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• refurb Shuttle XPC SN27P2 w/ nForce 570 mobo = $214
• AMD Athlon X2 5200+ 2.7Ghz CPU = $100 w/ promo code
• 2x 1GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 RAM = $77 w/ promo code
• EVGA NVIDIA 8800GT 512MB video card = $227
• Seagate 500GB 7200RPM 32MB cache SATA 3.0Gb/s disk = $110
• Samsung 20X SATA DVD dual-layer burner = $24

• refurb Shuttle XPC SN27P2 w/ nForce 570 mobo = $214
• AMD Athlon X2 5200+ 2.7Ghz CPU = $100 w/ promo code
• 2x 1GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 RAM = $77 w/ promo code
• EVGA NVIDIA 8800GT 512MB video card = $227
• Seagate 500GB 7200RPM 32MB cache SATA 3.0Gb/s disk = $110
• Samsung 20X SATA DVD dual-layer burner = $24

• refurb Shuttle XPC SN27P2 w/ nForce 570 mobo = $214
• AMD Athlon X2 5200+ 2.7Ghz CPU = $100 w/ promo code
• 2x 1GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 RAM = $77 w/ promo code
• EVGA NVIDIA 8800GT 512MB video card = $227
• Seagate 500GB 7200RPM 32MB cache SATA 3.0Gb/s disk = $110
• Samsung 20X SATA DVD dual-layer burner = $24

• refurb Shuttle XPC SN27P2 w/ nForce 570 mobo = $214
• AMD Athlon X2 5200+ 2.7Ghz CPU = $100 w/ promo code
• 2x 1GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 RAM = $77 w/ promo code
• EVGA NVIDIA 8800GT 512MB video card = $227
• Seagate 500GB 7200RPM 32MB cache SATA 3.0Gb/s disk = $110
• Samsung 20X SATA DVD dual-layer burner = $24

• refurb Shuttle XPC SN27P2 w/ nForce 570 mobo = $214
• AMD Athlon X2 5200+ 2.7Ghz CPU = $100 w/ promo code
• 2x 1GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 RAM = $77 w/ promo code
• EVGA NVIDIA 8800GT 512MB video card = $227
• Seagate 500GB 7200RPM 32MB cache SATA 3.0Gb/s disk = $110
• Samsung 20X SATA DVD dual-layer burner = $24

• refurb Shuttle XPC SN27P2 w/ nForce 570 mobo = $214
• AMD Athlon X2 5200+ 2.7Ghz CPU = $100 w/ promo code
• 2x 1GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 RAM = $77 w/ promo code
• EVGA NVIDIA 8800GT 512MB video card = $227
• Seagate 500GB 7200RPM 32MB cache SATA 3.0Gb/s disk = $110
• Samsung 20X SATA DVD dual-layer burner = $24

• refurb Shuttle XPC SN27P2 w/ nForce 570 mobo = $214
• AMD Athlon X2 5200+ 2.7Ghz CPU = $100 w/ promo code
• 2x 1GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 RAM = $77 w/ promo code
• EVGA NVIDIA 8800GT 512MB video card = $227
• Seagate 500GB 7200RPM 32MB cache SATA 3.0Gb/s disk = $110
• Samsung 20X SATA DVD dual-layer burner = $24

Because people just want to bitch at the poor guy, I thought I might suggest something that's actually USEFUL.

Put the lappy in a computer case. Many of them (the couple of Thermaltake cases I've used recently have options like this) provide places to put a little pad-lock on. Heck, if memory serves, the Thermaltake Matrix actually has a lock built right onto the side of the case. If you wanted, you could even swap out the case's fans for some USB fans and get some real airflow going. Beyond this, however, I think you're talking about something custom made.

Something that hasn't been pointed out yet that I'd like to bring up is the fact that ANY kind of locked box is really a bit of a joke. Yes, it'll keep out ex-con Janitor Joe from just picking something up off your desk, but it won't keep him from coming in late at night and walking off with the whole box. Let's face it, thieves steal the family safe and crack it open later at their leisure.

My solution back in the days when I was issued a laptop, was to slap the lappy into the docking station locked by the company issued security cable and then run wires through a gap in the filing cabinet for all my personal goodies.

I can get a 64bit mobo, 64bit proc, and still ahve problem finding on that can take more then 8Gigs of ram.

well I wish 64 Bit would get pushed and 32 Bit activly phased out. as in, stop making it.

I recently spent some time at Newegg pricing out a new rig.

Motherboard ~ $150 (at least. Unless you want to get a motherboard that won't be upgradable because it's using a 1 generation old socket.)
CPU ~ $200 - 300 (core 2 duo's run around $200, quads around $300)
RAM ~ $250 (for 2 gigs of average quality RAM in the proper speed. A minimum for running VM's and gaming)
Graphics card ~ $300 (for any Nvidia 8x00 card, although this may have dropped a bit with the release mentioned in TFA)

If you're willing to use an AMD platform again, motherboards using the new AMD 780G chipset (socket AM2+ for Phenom, PCI Express 2.0, HyperTransport 3.0, RAID 0/1/10, integrated Radeon HD 2400 based graphics, HDMI) start at $80 ($70 after rebate) at Newegg.

For now, a $61 Athlon 64 X2 4200+ (65nm with VT support) should be a very nice temporary upgrade from your Athlon 64 3500+. I'd wait for the post-TLB versions of Phenom to ship before going quad-core, but Phenom prices (currently around $200) should be significantly lower than Core 2 Quad since Intel still shows an absolute performance advantage for this generation.

I don't get how you got $250 for 2 gigs of "average quality RAM in the proper speed" because a pair of 1GB DDR2 800 sticks start at around $40 for the "value" stuff (including Patriot and Kingston) and around $75 for "enthusiast-grade" Corsair XMS. If DDR2 800 is not fast enough, does a low-end gaming/VT rig really need more than those sub-$90 DDR2 1066 kits?

I know integrated low-end Radeon HD graphics isn't for "gamers," but note that it is based on the current Radeon architecture (Radeon HD 2400), so it should be much better than your GeForce 5600LE for now. Also, I don't think you can get more upgradable than a PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot.

Of course, don't buy a new rig unless you need it. You seem to have other things in your life that are more important. On the other hand, a new rig can help some busy gamers keep their sanity. ;-)

I recently spent some time at Newegg pricing out a new rig.

Motherboard ~ $150 (at least. Unless you want to get a motherboard that won't be upgradable because it's using a 1 generation old socket.)
CPU ~ $200 - 300 (core 2 duo's run around $200, quads around $300)
RAM ~ $250 (for 2 gigs of average quality RAM in the proper speed. A minimum for running VM's and gaming)
Graphics card ~ $300 (for any Nvidia 8x00 card, although this may have dropped a bit with the release mentioned in TFA)

If you're willing to use an AMD platform again, motherboards using the new AMD 780G chipset (socket AM2+ for Phenom, PCI Express 2.0, HyperTransport 3.0, RAID 0/1/10, integrated Radeon HD 2400 based graphics, HDMI) start at $80 ($70 after rebate) at Newegg.

For now, a $61 Athlon 64 X2 4200+ (65nm with VT support) should be a very nice temporary upgrade from your Athlon 64 3500+. I'd wait for the post-TLB versions of Phenom to ship before going quad-core, but Phenom prices (currently around $200) should be significantly lower than Core 2 Quad since Intel still shows an absolute performance advantage for this generation.

I don't get how you got $250 for 2 gigs of "average quality RAM in the proper speed" because a pair of 1GB DDR2 800 sticks start at around $40 for the "value" stuff (including Patriot and Kingston) and around $75 for "enthusiast-grade" Corsair XMS. If DDR2 800 is not fast enough, does a low-end gaming/VT rig really need more than those sub-$90 DDR2 1066 kits?

I know integrated low-end Radeon HD graphics isn't for "gamers," but note that it is based on the current Radeon architecture (Radeon HD 2400), so it should be much better than your GeForce 5600LE for now. Also, I don't think you can get more upgradable than a PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot.

Of course, don't buy a new rig unless you need it. You seem to have other things in your life that are more important. On the other hand, a new rig can help some busy gamers keep their sanity. ;-)

I recently spent some time at Newegg pricing out a new rig.

Motherboard ~ $150 (at least. Unless you want to get a motherboard that won't be upgradable because it's using a 1 generation old socket.)
CPU ~ $200 - 300 (core 2 duo's run around $200, quads around $300)
RAM ~ $250 (for 2 gigs of average quality RAM in the proper speed. A minimum for running VM's and gaming)
Graphics card ~ $300 (for any Nvidia 8x00 card, although this may have dropped a bit with the release mentioned in TFA)

If you're willing to use an AMD platform again, motherboards using the new AMD 780G chipset (socket AM2+ for Phenom, PCI Express 2.0, HyperTransport 3.0, RAID 0/1/10, integrated Radeon HD 2400 based graphics, HDMI) start at $80 ($70 after rebate) at Newegg.

For now, a $61 Athlon 64 X2 4200+ (65nm with VT support) should be a very nice temporary upgrade from your Athlon 64 3500+. I'd wait for the post-TLB versions of Phenom to ship before going quad-core, but Phenom prices (currently around $200) should be significantly lower than Core 2 Quad since Intel still shows an absolute performance advantage for this generation.

I don't get how you got $250 for 2 gigs of "average quality RAM in the proper speed" because a pair of 1GB DDR2 800 sticks start at around $40 for the "value" stuff (including Patriot and Kingston) and around $75 for "enthusiast-grade" Corsair XMS. If DDR2 800 is not fast enough, does a low-end gaming/VT rig really need more than those sub-$90 DDR2 1066 kits?

I know integrated low-end Radeon HD graphics isn't for "gamers," but note that it is based on the current Radeon architecture (Radeon HD 2400), so it should be much better than your GeForce 5600LE for now. Also, I don't think you can get more upgradable than a PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot.

Of course, don't buy a new rig unless you need it. You seem to have other things in your life that are more important. On the other hand, a new rig can help some busy gamers keep their sanity. ;-)

I recently spent some time at Newegg pricing out a new rig.

Motherboard ~ $150 (at least. Unless you want to get a motherboard that won't be upgradable because it's using a 1 generation old socket.)
CPU ~ $200 - 300 (core 2 duo's run around $200, quads around $300)
RAM ~ $250 (for 2 gigs of average quality RAM in the proper speed. A minimum for running VM's and gaming)
Graphics card ~ $300 (for any Nvidia 8x00 card, although this may have dropped a bit with the release mentioned in TFA)

If you're willing to use an AMD platform again, motherboards using the new AMD 780G chipset (socket AM2+ for Phenom, PCI Express 2.0, HyperTransport 3.0, RAID 0/1/10, integrated Radeon HD 2400 based graphics, HDMI) start at $80 ($70 after rebate) at Newegg.

For now, a $61 Athlon 64 X2 4200+ (65nm with VT support) should be a very nice temporary upgrade from your Athlon 64 3500+. I'd wait for the post-TLB versions of Phenom to ship before going quad-core, but Phenom prices (currently around $200) should be significantly lower than Core 2 Quad since Intel still shows an absolute performance advantage for this generation.

I don't get how you got $250 for 2 gigs of "average quality RAM in the proper speed" because a pair of 1GB DDR2 800 sticks start at around $40 for the "value" stuff (including Patriot and Kingston) and around $75 for "enthusiast-grade" Corsair XMS. If DDR2 800 is not fast enough, does a low-end gaming/VT rig really need more than those sub-$90 DDR2 1066 kits?

I know integrated low-end Radeon HD graphics isn't for "gamers," but note that it is based on the current Radeon architecture (Radeon HD 2400), so it should be much better than your GeForce 5600LE for now. Also, I don't think you can get more upgradable than a PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot.

Of course, don't buy a new rig unless you need it. You seem to have other things in your life that are more important. On the other hand, a new rig can help some busy gamers keep their sanity. ;-)

I recently spent some time at Newegg pricing out a new rig.

Motherboard ~ $150 (at least. Unless you want to get a motherboard that won't be upgradable because it's using a 1 generation old socket.)
CPU ~ $200 - 300 (core 2 duo's run around $200, quads around $300)
RAM ~ $250 (for 2 gigs of average quality RAM in the proper speed. A minimum for running VM's and gaming)
Graphics card ~ $300 (for any Nvidia 8x00 card, although this may have dropped a bit with the release mentioned in TFA)

If you're willing to use an AMD platform again, motherboards using the new AMD 780G chipset (socket AM2+ for Phenom, PCI Express 2.0, HyperTransport 3.0, RAID 0/1/10, integrated Radeon HD 2400 based graphics, HDMI) start at $80 ($70 after rebate) at Newegg.

For now, a $61 Athlon 64 X2 4200+ (65nm with VT support) should be a very nice temporary upgrade from your Athlon 64 3500+. I'd wait for the post-TLB versions of Phenom to ship before going quad-core, but Phenom prices (currently around $200) should be significantly lower than Core 2 Quad since Intel still shows an absolute performance advantage for this generation.

I don't get how you got $250 for 2 gigs of "average quality RAM in the proper speed" because a pair of 1GB DDR2 800 sticks start at around $40 for the "value" stuff (including Patriot and Kingston) and around $75 for "enthusiast-grade" Corsair XMS. If DDR2 800 is not fast enough, does a low-end gaming/VT rig really need more than those sub-$90 DDR2 1066 kits?

I know integrated low-end Radeon HD graphics isn't for "gamers," but note that it is based on the current Radeon architecture (Radeon HD 2400), so it should be much better than your GeForce 5600LE for now. Also, I don't think you can get more upgradable than a PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot.

Of course, don't buy a new rig unless you need it. You seem to have other things in your life that are more important. On the other hand, a new rig can help some busy gamers keep their sanity. ;-)

If $500 is too much then it's probably not a great time to be trying to upgrade your machine anyway, at least not if you want a gaming rig. But I have to point out that if you shop around you don't have to pay top dollar like that. For instance, the Asus P5B is a perfectly workable motherboard equipped with Socket 775 (for your Core2Duo) for $120. The lower end Core2Duos can easily be had for another $120, Memory is cheap. And you can even get a pretty good graphics card for under $200. Granted, this isn't top of the line parts (you have a lot of headroom on the C2D), but it would last for years assuming you don't want to run whatever the next Crytech-based game is.

If $500 is too much then it's probably not a great time to be trying to upgrade your machine anyway, at least not if you want a gaming rig. But I have to point out that if you shop around you don't have to pay top dollar like that. For instance, the Asus P5B is a perfectly workable motherboard equipped with Socket 775 (for your Core2Duo) for $120. The lower end Core2Duos can easily be had for another $120, Memory is cheap. And you can even get a pretty good graphics card for under $200. Granted, this isn't top of the line parts (you have a lot of headroom on the C2D), but it would last for years assuming you don't want to run whatever the next Crytech-based game is.

It looks like there's no space left in the case at all. How many hard drives can it hold? How many CD-ROM drives. If I went all out on a computer with quad SLI, and dual quad core CPUs I'm not going to cheap out on hard drives.

I currently have a Lian Li PC-V2000 full tower. Holds something like 12 hard drives and 6 CD-ROMs, I had 8 drives (2.2TB) and 1 CD-ROM. Plus it gives me more than enough room to work with. The only time it's massive size became an issue is when I moved and had to bring the computer into the car and into the office for a few days. The case is under my desk so prettiness isn't much of a factor but when people see it they're impressed (not often you see a case you can sit on while rolling down the street.) I rarely understand these designer PCs, they never look that good, and the designs are almost always dated and old looking in a couple years anyway.

Tellme, what version of HD-DVD is going to have feature parity with blu-ray? Lossless sound, large capacity, minimally decent support from studios. Oh what's that? Never? Oh. Wonder why blu-ray won out.

The price hike is because customers are willing to pay more for blu-rays than they would have paid for hd-dvd. Maybe not you, maybe not me, but they are out there. Why not cash in? Once the early adopters are fed for another year, then we can see some cheap players. Blu-ray is not catering to the bottom. It's the best mass produced movie tech ever produced, certainly far far far ahead of hd-dvd. It will be a long time before we see $30 blu-ray drives.

If that's not what you want, then by all means wait or never buy at all. But the economics are predictable and not really sinister at all.

You want 16 cores eh ?

Quad x Quad with AMD from Asus:

http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=9&l2=39&l3=575&l4=0&model=1868&modelmenu=1

You want crazy I/O, try a 16 port multi-lane SATA II 3ware controller.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816116059

If you need bigger I/O than that and you got a 'unlimited' budget call EMC
for a RAM drive SAN, lol.

Enjoy !

I think a lot of people here are really kidding themselves if they think the format has any future whatsoever.

I think you've missed the point then. The point is that HD-DVD is a quick, cheap and dirty way to obtain HD quality playback economically right now. The format may or may not be included on optical devices in the future, depending on whether the manufacturers think they will gain a little edge on the competition by offering backwards compatibility in new devices as they are designed in the future.

If it's easy enough, the manufacturers generally err on the side of adding the format's capability. Thus we already see products that look like this SAMSUNG Blu-ray and HD DVD Hi-Def Duo Player BD-UP5000. A standalone combo player available today that works with both formats.

Is the benefit of cheap HD right now worth the risk that the backwards compatibility may not ever appear? For some it obviously is worth the risk and thus the speculation about said future compatibility.

I can buy an HD-DVD BluRay combo drive today.

Why the deliberately obtuse antagonistic belligerent reply? I won't say that you didn't really know what the hell you were talking about, or that you just jumped at the opportunity to be an ignorant blathering fanboy.

I'm too nice for that.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822144080

The power of 20 single layered Blu-Ray discs at half the cost and much faster transfer speeds.

"hey argue that by forcing manufacturers, who already have thin margins to cut their margins even further by creating cheaper and cheaper commodity hardware, it will limit the likelihood of manufacturers investing in high-margin, high-value, cutting edge hardware- and will therefore limit the development of said hardware."

You can go to Walmart and buy a complete PC system with LCD for $400, even less online. Has that stopped manufactures from making faster processors and video cards? Of course not, and neither will cheap laptops.

The Eee PC is no threat to Sony or any other major manufacture. It has no dvd-rw drive, no hard drive, and the cheapest $300 model only has 2gb of storage. 2gb! Most laptops have more ram than this has total storage! It costs $500 to get a Eee with only 8gb, and for that price you could buy a full-sized 1.86ghz Inspiron 1525 from Dell or Walmart has several laptops betweeen $400 and $500

Saying the Eee PC threatens laptop manufactures is like saying motorcycles threaten SUV sales. If they really want to be competitive, Sony should make a Eee PC clone. I'm sure there's money to be made selling a 7" LCD, 2gb storage and 900mhz processor for $300.

Sony's argument is BS. I would think they'd be more worried about the full-sized $500 laptops competing with their $1,500 notebooks considering they're much closer in specs.

Exactly, I know more people learning to program x86-64 arch than MIPS, PowerPC and IA-64 combined. Best bang for the buck right now is the 95 buck AMD 5000+ Black Edition, fully unlocked processor on a 65 nm die running at 65 watts stock. It is an easy and cheap overclock.

• $65 MSI microATX motherboard (GeForce 7100 chipset, DVI, Core 2 Quad compatible)
• $59 dual-core Celeron or $70 Pentium Dual-Core (both Core 2 Duo based)

• $65 MSI microATX motherboard (GeForce 7100 chipset, DVI, Core 2 Quad compatible)
• $59 dual-core Celeron or $70 Pentium Dual-Core (both Core 2 Duo based)

• $65 MSI microATX motherboard (GeForce 7100 chipset, DVI, Core 2 Quad compatible)
• $59 dual-core Celeron or $70 Pentium Dual-Core (both Core 2 Duo based)

If you'll note, I said E6750, not E6420. It'd be stupid to pay $200 when you can get a better processor for a bit less:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115029

Now unless it's one of the few apps that actually utilizes quad-core, the E6750 beats or compares to the 9700, which is at least $50 more expensive than it is (can't find a 9700 for sale anywhere, 9600 is $240). And if you need quad-core, the Q6600 is probably about the same price as the 9700 and about the same performance.

I've never been a fanboy of Intel nor AMD (being a fanboy in general is pretty stupid...no company always makes the best products). My prior PC was an AMD 64 3800+ (which is now chugging away happily as a server). I build AMD machines for the workstations where I work because you can make a great machine for $300. What I'm saying is that AMD is simply not competitive for most applications in the mid-high end right now. I really wish they were and hope they get there, because competition is good, very good. Intel getting the crap kicked out of it for years and producing the Conroe is a great example of why....had AMD not been beating them, they might have just stayed lazy and complacent and just done the standard MHz upgrades.

'Course, $300 would be a small price to pay to get a working copy of XP to make the machine actually worthwhile, but for some strange reason no one seems to want to sell XP any more, almost like the manufacturer is bullying them...
newegg claim to have it in stock and quite cheap too even for full retail.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16837116195

From newegg.com:
Blu-ray DVD burner: US$259.99

Which model is that? The cheapest model I see is $355.

Does it support 1080p? I've been tempted to get a HD-DVD player mainly to use as a DVD upconverter. I'll be watching for the HD-A30 to go on clearance.

Newegg put the A20 on sale for $100 a few days ago. They're out of stock, but if they get any more in it's a good deal. However, it's somewhat doubtful that they'll get any more since it's the older model. Doesn't hurt to add your name to the notify list, though.

That is the Vista Premium System Builder price from Newegg.com. Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM No bundled hardware.

The fully assembled Acer dual core Vista Premium desktop with 2 GB of RAM is $500 at Newegg.com Let me know how many people you think build their own laptops.

None of the printers that print the codes use any ink.

They are all color laser printers. In my color laser printer, even the "freebie" toner cartridges that came with the printer last for 1,500 pages, and then I replaced them after 2,000 pages with high-capacity cartridges that last for 4,500 pages each.

Also, I am pretty sure all of them use 4 colors: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, so that your "order confirmation" printing would only use the color toner that was needed.

My color laser printer (Konica-Minolta 2530DL) only prints the yellow dots in color mode.

But that printer is a bit different in that it rotates the toner cartridges into place for every color that is going to go on each page, so a color page has to wait for all 4(CMYK) cartridges to rotate into place, but in black-only mode doesn't rotate anything to be about 5-6x faster.

The reason I chose that printer? Konica-Minolta supplies open-source printer drivers that compiled on my AMD64-Ubuntu box.

1. Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
2. Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
3. Intel Xeon 5160 Woodcrest 3.0GHz 4M shared L2 Cache Socket 771 80W Dual-Core 2U Passive Processor - Retail

1. Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
2. Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
3. Intel Xeon 5160 Woodcrest 3.0GHz 4M shared L2 Cache Socket 771 80W Dual-Core 2U Passive Processor - Retail

1. Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
2. Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
3. Intel Xeon 5160 Woodcrest 3.0GHz 4M shared L2 Cache Socket 771 80W Dual-Core 2U Passive Processor - Retail

Google probably would be just as fast... but since I like Newegg anyway:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116215

I'm sure you'll find many other sources -- but in short, yes it is.

Your pricing is way off. For example, you can buy Vista Home Premium for $110 (link). That's $39 cheaper than OSX Tiger. And the upgrade version is even cheaper than that, which is pretty much the equilivent to what Apple is selling you anyway, since that OSX Tiger disk is only good for computers that originally came with OSX anyway.

I have several Vista machines. My primary home desktop is running Windows Vista Ultimate and it's smooth as silk:
Pentium D 840+
4GB ECC PC6400 DDR2
Radeon HD 3870

Granted this is an excessive amount of hardware for most users (I'm a gamer), it is what I am used to and it runs great. Another Vista box I have is my Vista development box at work running Windows Vista Business. It's a Dell Optiplex 755:
Core 2 Duo E6750
4GB PC6400 DDR2
Radeon X1300

Again, this system runs smooth as silk. If Vista is running sluggish, throw more RAM at it. It's cheap as dirt and it will really help Vista's performance.

Turn off UAC, enable the the run box on the start menu, set your page file to static min and max size, turn off any unnecessary services, and your system will be singing. The same was true when XP came out. The OS was more than most peoples' hardware could handle. It's the nature of Windows. I am surprised so many people are crying about it. Last time I checked it was status quo.

4GB of RAM for $130 at Newegg --> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145176

Now you don't have an excuse.

The Eee has also got a built-in SD slot. I would suggest getting a bunch of SDHC cards (rather than thumb drives). For example, right now Newegg is selling a 4 GB SD card for $9.49 after a mail-in rebate. So: $400 for the Eee, plus $200 for 80 GB worth of SD cards, should allow you over 3GB of photos per week. And honestly, twenty SD cards are a heck of a lot easier to manage than an optical drive and twenty DVDs.

I'd go with an asus eee. Cheap, disposable, uses solid state. Instead of DVDs, mail back 512MB/1GB usb thumb drives or SD or CF....whatever you want.

link

Really?

And there are cheaper and more expensive models available. How about putting these up against a USB drive?

The bottomline is that these prices are all artificial and just comes down to what the customer is willing to pay.

NewEgg, 32gb from $189

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233063

OCZ and Corsair make some high performance USB drives. Corsair's red Voyager GT (Not the standard blue one) gets over 20MB/sec write. Of course, "reasonably priced" may be a stretch... they're about double the price of much slower drives.

Per Corsair "Ram Guy" forums:

"The average read and write for a
  4 G GT FV 25.5mbs Wite and 34 Mbs Read
  Non GT 4G FV is 2.2mbs Write and 19.2mbs Read."

(Reference: http://www.asktheramguy.com/v3/showthread.php?t=65150&highlight=voyager+speed)

Corsair appears to be holding to that, offering replacements for a few that report 22MB/sec reads.

Product links:

Corsair Voyager GT 8GB:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233054

OCZ Rally 2 Dual channel advertises 8MB/sec+ writes:

http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/flash_drives/ocz_rally2_usb_2_0_dual_channel_flash_memory_drive