Computer wooooooooooe

[brigdh]

I forgot to say this in my last post (even though it was the whole reason I posted): I don't have much internet access right now because I don't have a computer. I'm in a school library right now. My laptop has been pronounced a lost cause by the kind people at the store, and I won't be able to get a new one till later this week. So, assuming that I know nothing about computers, are there any brands/makes that people recommend? Or, on the other hand, brands/makes that I should avoid? My laptop was a Compaq, and I've since been told that they tend to be fairly unreliable, so I'd like to avoid that again.

On a completely different topic: yami_valentine! A secret fic/art exchange for Yami no Matsuei. You know, like Yuletide or Secret Slasha, except for Valentine's Day instead of Christmas. It'll be much fun. Go sign up!

Also, there is still no one signed up for Tatsumi over at reflections_2. Feel the dead secratary love, people. A lot of other fandoms need to be represented, too. No characters have yet been claimed for X/1999 or Saiyuki or Death Note or Utena or Fruits Basket or many others. And how about Yuki from Gravition? Or Omi from Weiss Kreuz? I know there's fans for all of those on my flist. Go on over, dammit!

Comments

[quixotic-sense.livejournal.com]

*drags you to this post (http://www.livejournal.com/users/yasminm/476049.html), because she's insistent that way* :D

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hee. *is dragged* And dude, I totally adore your icon.

[kohakutenshi.livejournal.com]

Ahem. As I am a computer techie for my paycheck, I shall tell you of what I know.

Dell? The best, but they are prone to hardware failures periodically if you use it as a main system and carry it everywhere like I do. But support rocks on them if you upgrade to extended/gold.

Sony? I have no experience first hand, but I want a VIAO so bad my head is going to blow up next year if I don't get to buy one. :)

Compaq/HP? (merged, they did) Not any good anymore. Support is iffy, and if you break it? You're screwed in getting it back the way it was.

Gateway? *shudders* NO.

Anything generic? NO.

Also, buy Windows XP Professional. NOT Millenium, NOT Home.

That is all. :)

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! This is so helpful. ^_^

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

Dell & IBM are very reliable brands, and also tend to cost more. (Shocking.) Gateway is decent. I lust for a Sony VAIO. I have had very, very bad experiences with Toshiba laptops.

IBM, definitely, and possibly Dell have a refurbished computer program, where they'll sell you used computer equipment at some bit off the main price -- it's how I got my laptop a year ago; it was a few hundred dollars cheaper than the same moddel new; it looked new; and it's performed without a hitch.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That's so helpful.

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

Macs are expensive but reliable and much easier to keep for five or six or ten years. This machine I have at work is I think six years old and running the latest & greatest of everything and that's not uncommon. You might want to see if you can find a used or refurbished G4 cheap. (Or cheaper anyway.) There's a ton of freeware and shareware programs out there that can pretty much do everything you need; the only thing I'd worry about is MS Word if you need it but you might be able to get a bundle somewhere. I know Mac people are gabby and tiresome but it really is because the damn things are so easy.

I might sign up for someone else in reflections_2 but I've got...er...three essays and a lot of fic I've promised to people so...not now.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Everyone keeps telling me that I should adore Macs, but I've used them a few times and just haven't been that taken with them. *sighs* I feel like I have to renounce my geek-cred now.

And you're signed up for someone already, and for essays in ship_manifesto, so I'll let you off the hook. ;) I'm really trying to get not-yet-involved people to sign up.

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we need more new voices. Have you seen anything running OS X? It's really different and shiny and pretty. *is shallow*

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Nope, don't think so. I've pretty much only used Macs at the school computer lab, and I'm sure they weren't running anything new and cool. ^^;

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

It's kind of sexy.