The ULTIMATE machine ... for now
Jun 07 '00
WOW - I'm allowed to write this opinion regarding spending OVER $2000 to buy or build a machine. Piece of cake - as of this date (6/7/00) if I were to buy my ultimate machine I would go to www.abscomputers.com and order the biggest and best machine that they have. At this point in time that is a Pentium III 866 with 256 megs of RAM, a 19" monitor, a 10 speed DVD player, great speakers and sound card, a high end ATI video card, printer, scanner, video camera, 40 gig hard drive, etc. Its going for $3129.00 plus shipping and handling.
The problem is that within 6 months (or less) that system will no longer be the latest and greatest. It will be replaced by something bigger, faster and better; at probably a few dollars less. On the positive side, this particular system (unlike a Dell, Compaq or HP) is very easy to upgrade. However, if I were to "buy" my system that is how I would do it - with this wonderful unlimited budget.
If I were to build my system I'd take a much different tactic. I would build the system based on my own particular likes and dislikes; and what my years of experience have taught me. For example, while 256 megs of RAM is probably more than enough for most people and is certainly enough for any and all applications; I would max that puppy out with RAM, probably somewhere between 750 megs to 950 megs, whatever I could fit in it. Remember, you can never be too rich or have too much RAM - words to live by.
While the video card in the bought system is a very good one and you won't go wrong with it. I'd opt for the latest and greatest GeForce 256 DDR, presently going for about $200. I would have a DVD burner, not just the reader. I'd also have CD-RW (read/write/re-write), the fastest and the best that I could get. I'd opt for a SCSI (small computer system interface) for my controller, rather than an IDE, so that I could attach more devices to it (they can handle up to 15 hard drives, CD's, etc) and the transfer rates are much faster. I could go on and on about how it would be a 21" TFT (LCD) screen, which would cost me over $10,000 by itself. The hard drives would probably be three 70 Gig drives (each drive costs $1750.00), etc. In the end, with an unlimited budget I could build a system that would cost in excess of $25,000 to $30,000 and I'd also know that in 6 months there would one or more components better than what I had.
Evaluate your uses, buy the best machine for your buck. Smile, be happy and don't worry.
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Epinions.com ID:
michaelw
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Member: Michael Wagoner
Location: Aloha, Oregon
Reviews written: 31
Trusted by: 0 members
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