_coupons/
Dell Home has the Dell XPS M140 notebook w/ Pentium-M 1.73GHz, 14in WXGA, 512MB, 60GB, DVD+-RW, 56k/NIC/802.11g wireless, XP Media Center Edition, 1yr warranty for only $749 - 20% off coupon code: V4Q76HP$JHP02H (exp 5/25 11:59am CT, limit 1000 uses) = $599 w/ free shipping.
macs and pcs are compatible now. i have both and go back and forth just fine.
ps - i'm new here and don't have an account yet, sorry for the "anonymous" but my name is Laura and i'm trying to think of a cool nickname. more to come later.
But the software's not the same. I would have to pilfer...err I mean buy all new software instead of using the stuff I have now.
man, are we a bunch of geeks or what?
sabine = big butted geek
if it comes with a wireless card
do we still need a wireless broadband router thingee?
You will need a wireless router hooked up to your cable or DSL box to use the wireless card in your portable.
I work at Apple, so I push Apple stuff. XP and MacOS run just fine when you set up your MacBook/Pro to dual boot.
Sadly, you do have to either buy or migrate your PC apps over to the new machine.
Most people who set up dual boot Macs, end up staying in the Mac side of the world as they find good replacements on the Mac for what they used on the PC.
I end up in XP all the time though, because I use Cycling Peaks. That is about the only reason why. I can watch the Giro on OLNTV just fine in MacOS.
If you don't already have a wireless network set up in your house, then yes, you need the wireless network router thingie, in addition to the card.
Wireless? What the hell is that? Will it work on my Atari 800XL?
oh, so with the router thingee you have wireless in your house
and if you already have wireless set up in your house you just need the card
did i get that right?
i can't wait to get whatever ordered and stop thinking about all this stuff that makes my brain feel like it's coming out my ears
wow ... this is a lot of interfacing.
welcome Laura!
i still say go with a macbook
hey ben, tell goldifly I'll buy her powerbook so you can get the new macbook...
macbook plus all new software = Dawg built up for me + custom hooptie cx bike for michael
bzzzzttt
I'm hoping Laura starts up a more interesting blog than this geekarama
no custom hooptie cx for me, honey.
we don't spends the money that way.
but we do puts the lotion on it.
no
this is a great blog
you all are helping us so much!
I'm just measuring the $$ value of the moola macs. (remember, thats what this whole post was about)
And you are silly
is that was this post is about?
44 comments about computers?
geeks.
definitely.
umm, anybody do any biking lately?
ok
we can stop talking about this now as we have figured it all out
or so we think
I had to read 47 schmoop free posts just to learn about laptops.
Me = Dummy, its so bad I had to go get a copy of "Book of Dummies for Dummies"
Schmoop schmoop :)
oh, there was a little bit of schmoop in there.
just a touch
You don't need a titanium Seven if all you want to do is ride your bike down to the market and back.
But damn, you sure will look cool while riding down the sidewalk.
Ok, you may never see this comment, but I saw this on one of the discount sites I check daily...
http://www.spoofee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34001
Dell Inspiron 1300 which comes with an Intel Pentium M Processor 745 (1.8GHz/2Mb Cache/400MHz FSB), Windows XP Home, 15.4" WXGA, 512mb DDR2, 60GB Disk, 8x CD/DVD writer, built in wireless, and a year warranty for a good deal.
$525 shipped! not too bad and you probably wouldn't have to see the GTI!
you already have 5 cars
Oh, wow! Is that a picture of an Osborne? One of those ran almost $2k in the very early '80s... The original "luggable"...
(Makes me feel a bit old that I can recognize one...)
Post a Comment
<< Home