Anyone ever use tech soup?

[HGjunkie]

Hehheeee, you know you want one....

Ah, but I do have one!

If ASUS made cheap computers I'd recommend them in a heartbeat, but they sell to regular consumers so Dell/HP are the best bets.

  ASUS computers are a good deal and they do have business sales...

Of course I didn't look at their business computer lineup. A quick google check shows the B53F lineup being around $500 for the consumer price, a pretty solid deal looking at the specifications. That's the notebook series. If desktops are the option, they look a little pricier.

(I just got a shiny new ASUS gaming laptop and I'm in love with it, and I think ASUS laptops are rock solid rigs.)

[Extremepredjudice]

Hehheeee, you know you want one....

Ah, but I do have one!

If ASUS made cheap computers I'd recommend them in a heartbeat, but they sell to regular consumers so Dell/HP are the best bets.

  ASUS computers are a good deal and they do have business sales...

Of course I didn't look at their business computer lineup. A quick google check shows the B53F lineup being around $500 for the consumer price, a pretty solid deal looking at the specifications. That's the notebook series. If desktops are the option, they look a little pricier.

(I just got a shiny new ASUS gaming laptop and I'm in love with it, and I think ASUS laptops are rock solid rigs.)

Toshiba is also pretty solid.

Acer is more low end, but functional.

[Spaceman3750]

Acer is more low end, but functional.

Not really. Again, anyone having dealt with them in quantity will tell you about how much they love them...

[HGjunkie]

Toshiba is also pretty solid.

Acer is more low end, but functional.

[Nerd opinion] Toshiba in general has Meh to decent build quality (Unless it's a protege series then it's better) and  I wouldn't trust an Acer to do anything more than be a pretty-looking paperweight, since the reviews around the web seem to be very mixed to unfavorable at best. Case in point you get what you pay for and an inexpensive toshiba style computer may last 2-3 years at best depending on how you use it. [/nerd opinion]

Agreed on the functional part, but I personally rather get a different brand such as ASUS or even HP/Dell because most of their business notebooks are inexpensive and at least semi-ruggedized.

[Extremepredjudice]

Meh, mainstream computers are all bad... Custom build companies is where I'd put my money... Definitly out of the price range we are talking. Most start around 500$

Unless we are going to debate actual models, we are going into fanboi territory...

Acer is hit or miss, depends on the model. I've seen good and bad on everything. The ones I've seen focus on looks more than function.

Considering we are looking at 400ish, a netbook is the best bet.

Nerd opinion? You are talking about something you can buy in walmart! (possibly)
Nerds only deal with online stuff! Newegg, tigerdirect, and the likes...
/troll

[HGjunkie]

Not all mainstream computers are made equally. There are companies that make really good computers for low prices (but we're getting into semantics territory). Lenovo, ASUS, and even Samsung/Panasonic (for example) make high quality computers for around the same Dollar amount as other companies. And for regular CAP usage building a PC from scratch would be a waste of time because of the continuously changing hardware market and the fact it's (for CAP) a better idea to get a new brand PC and not worry about compatibility, drivers, software, etc... It all comes pre-loaded on a regular computer.

Netbooks? Dude. That's... no.

[Extremepredjudice]

What are the alternatives? A bad desktop? At least a netbook is portable.


http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/series_can.do?storeName=computer_store&landing=desktops&a1=Starting+price&v1=Under+%24400&jumpid=in_R329_prodexp/hhoslp/psg/desktops/leftnav_starting_price_under_400

I'd give you a dell link, but their site kept crashing my phone's browser.


Edit: use logic
POS that doesn't move(desktop)
POS that moves(netbook)
POS that uses tech that is old(desktop)(they do, most are celeron/pentiums)
POS that uses atom tech(netbook)
POS that has a battery(netbook)
POS That needs to be plugged in(desktop)

Normally, I am antinetbook/tablet. They do have a place at the bottom of the food chain.
I'd take a netbook over a similar priced desktop...

It just comes down to functionality..

Oh and woodsy, when I go to the sarex, (what time is it? I didn't ask, lol) I will take a look at the computers, and see if I can do anything...

[EMT-83]

Let's get real. For squadron use, you need Word, Excel and access to eServices.

As long as it's not a real dog, just about any machine will work.

[Eclipse]

Let's get real. For squadron use, you need Word, Excel and access to eServices.

As long as it's not a real dog, just about any machine will work.

+1 (Open Office saves you the $$$ on office, too.)

Desktops are 100% dead - in 5 years you won't be able to find them at all.

As mentioned, any off-the-shelf consumer notebook is going to be a better fit than a desktop machine for a unit's needs.  The only people who need desktops these days are gamers and even then only the guys who feel that what the machine looks like somehow enhances its performance.  A notebook will use less power, be easily moveable to encampments, missions, and other, lendable to members, as well as being more easily secured.
I haven't owned a desktop machine for over ten years, even going back to when I actually cared about shooting aliens.

And frankly, if you're spending squadron funds, a netbook or 2-3 old notebook with a nice monitor is probably all you need and readily available
on the secondary market (eBay, Craig's List, donation, etc.).

If it needs a liquid cooling system it is ridiculous for a unit's needs.

[davidsinn]

If I had say, two grand to spend on computers for my unit I would get a stack of netbooks. They store real nice and do everything I'd want them to do for unit use. I don't have the space for a computer lab so they would have to be pulled out each and every time we want to use them.

[Extremepredjudice]

Let's get real. For squadron use, you need Word, Excel and access to eServices.

As long as it's not a real dog, just about any machine will work.

+1 (Open Office saves you the $$$ on office, too.)

Desktops are 100% dead - in 5 years you won't be able to find them at all.

As mentioned, any off-the-shelf consumer notebook is going to be a better fit than a desktop machine for a unit's needs.  The only people who need desktops these days are gamers and even then only the guys who feel that what the machine looks like somehow enhances its performance.  A notebook will use less power, be easily moveable to encampments, missions, and other, lendable to members, as well as being more easily secured.
I haven't owned a desktop machine for over ten years, even going back to when I actually cared about shooting aliens.

And frankly, if you're spending squadron funds, a netbook or 2-3 old notebook with a nice monitor is probably all you need and readily available
on the secondary market (eBay, Craig's List, donation, etc.).

If it needs a liquid cooling system it is ridiculous for a unit's needs.

I never said they needed anything like that, I was trying to stay within reason, by suggeeting a netbook. And I was bragging about my machine.

That said; desktops are here to stay. You are putting to much on "convience" rather than power. Roughly 20% of the US population are computer enthusists.. That is a lot. We do fork over a lot of cash for systems, because they are better. We do use all of tye capailities of a 2000$ pc.

A lot of companies pay thousands of dollars for systems because they need them! Laptops can't give the necessary power to replace a desktop.

Eventually we will hit the end of moore's law. Then what? Desktops afford more space.

Desktops are irreplacable. Period. They always are more powerful vs notebooks.


For CAP I would say that laptops are better for our missions, and netbooks are what fit into this unit's price range.

Like I said before, I will bring my discs and equipment and see if I can possibly fix a computer...

[Eclipse]

^Extreme...

The universe is headed towards mobile computing, embedded devices, and tablets.

Desktops are dead beyond the enthusiast and the uninformed.  The price point of the notebooks the majority of people need is now at or the same as desktop machines, and they take up less room and use less power.

Corporations?  They are all moving towards cloud computing and virtual machines.  The thinner the client the better.

20% will not shore up that market.  All you need to do is visit your local retailer of choice and count the machines and their type.

The "power" needed is not local processor, but bandwidth and a good GPU, neither of which requires a traditional desktop footprint.

[Spaceman3750]

While I love my Asus U35Jc laptop... I would be hard pressed to fit my GTS250 graphics card (in my desktop) in there .

That said, I love laptops while I truly enjoy the feel of a real keyboard, mouse, and monitor (I'm a little bit of a purist like that) the ability to take my computing anywhere in the world in less than a few pounds cannot be denied.