I'm Back!!!

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #1 22-04-2005, 09:50 PM

Don't panic.

I am back on line

Got pooter back today. The bloke said it would cost $600 or more to fix it. NO WAY!!!

I told him he is a rip-off and I brought it back home. I only paid $700 for it about 2 years ago and have seen the same model for sale recently in the $300 - $400 range with a better monitor than mine.

So I am stuck with the same old piece of garbage, and you my friends are again stuck with me HA-HA!!

Thanks guys for minding my spot.

Any major news while I was gone?

frogman (Anthony Lord) · #2 22-04-2005, 09:54 PM

What did he say was wrong with it ? ? ?

EX-PC Technician EX i said. !

A fair bit has gone on but nothing that interesting.

Anthony

jackenau · #3 22-04-2005, 10:04 PM

Welcome back Ken. Computers sure are a bit hit and miss. You can guarantee that they will halve in price once you purchase them, but cost twice as much to repair once they stuff up.

Ken M

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #4 22-04-2005, 10:05 PM

Hi Anthony, he said it needs a major overhaul with a new motherboard and some other parts I dont know the name of. I am very computer dumb but I know a con-job when it comes along.

My pooter works fine except for freezing regularly (if you can call that 'working fine').

He reckons if I take it home it won't work. Well Mr. Rip-off, I am using my computer and it works (so far).

Nothing interesting in here! Really? Bet there was and your not tellin' me! LOL.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #5 22-04-2005, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jackenau
Welcome back Ken. Computers sure are a bit hit and miss. You can guarantee that they will halve in price once you purchase them, but cost twice as much to repair once they stuff up.

Ken M

Yes Ken, you got that right!

mick pinner · #6 22-04-2005, 10:49 PM

Check out astro talk, star party in the wind.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #7 22-04-2005, 11:06 PM

Good to have you back Ken!

Glad you didn't go for the BS/con-job.

Your problem is most likely a software (Windows) flaw and replacing the hardware is not gonna fix it. Generally, when hardware fails, it fails spectacularly. With software, bugs usually lurk in the background, only to surface at the most inopportune times. So I'd recommend upgrading Windows at minimal cost (say get Win2000 2nd hand for $5-40) ... assuming you would not be prepared to go for something free but more exotic.

... bottom line is that you need to find someone close-by who is at least as interested in helping you as in making a $, and knows what they're doing. That last part is the trickiest bit...

rowena · #8 22-04-2005, 11:08 PM

If your computer keeps freezing, its probably faulty RAM, and that is fairly cheap nowadays!. That should of been the first thing he tested!. The problem with updating to a "new" motherboard is that then you have to update RAM, and even some video cards aswell

arr computers... the joy the joy!

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #9 22-04-2005, 11:18 PM

Thanks Steve and Rowena.

I think I'll just save up and buy a new pooter. This one was second hand when I got it 2 years ago.

Big W has 2 different 'Acer' Laptops for $1249 & $1269. Any good?

Mick, I have posted a reply in 'Victorian Star Party'. Thanks for the info.

rowena · #10 22-04-2005, 11:37 PM

Never had experience with Acer, though i did a quick stint in a helpdesk job for 2 weeks a few years back, and i know Acer and Asus computers where very easy to make reboot. things could of changed in that time.
Do you have a Aldi store near you? They sell laptops and they seem really reasonably priced!

I have a dell laptop that i picked up 2nd hand for under $700. All i have done is added some extra ram, and upgraded from a 8gig harddrive to a 80gig harddrive (only because i travel lots, and take lots of photos... it was either a laptop or a x-drive to upload my photos too) but otherwise most other people wouldn't of needed the upgrade in hard drive.

RAJAH235 · #11 22-04-2005, 11:38 PM

Hi Ken, Welcome home. Have you run all your anti-virus/spyware progs.?

Could just be a bug you picked up!

L.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #12 22-04-2005, 11:45 PM

Hi Laurie, Yep. I run all those progs regularly.

Rowena, I have no idea what you are talking about sorry. I don't know what a 'ram' is except the 2 Rams in my paddocks for making my sheep have lambs. I am very computer illiterate.

I need to upgrade but don't have a lot of dollars. Does a laptop do what a PC does? or are they different?

janoskiss (Steve H) · #13 23-04-2005, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ballaratdragons Does a laptop do what a PC does? or are they different?

For sure! A desktop PC is nowhere near as effective at male birth control.

RAJAH235 · #14 23-04-2005, 12:18 AM

I knew there was a reason for it.

L.
ps. What are they going to say is bad for us next??? Thermistor anyone??

Starkler (Geoff) · #15 23-04-2005, 12:28 AM

Mine cost me $460 to repair after replacing psu, motherboard, ram, and hard drive.

I did it bit by bit. If i had of known the total of all things to replace, i would have just bought a new pc for 8-900.

While its still working you might wanna back up all the important stuff you dont want to loose if your hard disk crashes out.

Oh yes, welcome back !

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #16 23-04-2005, 12:38 AM

Thanks Geoff.

If I back everything up and the PC crashes wouldn't I lose the back ups too? If I can't use the PC I wouldn't be able to get in to get the back ups. Or am I way off track?

Plus, If I was to 'back up' the important stuff that would be a LOT of stuff.

This computer stuff is confusing.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #17 23-04-2005, 01:37 AM

Back up on some media external/independent of your PC, like a CD, DVD and/or memory stick. (CD burners are very cheap these days < $40)

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #18 23-04-2005, 01:49 AM

Oh. Ok Steve. Thanks.

Is a laptop just like a desktop only smaller or nothing like it?

In other words if I got a laptop, will it do what a desktop computer does?
What's the difference apart from the size and the monitor being attached.

There are no computer people around here to ask, just mainly farmers.

Jonathan · #19 23-04-2005, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ballaratdragons

Big W has 2 different 'Acer' Laptops for $1249 & $1269. Any good?
.

Welcome back Ken. I bought a Dell for $1299 a few months ago. If these are the same Acer's I looked at don't bother with them. Battery life of 1 hour instead of about 4 hours with the Dell. The Dell also has a DVD burner, bigger screen and is easy to upgrade RAM and other parts on. Dell also has good support and service if you have any problems. I wouldn't buy a second hand laptop. They tend to "wear out" over time, batteries and screens tend to have problems and aren't cheap to replace. Also cheap LCD screens give crap image quality. I'd stay away from a laptop unless you need the portability because you pay a lot extra for them in comparison with a desktop. Google anything you are interested in and you'll find heaps of reviews.

Striker (Tony) · #20 23-04-2005, 08:46 AM

Ken...welcome back....

A laptop can do just as much as a desktop now a days.....the only problem is most people want AGP or PCI video card not video that's on the motherboard...it does make a difference running graphical programs....

Yes you can get lots of laptops with graphics cards running on the AGP or PCI slot but it boosts the cost of the laptop up considerably.....

For example....you would have to pay around $1800 for such a laptop...but if it was a desktop with the same specs....cost around $1000.

Just remember what ever you get...make sure you get heaps of RAM...the more the better....1 gig is fairly average now a days....but 512 is minimum.

Couple of minimum specs if you want a good computer.

3 gig processor
512mg DDR Ram minimum
80 gig Hard drive
64 - 128mg Video card (AGP, PCI)
Burner DVD or CDRW

Ken If you see something you like PM the specs to me and I will let you know if its any good....