Short (or maybe long) absence

[Howard Somerset]

My trusted PC, which I built over five years ago, has finally breathed its last breath. Two rebuilds over the last few years worked well, but emergency surgery last night failed to revive it, the last rites were said, and burial is expected within a few days. Fortunately some of the important organs are intact, and so some parts (in particular the hard disk) will be available for transplant when a suitable recipient is found.

So now, what to do next. Do I build another? Do I get someone else to build one to my spec? Or do I simply go and buy a new one? My feeling at the moment is probably to go for the middle option, as I get one that performs as I want, but I don't have the hassle of building it myself.

Hopefully, I'll be back to normal fairly soon, but in the meantime, visits here will be restricted to times when I can find a convenient and open internet cafe.

[Charlie Reams]

Sorry for your tragic loss. I'd go with the middle option too, because it's such a relief to have a warranty.

[Jon O'Neill]

What is it you intend to do with your PC that your standard off-the-shelf £350 Dell box can't cope with?

[Richard Brittain]

I've often wondered that, Jono. I've read numerous times (always on internet forums - because real people don't actually do this) about people 'building a new PC', and I'm always like 'wtf?'

[Charlie Reams]

You've both overlooked the fact that building your own things is FUN.

[Jon O'Neill]

I wasn't implying that building your own stuff is the wrong idea. I'm genuinely interested. I know some people, like Charlie, have a need for good processors for calculations and shit. I thought Howard might be into some of this. Or is it just for hardcore gaming/pornography?

[Dinos Sfyris]

Hmmm... so you're looking for a new computer. You want something modern that you can build yourself, but also somehing affordable that will stand the test of time. Have you tried here, Howard?

[Howard Somerset]

A very good question, Jono and Richard. To be honest, I doubt whether I could fully justify having bought the machine I have. I'm just glad it's you asking, and not my wife. Perhaps it could be likened to someone buying a Mercedes when a Ford would do the journeys much more efficiently. Not a perfect analogy, but certainly one which a Mercedes owner I know would appreciate.

I always have gone for the most powerful computer I can sensibly afford, and it's certainly paid dividends. Even my wife has commented on how well my last one ran after five years, comparing it very favourably with my daughters' machines which are limping along after only two years.

Charlie, though, is absolutely correct in saying that building things is FUN. And for me this has always applied to computers, having done it for many years, mostly as part of my work. Indeed, even though I didn't build my new one, I've already had it open and put more bits in.

Probably the main reason I didn't build my new one is that the expert who was available for assistance when I built my previous one five and a half years ago isn't available this time; he's gone off to uni now.


Love the link, Dinos.

[Julie T]

Hi, Howard, I was thinking I hadn't read posts from you much recently, so I hope they won't become any rarer!

A thought to bear in mind, and one of my sons is putting off updating his computer because of this, is that Windows 7 is due out at the end of October.

So, on the one hand, you might prefer to do the same. On the other hand, a lot of computer stores have very good deals so they clear their Windows Vista stock.

Indeed, even though I didn't build my new one, I've already had it open and put more bits in.

Ah, does this mean that you've just bought one?

BTW, will you be coming to CoLei, Howard?

[Rosemary Roberts]

very good deals ... Windows Vista

Julie, I think that's an an inherently self-contradictory expression on a par with "too much Mozart".

[Liam Tiernan]

Hi, Howard, I was thinking I hadn't read posts from you much recently, so I hope they won't become any rarer!

A thought to bear in mind, and one of my sons is putting off updating his computer because of this, is that Windows 7 is due out at the end of October.

So, on the one hand, you might prefer to do the same. On the other hand, a lot of computer stores have very good deals so they clear their Windows Vista stock.

My brother has Windows 7 on trial at the moment, and he reckons that for once Microsoft have got it right.

[Howard Somerset]

Regarding Windows 7, one of the computer forums I frequent most, and one which is generally very critical of Microsoft products, seems to be generally favourably inclined towards Windows 7; a common remark being "Microsoft has got something right, for once". Maybe your bro is in the same forum, Liam.

Yes, I've got Vista on my new one, but it includes a free upgrade to Windows 7 if I want to take advantage of it before 28th February next year. Such an upgrade should be available for your son, Julie. ... should he choose to upgrade his computer earlier.

[Darren Carter]

I've been using Windows 7 for a month now. It is practically the same as Vista but without the bugs and with few cool new features - I would definitely recommend it.

[Charlie Reams]

The old joke is that every other version of Windows is a good one. Given the state of Vista, I think we can expect W7 to be very good indeed.

[Matt Morrison]

The old joke is that every other version of Windows is a good one. Given the state of Vista, I think we can expect W7 to be very good indeed.

Haha when I first read that, I thought you meant "every version of Windows other than the one you're discussing" in a "free beer tomorrow" kind of way.

[Phil Reynolds]

The old joke is that every other version of Windows is a good one.

I thought that was Star Trek movies?

[Rosemary Roberts]

I've been using Windows 7 for a month now. It is practically the same as Vista but without the bugs and with few cool new features - I would definitely recommend it.

What I would realy welcome is fewer cool new features, or even none at all. On previous form a software feature is only described as cool if it has absolutely nothing else going for it. Vista was exceptionally cool in that respect, cool and buggy, like Finland.