Author Topic: Compatibility  (Read 599 times)

computechat

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Compatibility
« on: 1 August 2002, 11:50 »
Hello, I am going to get a Computer from BestBuy since it is the only decent computer in the price range I have been set... And I'm not so happy about the fact of this little inconvience of Windows XP Home Edition. Now, I have made myself a promise to get away from Windows ASAP. I'm going o install RedHat 7.3 on this computer http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11165003&m=488&cat=490&scat=491 do you see anything that wouldn't be compatible since someone on an IRC server to make sure that everything was compatible first (irc.computingchat.ath.cx:6667 nice plug, eh?). So here I am making sure :\

Thanks for your help, if any  
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trc3

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« Reply #1 on: 1 August 2002, 13:17 »
Why not check out some of the machines from walmart with Mandrake pre-installed...

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product_listing.gsp?cat=102252&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A3951%3A102252

Or they have machines without an OS, if you like...

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product_listing.gsp?cat=86798&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A3951%3A86798

Personally I wouldnt buy a pc from best buy, I would suggest trying to shop around more, im sure you can find a place with better prices.  Especially if your planning to order off the net.  When I clicked on the link it said temporarily unavailable due to maintenance, so I dont know about the combatability, but you can check at the site for witch ever distro your planning on getting.

[ August 01, 2002: Message edited by: trc3 ]


choasforages

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« Reply #2 on: 1 August 2002, 14:01 »
not to piss anyone off, but i think the guys at best buy are clowns. i would recomend the system from walmart, there wouldn't be any compatibliity issues with it, it would be under warrenty, etc etc.
x86: a hack on a hack of a hackway
alpha, hewlett packed it A-way
ppc: the fruity way
mips: the graphical way
sparc: the sunny way
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trc3

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« Reply #3 on: 1 August 2002, 14:16 »
quote:
Originally posted by choasforages:
the guys at best buy are clowns.


Thats what im saying those fuckers rarely know what their talking about, and they dont care what you want, as long as they get their commission from the sale...

creedon

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« Reply #4 on: 1 August 2002, 19:01 »
Check out carbonlinux.com; fairly nice boxes w/ Mandy pre-installed, all components Linux-friendly, reasonable prices- with a warranty!
I'm SERIOUS about Linux; are you??

computechat

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« Reply #5 on: 1 August 2002, 23:49 »
Maybe but it's like better than the computer I was going to get at www.swt.com the computer I was going to get with RedHat 7.3 preinstalled from there was around $1,300. And I don't like Mandrake but I'll check out the ones without an OS

Thanks.
 - I have just noticed that first post sounds like a formal e-mail :\
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computechat

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voidmain

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« Reply #7 on: 2 August 2002, 00:35 »
You should be very happy with that system.  I have an Athlon 1600+ with 512MB and a Geforce 2 card running RedHat 7.3 and it screams. I see that one comes with the Geforce 4, didn't notice what main board is installed, I have the Soyo Dragon.  At any rate should be a fine machine!

Another note, did anyone notice the message at the bottom of the page regarding M$ software?  I would be willing to bet there was some M$ lawyers pressuring them into putting that there.  Isn't it funny that you have to assume that M$ people are brain dead?  Wonder why they didn't put a note on there about SCO, Solaris x86, or any other proprietary non-M$ OS?  Because it is assumed that Windows users are stupid, that's why.

[ August 01, 2002: Message edited by: VoidMain ]

Someone please remove this account. Thanks...

Sleeping Dog

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« Reply #8 on: 2 August 2002, 02:55 »
If you want something "off the shelf"....go with the Wall Mart box....it's as good as any.  Personally speaking, I would hit the MicroPro website http://www.micropro.com/home.htm and order a custom configured box for about the same money.  That way you would get hardware that is very upgradable, good documentation, good warranty and excellent support.  The last dozen boxes that I have built came from them with excellent procing and results.

I just did one for a client last month based on the Tyan Dual Athlon MB running only one 2 Gig processor with 512 MB RAM and an 80 Gig HD.  Even with only one processor it screams.  Within 12 to 18 months, the cost of a second 2 Gig processor should have dropped enough so that the performance boost gained by adding it will be very cost effective.  You won't find that kind of upgradability in any off the shelf box.  We also stayed away from built in audio and video.  That's what AGP and PCI slots are for.  I installed a high end SoundBlaster and a Matrox Dual Head video card instead.

Total cost for the whole rig was only slightly more than a preconfigured system, and this thing will still have performance viability when the "off the shelf" box makes it to the yard sale.

Cheers and Beers

Sleeping Dog

choasforages

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« Reply #9 on: 2 August 2002, 04:58 »
but the great deals are from making systems from barebones ones, like $300 and my ass has a very nice xp1700 system, and im pissed cuase right now i need to upgrade cuase being i/o limited is odd, but uncool, like all supercomputers arn't limited by processor speed, there i/o limited, and agp 2x on a 64 meg sdr geforce 2 is getting annoying. thoh the walmart system looks good if you don't want to build it yourself
x86: a hack on a hack of a hackway
alpha, hewlett packed it A-way
ppc: the fruity way
mips: the graphical way
sparc: the sunny way
4:20.....forget the DMCA for a while!!!

computechat

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« Reply #10 on: 2 August 2002, 05:47 »
quote:
Originally posted by VoidMain:
did anyone notice the message at the bottom of the page regarding M$ software?



heh, i didn't see that

[ August 01, 2002: Message edited by: penguin2be ]

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computechat

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« Reply #11 on: 2 August 2002, 10:14 »
Hrm... I looked at MicroPro.com and their prices are too high for the stuff that they give :\
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Sleeping Dog

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« Reply #12 on: 3 August 2002, 19:30 »
Like with anything else, you have to "shop" a little bit to get exactly what you want.  MicroPro was just one suggestion.  Unlike WalMart, you probably could talk the sales guys at MicroPro into giving you a 5% (or more) discount on your order.  The reality is that all wholesalers and retailers, especially those with computer gear, are having difficulty moving inventory right now.  Why else do you think that Intel and AMD are delaying the release of the newer/faster CPU's?  Watch the "Orders vs. Inventory" numbers on CNBC and it can help you determine when the best time to buy hardware is regarding price.

You get what you pay for. was never more true than it is with computer gear.  Check out that off-the-shelf box and see if you can add a faster CPU, or even a second one.  See if the MB can handle a high end graphics card by disabling the on board video (some you can't disable).  See if you can determine who manufactured the components in the first place.  On a support level a year or two later, this can be a LARGE issue.  A few MB's are also TOTALLY INCOMPATABLE with some high end graphics and sound cards, not to mention applications.  (YES, this DOES happen!)

In the late 80's I bought a 486 DX50.  It was the fastest thing going at the time.  By doing a custom order, I spent an additional 100 bucks to get an EISA motherboard instead of ISA.  The EISA MB was a small server board and had true 32 bit throughput instead of 8 bit.  It also had one of the first flashable BIOS chips on it.  It benchmarks like a P-120.  I still have that box in my office and use it occasionally for a plot server or for word processing if my other machines are tied up with other users or tasks.  I spent a little extra on the front end and it has really paid off as time has gone by.

With a custom order, you will also get full hardware documentation and drivers for every component.  This too can save you a bundle of headaches a year or few down the road.  Don't assume that you will always be able to find those things on the Internet.  I have an 8 Meg video card and a 10/100 network card sitting beside me on my desk that we have not even been able to determine the manufacturers of, despite all of the sophisticated search methods.  That is going to cost my client money.  She will now have to replace two components that we could reuse if we knew who made them.

Best of luck with your purchase.

Sleeping Dog

jtpenrod

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« Reply #13 on: 4 August 2002, 21:56 »
quote:
Wonder why they didn't put a note there about SCO, Solaris x86, or any other proprietary non-M$ OS? Because it is assumed that Windows users are stupid, that's why
quote:
* Important Customer Note Regarding Microsoft Windows: Windows software that was originally purchased with a Personal Computer (PC), and any Windows upgrades subsequently installed on that machine, cannot be transferred to another PC. Therefore, if you purchase a PC without Windows installed and wish to run Windows, you will need to purchase a new full version - not a Windows upgrade.
While M$ certainly does assume that their customers are stupid (the Win XP default GUI says it all    ) there is more to it. The M$ EULAs are some of the most restrictive, and M$ itself is one of the most aggressive persuers of what it regards as "pirates". They have never liked those who sell any systems without M$ soft. They especially don't like the selling of systems with no soft at all. They always assume that those who buy a system without soft is going to put pirated M$ soft on it. It doesn't seem to occur to them that not everyone out there loves them, and that there are those of us who get along just fine without them. Once more, we see the arrogance of His Gatesness and Macro$uck at work.

By including this notice, they're doing some CYA. Indeed, those who choose to defy the Dark Lord of the Land of Redmond had better do some serious CYA if they don't want their A handed to them.
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TheQuirk

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« Reply #14 on: 4 August 2002, 10:34 »
hey, that's funny, how come you're on that IRC server? I'm usually there! I even opened a MES channel there!