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When we built our shop 5 years ago we went 100% dell - it wasn't a bad experience. Workstations have a neat clam-shell easy open ability - the server has been great. One of the flat-screens got a dark line on it one year past warranty - they sent me a new one anyway...Quote:
Originally Posted by RobDog888
But I've got customers with DELL servers and they have constant problems - raid array failures - all kinds of issues...
This is my first HP/compaq - and it all seems the same to me...
We're all Dell here as well. They used to be really good, our network admin still swears by them. We've had a couple problems recently (technical and on orders), and the customer service has really plunged. It might be because they outsource their service center now, but I really don't know for sure. All I know is, we've had to but heads a couple times.
There are still new model's coming out though. They maybe fazed out over time though, I noticed just recently they no longer offer the R4000 (which was my favorite)Quote:
Originally Posted by RobDog888
Very nice (I didn't like the 80GB hard drive, but I'm sure I could get that swapped for something bigger).Quote:
Originally Posted by szlamany
I never knew that. (I told you I wasn't a hardware guy.)Quote:
Originally Posted by RobDog888
That's right, Hp are using Compaq parts in their laptops. If however you buy one from www.compaq.com It'll only have COmpaq on it...Quote:
Originally Posted by szlamany
80GB not big enough! :eek: Yes it is possible to switch out the HDD, but you'd be better off with an external.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hack
I've only got 5 gb free right now - disk space when working with MS SQL seems to go quickly!Quote:
Originally Posted by -TPM-
Like a secondary HD (external) for all your data like database, project files, etc.
Hmmm...I was thinking in the 120 range but that would only be 40 more than you have now and if you are down to 5, then maybe I should be looking into the 200+ range.Quote:
Originally Posted by szlamany
I've got a server with 160 GB - two workstations with additional 200 GB drives - another with 180 GB drive...
Laptop gots 80 GB - old laptop got 40 gb...
And it's always all used up!
I can remember when the first 1 GB disk drive came out 20 (?) years ago - cost $1000 for the 1 GB - times have certainly changed!
Why not just go for a terabyte while you're at it? I'm sure you can find a microwave sized laptop ;)
I have 160GB (2x80's) on my laptop, plenty of room. More then I need really. If I had an insane amount of room, I'd just clutter it with garbage.
I think slamany has a good screen for developing. The widescreen laptops make it easier to write code without having to scroll horizontally. :)
Plus I jack-in a 17 inch flat screen to the right of it - keep QA and EM open on that screen - VB on the main screen. Keep the immediate window (when doing VB6) un-docked on the second monitor - I've gotten really used to lots of screen space.Quote:
Originally Posted by RobDog888
That's it sitting on a docking station on the far right...
http://www.vbforums.com/showpost.php...&postcount=109
Plus I've got my workstation to the left here for just doing e-mail and VB forum!
That is what I intend to use this for. Since my company insists on 'keepin' a brother down' by giving me nothing but VB6 projects, I'm going to take advantage of the fact that I have both VS 2005 and SQL Server 2005 by loading same on my new laptop and learning .NET on my own.Quote:
Originally Posted by RobDog888
I've got VB6, VS 2003 and VS 2005 all on this laptop - no problem with any of them interfering...Quote:
Originally Posted by Hack
I think that most of the GB went to MSDN/BOL stuff ;)
...but you can't live without it...
I had that happen to me. After I learned it good enough they wanted to start doing new projects in .NET. All so they didnt have to pay for me to learn it. :(
I think this is exactly where my company is coming from. They won't shell out the money to train me on .NET, but if I learn it on my own they will be more than happy to use me to develop projects in it. Actually, the same thing pretty much happened when I was first learning VB.Quote:
Originally Posted by RobDog888
That's crazy... I'm glad I'm not your admiin, I'd be forced to slap you silly :pQuote:
Originally Posted by szlamany
I am my own boss - and I slap myself silly most days...Quote:
Originally Posted by -TPM-
Yesterday we messed up a 1099 tax form for a client - they printed 2000 of them - all without box 4 filled in!
They got a rush order of new forms today - deadline is 5:00 pm mail...
They already put about $400 worth of postage on them before they even noticed it!
Oh well - that was like the first major oops I've had in 3 years ;)
You hiring szl? If you let me work from home, I'll go for 2k (US$) a month :)
But then he will have to give you room and board too.
Your wife cooks Steve?
Quote:
Originally Posted by sevenhalo
Hey hey, this isn't the want ads or "Hints From Heloise".Quote:
Originally Posted by RobDog888
Ditto + I'll clean up your laptop :bigyello:Quote:
Originally Posted by sevenhalo
(sorry Hack... :blush: )
Back on subject, IMO I'f your reall conserned that 80GB isn't enough (even though it should be :p ) go with Seagate's 100GB 7200RPM. Size and speed! ;)
sorry Hack, had to give it a shot.
I would go with the original suggestion I gave: HP dz8000v. It's 64 bit, the same resolution as szl's and ample expansion and space. :thumb:
Hacks just jealous that you didnt offer to hire him in exchange for services. :D
Hack, if your wife cooks then I could be tempted to make the move for the right price. :D
Back on topic, Hack if you put together some configurations we can make a few more suggestions. ;)
Or the V5000Z for much less ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by sevenhalo
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/sh...computer_store
Yeah, but that's 15" and can only support one HD. After you upgrade it a little so that it's close to being compareable, you're up to $1,348. The one I bought was a little less then 2,000.
And you forgot about the builtin 10 key entirely :)
<3 10key
For $700 you could easly buy a usb 10 key & a 19" LCD screen... ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by sevenhalo
It was the resolution that landed me this laptop model - the 1600 wide was the requirement (and actually not easy to find)...
I see that the dv8000z does that resolution as well...
btw - my wife does not cook - I do all the cooking - (that's a picture of my twin boys making pancakes with me)...
and I only hire locals - as R&D requires in-your-face discusion and fighting and proving each other right and wrong and all that fun stuff...
Well, I'm not a hardware guy as I've said (at least twice in this thread), so I can't get real technical on the hard configurations, but here is what I want to do with it.Quote:
Originally Posted by RobDog888
I think I'm going to need it to run Windows 2003 Server because I want the full blown SQL Server 2005 database, not just the developer edition (Why? Because I already have it and don't have anything to put it on :D )
I want to run and load both Visual Studio 6.0 and Visual Studio 2005.
The only other thing I can think of that I would want on it is Office 2003.
I want a wireless internet connection (I want to be able to fire this puppy up and get to vbforums while sitting in front seat of my car :D )
I want 1GB+ of ram
a minimum of 100GB hard drive. Based on what I've read in this thread so far, perhaps the 200GB range would be even better.
I think I'm going to go with the 17.0 built in screen.
DVD/CD player
As I mentioned, I already have all of the above software, so I could care less what comes preinstalled in terms of software. That will just get blown away anyway.
So, based on this, you tell me what I should be looking at.
I've used my DVD burner a dozen time in the past two months - really worth it!
You guy's ever hear of Parkinson's Law?Quote:
Originally Posted by Hack
I read a great article about hard drives about a year ago that talked about it and theorized that if the size of HD's continued to grow at the same rate that there'd soon be SO MUCH space on them that Parkinson's Law would fall apart. I think we can safely declare you guys have successfully proven him wrong....
I though that was what Michael J Fox has - Parkinson's Disease?
It may be a good idea to get a system with two separate physical HDs for optimum performance. you will need it.
Does that mean Michael J Fox is a robot then....Quote:
Originally Posted by RobDog888
Something to remember; 2X HD = 2X power consumption
But if its going to be plugged in most of the time then it shouldnt be much of an issue. Hack wants the big screen so that too draws more energy then a second hd. :)
I which case perhaps a desktop would be better...Quote:
Originally Posted by RobDog888
Also 2 HHD's will only give a significant performance increase if their in a stripped raid array.
Note quite, you can gain performance if you have two controllers on your mobo and each HD is on its wn separate channel. The throughput is greater and doesnt get affected by demands as much.
I leave my laptop plugged in almost 24/7, but I leave it on my coffee table in my living room. Plus, if I need to take it to my office, I can unplug it and move it without worrying about shutting down (and also, it works on planes, etc etc).
You don't have to use the 2nd hard drive as a RAID. I don't see the point in setting up a RAID on a personal computer anyway (I backup externally and performance has never been an issue). The way I see it, RAID on a personal computer is basically throwing disk space away (IMO).
Not to mention, most laptop HD's are 5400 or 4800 RPM. The 100gig 7200 you recommended would be almost as damaging when it comes to power consumption.
I think this thread has come to the point where we all get to anxiously wait and leave it up to Hack. :)
Only if you where onpening files form both drives at the same time (which is rarely).Quote:
Originally Posted by RobDog888
The OS on one drive and Programs/Data on the other. :D