Typical new economy business, tries to diversify into new areas and immediately starts neglecting its original mission. Enjoy the launch party! Say hi to Judy Miller!
(Yeah, I'm just jealous.)
Anybody have any opinion on this decision I'm facing?
Compaq Presario Notebook, 14'', wxga screen, AMD Turino -30 processor, 512 DDR Ram, 50GB HD, wireless card for $750 right now at CompUSA
Or an Ibook 12" for $1000.
The compaq has 20 more GB, (Although I can upgrade the ibook for $50) and a much newer processor. A bigger , newer screen, and I think it's sharper.
I mainly use the web and word processing programs. I don't play any video games. I do watch videos and play music. It seems to me that I should get the compaq because it's sharper, faster, bigger, and cheaper. However, I've been jealous of my friends' ibooks and powerbooks for some time, and I suppose I'm feeling tired of windows.
Basically, does anyone think I should get the ibook?
I haven't used an apple extensively since high school (although I'm about to start again), but I would probably suggest that you avoid the compaq. The last two notebooks I've had have both been compaqs (issued by work). They were from the business line, and so probably better-built than the presario. They were solid machines -- I liked them. But they had plenty of problems that required warranty service (twice for issues with the mainboard). Well, the evo n610c did, anyway. The nc6230 I'm typing this on hasn't, but I've only had it for a month or two (and it has been subject to a battery recall, in which I didn't bother to participate).
It sounds like you don't really have a need for a lot of processing power. If battery life matters to you at all, that means that the faster machine is a liability. I would seriously consider the ibook.
If you want to stay in the PC space, you might want to try a different brand from hp/compaq. The thinkpads have a very good reputation. That brand is now owned by Lenovo, not IBM, but Lenovo has handled the manufacturing for several years without complaint. They're cheap, too -- see here. $600 for a basic but capable notebook.
I love my iBook. (I have the 12'' one). I think the Waring-Holbos might disagree, but I've been really happy with it. It's great for word processing and video, battery life has been great, and it's been really reliable. If you don't play video games, I'd go for it.
I had a presario laptop in law school, and it proved very durable. It still works quite well, even though I dropped it several times, cracking the shell, and infested it with lots of viruses from porn sites.
I am jealous of the new yorkers. when will we have an official chicago unfogged awkward pint?
Hrm. I'm still undecided. I think if apple had upgraded their ibook screens the way they upgraded their powerbook screens, I'd have no hesitation about getting the ibook. I don't need a lot of processing power, but I am used to CRT monitors.
iBook. Or look into a refurbished Powerbook. Seriously, I know no one who is unhappy with their Apple. And if you want to do videos and music, Apple's software is amazingly easy. In fact, I recommend rethinking your decision and seeing if you can find a pbook with a superdrive--you can *make* DVDs with video you download from the internet (or, shh, copy DVDs that you get from the library/rental store), which is what Mr. B. has been doing for most of this week.
I love my PowerBook. My ex-wife loves both of her iBooks. I have a fancy-assed Dell desktop at work and it feels like I'm slumming.
Also, I haven't owned an anti-virus application in almost a decade.
Oh, cool. I can get a powerbook 64 refurbished for $200 cheaper. I'm going to explore this refurbished stuff...
The only down side to the Powerbook is that the included application package won't include some of the home-type applications like Pages (which is really nice). I *think* that iDVD comes with the Pbook, though, and of course iTunes is free.
I've had a ThinkPad for about a year. I'm much happier with it than with the Dell I used to have.
I've had good experiences with refurbished stuff in the past.
And it goes without saying, get the biggest hard drive you can afford.
13--I am, in NYC
I'm in the market for a new laptop, and I'm already feeling the Mac pressure from my friends. I've had a Dell, oh let's see, Inspiron 400 these last six years. The Mac products are just so damned cute, though; I would feel slightly undignified toting around a white shell with bouncy icons.
Don't get a Mac. Get a solid refurbished pc-based laptop and put linux on it.
13-Mr. B. is going, although alas, I will be here at home with PK.
Ben, you are either either insane or trolling. The small-but-real chance that a laptop's hardware won't play well with Linux is reason enough to make it a nonstarter for all but the irredeemably geeky.
Not that I don't love my WHAX liveCD, mind you...
Well, you check it out in advance, of course.
Linux is great if you like to spend all your time futzing with your operating system. If you'd like your computer to work out of the box and consistently thereafter, get a Mac.
I would highly recommend the iBook, or even moreso a refurbished Powerbook.
Several points to consider:
-keep your eyes open on dealmac(dot)com If you aren't in a hurry to buy, you can catch some absolute bargains.
-I would budget in money for RAM, whether you get the PC or Mac. I consider 512 MB of RAM to be the bare minimum for OS X computers.
-the new Intel iBooks are rumored to be coming out at the January MacWorld. This should (but may not) cause the Motorola laptops to drop significantly in price, especially when companies liquidate their inventory of the now 'old' computers.
-Apple has a high buy-in price, but most Mac owners feel it is worth it over the long run. Apple computers come with a pretty comprehensive software package and, like apostropher said, there is little need for virus protection.
-Finally, I'd go for the Powerbook. I feel they're made to a higher standard, have a better screen, and feel 'solid', but that's entirely subjective. In any event, I'd go to an Apple store and see how you like Apple computers and OS X.
Also, gentoo is a great distribution because you can periodically check for updates to your applications.
"Oh no! grep version 2.5.1-r8 has been released, and I'm still using 2.5.1-r7!"
That fact that I cannot understand what w-lfs-n is saying, even though I sometimes use Linux, seems to me to be proof positive that I should not, in fact, get a Linux.
yeah, it irks me that any ibook or powerbook i buy may become outdated very quickly, but I'm moving, and would rather just ditch my old desktop.
may become outdated
It will still work just fine.
23: can't you do that with all the package manager systems (apt/yum/etc)?
Yeah.
But when I was using red hat, the mechanisms for updating rpms blew.
26. I guess I should say that the thought that a month from now the product may be much cheaper is a tad annoying. However, the rumors that the g5's are coming have been around for quite awhile now, and I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't come out for several months yet.
Well, that's the computer industry. As soon as your credit card clears and you sign the dotted line, an 'better faster jumps higher' computer is unveiled.
From what I understand, though, you shouldn't worry about the switch to Intel processors. Apple is generally good with backwards compatibility, and there is no possibility they're dropping support for G4s anytime in the foreseeable future.
geez. A bit more than I was looking to spend, but $500 cheaper than buying new...hrmmm...
buy it! the endowment effect will support your decision whether or not it was the right one.
Although I fully endorse Michael getting a mac, I will say that it's not necessarily true that apple computers don't fuck up. My hard drive totally crapped out about two weeks after the warranty expired on my powerbook (which is lovely, but which I would like a lot better if I ever got around to putting some more memory on it; I agree with the 512MB minimum statement above). Luckily, I was able to buy a new one for $150 and install it myself, so it still turned out to be cheaper than the applecare.
I had a refurbished iBook before this computer. It was awesome until it got possessed by the devil, luckily just before the 90-day warranty expired. I think it had to have the logic board replaced (it was fine after that, I just got a powerbook cause I wanted something better, and sold the iBook).
Despite all this, I still think you should get a mac. Why? I guess I'm just devoted.
Diversify into new areas and you immediately start neglecting your core competence and then it all collapses into a quivering mass of computer talk. Sheesh. At least you guys have worked in some subtle cock jokes ("package manager," "endowment effect").
Diversify into new areas and you immediately start neglecting your core competence
Very slowly now, put down all of the accounting or business school related materials...
Hrmm. Michael, it very much depends on how long you're going to rely up the machine, and if it will be your only machine.
Unless you have money to blow on another one in six months, I would so avoid Compaq. Compaq == HP and while HP used to be a fine company, after Fiorina got through with them (and Compaq) all they make (as far as I can tell) is shit.
Older thinkpads are like tanks. The newer ones I am not so certain about. I wouldn't pick Compaq over the Thinkpad though, unless the Compaq was free. However, it does very much matter what it feels like. If it doesn't feel solid, and you aren't going to treat it like a delicate china doll for its expected lifetime, don't get it.
I second the Powerbook refub above. An older machine will be slower, but it was more expensive when it was made, and it's been running for awhile, so the only likely weak point is the HD. (Swap it!)
That fact that I cannot understand what w-lfs-n is saying, even though I sometimes use Linux, seems to me to be proof positive that I should not, in fact, get a Linux.
w-lfs-n was hazing you. He's jealous because he knows Apple packages their updated versions of grep inside reg'lar OS X updates.
ash
['Tsk.']
Outdated doesn't really matter a lot with Macs, I've found. First, backwards compatibility, second stability, third, is the web really going to change all that much? Please. My first Mac was "outdated" the second I bought it--it continued to serve my needs for five years. My second one was also cheap b/c it was being replaced by a new processor, and I used it two years--would've been longer, but I cracked the case. My boyfriend still has his, now about four years old, and it's running the same OS my new PB is.
As to durability, yes, some Macs have problems. But Apple's customer support is really good. If you're buying a PB, it's probably worth it to buy Apple Care (not that I've ever done it, b/c I'm cheap, but I think I will for this one when the year runs out).
Go for it. It's probably a li'l more than you wanted to spend, but I'm pretty certain that you won't regret the money.
Superdrive & 15 inch, very nice indeed.
The one thing about the tibooks--and I liked mine--is the chipping paint thing, which drives some people nutso. They also slightly inhibit the range of the wireless card, which is why Apple moved away from Titanium. I didn't have problems with that, but some folks I knew did.
The Tibook will *totally* run all the current software.
The thing about owning a Mac is that you pass on all the constant, minor glitches that PCs provide you—but when you run into a problem, it's something like the logic board. Under my Apple Care warranty I had my G3 iBook's hard drive replaced once and logic board replaced twice—until the warranty ran out, at which point some strange screen magnet failed, rendering my computer useless (unless and until I pay $600 to have the parts replaced).
I know that the G4 iBooks have had fewer problems. And I'll buy another Mac, if only because I'm not a sufficient tech wizard to make a PC do what I want. But take my advice: Buy a Powerbook, which seem to provide users with fewer hardware problems. And no matter which Mac you bay, if you choose to do so, buy the Apple Care insurance.
How will the attendees recognize each other?
I imagine that someone who lurks here will show up at the bar and seat themselves near the gathering, without letting on that it's intentional.
If this thing is going to be in NY, you clearly need to have me lead a tour of my personal insights about NYC. And Brooklyn. Particularly Brooklyn. You're probably not even going to walk over the Bridge, again. But I could nail you on that.
Wait. You say you've been planning this for a while? And not raised a fund to pack me in your luggage?
Never mind!
(Back to scraping potatos, and contemplating new ways to enjoying them.)
How will the attendees recognize each other?
I recommend all attendees shouting "Who wants to sex Mutombo?" upon entering the bar.
Of course, that may prove awakward for the first one to arrive.
Or awkward, even. Coincidentally, aside from Lemmy's first band, Hawkwind, awkward is the only word in the English language with a w-k-w run. I think.
Or the wimminfolk could lift their shirts and wait for someone to raise their arms and yell, "Titties!"
More Words, which always seems pretty accurate to me, lists awkward (and variants thereof) and hawkweed. I can't get a link to the search results, the seach is "*wkw*".
Tia, you'd likely get a bar-wide response, so while I encourage such behavior as a rule, I doubt its utility in this situation.
And if we're going to do that sort of thing, we should really be at Hogs & Heifers. (Is H&H even still open?)
No, no, apostropher, as I believe no one in our group is under 20 (or under 25 following a movie star exercise regiment), no one else will notice.
(Back to scraping potatos, and contemplating new ways to enjoying them.)
Au gratin is nice. Combined half and half with some thin-sliced rutabaga.... it's root-vegetable-a-riffic!
Has anyone else noticed the interesting breakdown between the DC and NYC meetups, with the NYC meetup attracting more of the privacy-protecting commenters and women and the DC meetup attracting mostly "out" commenters and men?
And they're going to be eating (*shudders*) breakfast tacos in DC, while we're very sensibly going to be drinking cocktails.
Privacy-protecting commentators, women, and crazy uncles. Quite a mix.
But seriously, how will we recognize each other?
I have a Friendster profile under my own name, if that helps any.
Rutabagas have been extensively discussed just now at Language Hat. Apparently there's a Russian saying, "I'm as tired as you as I am of rutabaga!"
It's not all that big of a bar. I'd suggest planning on a table upstairs as quieter, and probably easier to get a big table. If we do that, then it'll almost certainly be the only table of people looking around quizzically when anyone walks in.
PS I was just in Old Town on Wednesday night at around 7, and it was crammed. Big after-work hangout for business types.
That makes another reason for upstairs.
Can we get them to reserve part of the upstairs for us to make sure there's enough room for everyone? Ogged said he counted 15+ people.
Can we get a reservation? I've never been there.
If so, then we just ask to be directed to the Unfogged table.
Go the bartender and ask if anyone from the Mineshaft Group is already here. If he says no, tell him you'll wait upstairs, if anyone asks.
Actually, I think, "Who wants to sex Mutumbo?" is the best idea.
I doubt they take reservations, although it's worth a call. Shall I call and see if I can make a reservation for 15, upstairs on Tuesday, under "Unfogged"?
Too elaborate? Okay. What we need, then, is for everyone to wear a chrysanthemum in their lapels.
Might I suggest you all go in claiming to be looking for "Joe Gibbons."
There is no Joe Gibbons, or I suppose there are actually many Joe Gibbons in the world, but this was a phony name me and my mates used when doing things we wouldn't want mentioned the next day.
Leading to Shop Around the Corner-style hilarity when one of the Unfogged crew actually stumbles into a meetup of Yakuza who have chosen the same signal.
So they don't take reservations as such, but they'll be expecting a party of 15 or so, upstairs, around 6 on Tuesday, under Unfogged.
74 to 72, though I guess it could as well have been to 73.
man, I'm missing out on all the yakuza fun.
I propose textfest '06 chicago. It will have to be in February.
Chicago's great, but February? Brr.
Thanks for handling the logistics, LB!
We would have women at our party if you weren't ditching us Becks. And if Susan hadn't left us. And if Catherine hadn't left us.
. . .
And right before Christmas, nobody can afford to shell out for strippers.
Ergo, let the Sausage(ly)fest commence!
Armsmasher is crying in his beer. (or in his breakfast taco? Not sure -- the tears might make it soggy.)
There's a tear for my Yellow Rose in every taco. Also: a squeeze of lime!
Textfest could come later in the year, but it would have to be in Nashville, a smaller market. Textfest requires a large market.
Hey when is our Hartford, WI meetup going to happen? I'm so there!
then Nashville textfest it is. when should I expect you, b?
Furthermore, if any of you degenerates ever find yourself passing through the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill part of North Carolina, you should drop me an email and allow me to buy you a beer.
I'd like to thank everyone for the advice on buying a laptop. Really, y'all were a big help. So, thanks everybody!
And, Smasher, email me your address, pls. I'm still planning on coming to the DC meetup.
Michael, what did you get?
Text, I usually end up in Nashville at some point during the summer--my sister in law lives there, and my mother in law is just down the road in BG, KY.
Oh, I'm still dithering. Amazon has rebates!
Ooh, if you go through Amazon, click through someone's Amazon link and give them the huge-ass 6% cut off the thousand dollar purchase (she says like a greedy whore).
Ok, but if I do, you have to send w-lfs-n a booby picture.
All right, if you give me the referral payoff for buying a laptop on Amazon, Ben gets a booby picture. Done, and done.
Thanks for thinking of me, Michael.
It would have been unseemly of me to ask for myself.
Laptop ordered. (you know I'm kidding about the booby pictures, right?)
It doesn't matter whether you were kidding, as long as Dr. B was sincere.
Hilariously, Ben was far too gentlemanly to actually *ask* me to fulfill my promise. I, however, am far too much of a lady to break one, and I trust Michael's purchase will show up tomorrow morning (darn Amazon and their slow system). so I shall send Ben a nekkid pic, as promised.
I don't want anyone else to feel left out, though, so here are some boobies, gratis. No need to thank me.
Oh dear, for god's sake don't click on that link. My bad.
Next time Michael will have to be more specific.
Let's all bask in the warm glowing warming glow of 107.
102: I think something's wrong with your boobies, B. You should get that checked out by a doctor.
Wouldn't a veterinarian be more appropriate?
