My geek thread
#1076
Gluteus Enormus
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
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In other news, I got the new laptop.
I tried to turn it on and it just sits there beeping at me and nothing happens.
They're sending a tech to help. I think that the ram, video card, or screen attachment is unseated.
This is making me very nervous. I don't know if I can trust something that has had this many issues before I even go abroad...
Holy crap.
----
I'm honestly really frustrated about this. Maybe the slim version (15z) isn't the best option and I should get the XPS 15-L502X instead...
This is getting obnoxious now.
I tried to turn it on and it just sits there beeping at me and nothing happens.
They're sending a tech to help. I think that the ram, video card, or screen attachment is unseated.
This is making me very nervous. I don't know if I can trust something that has had this many issues before I even go abroad...
Holy crap.
----
I'm honestly really frustrated about this. Maybe the slim version (15z) isn't the best option and I should get the XPS 15-L502X instead...
This is getting obnoxious now.
#1078
soon to be gsteinc...
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Nayr497's BFF
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#1079
Batüwü Creakcreak
#1081
Batüwü Creakcreak
So they came in and fixed the monitor. Just used the laptop a bit today and noticed that some of the trim that surrounds the thing is 'wiggly' as is the metal next to the USB ports. Looks like their new model doesn't have that issue, but it's also 1300 bucks...
I don't know what the heck to do. I think this would just happen again if I sent it back and got another one. Duct tape isn't all that appealing...
I'm tempted to just say eff it all and get the newer one or a mac book pro.
Don't they make a durable laptop anymore with a dedicated graphics card (1gb) that doesn't cost more than 750 all said and done? This is getting ridiculous...
I guess I don't even really play games on a computer all that much anymore. I think my family abroad has a gaming console and I prefer that anyway. I just want to be able to do some photo/video stuff and music production. Games on the backburner.
Gawd...
Here's the issue: https://en.community.dell.com/support.../19385993.aspx
Edit: Should I just take superglue/duct tape to it. Jesus.
I don't know what the heck to do. I think this would just happen again if I sent it back and got another one. Duct tape isn't all that appealing...
I'm tempted to just say eff it all and get the newer one or a mac book pro.
Don't they make a durable laptop anymore with a dedicated graphics card (1gb) that doesn't cost more than 750 all said and done? This is getting ridiculous...
I guess I don't even really play games on a computer all that much anymore. I think my family abroad has a gaming console and I prefer that anyway. I just want to be able to do some photo/video stuff and music production. Games on the backburner.
Gawd...
Here's the issue: https://en.community.dell.com/support.../19385993.aspx
Edit: Should I just take superglue/duct tape to it. Jesus.
Last edited by ridethecliche; 07-24-12 at 12:14 AM.
#1082
Gluteus Enormus
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
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If you don't like it now you'll probably hate it later. If you have the option send it back and get a Lenovo or HP. I just turned in a work Lenovo that I beat for 5 years and my wife, the tech destroyer, has an HP of about the same age. Both still going strong but feeling slow.
#1083
Batüwü Creakcreak
If you don't like it now you'll probably hate it later. If you have the option send it back and get a Lenovo or HP. I just turned in a work Lenovo that I beat for 5 years and my wife, the tech destroyer, has an HP of about the same age. Both still going strong but feeling slow.
Their new one is unibody, but it's also 1300 bucks which is a bit out of my range...
I had an HP in college. I hated it. It died all the time. Parents have one and friends do too and it works fine. I guess I should reconsider them. Their offerings with my needs are pricier as well :/
#1084
Gluteus Enormus
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
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I like it, I just want the body to behave.
Their new one is unibody, but it's also 1300 bucks which is a bit out of my range...
I had an HP in college. I hated it. It died all the time. Parents have one and friends do too and it works fine. I guess I should reconsider them. Their offerings with my needs are pricier as well :/
Their new one is unibody, but it's also 1300 bucks which is a bit out of my range...
I had an HP in college. I hated it. It died all the time. Parents have one and friends do too and it works fine. I guess I should reconsider them. Their offerings with my needs are pricier as well :/
#1085
Making a kilometer blurry
I don't think there's ever been a new laptop less than $750 worth owning, in any brand. Below that, it's like a road bike with nuts on the axles instead of QR. I think $750 is where the point of diminishing returns starts. Probably about the same for road bikes... (i.g. it's probably actually twice as good as a $375 model, where it's more than half as good as a $1500 model)
#1086
Batüwü Creakcreak
The computer's actually a refurb that cost 900 on their outlet site. The same machine when new on their main site is selling for 1300 in the config that mine has. They're fixing the case tomorrow or day after so lets see how that goes.
I really like the new version of the XPS 15 (unibody construction), but like I said 1300ish is a bit steep. I could swing it if I absolutely had to and I might because I love the look and the performance looks like it'd be slick as well. Mostly, the additional cost would be for the case though. No other features on their really pop out for me. I don't need blu ray on a laptop.
This is what I have:
https://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineS...&puid=cbef275e
Specs: Processor: Intel Core i7-2620M Processor (2.70 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.40 GHz)
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
XPS 15z
750 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)
8 GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz (2 DIMMs)
8X DVD +/- RW Drive
NVIDIA GeForce GT525M 2GB graphics with Optimus
I really like the new version of the XPS 15 (unibody construction), but like I said 1300ish is a bit steep. I could swing it if I absolutely had to and I might because I love the look and the performance looks like it'd be slick as well. Mostly, the additional cost would be for the case though. No other features on their really pop out for me. I don't need blu ray on a laptop.
This is what I have:
https://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineS...&puid=cbef275e
Specs: Processor: Intel Core i7-2620M Processor (2.70 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.40 GHz)
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
XPS 15z
750 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)
8 GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz (2 DIMMs)
8X DVD +/- RW Drive
NVIDIA GeForce GT525M 2GB graphics with Optimus
Last edited by ridethecliche; 07-24-12 at 01:59 PM.
#1087
Batüwü Creakcreak
So if you guys were going to get a new laptop which is portable enough for travel with decent battery life, but still powerful enough to be a workhorse, what would you get?
Thanks!
Thanks!
#1088
Gluteus Enormus
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
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I've been doing some shopping for one recently but haven't pulled the trigger. I don't work with compilers, emulators, analytics or software with a need for raw CPU speed. I do have good GPU's high on my list for any occasional gaming and video/imaging stuff I might want to do.
My list:
1. HP ENVY 17-3270NR - Nice all-rounder at a good price.
2. Samsung Series 7 - Not stylish, but a beast of a machine.
3. lenovo IdeaPad Y580 - Nice working package and bang for the buck but no BD.
Personally I wouldn't buy a GPU lower than GeForce GT 650M (or equivalent) and prefer to have BD player. A lot of the new laptops with Intel chipsets support SRT and have an mSATA slot for an SSD card. The SRT caching can improve overall I/O performance without having to buy a large and expensive SSD. They also claim to extend battery life by reducing the number of HD reads/writes (mode dependent).
My list:
1. HP ENVY 17-3270NR - Nice all-rounder at a good price.
2. Samsung Series 7 - Not stylish, but a beast of a machine.
3. lenovo IdeaPad Y580 - Nice working package and bang for the buck but no BD.
Personally I wouldn't buy a GPU lower than GeForce GT 650M (or equivalent) and prefer to have BD player. A lot of the new laptops with Intel chipsets support SRT and have an mSATA slot for an SSD card. The SRT caching can improve overall I/O performance without having to buy a large and expensive SSD. They also claim to extend battery life by reducing the number of HD reads/writes (mode dependent).
#1089
Batüwü Creakcreak
I'm looking for something that's a 15 inch. Thanks for those recs though. I'll look into them.
#1090
Batüwü Creakcreak
I might see if I can get a deal on the Envy 15. There are a few coupons I found online and if they match an old one, I could get it for a little less as well.
Realistically, I don't play that many games. Every now and then I'll get an itch, but I have a PS3 so I don't have to do it on a laptop. I think my cousins have an Xbox. I guess I should really be looking for something that's thin/light, has a 1gb dedicated GPU, and has an optic drive. I hope the Envy fits in.
I doubt I'll upgrade the screen to HD. Probably not worth the 150 for me. The i5 should be plenty sufficient as well for music/photo fun.
Crossing my fingers...
Realistically, I don't play that many games. Every now and then I'll get an itch, but I have a PS3 so I don't have to do it on a laptop. I think my cousins have an Xbox. I guess I should really be looking for something that's thin/light, has a 1gb dedicated GPU, and has an optic drive. I hope the Envy fits in.
I doubt I'll upgrade the screen to HD. Probably not worth the 150 for me. The i5 should be plenty sufficient as well for music/photo fun.
Crossing my fingers...
Last edited by ridethecliche; 07-26-12 at 10:00 PM.
#1091
Making a kilometer blurry
Did some AF micro adjust today for my two EF lenses. Man, that's a sweet feature. One lens was back-focusing, and the other front-focusing. Now they're both spot-on. My Rebel doesn't have this feature -- luckily my 17-55 is perfect on that body though (lens may never again leave that body).
#1092
Batüwü Creakcreak
I've been doing some shopping for one recently but haven't pulled the trigger. I don't work with compilers, emulators, analytics or software with a need for raw CPU speed. I do have good GPU's high on my list for any occasional gaming and video/imaging stuff I might want to do.
My list:
1. HP ENVY 17-3270NR - Nice all-rounder at a good price.
2. Samsung Series 7 - Not stylish, but a beast of a machine.
3. lenovo IdeaPad Y580 - Nice working package and bang for the buck but no BD.
Personally I wouldn't buy a GPU lower than GeForce GT 650M (or equivalent) and prefer to have BD player. A lot of the new laptops with Intel chipsets support SRT and have an mSATA slot for an SSD card. The SRT caching can improve overall I/O performance without having to buy a large and expensive SSD. They also claim to extend battery life by reducing the number of HD reads/writes (mode dependent).
My list:
1. HP ENVY 17-3270NR - Nice all-rounder at a good price.
2. Samsung Series 7 - Not stylish, but a beast of a machine.
3. lenovo IdeaPad Y580 - Nice working package and bang for the buck but no BD.
Personally I wouldn't buy a GPU lower than GeForce GT 650M (or equivalent) and prefer to have BD player. A lot of the new laptops with Intel chipsets support SRT and have an mSATA slot for an SSD card. The SRT caching can improve overall I/O performance without having to buy a large and expensive SSD. They also claim to extend battery life by reducing the number of HD reads/writes (mode dependent).
Going to go check it out this afternoon.
Also a bunch of deals on HPS right now with some codes: https://www.retailmenot.com/view/shopping.hp.com
#1093
No matches
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 11,647
Bikes: two wheeled ones
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Does anyone know if an ANT+/Bluetooth bridge device exists yet? TI seems to have a chip, but I can't find where to buy it. All I can find is a development kit, which is $400+.
I'm considering designing something if the market is there and there isn't a competitor yet. I'd love to be able to use my Powertap with my Android. Just a simple dongle that I stick in the saddle bag, my phone connects to the dongle thing, and I can get my power on my phone. Then a normal Bluetooth cycling app on the phone that can use power.
I'm considering designing something if the market is there and there isn't a competitor yet. I'd love to be able to use my Powertap with my Android. Just a simple dongle that I stick in the saddle bag, my phone connects to the dongle thing, and I can get my power on my phone. Then a normal Bluetooth cycling app on the phone that can use power.
#1096
soon to be gsteinc...
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Nayr497's BFF
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Does anyone know if an ANT+/Bluetooth bridge device exists yet? TI seems to have a chip, but I can't find where to buy it. All I can find is a development kit, which is $400+.
I'm considering designing something if the market is there and there isn't a competitor yet. I'd love to be able to use my Powertap with my Android. Just a simple dongle that I stick in the saddle bag, my phone connects to the dongle thing, and I can get my power on my phone. Then a normal Bluetooth cycling app on the phone that can use power.
I'm considering designing something if the market is there and there isn't a competitor yet. I'd love to be able to use my Powertap with my Android. Just a simple dongle that I stick in the saddle bag, my phone connects to the dongle thing, and I can get my power on my phone. Then a normal Bluetooth cycling app on the phone that can use power.
#1098
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Evansville, IN
Posts: 782
Bikes: 73 Raleigh Supercourse, 99 Specialized Stumpjumer, 08 LeMond Tourmalet
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Why the extra jump to bluetooth? Just go ANT right into the phone. https://www.thisisant.com/pages/devel...ne/android-api
#1100
Gluteus Enormus
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
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FYI, this is a helluva deal: https://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0394503
Going to go check it out this afternoon.
Also a bunch of deals on HPS right now with some codes: https://www.retailmenot.com/view/shopping.hp.com
Going to go check it out this afternoon.
Also a bunch of deals on HPS right now with some codes: https://www.retailmenot.com/view/shopping.hp.com