The computer I bought (look inside)

[Razorguns]

Ladies and Gentlemen - the beauty that now occupies my life :

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=8674794

Intel Quad 2.4ghz, 4 gigs ram, 750GB hd, HD-Rom, DVD Lightscribe, Wireless mouse/kb, Nvida 8500 GT. Around $1500 w/o monitor. Best Buy Rewards, you get about $25 back.

Acute members may remember my famous thread "Mac or Vista" about what I should get next?

I decided to stay PC for now. I got an Intel Quad with 4 GIGS and 750GB HD. And HP brand - which - i must tell you - they have done an UNBELIEVABLE job fine-tuning Windows Vista Premium. Having tons of advisers, updaters, help videos, helper applications, backup tools, migration tools, and everything else .. right out the door when you first bootup. Sweet.

Oh, and while Vista 32-bit on 1 gig sucks. Vista on 4 gigs SCREAMS!

I've already done some After Effects rendering, 3DS modelling, Premiere HD editing, Encore CS3 burning, H.264 encoding, Photoshop editing, Cineform capturing, HD DVD playbacks (yeah yeah it's HD, but what can you do), and a couple games. No crashes, fast and purrs like a kitten. I really put it through the limits, and I've just started!

And watching media clips, slideshow, etc. using Windows Media Center and the included remote control is great. Esp. on the 24" HDMI HP monitor I bought with it (gonna buy a source monitoring 40" HD TV for the wall later). Looks so gorgeous with my 2 monitors.

And it has the option for portable media devices, easy front outputs for video/usb/firewire. The back has digital audio and surround sound outputs.

Popping out the side was easy. One screw. Threw in my 2 1 GIG DDR2 sticks was a breeze (one cable was in the way) - and voila. 4 gigs (had to throw out 2 512MB's oh well).

It comes with Nvida 8500 256mb. I'd like the sweeter NVidia 8800 512MB card - but it'll suffice for now. The jury is still out if it'll make a difference in my workflow (esp with OpenGL).

The wireless keyboard and mouse is good - but I replaced it with my previous wireless logitech kb/mouse combo. Mainly because my existing mouse had fwd/back little buttons. And I use that aggressively when browsing. I hate moving my mouse up to the back button, or pressing backspace.

And being a Vista power user - i'm too accustomed to the sweet new Explorer window. The taskbar and start menu improvements. And fancy gizmos like Windows Meeting, Remote Desktop, Network and Sharing options, DVD burning and viewing out the door, and organizing via the public/user documents structure. To become a Mac power user comparitvely will take some time - and I ain't got that right now.

The "Windows Rating" in computer properties is 5.9 on almost everything. Graphics is 5.6 I think.

The Intel Quad 2.4Ghz - Never used a 4-processor machine - and must admit - it is fast.

I was looking at Amd's Quad Phenom until I read some CNET reviews. Totally destroyed when up against the Intel Quads. The choice was clear then.

And price wasn't bad. Even w/o the Blu-Ray drive (i'll buy that later this summer when writers and BR 2.0 mature) it came out to around $1500 (w/o monitor) or so with 4gigs installed. The manuals and sheets were very easy to understand and intuitive. And the packaging of the box, cables, even batteries were very pro.

HP has done a great job here. For laptops - i'm still impressed by my Toshiba Laptop.

r

 

[SaladFork]

Nice PC, but I would never buy a prebuilt machine from HP or Dell.

 

[GUARDIAN]

Nice PC, but I would never buy a prebuilt machine from HP or Dell.

why croutons?

 

[nimbus]

T.I. got 8 gigs of ram on his

 

[puddlemonkey]

A remote?

 

[Razorguns]

Nice PC, but I would never buy a prebuilt machine from HP or Dell.

Actually I prefer "prebuilt" because I know it's fine-tuned, setup and rearing to go as soon as I boot up. I also bought the Best Buy extended warranty. Any problems - I just take it in (then bitch!).

This saves me a lot of time - and I can immediately start installing my apps.

I still remember the old days when I'd have to low level format RLL drives, setup BIOS, create partitions, set jumpers then install DOS before even thinking about using it.

Those were the days.

r

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

Oh, and while Vista 32-bit on 1 gig sucks. Vista on 4 gigs SCREAMS!

r

Is the full 4 gigs fully usable on 32 bit Vista?

 

[Dial_tone]

Is the full 4 gigs fully usable on 32 bit Vista?

no, just a bit over 3GB are.

 

[Razorguns]

Is the full 4 gigs fully usable on 32 bit Vista?

for apps about 3 gigs. (64-bit allows more - but have fun with unsigned/signed drivers fiascos).

There was a lot of bitching by yours truly about this - if you search a few threads back.

btw: HP has a utility called 'WET' which allows you to use a dvd/usb cable, to grab all your Windows XP files/information from your old computer - and migrate it seamlessly onto your new computer.

I used it and everything was transferred. Easy as can be. And the DVD can be my backup. How awesome.

Plus there's a small partition, I can burn as many Vista image DVD's as I want in case I ever have a system problem. Cool.

Now I gotta buy a cool hi-res photo printer. To print out the thousands of photos I took during my digital SLR, prime-lens-junkie, pro-photog wannabee days.

r

 

[digimon7068]

Acute members may remember my famous thread "Mac or Vista" about what I should get next?

I decided to stay PC for now.

the new macs run both. . .so you can use whatever you're comfortable with. . .jus' sayin'. . .

 

[Razorguns]

In case why anyone wonder why Vista screams like a mofo at 4gb.

An IBM Engineer working with Vista for 2 years explains why:

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9011523

that 800mb or so gobbled up by peripherals makes a HUGE difference.

r

 

[chewyxrage]

no, just a bit over 3GB are.

I don't feel as bad about not bumping my 3gigs up to 4 for my new laptop then...

 

[Razorguns]

I'm back on my Ferrari.

She is so beautiful. I'm starting to have these 'feelings'.

r

 

[Kano]

I love my acer notebook

Acer Ferrari FR1100..

I really want a quad core book when they come out

 

[gotmojo]

Ladies and Gentlemen - the beauty that now occupies my life :

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=8674794

Intel Quad 2.4ghz, 4 gigs ram, 750GB hd, HD-Rom, DVD Lightscribe, Wireless mouse/kb, Nvida 8500 GT. Around $1500 w/o monitor. Best Buy Rewards, you get about $25 back.

Acute members may remember my famous thread "Mac or Vista" about what I should get next?

I decided to stay PC for now. I got an Intel Quad with 4 GIGS and 750GB HD. And HP brand - which - i must tell you - they have done an UNBELIEVABLE job fine-tuning Windows Vista Premium. Having tons of advisers, updaters, help videos, helper applications, backup tools, migration tools, and everything else .. right out the door when you first bootup. Sweet.

Oh, and while Vista 32-bit on 1 gig sucks. Vista on 4 gigs SCREAMS!

I've already done some After Effects rendering, 3DS modelling, Premiere HD editing, Encore CS3 burning, H.264 encoding, Photoshop editing, Cineform capturing, HD DVD playbacks (yeah yeah it's HD, but what can you do), and a couple games. No crashes, fast and purrs like a kitten. I really put it through the limits, and I've just started!

And watching media clips, slideshow, etc. using Windows Media Center and the included remote control is great. Esp. on the 24" HDMI HP monitor I bought with it (gonna buy a source monitoring 40" HD TV for the wall later). Looks so gorgeous with my 2 monitors.

And it has the option for portable media devices, easy front outputs for video/usb/firewire. The back has digital audio and surround sound outputs.

Popping out the side was easy. One screw. Threw in my 2 1 GIG DDR2 sticks was a breeze (one cable was in the way) - and voila. 4 gigs (had to throw out 2 512MB's oh well).

It comes with Nvida 8500 256mb. I'd like the sweeter NVidia 8800 512MB card - but it'll suffice for now. The jury is still out if it'll make a difference in my workflow (esp with OpenGL).

The wireless keyboard and mouse is good - but I replaced it with my previous wireless logitech kb/mouse combo. Mainly because my existing mouse had fwd/back little buttons. And I use that aggressively when browsing. I hate moving my mouse up to the back button, or pressing backspace.

And being a Vista power user - i'm too accustomed to the sweet new Explorer window. The taskbar and start menu improvements. And fancy gizmos like Windows Meeting, Remote Desktop, Network and Sharing options, DVD burning and viewing out the door, and organizing via the public/user documents structure. To become a Mac power user comparitvely will take some time - and I ain't got that right now.

The "Windows Rating" in computer properties is 5.9 on almost everything. Graphics is 5.6 I think.

The Intel Quad 2.4Ghz - Never used a 4-processor machine - and must admit - it is fast.

I was looking at Amd's Quad Phenom until I read some CNET reviews. Totally destroyed when up against the Intel Quads. The choice was clear then.

And price wasn't bad. Even w/o the Blu-Ray drive (i'll buy that later this summer when writers and BR 2.0 mature) it came out to around $1500 (w/o monitor) or so with 4gigs installed. The manuals and sheets were very easy to understand and intuitive. And the packaging of the box, cables, even batteries were very pro.

HP has done a great job here. For laptops - i'm still impressed by my Toshiba Laptop.

r

Very nice...

But don't you think that it's juuuuuuust a bit over-kill for C+C.

 

[the_alcatraz]

I love my acer notebook

Acer Ferrari FR1100..

I really want a quad core book when they come out

Quad-core? Is that double the dual-core?

 

[chewyxrage]

Razor - I see where your coming from


I customized numerous quad cores and nutted over it


when it came down to it, I needed a laptop first, for traveling purposes..............


Trust me, this laptop was aroung $1800, after a $500 coupon and no interest for 12 months.

I got a great deal, which is why I did it, but you basically just bought the same desktop I was customizing, enjoy

 

[redsamurai]

everything looks sweet except for the graphics card. Crysis will put an armbar on that rig and make it cry uncle. Disregard if you're not a gamer.

 

[Razorguns]

Chewy: My Toshiba laptop is good, not the world's greatest - but it's dual core and vista and seems to be quite stable. And it does it's job of surfing EF at airports. Tip: I got a sprint broadband card. I love it. Can surf the web at the beach, cottage, studio, car, friends house. Even use it as your isp at home if u want to save $.

Red: I wanted a NVidia 8800 512MB or the ATI 3XXX series. But jury is still out if it will really make a difference in my rendering, 3d work, editing, etc. Everyone I know says it won't make one diff. Maybe BluRay playback will be smoother - but I haven't gotten one installed yet. So not sure. No, I don't play games. Unless i'm at Dave & Busters with some beers.

r

 

[redsamurai]

Chewy: My Toshiba laptop is good, not the world's greatest - but it's dual core and vista and seems to be quite stable. And it does it's job of surfing EF at airports. Tip: I got a sprint broadband card. I love it. Can surf the web at the beach, cottage, studio, car, friends house. Even use it as your isp at home if u want to save $.

Red: I wanted a NVidia 8800 512MB or the ATI 3XXX series. But jury is still out if it will really make a difference in my rendering, 3d work, editing, etc. Everyone I know says it won't make one diff. Maybe BluRay playback will be smoother - but I haven't gotten one installed yet. So not sure. No, I don't play games. Unless i'm at Dave & Busters with some beers.

r

what kind of rendering are you doing?

 

[Razorguns]

what kind of rendering are you doing?

Adobe After Effects CS3. One of the coolest programs on the planet.

r

 

[redsamurai]

Adobe After Effects CS3. One of the coolest programs on the planet.

r

So you're a digital effects person?

 

[Razorguns]

So you're a digital effects person?

visual fx.

yeah since i was 13 I guess you could say. I love taking a video of a person walking, turning him into an alien, turning the sky dark, earthquake and thunder everywhere, and then a big asteroid smashes into the street, mushroom cloud erupts, and it transitions away to a black screen. All within 10 mins of work. It is sooo freakin' cool! My gf just loves to sit there and watch me work.

This guy is my idol: videocopilot.net

Chad Perkins is also a master in this area. I talk with him every day.

r

 

[chewyxrage]

Chewy: My Toshiba laptop is good, not the world's greatest - but it's dual core and vista and seems to be quite stable. And it does it's job of surfing EF at airports. Tip: I got a sprint broadband card. I love it. Can surf the web at the beach, cottage, studio, car, friends house. Even use it as your isp at home if u want to save $.

Red: I wanted a NVidia 8800 512MB or the ATI 3XXX series. But jury is still out if it will really make a difference in my rendering, 3d work, editing, etc. Everyone I know says it won't make one diff. Maybe BluRay playback will be smoother - but I haven't gotten one installed yet. So not sure. No, I don't play games. Unless i'm at Dave & Busters with some beers.

r

Tell me more about this broadband card - is it satellite internet? How much?

 

[Razorguns]

Tell me more about this broadband card - is it satellite internet? How much?

pantech sierra wireless usb card I think it is.

You take it with you. Attach to USB of desktop/laptop. Run setup. And then hit 'connect'. Boom. Instant internet access.

This is also a HUGE asset in Hollywood too. Nothing makes your crew/cast happier - then a laptop where people can check their email/myspace during lunch or 'downtimes'. Just with a laptop and a $50 card. Especially when you're far away somewhere. (Plus great for last minute business correspondence.). Plus it makes your set look so big budget. It's the first thing people notice ("OMG, you have internet access on that laptop on the table. Let me check my myspace!").

Cheap shit like that just makes people happy - and that's fine with me. I like happy people.

r

 

[Razorguns]

btw: If you run Vista - DOWNLOAD SWITCHER.

It is sooo cool and so easy when switching among tons of open windows on 2 monitors.

Saves having to use your mouse and hover over your taskbar and see what is what.

google it, i forget the url.

r

 

[chewyxrage]

pantech sierra wireless usb card I think it is.

You take it with you. Attach to USB of desktop/laptop. Run setup. And then hit 'connect'. Boom. Instant internet access.

This is also a HUGE asset in Hollywood too. Nothing makes your crew/cast happier - then a laptop where people can check their email/myspace during lunch or 'downtimes'. Just with a laptop and a $50 card. Especially when you're far away somewhere. (Plus great for last minute business correspondence.). Plus it makes your set look so big budget. It's the first thing people notice ("OMG, you have internet access on that laptop on the table. Let me check my myspace!").

Cheap shit like that just makes people happy - and that's fine with me. I like happy people.

r

When I worked for John Deere we had something similar, it wasn't usb, but a satellite network card...so it's satellite, correct? Or are you just ganking other people's internet?

 

[Razorguns]

When I worked for John Deere we had something similar, it wasn't usb, but a satellite network card...so it's satellite, correct? Or are you just ganking other people's internet?

uses the sprint digital network. EVO.

sprint.com search for pantech.

i only pay $50 a month.

r

 

[Kano]

hey razor next time you should build that pc you bought it would only cost you like 700 bucks or a little more

 

[gotmojo]

visual fx.

yeah since i was 13 I guess you could say. I love taking a video of a person walking, turning him into an alien, turning the sky dark, earthquake and thunder everywhere, and then a big asteroid smashes into the street, mushroom cloud erupts, and it transitions away to a black screen. All within 10 mins of work. It is sooo freakin' cool! My gf just loves to sit there and watch me work.

This guy is my idol: videocopilot.net

Chad Perkins is also a master in this area. I talk with him every day.

r

I didn't know that. (professionally?)

I have mad respect for VFX artists (kind of an industry brethren thing as MFX and VFX artists tend to work in conjunction alot.) I was even swaying towards visual effects after working and learning with Tippett Studio back in the late 90's as job security of sorts, they kept me real busy for a while. (Actually '98-'00) While there, I was broken in on 3ds MAX, Photoshop and ZBrush.
I loved it but it just wasn't the same. I didn't get that Dr. Frankenstein syndrome feeling from it the way I did with Make-up Effects. I just like the hands on I guess, bringing more or less physical life to an idea. As you know there is so much more involved with MFX than just make-up.

It was very tough desicion to "retire" from something I have wanted to do since 3yo, and have been doing successfully for 12+ years.

I actually still do contract work maybe 3-5 times a year and still try to incorporate VFX into the conception....I LOVE ZBrush for this!

Incidentally, did you know that ILM is hiring almost across the board right now? FYI if not.

 

[needtogetarmy]

AMD pwns Intel

 

[RottenWillow]

Acute members may remember my famous thread "Mac or Vista" about what I should get next?



r

LMAO! What?

 

[Razorguns]

I didn't know that. (professionally?)

I have mad respect for VFX artists (kind of an industry brethren thing as MFX and VFX artists tend to work in conjunction alot.) I was even swaying towards visual effects after working and learning with Tippett Studio back in the late 90's as job security of sorts, they kept me real busy for a while. (Actually '98-'00) While there, I was broken in on 3ds MAX, Photoshop and ZBrush.
I loved it but it just wasn't the same. I didn't get that Dr. Frankenstein syndrome feeling from it the way I did with Make-up Effects. I just like the hands on I guess, bringing more or less physical life to an idea. As you know there is so much more involved with MFX than just make-up.

It was very tough desicion to "retire" from something I have wanted to do since 3yo, and have been doing successfully for 12+ years.

I actually still do contract work maybe 3-5 times a year and still try to incorporate VFX into the conception....I LOVE ZBrush for this!

Incidentally, did you know that ILM is hiring almost across the board right now? FYI if not.

army vet: search review amd phenom and intel quad. amd got it's ass handed to it.

gotmojo: yeah i just LOVE vfx. It's so much fun - and great outlet for my creativity. Ive worked with a lot of makeup people in my career. Hot lights, dark shadows, talent running off for 2 hours, humidity, etc. I can understand how frustrating it can be. And last thing u wanna hear is some guy in the control room going 'Camera 3. Turn away. Joe's makeup is running. Switch to Camera 4'. And floor supervisor is running for you to run on set and fix it immediately!

You just gotta stay with what you love. I'd rather work 14 hours a day with people who love their craft - than 2 hours with someone who's there to collect a paycheck. I see lots of those people these days. They're usually found in offices.

I've even seen young kids, who just pull cables all day - just happy to be there! I started my career as a kid running back and forth from a production truck - patch cable in hand - so know the feeling.

r

 

[gotmojo]

army vet: search review amd phenom and intel quad. amd got it's ass handed to it.

gotmojo: yeah i just LOVE vfx. It's so much fun - and great outlet for my creativity. Ive worked with a lot of makeup people in my career. Hot lights, dark shadows, talent running off for 2 hours, humidity, etc. I can understand how frustrating it can be. And last thing u wanna hear is some guy in the control room going 'Camera 3. Turn away. Joe's makeup is running. Switch to Camera 4'. And floor supervisor is running for you to run on set and fix it immediately!

You just gotta stay with what you love. I'd rather work 14 hours a day with people who love their craft - than 2 hours with someone who's there to collect a paycheck. I see lots of those people these days. They're usually found in offices.

I've even seen young kids, who just pull cables all day - just happy to be there! I started my career as a kid running back and forth from a production truck - patch cable in hand - so know the feeling.

r

Nice...

So, do you work for a house, studio, independently? Are you union?

Although I consider myself retired, I am still a paying/working member of I.A.T.S.E. Local 33 and local 706 so I can keep doing contract work here and there, it also keeps me eligible/active for my pension and other benefits.