liz_marcs | For Lo! I Have a Paperweight!

Current Mood: resigned

For Lo! I Have a Paperweight!

It turns out my "software problem" was, in fact, a motherboard problem.

Yeeeeah. Might as well buy a new tower than invest that kind of money into a 6-year-old computer (I checked my receipts: I bought my computer in fall of 1999).

If it was a software problem, I could fix it. A hardware problem? Not so much. Throw in that HP is going to stop any and all support for my particular model within the next year or two (at least according to Tech Support), there's really no point in buying a new motherboard and paying someone to install it. That's assuming you could even get a new motherboard to work with it.

So, my home computer is now a paperweight. *headdesk* I can't even donate it.

The good news? All the important stuff (stories; mp3 files) are still on the external drive. All my stories are also backed up CD. So I didn't lose anything at all. Thank heavens.

The bad news? My computer now has to be replaced two years sooner than I wanted. *cries*

I had kinda hoped to hold off for two years so I could actually make a choice between a MAC or Windoze system. Given the size of my savings account, my budget, and what I actually use the computer for, I'm stuck with buying a Windoze tower whether I want to or not. I could pull off the MAC mini, financially speaking. However, I cannot afford to buy all new software to go with it so I can run everything else. If I do that? I might as well buy a top-of-the-line computer bundle.

Which is not going to happen. (See under: If I can't pay cash for it, it's too expensive and I don't need it.)

My monitor, printer, and peripherals work just fine. I don't need that stuff. I also don't need a top-of-the-line tower for what is essentially a word processor, jukebox, occassional icon-maker, and Web browsing machine. As I explained to some techie folks last night: I'm a high-volume user, but not a high-power user.

The first place to say, "Well, chances are, these lower-priced boxes will work just fine for you because you don't need a Sony for stuff like that" won my business. FYI, that place, of all places, was Staples. So, I'll be sniffing around there this week looking for a tower. If I work it, I might be able to get away with paying approximately $650 for a new tower (which would include tower, 3-year in-service, and memory upgrade).

Needless to say, this journal is going "dark" fic-wise because I'll be tired up in reconnecting the homebase.

Apologies to everyone for the wait on everything. But the paperweight at home has to be replaced and then I have to destroy its harddrive so no one will ever be able to retrieve data off it. I will hopefully be back on line by Friday.

Thanks for your patience!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You know, you can use your existing monitor with a Mac. I didn't buy a new one with mine. And I have lots of Mac software. I don't mean to push a choice on you, but if you really wanted to get a Mac Mini, well, software doesn't have to be an issue immediately.

Sucks about the motherboard, though. Oh, and check your keyboard's connector -- make sure it's a PS2 or USB connection, because that is pretty much the only option for a new computer (some older computers used a bigger connector that looks like a PS2's fat cousin or something).

I have a wireless keyboard and mouse (of course, the towers come with keyboards and mice, no matter what), so I'm good there. (The charger runs of USB).

While I appreciate the offer of MAC software support, I already have sunk the money into the Windows software I have (i.e., Norton, MP3 libraries, MP3 player, Office, etc.--so it's quite a lot) and it's additional cost I really can't carry right now.

Like I said, the plan was originally to save up $$$ so I'd have the cash to invest. I had been setting money aside specifically for a computer purchase. If had another year of saving under my belt, I'd go for the MAC. But I don't so I can't.

*shrug*

It really comes down to dollars and cents at this point. I've got too many other expenses that need to be paid down (car and the cost of moving to my current appartment, for example) to really invest a lot of $$$$ in computer.

Thanks for the offer though.

No problem. I'd be frustrated about the software issue, too. It's fairly annoying. All your data files -- mp3 and such -- would cross over just fine, though. It's the executables that don't work.

Sucks that the motherboard couldn't last you just one more year.

I know. My data files are good no matter what (YES!). It's the programs themselves that are a bitch. :-(

Like I said: if I had only one more year, I would've floated a certain percentage of the overall cost on a credit card. Right now the percentage would be too high for comfort.

It's funny to discover that a computer is actually much lower on the budgeting priorities than I thought. It's funny how quickly a computer drops down on the list when you ask, "Am I willing to go into hoc for this?"

Bah.

Must get back to work now.

Heee. I went into debt for a full year to pay off my computer. It's actually worth a slight bit more than my car. =)

But then again, my neuroses are somewhat different from yours. *wink*

But I had Apple-lust with your laptop. :-(

This is why I'm a very, very sad girl right now.

For your current HD, you can take a screwdriver and pull it out, then get a enclosure that'll connect to a PC via USB.

Or, if you're getting a new tower anyway, just stick it in as a second drive. You should have room to spare. Delete the Windows directory, and use if for backups or something.

Paul

I already have a 80 GB external drive and it seems the smallest drive I can get is approximately 80 GB. I really don't need to yank out the HD I've got from the paperweight. It's 55 GB and I only got as high as using 20 GB after 6 years of using it.

Data storage actually isn't a problem. Certainly it's not worthwhile enough to pull out the HD and pay to have it installed in a new tower (as I will be getting in-service and don't want to invalidate the warranty by cracking open the case myself).

Thanks for the suggestions though. I might decide to save the hard drive instead of trashing it.

Ah! If you do decide to trash the hard drive, I suggest getting a screwdriver and taking it apart first. The magnets that write to the disk are really strong, and they'll hold just about anything onto your fridge. Two words of warning, though:
1) They're kind of plain-looking.
2) The flat one is strong enough to put a dent in your fridge door if you're not careful to stick it on slowly. It can also be a little hard to pry off. I'm thinking of tyeing some string to it to use as a handle.

Well, I'm glad you didn't lose any data, but unexpected expenses are always a bitch. In good news, this allows me to catch up on your latest opus, since I just finished chapter 4.

Beh.

At least I have some money put aside, so it's not as bad as it could be (I started saving money in a "computer fund" last year). I'm just unhappy that I have to crack open the piggy bank so soon.

Although HP would like you to think otherwise, except for a few models, they do generally use industry-standard motherboards (same mount points, etc.). You may be able to replace your old motherboard with a generic one. The other thing you can do, if a generic card won't fit in the old case, is replace your motherboard and move all the hardware into a new generic case. Any independent computer shop should be able to do this for you if you don't feel up to it.

So, my home computer is now a paperweight. *headdesk* I can't even donate it.

There are charities that salvage computer parts and re-build them into new systems. You'd have to see what's available in your hometown, but if you decide to toss it, it may still do somebody some good.

My monitor, printer, and peripherals work just fine. I don't need that stuff. I also don't need a top-of-the-line tower for what is essentially a word processor, jukebox, occassional icon-maker, and Web browsing machine. As I explained to some techie folks last night: I'm a high-volume user, but not a high-power user.

You know, there are other operating systems than Mac and Windows. My computer does all of the things you want to do, and its a Linux system (Mandriva 10.2, in my case). It took a little time to get used to, but it really wasn't any harder to learn than Windows was. Plus I feel good about not supporting Bill's Evil Empire with its anti-competative practices, its exploitative EULA and its buggy, virus-prone products.

Seriously, if you're not married to Windows, consider giving Linux a try?

Again, it's a software issue. I've got too much software that's Windows-dependent. This is why I was saving up the cash so I'd actually be able to afford making a choice, i.e., I could pay cash for the computer tower and pay cash for the necessary software.

My optimum was making the computer last two more years. I would've floated the difference with a credit card if I had one more year.

It just comes down to spending and budgeting priorities, as well as the paying down the expenses I've got (car, moving expenses from a year ago). While a computer is important, it's not so important that I'm willing to go into hock for it.

And right now? Financially speaking, I'd have to go into hock if I switched OS.

One of the alternatives I did look at one point (I was gaming out worst-case scenarios) was salvaging the paperweight by replacing bits and pieces, just as you've suggested. A little research among friends and aquaintences have spelled out the big, big problems with it:

1) Everyone that I know who's done the "salvage by having an independent computer shop rebuild" ended up investing in a new computer roughly a year after doing it, thereby wasting a couple hundred bucks.

2) It seems that even tech-y inclined people who work with independent computer shops to custom-build a new comptuer or salvage and old one seem to be always cracking open their cases to fix one thing or another or are always replacing something.

3) Considering one and two? The cost-benefit analysis sucks. In talking to people who've done kit, it smells like they're throwing good money after bad.

On the other hand, thanks for the charity tip for the computer. I will certainly look into donating it. Since I reformatted my hard drive three times in the past four days, I might chance donating it to a local charity if they can fix the motherboard issue.

It ain't necessarily so...

Most Linux software has that whole open source thing going on, and can be downloaded for free. Unless you really don't like the idea for some reason, it's probably worth sitting down with a friendly neighborhood Linux geek about what programs you'ld actually have to buy, probably none. Worst case scenario is that you nmight have to spend some time on filetype conversion. I really don't know what state of the art is on Microsoft Office emulation these days.

If you do have problems with the initial install (which can be a bit on the challenging side for some folks) some of those same Linux geeks can probably be convinced to work for food and thanks (being female also helps, in that "moving luggage with your eyelashes" way.)

Also, where else are you going to get a home operating system that magically turns into somehing you can put on your resume?

Disclaimer: I do not, myself, use Linux. I just wish I could. When my life becomes more my own, I probably will.

the Sanity Faerie

I really don't know what state of the art is on Microsoft Office emulation these days.

I'm quite happy with OpenOffice. It's a cross-platform app; runs on Mac, Windows, BSD (I think) and Linux (comes bundled with most distros, I thinK), has word processor, spreadsheet, image handling utility, a presentation program and more. Go to http://www.openoffice.org/ for free download if you want to try it out.

No! Don't give in to the Cult of the Linux! They will suck you in and start your brain thinking about kernel compilations and driver resource allocations and then you will find yourself compulsively checking Slashdot with a frequency that will put your LJ tendencies to shame!

Not that I'm speaking from personal experience or anything....

One of us!
One of us!
One of us!

Seriously, the folks you see are gearheads. It's like the guy who puts a Chevy 440 V8 into a '32 Ford coupe, or the guy who switches the engine chip in his Porsche to a high-end racing chip. They have different ideas about performance than you, learn about PCs by taking them apart and love being up to their elbows in parts. It isn't necessarily that it's broken, it's that they could make it better. They could change those tendencies as easily as I could stop bein' a robot. B)

Oh, everything I know about computers comes from screwing them up and trying to fix them somehow. I used to be that guy who overclocks his P133 to 166 just because that extra 33Mhz is important, damnit. Now, though? I just want the computer to work and not have inexplicable soundcard failures.

Not /.

Groklaw!

Seriously consider going to a local place that will build one to your specifications. (Here in Austin, at least, you can't swing a dead rattlesnake without hitting such a place.) You will probably have to install all of your software, including your OS, but it's worth it so you're not stuck with whatever Dell or whoever thinks you HAVE to have. If there is a Fry's handy to you, try them as well.

Just wanted to sympathize over the unexpected expense. Finding out that something as vital as your computer is suddenly a paperweight is traumatic. You can congratulate yourself for being smart enough to back up the important stuff and think of how much zippier the new box will be.

My husband does all the computer constructing (computer programmers are useful that way) so I have no shopping advise. But I do wish you luck.

I hate to see someone stay with Bill Gates when they might not have to. Have you looked into getting a used Mac with software? As you pointed out to the guys trying to sell you machines, you're a high-volume but not high-power user, which means you wouldn't need the latest super-nifty G5 machine with the latest version of OS X.

If you're serious about $650 being your ceiling, and if it was a Mac laptop you were lusting for, there are a bunch of them for sale over on eBay, some with software included. I got a Mac from eBay before (not the one I use now, but the one before that), and had good luck with it.

There's a review of a book about buying used Macs here which might be of some help. That site has some links to another site that tracks Mac prices, if you want to see what your options are.

I guess I'd just recommend that you take a few minutes to explore your used Mac options before giving up. I think you should be able to find a machine that can do what you want, and have enough money left over for some used software (if it's not included in what you buy). And depending on the model Mac laptop you're looking at, you can probably use all your peripherals and stuff with little to no problem. A used Mac is better than a brand spankin' new PC in my book, so don't give up hope!

I appreciate the thought, but I already looked into all this. What it boils down to:

1) No way in hell am I buying a used computer. If I'm spending more than $300 on anything electronic, I want it new.

2) I want something backed buy a warranty if I'm spending several hundred dollars. Not going to happen with a used box (90 days. At best.)

3) I don't know enough about hardware to chance buying a used computer. Software issues I can deal with fairly handily. Not so much hardware.

I've been exploring the MAC option for the past six months so I could figure out how much I needed to sock away on a monthly basis to afford what I wanted. While I don't need a top-of-the-line anything, I had already concluded that a used MAC fell into "no way in hell" territory. At least I know my way around the inside of a PC, and I wouldn't do it for PC despite that.

So, the decision to stick with a Windoze machine this time around wasn't made lightly or overnight (believe me). I was seriously looking into the MAC mini option, but the software issue is the headache I can't afford.

The way I look at it? I now have three more years to sock money away for the computer I really want.

At risk of beating a dead horse, what software do you need, specifically? Most of the open source stuff will also work on OS X. (The big exception, unfortunately, appears to be OpenOffice.) Going Mini + open source + limited software purchases might be a viable option for you. Worst case, you could try the open source stuff as an interim solution and move back to non-free over time as your budget allows/needs dictate.

Going by the short list from the original entry, I'd make recommendations as follows:

* word processor: Given the lack of direct OpenOffice availability for OS X, I'll suggest NeoOffice, an OS X port of OpenOffice. I've used OpenOffice but not Neo (as I have no Mac), so hopefully if anyone has any more info on it, they'll sound off. http://www.neooffice.org/

* jukebox: iTunes is the obvious one, I'm sure others are available.

* occassional icon-maker: GIMP is the most popular open source Photoshop-comparable solution. It's available for OS X, Windows, and Linux, so you could even try it out ahead of time. www.gimp.org

* Web browsing: Pretty much anything you want, unless you're an Internet Explorer junkie.

Of course, sometimes it only takes one big thing (like my wife needing some big honking expensive Win-only accounting package for school) to keep you tied in, so believe me when I say I can sympathize with your Mac-lust/stuck with Windoze scenario.

Sorry to hear about the computer troubles, Liz. Have had them myself in the past, before I decided to built my own computers. I used to have IBM systems before, until I found out how expensive it was to get components from them and how hard it was to install them.

The last five years, I've either gone to an independent builder or just bought the components and built the machine myself. My latest is an AMD64 powerhouse in a full tower case with mods (two fan controllers for five fans, two sata hd's etc.) plus a smaller AMD Sempron. The 64 is running Suse Linux 9.3, the other XP but since the 64 is my main machine, I hardly use the other with the exception for Bittorrent downloads; I leave it on continuosly. I know I could do it on this machine without fuzz, done it before, but hey, if you got two machines, why not put them to good use?

I understand you rather not give out money for new software but like another poster stated, why not go the linux route? The common misconception is that it's a hard OS to learn, which just isn't true. It's like saying "it's hard to cook". Anybody can cook an egg, not everybody can cook a five-course meal that would make Michelin take notice. And that is the thing about Linux, you could make it as easy or hard as you want it.

Check out www.linspire.com and you'll see one of the easiest versions of Linux, specifically for people who want something that just works and are coming off Winblows. It comes with most of the software you need already installed and if it isn't installed, you can download it from CNR Warehouse (think Windows Update) where most of the software is free.

Here you see what it does right out of the box http://www.linspire.com/products_linspire_whatis.php?tab=features

As for compatibility, check this list http://www.linspire.com/products_linspire_whatis.php?tab=compatibility

The best thing is that many computer builders build both desktops and laptops with this OS and they're covered under their usual warranty and they cost less than Winblows computers, like Bestbuy, Sub300 and others: http://www.linspire.com/featured_partner/featured_partner.php?sent=1&country=1

I hope this gives you another option for a new computer, Liz.

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For Lo! I Have a Paperweight!

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Linux

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Getting a new tower

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