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  • (January 12, 2023, 01:18:11 AM)

Author Topic: My next toy...  (Read 4321 times)

Demosthenes

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« on: April 12, 2004, 11:46:09 AM »
This has been brought up before, I'm sure, but I was recently thinking about this again.  I recently interviewed for a new job and I think if I get it, I'm going to reward myself by getting a new desktop machine.

And I'm sorely tempted to purchase one of these:  "Latte" Mini PC

The specs are really cool, considering its size.
  • Intel Pentium-4 2.4Ghz processor with 533MHz FSB
  • 512 MB DDR333 RAM installed
  • 60GB Hard drive installed
  • 24x/10x/24x/8x DVD/CD-RW combo drive
  • SiS 651/962 chipsets
  • Integrated video with 64MB shared memory. Supports up to 1600 by 1200 with 16 million colors.
  • Built-in 16-bit stereo (sound blaster / Adlib compatible)
  • Two 184-pin DDR slots (1 open), user upgradeable to 2GB
  • Four USB 2.0 ports (two front, two back)
  • Three Firewire ports (one front, two back)
  • VGA port
  • One 3.5mm Micro-phone in port
  • One 3.5 mm line out port (using Active Speaker)
  • One S Video and AV video port
  • One 6 pin PS/2 mouse port
  • One 6 pin PS/2 keyboard port
  • One printer port
  • Built-in 56k faxmodem RJ11 port
  • One SPDIF port
  • 10/100 LAN connector
  • No operating system installed.
  • Weight: approx. 4 lbs
  • Dimensions: 8" x 6" x 2.5"
  • Manufacturer Warranty: 1 year [/list:u]
    I'm thinking if I get one of these, I can retire my current desktop machine permanently.  It's a PIII 450mHz with 384mb of RAM and I'm dual booting Windows 2000 and Slackware 9.1 Linux on it (but mostly I hang around in Slackware... I haven't booted into Windoze on it for about a month and a half, and even that was just because I tweaked some hardware and wanted to make sure everything still worked in both OSes).

    I'm thinking that by retiring my current desktop PC, I will open up enough space in my computer cabinet that I'll be able to put my printer in there and out of the way, since the mini-PC is small enough to put on my desk next to my monitor without too much headache.

    Plus, since it comes with no OS, I'm not paying for a fricken XP license I'll never use (that really pissed me off about the laptop I bought last year).   :evil:

    I figure I'll just partition the 60gb hard drive out to 10 gigs for Windows 2000, 3 gigs for Slackware Linux root (which should be way more than enough), 3 gigs for Linux home, and 44 gigs FAT32 for data, shared between Linux and Windows.

    And at $1,269.99 I think the price is right.  :)
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Demosthenes

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« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2004, 12:05:05 PM »
Man, come to think of it this would be pretty cool too... I could shop around for a processor that way, and RAM, plus a CD/DVD/CD-RW drive and video card, and I think I could put together something even cheaper than that mini-PC I linked above.  Plus, it'd be pretty sweet looking and a bit more easily tweaked, hardware-wise.  I kind of like that...

EDIT

Whoops, looks like it needs a hard drive too... that might put it over the top.
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My next toy...
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2004, 01:33:22 PM »
The PC from the first post has a built in video card. If you plan on using this for gaming then that's very bad.
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Demosthenes

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« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2004, 01:36:50 PM »
Quote from: TheJudge
The PC from the first post has a built in video card. If you plan on using this for gaming then that's very bad.

Not particularly... I'm not really that much of a PC gamer.  I play the Civilization and Command & Conquer games, as well as Black & White and a few others, but nothing that would justify me spending more than say $80 on a video card ever.  :)

So that's not an issue at all with me.
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Dark Shade

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« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2004, 01:56:48 PM »
Those're some pretty damn good specs on that machine, Demo. What job were you hoping to recieve?
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Demosthenes

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« Reply #5 on: April 12, 2004, 02:58:12 PM »
I interviewed last week for an IT management position for another local company.  I don't have any real competition for the job to speak of, at least according to the information I'm getting from a friend on the inside, so I'm hopeful.  If I get it, it'll be a pretty substantial raise in pay for me and quite a bit more job security.

Where I'm at right now I'm still making the exact same amount I was back in 2001, and my job security (along with just about everyone else at this company) is about as stable as the average soap bubble on a windy day.  Other than those two main beefs, I like this job... I'll be sorry to leave it if it comes to that, but hey, I gotta do what I gotta do, right?

Anyway, the interview went really, really well last week, so that bodes well also.  :)
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Dark Shade

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« Reply #6 on: April 12, 2004, 04:37:08 PM »
That sounds like a all-around boost for ya, Demo. Here's hoping you get the job, it sounds like you've got an excellent chance.
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Demosthenes

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« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2004, 04:54:15 PM »
Quote from: Dark Shade
That sounds like a all-around boost for ya, Demo.

Well, I don't really use my old desktop machine as my primary workstation at home... I usually use my laptop, which is a 2gHz Pentium IV with half a gig of RAM in it, so I already have a pretty fast machine at home, it just happens to be a laptop.  I figure it's high time I moved on to a faster and more up-to-date desktop machine as well.
Quote
Here's hoping you get the job, it sounds like you've got an excellent chance.

Why thank you.  That's nice of you to say.
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hackess

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« Reply #8 on: April 12, 2004, 04:58:07 PM »
Yes, good luck, Demo.

I, too, am waiting to hear about an IT position I interviewed for. Bastards are taking their sweet time...
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« Reply #9 on: April 12, 2004, 06:10:30 PM »
I hope you get it, Demo. I'm sure you will. You can throw me in the pile of people waiting to hear back from prospective employers. I do have a second interview next week, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
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« Reply #10 on: April 12, 2004, 06:18:48 PM »
In a similar vein, I'm thinking about getting one of these, but I'm having trouble justifying the purchase considering I bought a 'new' (it was refurbished) computer in October...
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Demosthenes

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« Reply #11 on: April 13, 2004, 09:42:50 AM »
Good luck to you as well, Cat and Xolik.  

Lacerda, how's your promotion treating you?
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My next toy...
« Reply #12 on: April 13, 2004, 02:07:10 PM »
My brother just bought a nice little shuttle computer, all he has to do is buy the RAM, hard drive, and video card (Only because he doesn't want to use the on boar video card).

I think it's a good idea. They are really small, they use less power than your normal computer, and they can be cheaper.

Newegg.com has a bunch of them here if you're looking to invest in a compact computer, but wish to add in some of your own componets.
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Demosthenes

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« Reply #13 on: April 13, 2004, 02:20:02 PM »
*slaps forehead*


I always forget about newegg!   :evil:

Thanks for the link, Chris.  I'm going to have to go look around there now and see if they have something that might even be better.  :)
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« Reply #14 on: April 13, 2004, 02:29:39 PM »
Quote from: Demosthenes

Lacerda, how's your promotion treating you?


Still the same job for more money thus far...so good, I wager.
 :o

Is there some kind of Canadian equivalent of NewEgg? I always envy the deals they show on that site...
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Demosthenes

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« Reply #15 on: April 13, 2004, 02:49:43 PM »
Actually, Chris, on this site they have mini-pc's available in "barebones" or built to your specifications.

I like this one:  http://www.cappuccinopc.com/mochae7042b.asp

Decked out the way I want it, with the 2.8gHz Pentium IV, the 2gigs of RAM, 80gig hard drive, CD/DVD/CD-RW combo drive, and a built-in 802.11b wireless network card, it comes to a grand total of $2,169.00.

Which actually isn't as bad as I thought when I was playing around with the customization options on it.

*drools*

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