Rant about my PC

[Jackalope]

In future I will stick to tech forums with any such problems

That's probably not a bad idea - there's some knowledgeable people here, but nowhere as many as you'd find on a dedicated tech form.

For what it's worth, the problem you're having sounds like a hardware problem - so having the manufacturer deal with it is your best bet at this point. Having an early failure like this sucks, but at least you've got a backup PC.

[leo-rcc]

I've had excellent results with Dell's Latitude laptops, and Optiplex workstations (as well as Dell Workstation), but their line of Inspirion laptops have always been complete crap. We expect our laptop to reach 4 years before replacing them and none of the Inspirions ever made it further than 3. Meanwhile I've had Latitudes that lasted 6 years without a problem.

Bottom line, you get what you pay for with Dell. I expect Acer to be the same. Their Netbook is doing very well with some friends of mine and they never had to call their tech support, but I don't see that as a benchmark that the whole line of Acer products is top notch.

[The Magic Pudding]

In choosing a laptop you make many compromises for the sake of portability. Amongst the compromises is the difficulty and cost of repair. The PC at fault here seems to have made similar compromises for the sake of tidiness, an insufficient reason I think. Instead of 6-10 easily replaceable components you have a shiny total solution which leaves you totally screwed when it fails.

[Rokcet Scientist]

Wrong choice. Get a Mac. It just works.

[Autumnlicious]

I've administrated more than my fair share of computers in my short existence, so much so, that I can say confidently to the above:

Bullshit.

Also, to anyone who knows an ounce of technical knowledge, the difference between a Mac and a PC is like the difference between Adidas and Shoes.

Anyone promoting the Mac-PC advertising campaign should be slapped. Hard. With an old Pentium Overdrive, no less.

[IATIA]

Sounds like you might just have a defective drive. If you have another one around, try it and see. The other possibility is the power supply. I vote drive.

[Jackalope]

Also, to anyone who knows an ounce of technical knowledge, the difference between a Mac and a PC is like the difference between Adidas and Shoes.

From a hardware point of view, that is absolutely true, though in the Mac world the hardware is far more homogenous than in the PC world. Nowadays, hardware-wise, a Mac is nothing more than a PC with better-than-average design and construction - and you can certainly buy a PC of equal quality if you're willing to spend the money (which I'll note, most people aren't).

The real difference between the two is the operating system and the universe of software that runs on MacOS / Windows / Linux etc. MacOS has one advantage in that the operating system and the hardware are both produced / designed by the same entity. There isn't the huge variety of hardware in the Mac universe as there is in the PC universe - and the resulting quality control advantages should be fairly obvious.

I don't personally have a ton of recent experience using a Mac. I'm no Windows fanboy either, but I can say that a Windows PC can "just work" - provided one follows safe computing practices. Everyone around me seems to have a plethora of problems, I don't. Then again, I don't blindly install software of dubious origin and utility just for the hell of it either. If it ain't broke, I don't fuck with it.

As I said, I am no Windows fanboy. In my opinion, Windows 7 was the first version where Microsoft finally approximated doing it right, at least from the my perspective as the family helpdesk. I get far fewer cries for help from those who are using 7 than XP, and it's certainly not because they're more technology literate.

So yeah, comparing the two is a bit like comparing Adidas to shoes. What's the best tool for the job? The one that runs the software you need it to run - which means that unless you are a gamer or have specific application needs, either will do just fine. (For some definitions of "fine", that is).

[Blam!]

Ugh. Damn my computer lack of resistance against this bug, go.google dot com virus. I've attempted all methods to removed this virus, all failed!

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware: Got some virus removed, but not go.google dot com
Microsoft Security: Got some virus but does not find anything like go.google, too!
UnHack Me: Got rundll.exe virus removed, but not go.google!
Been unchecked my auto detect proxy!


Something fishy still swimming around in my windows drivers

[Rokcet Scientist]

[Rokcet Scientist]

I've administrated more than my fair share of computers in my short existence

You hit the nail on the head. Your 'short existence' is precisely why you have NOT got the experience to be able to judge that.

I've used dozens of PCs and Macs since 1985. PCs, on average, are redundant within a year of purchase, and you're lucky if it's still running properly after 18 months, but it is definitely sorely outdated, and you really need (to fork out for) a new one!
Macs, on average, become redundant only after 3 to 5 years after purchase.

So how are PCs cheaper than Macs if you have to buy a new PC every 18 months while a Mac lasts 3 years plus? Not to mention the cost of anti-malware software and the (waste of) time involved in managing it.