Say hello to Ramsley...

[MarleysGh0st]

Has Dell improved its quality and tech support to what they used to be, or even half of that? I won't touch Dell because of those. Both severely suffered in recent years, especially the support when they shipped it offshore.

I'm also in the market, but plan to go with HP again. I've had very good luck with them over the last decade.

I've never had a Dell before, so I can't say anything about that.

I can say that I'm pissed off with HP right now, which is why I did not buy another of their computers.

They would never acknowledge the problem/liability, but you'll find some interesting information about their recovery partition if you google "axel.dav".

[Bob Juch]

Nice!

What's it's Windows Experience Index?

5.7

I have no idea why your windows are always going to
full-screen. That's not normal.

I didn't mean it goes to full-screen. I mean there's an effect of expanding to its regular window size instead of just appearing at that size in the first place.

Nice! My video takes mine down to 3.5 but I don't need anything faster. Everything else is 5.7 or higher, because I have a Quad.

To turn off the exploding windows, open System properties then select the Advanced tab. Select Performance Settings, uncheck "Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing".

[MarleysGh0st]

To turn off the exploding windows, open System properties then select the Advanced tab. Select Performance Settings, uncheck "Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing".

Thanks, Bob! I knew there was a control for that somewhere.

[Bob Juch]

Has Dell improved its quality and tech support to what they used to be, or even half of that? I won't touch Dell because of those. Both severely suffered in recent years, especially the support when they shipped it offshore.

I'm also in the market, but plan to go with HP again. I've had very good luck with them over the last decade.

I've never had a Dell before, so I can't say anything about that.

I can say that I'm pissed off with HP right now, which is why I did not buy another of their computers.

They would never acknowledge the problem/liability, but you'll find some interesting information about their recovery partition if you google "axel.dav".

You're saying their recovery process was infected with VBS_REDLOF.A?

[MarleysGh0st]

Has Dell improved its quality and tech support to what they used to be, or even half of that? I won't touch Dell because of those. Both severely suffered in recent years, especially the support when they shipped it offshore.

I'm also in the market, but plan to go with HP again. I've had very good luck with them over the last decade.

I've never had a Dell before, so I can't say anything about that.

I can say that I'm pissed off with HP right now, which is why I did not buy another of their computers.

They would never acknowledge the problem/liability, but you'll find some interesting information about their recovery partition if you google "axel.dav".

You're saying their recovery process was infected with VBS_REDLOF.A?

Well, now, I can't prove in in court of law that it wasn't something I did between March and May 2004 that infected both the recovery partition and the recovery CDs that I made from that partition. The anti-virus sites don't clearly explain that VBS_REDLOF.A is responsible for creating a thousand or more axel.dav files all over the hard drive.

But...yes, that's what I'm saying.

[earendel]

So are you going to "upgrade" to Civ 4?

[gsabc]

Nooo!

HP is making bad hardware nowadays. They have been having many systems die in the first few months of use.

So is Dell now good again? Any recommendations? Can't afford an Apple, much as GW would like to, because of all the software replacements that would entail.

[minimetoo26]

And here I thought you got a dog.

Our computer is named Mavis, because it is black and we got it at the same time Mini-me got a Mavis train, which is also black. This was a while ago, since he lost interest in Thomas the Tank Engine in like first grade.

I named the kids' computer Not Broken Yet, but maybe it should be Not Broken Too Badly...

[MarleysGh0st]

So are you going to "upgrade" to Civ 4?

I already have.

There is a problem trying to get the latest patch to work--it keeps telling me that it can't find d3dx9_32.dll, even when download the required DirectX update, but the version with the 1.61 patch works nicely. A friend also gave me his Warlords expansion pack for it.

But, overall, I still like Civ III better. Civ IV has too much eye candy; we were playing that game yesterday and Dave's daughter couldn't stop zooming in to admire the cute little animations.

[christie1111]

Hi Ramsley!

Is that good enough?

[littlebeast13]

Ramsley needs an MM.........

lb13

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

The computer that I bought which died within 24 hours was an HP.

I replaced it with a second and have had no problems with it at all. I just assumed that it was a Windows problems.

[MarleysGh0st]

Hi Ramsley!

Is that good enough?

Yep!


And I'm discovering that, as a Windows Vista computer, it really does have a Ramsley personality. It's constantly asking me, "Are you sure you want to do that, sir? I wouldn't recommend that, sir."

[minimetoo26]

The computer that I bought which died within 24 hours was an HP.

I replaced it with a second and have had no problems with it at all. I just assumed that it was a Windows problems.

My dad had an HP, and it was just loaded with shovelware. When it died, it died real good. We have two Dell desktops and one laptop, and our old desktop was also a Dell that survived being handed down to the kids until it was just too obsolete for words (and they dismantled it after I got them a new one, just to see the inside...) They are pretty streamlined as far as pre-loaded software, and they last unless you count the mouse my kids took apart and couldn't reassemble properly....

[gsabc]

Hi Ramsley!

Is that good enough?

Yep!


And I'm discovering that, as a Windows Vista computer, it really does have a Ramsley personality. It's constantly asking me, "Are you sure you want to do that, sir? I wouldn't recommend that, sir."

Does it have a lens pointed at you with a bright red light in the middle, too?

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave."

[Bob Juch]

Nooo!

HP is making bad hardware nowadays. They have been having many systems die in the first few months of use.

So is Dell now good again? Any recommendations? Can't afford an Apple, much as GW would like to, because of all the software replacements that would entail.

You're looking for a desktop or a laptop?

What are you going to do with it? I do video editing so need a lot of horsepower.

[Bob Juch]

I've never had a Dell before, so I can't say anything about that.

I can say that I'm pissed off with HP right now, which is why I did not buy another of their computers.

They would never acknowledge the problem/liability, but you'll find some interesting information about their recovery partition if you google "axel.dav".

You're saying their recovery process was infected with VBS_REDLOF.A?

Well, now, I can't prove in in court of law that it wasn't something I did between March and May 2004 that infected both the recovery partition and the recovery CDs that I made from that partition. The anti-virus sites don't clearly explain that VBS_REDLOF.A is responsible for creating a thousand or more axel.dav files all over the hard drive.

But...yes, that's what I'm saying.

Actually yes, that virus is what creates those axel.dav files.

In searching with Google, I see that many people had those files appear after running HP's recovery program.

[MarleysGh0st]

In searching with Google, I see that many people had those files appear after running HP's recovery program.

It didn't delete my personal files, though, as others have reported, so I was able to plug the drive in as a slave drive here at work and recover my digital photos and stuff. (Carefully scanned for viruses before I copied them onto Ramsley.)

[gsabc]

Nooo!

HP is making bad hardware nowadays. They have been having many systems die in the first few months of use.

So is Dell now good again? Any recommendations? Can't afford an Apple, much as GW would like to, because of all the software replacements that would entail.

You're looking for a desktop or a laptop?

What are you going to do with it? I do video editing so need a lot of horsepower.

Desktop. Just typical consumer stuff - Internet for e-mails, shopping, web searches, digital photo storage and display, digital music storage and playing (including internet radio), webcam conversations with BD and SIL via Skype. Some database stuff (FileMaker Pro) for GW's work and my comics. Some PowerPoint and other MSOffice stuff for my work. Probably some photo editing, but nothing major. No digital camcorder, since no grandkids yet. Might get into computer gaming again, now that the nest is empty. We used to love the puzzle and logic games like Myst and Monkey Island.

[Bob Juch]

So is Dell now good again? Any recommendations? Can't afford an Apple, much as GW would like to, because of all the software replacements that would entail.

You're looking for a desktop or a laptop?

What are you going to do with it? I do video editing so need a lot of horsepower.

Desktop. Just typical consumer stuff - Internet for e-mails, shopping, web searches, digital photo storage and display, digital music storage and playing (including internet radio), webcam conversations with BD and SIL via Skype. Some database stuff (FileMaker Pro) for GW's work and my comics. Some PowerPoint and other MSOffice stuff for my work. Probably some photo editing, but nothing major. No digital camcorder, since no grandkids yet. Might get into computer gaming again, now that the nest is empty. We used to love the puzzle and logic games like Myst and Monkey Island.

Skype will take the most horsepower. You need a Core 2 Duo or Quad.

The Dell XPS 420 at $899 is good but I'd upgrade the RAM and HD.

[MarleysGh0st]

Might get into computer gaming again, now that the nest is empty. We used to love the puzzle and logic games like Myst and Monkey Island.

This is where you could really need the horsepower. The games being made today really go into some awesome graphics that require high powered graphics cards with dedicated graphics memory on the card (not shared memory on the motherboard). The computer I bought was definitley targetted as a gaming computer--and it was a good deal more expensive than the other PCs for sale out there. But I was tired of buying games (like Civ IV) and then hearing that the graphics in my PC were hopelessly inadequate.

The funny thing is that I don't really care that much about the real-time games with overwhelming 3-D graphics; I prefer the turn-based strategy games. But the desirable demographic doesn't.

[Bob Juch]

gsabc,

I just sent you email with a Dell system that I'd get if I was going to buy one. I just built a new one with about the same components for about $800, but the Dell costs about $1450.

[gsabc]

gsabc,

I just sent you email with a Dell system that I'd get if I was going to buy one. I just built a new one with about the same components for about $800, but the Dell costs about $1450.

Thanks, Bob. I'm apparently mistaken about Dell's quality. One site lists them as third, behind only Apple and Sony. I'll have to dig those mail ads I've been getting from them out of the recycling bin, too. I've been tossing them out of hand.

[cindy.wellman]

Just an FYI....

The decreasing price of external memory continues to amaze me! Over the weekend I saw that Lacie is offering their terabyte (1000 gb) for $220!! Amazing!

[tanstaafl2]

You name your computers?

I do! Doesn't everyone?



Usually they all have the same name as I typically only have one at a time.

The name can change temporarily depending on certain factors...