Recently I realized that one of the main reasons I like Windows is that I build my own boxes. Most of the PCs sold are lame, including those by Dell, HP, and Acer. You can build your own computer using similar specs to anything from these manufacturers and generally (1) save money, (2) get better performance, and (3) avoid all the low-quality, resource-hogging software that comes pre-installed on retail PCs.
One other significant reason that I like Windows is that I haven’t been running Windows XP for a long time. I was one of the brave few who decided to give Vista a try and I have to tell you, XP is absolutely archaic in comparison. Even more so when you compare XP to Windows 7. Windows 7 is very, very good.
A simple example of what you get when you upgrade from Windows XP is the ability to mute annoying system sounds, like those “online/offline” dings that I can’t seem to turn off in Trillian. I know this feature may seem trivial, but all these little goodies add up to a great experience.
Don’t get me wrong, I also like Mac OS X and Linux. If only PC manufacturers would raise their standards, more people would like Windows as well. Fortunately, looking at the announcements coming out of CES last week, things are trending in the right direction.
So what about laptops? Building your own tower is all nice a good, but which laptops out there are worth anything? (I’m not saying that there aren’t any, I actually want to know since I’m looking at getting one.) I need a Windows box since I do Windows development and don’t want to break the bank…
I think Vista gets a bum rap. Sure, it had some problems when it was first released, but so did XP. I remember tons of people saying they hated XP when it first came out. And I agree, Windows 7 is very, very good. Now I just have to get around to cleaning up stuff on my laptop so I can wipe out the RC and install the RTM. I have a few months left, right?
I like building my own boxes for the reasons you mention above and because it’s just fun.
But I haven’t built a box for several years. I’ve gotten laptops instead. I just like the ability to choose between coding in bed, in front of the TV or at the kitchen table too much I guess.
What kinds of laptops have you used? I haven’t had a laptop for years (although I now own a netbook). Paul Thurrott favors Lenovo and I always thought that Fujitsu made some cool-looking laptops, but I haven’t personally tried either.
Ironic given the title of your post, but I currently have two Dells. A 15″ Inspiron that my wife adopted and a 13″ XPS that I use. Before that I had a 10″ Sony Vaio. That was way before netbooks came into being, so 10″ laptops still cost four digits back then. My current job doesn’t give me a laptop (boo!). For my previous job I had a couple of different Lenovos. For the job before that I had some kind of HP I think it was. As a research assistant before that we had some old school brick Dell laptops. I don’t claim them at all. They were junk but worked okay as robot brains.
The Lenovos probably had the best build quality of the ones I’ve used. I started with an older Lenovo and then got a couple of newer ones. I felt that the newer ones had better build quality than the new ones. The problem with the Lenovos was someone beat them with an ugly stick. At least I thought so anyway. I’m sure other people’s opinion on the Lenovo look differ. Plus I didn’t care for some of the bundled software on them. Looked like they were coded in Java (not that all Java programs are ugly, but some Java programmers should be ashamed of themselves). The Sony was probably the next best build quality. They definitely charged for it though. I might have the same complaint about the Lenovos, but I didn’t have to pay for them. The HP one was one of their business models I think, so it wasn’t all blindingly shiny with blinky lights and everything like some of their consumer models were. It was a decent machine, but nothing amazing. I would say the two Dells have the lowest build quality, but they were also the cheapest. With the two Dells I was going for cheap though, and they delivered in that department. I have had problems keeping power supplies going though. I don’t know if that’s a common problem or if I’ve just been lucky.
I’d like to try a Sony again, but I can’t bring myself to pay for their build quality (and ego). I don’t think I’d buy a Lenovo for myself, but I wouldn’t say no to one as a work laptop. I haven’t seen an HP that really interested me in several years, though they might have something that would interest me these days. Dell has made some good looking laptops recently, but some of the build quality and power adapter things concern me. But I would definitely check out their current offerings if I were in the market, especially if I wanted to keep my cost low.
My boss at Sebo also had problems with Dell power supplies and batteries. They basically told him that the lower-end laptops cut a lot of corners to keep costs down.
Maybe someday we will get to roll our own laptops:
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2010/01/shuttle-hints-at-build-your-own-laptop-with-spa-format-ready.ars
Or I guess you could hack one together. If this guy can do it with a PS3, using regular PC parts should be a piece of cake.
http://showcase.benheck.com/
I have a Lenovo laptop that definitely has outlasted my Dell. :: knock on wood :: I think my next laptop will be an HP. I like the style and options. Reformat with a fresh OS, easy. My only complaint about my Lenovo is the heat produced when doing absolutely nothing. Perhaps it’s just my model.
I love building my own desktops. I’m totally with Kurt–the quality and customization you get for the money is so much better.
I’ve been shopping around for a laptop lately, and frankly I’m not happy with anything in my price range ($600-$1000) at all. When I think I’ve found the right laptop, I find out the battery life is sub-two hours or that there isn’t a discrete graphics card or that it melts into plastic goo when you actually use the processor.
I would sooooo be buying hundreds in laptop hardware if I could roll my own!
I don’t want to look like a freetard, mainly because I’m not! I do use Windows 7 for my everyday work and I have to agree with you: windows improved a lot since XP.
BUT
I don’t think you choosed a good example. Gnome does this audio separation from source long ago.