The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: billt on July 01, 2014, 09:26:31 AM
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I'm going to Best Buy this morning and buying a new desktop. Mine is 5 years old and full of bugs, pop up spyware, name it. These damn thngs are basically disposable items after a length of time. I checked and I can get drivers for both of my printers for Windows 8.1.
All I do is surf the Internet and store pictures, so I don't need anything fancy. This is what I'm getting:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-pavilion-slimline-desktop-4gb-memory-500gb-hard-drive/5815013.p?id=1219194065871&skuId=5815013&st=categoryid$pcmcat212600050008&cp=1&lp=1
I paid the same price to have my trees trimmed last week, so it's not too bad. I don't see a slot that my camera memory card fits, but I can download through a USB cord right from the camera if I have to. Hopefully the hook up will be somewhat painless. If you don't see me here for a few days....It wasn't.
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I make a living developing an operating system that competes with Windows in some ways so take whatever I say with a grain of salt.
I have used Windows 8.1 and don't like the user interface at all. It's is very different from previous versions of Windows so plan on a learning curve as you get used to it. There are trying to make look and feel more like cell phone rather than the traditional Windows desktop. But there's still a way to get to "old fashion" desktop look when you need it. It does seem reliable enough which has not always been the case with Windows.
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Well, I'm up and running on it. At least so far. I still have a lot to do. The resolution is too small, and it's only taking up half of the page. But at least the hookup went OK.
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Well, I'm up and running on it. At least so far. I still have a lot to do. The resolution is too small, and it's only taking up half of the page. But at least the hookup went OK.
Resolution is a pretty easy fix on Windows.
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I'm getting it, but what a pain. I still have to get my Windows Live Mail working. I only was able to get one of my printers working. The driver for the other won't work with Windows 8.1. Even though it says it will. And it's the newer of the 2 printers. Go figure. I'm still trying to recover a lot of my favorites.
I just wish they would get all the bugs out of these new systems before they go prime time with them. I'm hoping after several updates it will be easier. I couldn't find a new PC at Best Buy that ran Windows 7. You have to order them, and they were more money than the Windows 8.1 models. None were in stock.
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I honestly think MS makes unnecessary changes to how functions are invoked and what they are called just to sell class time for folks who have to support them.
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I'm getting it, but what a pain. I still have to get my Windows Live Mail working. I only was able to get one of my printers working. The driver for the other won't work with Windows 8.1. Even though it says it will. And it's the newer of the 2 printers. Go figure. I'm still trying to recover a lot of my favorites.
I just wish they would get all the bugs out of these new systems before they go prime time with them. I'm hoping after several updates it will be easier. I couldn't find a new PC at Best Buy that ran Windows 7. You have to order them, and they were more money than the Windows 8.1 models. None were in stock.
One thing you can do for future ease is to go get a portable hard drive and as soon as everything is up to where you want it, back-up everything to the portable drive. Then in case of a crash or new machine, just download everything to the computer.
I back mine up about every three months and store it in a fireproof safe.
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I'm just afraid I'll be storing all of the spyware and other crap that slowed it down in the first place.
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Probably no more than you'll get on the new machine if you are not running anti-virus or spyware protection...along with adblocker.
I dump all my cache and history files and cookies and then run a full scan before the back-ups.
Not had a problem so far.
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Well, it's taken several days, but I finally have everything up and running. I finally found a driver for my other HP printer that works. So now both work like they did before. I got my mail running without having to go to my Internet provider to get it. All I have to do now is get the links in my E-Mails to become "hot", so I don't have to cut and paste them. I have no idea why that is happening? I've heard of others complaining about that with Windows 8 versions. My Internet provider said it's a Windows problem, not the Internet provider. I agree because it didn't happen with my other computer.
The whole thing is running faster now. I went into the control system and changed a bunch of settings. It's like anything else, it's different, and you have to get used to it. So much for "plug & play" :-\ That term has all but become a total joke in the computer industry.
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Well, it's taken several days, but I finally have everything up and running. I finally found a driver for my other HP printer that works. So now both work like they did before. I got my mail running without having to go to my Internet provider to get it. All I have to do now is get the links in my E-Mails to become "hot", so I don't have to cut and paste them. I have no idea why that is happening? I've heard of others complaining about that with Windows 8 versions. My Internet provider said it's a Windows problem, not the Internet provider. I agree because it didn't happen with my other computer.
The whole thing is running faster now. I went into the control system and changed a bunch of settings. It's like anything else, it's different, and you have to get used to it. So much for "plug & play" :-\ That term has all but become a total joke in the computer industry.
Obviously you have misunderstood that term. Let me 'splain it to you.
You plug your new computer in then you have to play with it to get it to run. If you plug anything into your computer after you have it running you have to play with it AND the new item to get them to play together. ;)
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Obviously you have misunderstood that term. Let me 'splain it to you.
You plug your new computer in then you have to play with it to get it to run. If you plug anything into your computer after you have it running you have to play with it AND the new item to get them to play together. ;)
You ain't wrong there. ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Windows 8 is a rotten bag of squid.
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I make a living developing an operating system that competes with Windows in some ways so take whatever I say with a grain of salt.
I have used Windows 8.1 and don't like the user interface at all. It's is very different from previous versions of Windows so plan on a learning curve as you get used to it. There are trying to make look and feel more like cell phone rather than the traditional Windows desktop. But there's still a way to get to "old fashion" desktop look when you need it. It does seem reliable enough which has not always been the case with Windows.
There is a reason for the new Windows look.... I wish I could say more but there is an NDA.
BTW did you see MS picked up Perceptive Pixel? ;)
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There is a reason for the new Windows look.... I wish I could say more but there is an NDA.
Yeah, the new look is so that you can't tell by looking at it that it's a rotten bag of squid.
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Rotten squid, piece of $h!t, or otherwise, I took the damn thing back! The last straw was when it locked up about an hour ago. I couldn't even get on the damn thing.
They told me they didn't have a new Windows 7 desktop in the store, and the only way I could buy one is to order it on line. so now I'm back where I started a week ago on my old computer. At least the keyboard doesn't miss strokes like the new one did. What a POS. Live and learn.
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http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=8668546&CatId=4937
Screw Win 8...
Acer makes a decent laptop... Win 7 - 64 bit
edit..
I just read the HP link you originally posted....
I've paid more than 250 bucks for a CALCULATOR, Bill!
Just saying... ;D
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Screw Win 8...
You won't be able to much longer, because it's all that's going to be out there. I'm going to order a Windows 7 Professional from Wal-Mart. They've got nice ones for around $450 to $550. All I need it for is to surf the web.
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I know!
As I said earlier, I've bought my last Windows based PC. Picked it out before Win 8 was the only thing available and damn glad for it. There are a few out there but beware of anything from Wally World. They're specifically built for WM and not the real deal. Plenty of "bloatware" to clog things up.
I've bought clean systems from Dell the last ten years. Only what I want at a price I can live with...
Good luck...
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If you can handle the price, I do recommend a Mac. I switched a little over a year ago and haven't had a single problem with my Mac Mini.
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I think I'm going to order this Dell this morning from Best Buy, and have it sent right to the house. There is a Asus just like it I'm looking at as well. They're within $80 of each other.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-xps-desktop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive/7571006.p?id=1219279726037&skuId=7571006&st=pcmcat143400050013_categoryid$abcat0501000&cp=1&lp=14
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I had to replace my home computer recently and my work computer also just got replaced. Both are Windows 7. Other than a few printers that don't have drivers for 7, it's not bad. I was able to transfer all my data over to the new computer with a handy little utility in Win 7.
They are both Dells and I got mine on Amazon. for $700-something.
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Check with Dell on their website.....sometimes they run specials...... I ordered a package for our neighbors a few years ago after their unit crapped the bed, and Dell was actually cheaper than any local retail box store.
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I went with the Dell. I checked both Best Buy and the Dell website, and they were the same. I should have it by early next week. It's got 8G of RAM and the Intel i7 Core Processor, so it should run pretty quick. Being as it's Windows 7, I know it will be easy to get going. Stay away from Windows 8.1......At least for now.
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That's the same specs, OS and processor my laptop (Sony) has.
It runs plenty fast! You'll like it.
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Pretty much what's in my Dell laptop as well. Should work well for you; use the support services if you have trouble. The last time I called I actually got a Texan on the phone instead of an Asian from Bhopal!
;)
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Pretty much what's in my Dell laptop as well. Should work well for you; use the support services if you have trouble. The last time I called I actually got a Texan on the phone instead of an Asian from Bhopal!
;)
You sure you dialed the right number??
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You sure you dialed the right number??
Sho nuf...
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Well my new Dell arrived Monday, and I got everything hooked up. I also went out and bought a new LG 29" Split Screen Monitor to go with it. I should have done this right out of the gate, instead of screwing around with cheap crap.
This thing has Windows 7 installed and it's as fast as lightning! I sometimes forget how much stuff I have open on the task bar, because it doesn't slow this thing down one bit. Both printers hooked up, and the drivers downloaded effortlessly. This new monitor is really nice. It's bright, sharp, and clear with 2560 X 1080 screen resolution. The video card supports this thing without a hitch. Plenty of USB ports, (10 total), and 2 HDMI ports. One in the back of the computer, and the other right on the video card. So after over a week of screwing around, I'm up and running with a good set up. Never again. As they say, buy once and cry once. This is the monitor:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg-29-ips-led-hd-219-ultrawide-monitor/3831023.p?id=1219093974953&skuId=3831023&st=lg-ultrawide-monitor-119808&cp=1&lp=1
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I was also reading that Windows 9 is supposed to be coming out in the Fall. That alone should tell everyone what a unpolished turd Windows 8.1 was, is, and always will be. File it in the same drawer Windows Millennium and Vista ended up in.......Provided you can stand the smell.
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'Bout time, Bill!
Once you get things situated, comfy and clean, get rid of MacAfee or Norton antivirus (usually free with a new PC for a few months) and buy something else.
I use Avast. They have a free version but several times a year they have a special sale of the full version. It runs seamlessly and does what's expected.
T