The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: ghostman1960 on August 09, 2009, 10:04:27 AM
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I was wandering around Walmart today and I saw this PC and decided to get it. Its a Compaq notebook. It has windows vista on it and it has 3072MB ddr2 system memory, a 160GB hard drive, it plays and copies Cd's and DVDs. a 15.6" diagonal hi def wide screen display and 3 usb ports. Now don't ask me what any of this means as I am just reading it off the box. The best part was the price. I paid $315 out the door. I'm still trying to figure it out but it sure beats my old gateway running windows Me. If I made a bad choice go easy on me as I know practically next to nothing about computers and this one was cheap. ;D
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I know just enough about computers to turn them on and get on here ...
Welcome to the playroom!
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I know just enough about computers to turn them on and get on here ...
Welcome to the playroom!
Well our PC knowledge is just about the same then! Thank you for the welcome.
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Keep the receipts and the carton it came with!
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Keep the receipts and the carton it came with!
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Why do you expect something to go wrong with it?
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Why do you expect something to go wrong with it?
Just a case of CYA. After all, sh!t DOES happen.
Personally I've got point and click pretty well figured out ;D
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Why do you expect something to go wrong with it?
Not necessarily but Walmart has had some problems with their electronics over the years. They make everything in China and HP or Compac just slap their name on it. It's not much different with Dell, Gateway or Acer these days. Don't worry about it but it's always good to know the retailers return policy.
I personally don't buy "canned" computers from retail outlets because you end up with a lot of pre-installed software that is sometimes difficult to get rid of like AOL. I work with computers every day and you get what you pay for. If all you plan to do is internet stuff and the occasional letter or spreadsheet, you'll be fine.
The problems you had with your Gateway weren't the computer as much as the operating system. Windows ME was a piece of shit for an operating system...Vista should be better but until they force me to upgrade, I'll stick with XP...
Besides, it was only 300 bucks! You pay that much for a damn cell phone these days! Good luck!
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All true so far, but Compaq is HP's low-price brand name, and $300 ain't bad. If it lasts for 2 years, BFD, get another, at that price they are almost throw-aways.
Compaq/HP stands by their products. To get rid of stuff that comes pre-packaged, just right-click (in XP, I think it still applies to Vista) and select properties. That will tell you where the programs are hidden on the hard drive, and you can just delete them and the icon. Better yet, get a neighbor kid to do it for you if you feel challenged on this.
The main things they will scrimp on is video (low-end, no high-tech games or video for you, like blu-ray), a smaller disk (160G is small these days). 3GB of RAM is also marginal for Vista, but should do the trick. All-in-all, not industrial strength, but adequate for day-to-day consumer use like email and DRTV!!!!
Congrats, and enjoy it.
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Thank you for the input. I have learned a lot so far.
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Welcome ghostman, In addition to my desktop, I have a Compaq Presario, laptop, and its fine for what I do with it. You shouldn't have any issues barring any global virus that will hit them all anyway...
I use Mozilla Firefox instead of IE. Pictures upload to photobucket.com, and can be pasted here for the required "porn" that we are addicted to here, (uh,..that's gun porn,,...), 8)
Anyway, let it rip, glad your here.
TW
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If all you're going to do is surf the net, import photos and listen to music, anything will do and that's a good price even for a throw aeay computer. My advice would be the same as if you'd bought a top of the line machine - back up anything important!
I happen to be a Mac user, as the majority in my field still are. A lot of their components are made in China as well. Don't worry. Just enjoy it.
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GOOD LUCK with VISTA!
That operating system is a real POS. You will find many applications that do not run on it. Very likely if you have an older printer there will not be drivers for it, etc.
VISTA SUCKS!
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I had 1 game that wouldn't work with Vista so I put it on another computer. No other problems with Vista.
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Either way he's still upgrading, as 'bad' as Vista is he's been running with the worst Windows ever. Most of the bugs have been ran out of Vista so your good to go. And HP/Compaq is a good brand, got a Compaq that's six years old that I use as my server. Most hardware compatibility issues with Vista are physical problems not software.
Family photos, taxes, and anything else important to CD or DVD then throw them in the fire safe. Cheap and will last longer than you will.
Fuzdaddy, I don't know where to start. A Mac? Are you still trying to pick girls up with you computer in public? 'Look at my symbol of my individuality put in computer form.' I'm just messin with ya. What field you in? Coffee house play write?
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Fuzdaddy, I don't know where to start. A Mac? Are you still trying to pick girls up with you computer in public? 'Look at my symbol of my individuality put in computer form.' I'm just messin with ya. What field you in? Coffee house play write?
Haha! I'm a Graphic/Web Designer. Every company and studio that I've ever worked at uses them. Even at the post-production studio for infomercials that I worked at. Mac OS really is more intuitive and with the newer OS's, I never even have to worry about drivers. The computer just sees them. The prices are more reasonable than ever on them and the newer ones will even run Windows and more efficiently than PC's. Mine, however, are a little older and will not run Windows - thank god.
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For the price you can't be that setup. And good luck with Windows Vista...
Most of all BACK UP ALL important documents and files... because any thing made by man is fundamentally flawed, and it can not escape its inevitable failure.
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For the price you can't be that setup. And good luck with Windows Vista...
Most of all BACK UP ALL important documents and files... because any thing made by man is fundamentally flawed, and it can not escape its inevitable failure.
CORRECT
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I use Linux. Looking for a new program that has the latest flash player and Opera, a great web browser. Can't get You tube no more. Looking at Xandros, has some good music apps, I play bass guitar and like to edit my bass lines. XP was junk, so is Vista, Bill left too many Gates open. Windows has so many patches, It runs slow. My Linux program closes my ports in case of an attack, and that has been happening with more frequency. Must be all the gun forums I'm on.
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CORRECT
was waiting for the number 1 Mac cheer squad to comment LOL BTW you get the MIL puter running?
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Hey Woody, I use Linux too, Xandros, ( formerly Linspire ) the new app sucks, I think they are trying to commit slow suicide, Xandros is in bed with Microsoft. I get you tube, but have downloaded the new flash player about ten times, it loads but I cannot access it, so there are certain video contents I cannot watch, HULU #1. If you have any tips, PM me. For what ever reason, I cannot access my printer, or Dvd player, I have even reloaded the machine with Linspire 6.0 and wiped everything out to start over, still no access, but it works fine for internet browsing, and no viruses get through.
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Haha! I'm a Graphic/Web Designer. Every company and studio that I've ever worked at uses them. Even at the post-production studio for infomercials that I worked at. Mac OS really is more intuitive and with the newer OS's, I never even have to worry about drivers. The computer just sees them. The prices are more reasonable than ever on them and the newer ones will even run Windows and more efficiently than PC's. Mine, however, are a little older and will not run Windows - thank god.
Ahhh...make sense. Even though the prices have become recently more reasonable, they still can't compare with the value, variety, and power of PCs. But your right, Macs are simple to use, its a slowpoke's, and an IT guy's, dream. ;)
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Congrats on the new toy ghostman.
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was waiting for the number 1 Mac cheer squad to comment LOL BTW you get the MIL puter running?
there has to be one in the crowd
now where is that up yours smily
o well this will do
(http://www.funny.szm.sk/Animal/Up%20yours.jpg)
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Good to see another Texan m25operator using Linux. I just upgraded my computer. Got a new box for more spaces and a quieter power supply, and installed a MCI motherboard powered by an AMD 5800. 2.8 x 2, 1gig of ram, and replaced Linspire 5 0 with Ubuntu 8.1. That's the program you need. It's got a great media center that powers my Sound Blaster live drive. I can plug my bass guitar in and record ,edit it and record it to DAT. Man this thing is fast! Ubuntu8.1, you can down load it burn a ISOdisc and it's free! I gave away my unused XP home to a needy friend. Linux kicks Microsoft out of the water.
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I was wandering around Walmart today and I saw this PC and decided to get it. Its a Compaq notebook. It has windows vista on it and it has 3072MB ddr2 system memory, a 160GB hard drive, it plays and copies Cd's and DVDs. a 15.6" diagonal hi def wide screen display and 3 usb ports. Now don't ask me what any of this means as I am just reading it off the box. The best part was the price. I paid $315 out the door. I'm still trying to figure it out but it sure beats my old gateway running windows Me. If I made a bad choice go easy on me as I know practically next to nothing about computers and this one was cheap. ;D
An abacus with half the beads missing beats the heck out of ANYTHING with Windows ME on it.
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An abacus with half the beads missing beats the heck out of ANYTHING with Windows ME on it.
Any one with both hands that has all their fingers beats ME. That new Windows 7 though, its a sweet setup.
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you know its funny, I had ME for about 5 years and never had a prob. of corse all I really did on it was word processing.
now XP and vista on the other hand... ::)
currently having a prob with XP...