Re: New computer planned
On 2/20/2012 9:19 AM, Sian Mountbatten wrote:
My desktop computer is nearly 7 years old and I'm thinking that a new
computer using some of the hardware improvements would be a good thing.
So I'm going to ask my friendly computer consultant, who is only
downstairs from me, to build me a computer with hardware 3d
acceleration, solid-state drive, 8Gb RAM. What else should I ask for
and what works with Linux? He's going to give me a list of the
hardware he is going to install, so I can check Linux compatibility.
Although I am not a gamer, I would like to run tuxracer which really
needs 3d acceleration to work. Any suggestions will be welcome.
Keyboard: for many years now, I have used a keyboard which is not
membrane-based. It has individual key switches, is properly dished and
is a joy to use. No keyboard click, but I don't use that anyway. The
keyboard is connected to the PS/2 socket. Would a wireless keyboard do
as good a job? I suppose it would probably be USB, but I shall listen
to advice on that. The keyboard is an essential peripheral and I am
willing to spend money on a good keyboard. Maybe I should keep the
keyboard I am using. It's not overly clean, but I can live with it.
I'm not in my twenties anymore and I have no agression to work off
with snazzy games (which probably only work on Windoze anyway).
Software development and software development support are my forte.
Some of the simple games available on Linux provide sufficient
entertainment for me, but I think that a new computer is one new year
gift I could do with.
I shall be interested to hear what people suggest.
Regards
--
Sian Mountbatten
Algol 68 specialist
A couple of suggestions:
If you like your old keyboard, clean it up and use it. If you really
want a nice keyboard, you want an IBM model M
or its clone. Not cheap, unless you find one surplus someplace, Go to
ClickyKeyboards.com (http://www.clickykeyboards.com/). They sell
refurbed model Ms and a clone. The model M has no Microsoft keys. I'm
using three (on three computers) all of which are probably at
least 20 years old, bought at computer flea-markets, back when there
were such things. They'll probably be working fine long after I'm dead,
if some nincompoop doesn't throw them out for not having MS keys.
You mention wireless keyboard: you'd have to have a receiver on the
computer itself. If that's not built in, then yes, it would probably
be USB. Modern machines have lots of USB ports, and they work very
well. Of course, the k/b would have a battery in it, that would
eventually die,
so you'd want to have a spare available.
You need a real mechanical hard drive. The solid-state drives have a
limited read/write cycle. It's kind of a fad right now, since real
drives are in short supply and expensive, due to foods in Thailand,
where some critical part comes from. Some day the solid-state
drive will be perfected, but it's not yet. If you want real security of
data, get two hard drives and make a raid array. For real quick
response, however, the solid-state drive can't be beat, so you might
want one just for your development work--then transfer the
final product to the revolving kind.
Just my 2¢--doug
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