Dell XPS L520x Quad Core i7, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 15" 1920x1080. Got it for 525€ due to a 50% off coupon applied on a model that already was on sale. Sure, normally you don't get it for that price, but at least Dell sometimes has insane actions. I'm sure that for 75€, I can get 8GB RAM. (Note: Always count 1USD=1EUR when comparing European and US prices... It's the way it works). This leaves the fact that it's not 13" as the listed MacBook, but I say you can get pretty insane hardware for low prices.
And if the EU does turn hostile to the US in some sort of bizarro-world, the US possesses capabilities to shoot them down. So it doesn't make a lot of sense along those lines.
You do realize that it's exactly statements like this that make us want to become as independent from the US as possible, right?
Yes, I saw that. When I typed in my home address (not IP address), I got a lot of blue spots. However, I couldn't zoom close enough to see whether mine was listed. When I typed in my home IP, it didn't work though. Perhaps they mean to type in street addresses and not IP addresses? I have no idea.
Just in time to start Zombie Apocalypse for Halloween. Seriously, though, I always assumed that the plague was a bacterium and it would be easy to combat it with antibiotics. Ouch, clearly not so. Seems that an outbreak even today could do severe damage.
Interestingly, my first reaction also was RNG on the question. Mainly because slashdot featured it as a story a few years ago. Obviously, once that happens, the instructions are out there. I always wanted to try it. Smoke detectors are easy to get, webcams are easy to get... I see no problems.
You're thinking in absolute terms, I think in relative terms. As others have said, "mom" machines tend to live for years and years... Better stack up for the future. The RAM it requires will probably be expensive and hard to find when the upgrade is needed.
My mom doesn't send cat pictures. She sends email to family and friends, does some ebanking and her digital photography. That's all... Assuming this machine will at least last 5 years, the it costs her 50€/year, or 5.2€/month. Cheap.
Yes, absolutely my experience too. 1GB DDR laptop RAM, costs more than two sticks of 4GB DDR3. If you need it you just cough it up, but really, at these prices... Just cram the mobo full with all the RAM you can get.
Point taken. Thing is, I tend to stay way from anything named Celeron or Pentium these days. Those names have negative connotations to me. That might not be warranted any more, but habits die hard.
Mom runs Ubuntu Linux 10.04LTS. She could do with 1GB, I guess... Consider this (prices from my local vendor):
1GB DDR3-1333: 9.69€ => 9,69€/GB
2GB DDR3-1333: 10.99€ => 5,495€/GB
4GB DDR3-1333: 16.99€ => 4,2475€/GB
8GB DDR3-1333: 229,90€ => 28,7375€/GB [*]
What's the best deal? Given it's a dual channel machine, you go for module pairs.. So, the logical option is to go 2x4GB. That would have been the cheapest too. For that insanely low price, I just decided to go full 16GB.
I don't understand why people scoff at giving my mom a 16GB machine. Sure, it's overkill, but it's affordable and no big deal.
[*] Obviously this is not in the same league as the other offerings, but it's the only 8GB sticks I could find in their shop.
At the current price for get RAM, you simply just cram any machine your build with all the RAM you can afford. It can cache the whole operating system for all I care.
Compare the prices for a 2GB sick versus a 4GB stick? What's a better deal? Now, since the machine is dual channel, you need two sticks anyway. So, that's 2x4GB = 8GB, which is the cheapest GB/price option. Since the motherboard had four slots and the RAM is so cheap I simply added another two 4GB modules. It's not for that 33€, I would have saved, that I would have gotten a significantly better CPU.
So, yes, I should have gone for 8GB and save those 33€.. Stupid me, I guess.
I buy AMD, mostly when I build myself and when I'm on a budget. Not because I like weak chips. I love CPU speed, but I also love to keep my wallet as full as possible. This is what AMD offers: "bang for your buck". AMD is interesting for anyone who wants to balance between spending money and reasonable performance. Want pure performance and it doesn't matter what it costs? Go Intel... No questions asked. (This wasn't so in the Athlon XP/64 days)
Also keep in mind that we are now really on a computing-power plateau. At least from the point of view of the average user. I've got a frigging Atom D525 as my primary desktop, which isn't exactly a powerhouse. It has some quirks, notably because Firefox sometimes seems to slow down (Installing the 64-bit Linux flash player made the situation better, for some odd reason... It still is not really ok though) Most of the time it works just perfectly fine. I'd wager that adding 50% more power to that chip would nullify my troubles.
I can't say much about these new Bulldozer machines, but I just ordered an AMD A6-3560 + Gigabyte motherboard + 16GB RAM for less than 250€. That's a lot of power for not much money. (Moms computer died, building a new one for her... She doesn't need much, this should be more than overkill) I'm very keen on trying it out.
Then it doesn't make sense to give the HB(n-1) with the HB(n) to people who bought the HB(n-1) under the same account! Do you think they'd rather have two sales for 0.01$ instead of one sale for 25$ where I give the unused keys away? Unused, it's not as if I'm going to use them too! If they have a problem with what I did, they can contact me right away... (It's not hard, my account is easily findable given my slashdot username) I'll give them 0.01$ for each bundle and and give those keys to my sister. Then it's a sale and I can gift the whole HB(n) as I wish to my sister.
If this is illegal, I don't want to do business with them ever again.
As said, they can contact me and reclaim what's theirs.
Personal use, by the way, usually implies "for use within the family". As far as I know, my sister is family.
You might not understand that, but I frankly think you're a horrible troll.
The question that then arises is: are you using 64-bit Linux? The binaries are 32-bit Linux, and if it's another platform we simply can't compare at all.
What would I do with steam keys twice? I buy HB1, get steam key, then I buy HB2 and get another steam key for HB1 and the steam key for HB2. It's the extra steam key I gave away. To my sister... For free. I did not resell it to some stranger on eBay.
To me that's still personal use.
Would you have complained had I said 'wife' instead of 'sister' because that would even have been the same household.
Fair point about the DRM... I also like the fact you get extra Steam/Desura keys for the bonus games if you paid more than average. Gave those to my sister every time and she was happy.
I played some Crayon Physics too, now you mention it. I stopped because my old Wacom Intuo3 A4 started acting up. Not the games fault, the Wacom simply is defective. It's less fun with the mouse...;-)
Frozen Synapse segfaults on my Ubuntu 10.04 LTS x86_64. Googling the problem didn't yield much information, so I just gave up. As this is my only machine that is currently "installed as I like it" and one of the weakest (Atom D525/2GB RAM/Intel GMA), it really isn't all that high up into my priority list. As a matter of fact, I should finally get around installing my Dell L502x with Core i7 (4 cores) instead of playing games. Bought it in June because of an insane -50% coupon I got, but I have just only unboxed it and let it lie there. It also will take much more time to setup because it is one of those "NVidia Optimus" chipsets without hardware multiplexer, so I'm bound for a painful experience. That's most likely why I didn't install it to my taste yet;-)
Slashdot Mirror
Dell XPS L520x Quad Core i7, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 15" 1920x1080. Got it for 525€ due to a 50% off coupon applied on a model that already was on sale. Sure, normally you don't get it for that price, but at least Dell sometimes has insane actions. I'm sure that for 75€, I can get 8GB RAM. (Note: Always count 1USD=1EUR when comparing European and US prices... It's the way it works). This leaves the fact that it's not 13" as the listed MacBook, but I say you can get pretty insane hardware for low prices.
References? First time I hear of this...
I'm sure it isn't impossible that this is a reason, but then taxing on actual road usage would be the fairest anyway. ;-)
You do realize that it's exactly statements like this that make us want to become as independent from the US as possible, right?
Yes, I saw that. When I typed in my home address (not IP address), I got a lot of blue spots. However, I couldn't zoom close enough to see whether mine was listed. When I typed in my home IP, it didn't work though. Perhaps they mean to type in street addresses and not IP addresses? I have no idea.
Same here for Luxembourg, Europe. Go figure. Perhaps US only?
Just in time to start Zombie Apocalypse for Halloween. Seriously, though, I always assumed that the plague was a bacterium and it would be easy to combat it with antibiotics. Ouch, clearly not so. Seems that an outbreak even today could do severe damage.
Interestingly, my first reaction also was RNG on the question. Mainly because slashdot featured it as a story a few years ago. Obviously, once that happens, the instructions are out there. I always wanted to try it. Smoke detectors are easy to get, webcams are easy to get... I see no problems.
You're thinking in absolute terms, I think in relative terms. As others have said, "mom" machines tend to live for years and years... Better stack up for the future. The RAM it requires will probably be expensive and hard to find when the upgrade is needed.
My mom doesn't send cat pictures. She sends email to family and friends, does some ebanking and her digital photography. That's all... Assuming this machine will at least last 5 years, the it costs her 50€/year, or 5.2€/month. Cheap.
Yes, absolutely my experience too. 1GB DDR laptop RAM, costs more than two sticks of 4GB DDR3. If you need it you just cough it up, but really, at these prices... Just cram the mobo full with all the RAM you can get.
Point taken. Thing is, I tend to stay way from anything named Celeron or Pentium these days. Those names have negative connotations to me. That might not be warranted any more, but habits die hard.
Back in the day it was required. Might have changed. Never tried.
You should have been there in the late eighties and try to buy 1MB of RAM. *sigh*
Our first computer, an IBM PS/2, had the insane amount of 1MB RAM... I remember people reacting the same way as they do now with the 16GB for mom.
Nah, I've got an i7 laptop. I just need time to set it up. I bought the Atom as a toy, but it ended up being my desktop. Go figure.
What's the best deal? Given it's a dual channel machine, you go for module pairs.. So, the logical option is to go 2x4GB. That would have been the cheapest too. For that insanely low price, I just decided to go full 16GB.
I don't understand why people scoff at giving my mom a 16GB machine. Sure, it's overkill, but it's affordable and no big deal.
[*] Obviously this is not in the same league as the other offerings, but it's the only 8GB sticks I could find in their shop.
At the current price for get RAM, you simply just cram any machine your build with all the RAM you can afford. It can cache the whole operating system for all I care.
Compare the prices for a 2GB sick versus a 4GB stick? What's a better deal? Now, since the machine is dual channel, you need two sticks anyway. So, that's 2x4GB = 8GB, which is the cheapest GB/price option. Since the motherboard had four slots and the RAM is so cheap I simply added another two 4GB modules. It's not for that 33€, I would have saved, that I would have gotten a significantly better CPU.
So, yes, I should have gone for 8GB and save those 33€.. Stupid me, I guess.
Nah, I simply didn't read the article... I'd say "that sucks" and AMD should fix their pricing then.
The i5 2500 alone cost as much as the motherboard plus the A6-3560. Sure it doesn't perform as well, but see if I care.
16GB RAM? Sure, that was not needed, but at 16.50€/4GB, why skimp?
/ME crosses fingers behind his back....
I swear I'll read the article next time.
I buy AMD, mostly when I build myself and when I'm on a budget. Not because I like weak chips. I love CPU speed, but I also love to keep my wallet as full as possible. This is what AMD offers: "bang for your buck". AMD is interesting for anyone who wants to balance between spending money and reasonable performance. Want pure performance and it doesn't matter what it costs? Go Intel... No questions asked. (This wasn't so in the Athlon XP/64 days)
Also keep in mind that we are now really on a computing-power plateau. At least from the point of view of the average user. I've got a frigging Atom D525 as my primary desktop, which isn't exactly a powerhouse. It has some quirks, notably because Firefox sometimes seems to slow down (Installing the 64-bit Linux flash player made the situation better, for some odd reason... It still is not really ok though) Most of the time it works just perfectly fine. I'd wager that adding 50% more power to that chip would nullify my troubles.
I can't say much about these new Bulldozer machines, but I just ordered an AMD A6-3560 + Gigabyte motherboard + 16GB RAM for less than 250€. That's a lot of power for not much money. (Moms computer died, building a new one for her... She doesn't need much, this should be more than overkill) I'm very keen on trying it out.
Yes, they are installed by default on Ubuntu and there is no documentation about what might be missing. Try again.
Then it doesn't make sense to give the HB(n-1) with the HB(n) to people who bought the HB(n-1) under the same account! Do you think they'd rather have two sales for 0.01$ instead of one sale for 25$ where I give the unused keys away? Unused, it's not as if I'm going to use them too! If they have a problem with what I did, they can contact me right away... (It's not hard, my account is easily findable given my slashdot username) I'll give them 0.01$ for each bundle and and give those keys to my sister. Then it's a sale and I can gift the whole HB(n) as I wish to my sister.
If this is illegal, I don't want to do business with them ever again.
As said, they can contact me and reclaim what's theirs.
Personal use, by the way, usually implies "for use within the family". As far as I know, my sister is family.
You might not understand that, but I frankly think you're a horrible troll.
The question that then arises is: are you using 64-bit Linux? The binaries are 32-bit Linux, and if it's another platform we simply can't compare at all.
What would I do with steam keys twice? I buy HB1, get steam key, then I buy HB2 and get another steam key for HB1 and the steam key for HB2. It's the extra steam key I gave away. To my sister... For free. I did not resell it to some stranger on eBay. To me that's still personal use. Would you have complained had I said 'wife' instead of 'sister' because that would even have been the same household.
Fair point about the DRM... I also like the fact you get extra Steam/Desura keys for the bonus games if you paid more than average. Gave those to my sister every time and she was happy.
I played some Crayon Physics too, now you mention it. I stopped because my old Wacom Intuo3 A4 started acting up. Not the games fault, the Wacom simply is defective. It's less fun with the mouse... ;-)
Frozen Synapse segfaults on my Ubuntu 10.04 LTS x86_64. Googling the problem didn't yield much information, so I just gave up. As this is my only machine that is currently "installed as I like it" and one of the weakest (Atom D525/2GB RAM/Intel GMA), it really isn't all that high up into my priority list. As a matter of fact, I should finally get around installing my Dell L502x with Core i7 (4 cores) instead of playing games. Bought it in June because of an insane -50% coupon I got, but I have just only unboxed it and let it lie there. It also will take much more time to setup because it is one of those "NVidia Optimus" chipsets without hardware multiplexer, so I'm bound for a painful experience. That's most likely why I didn't install it to my taste yet ;-)