So my ageing AMD desktop is in desperate need of upgrade / overhaul. Built by me about 5 years ago my system is centered around an overclocked 1700 Athlon, 1gb PC3200 and have had to replace the graphics card numerous times for various reasons.
Looking back, as a student I had more time on my hands than I realised and now I am slaving away for a wage, I have little time to play games like I used to. I have a PS3 that sees little use.
So my dilemma is this. My PC needs a desperate upgrade. It is slow, has lots of junk installed on it and all I use if for is surfing the web, listening to music and downloading photos and watching TV. Given my free time outside work at home is largely spent either in front of the TV, or on my PC, I am looking for the best solution, but am struggling to see the wood from the trees for my needs. I dont need an all singing, all dancing watercooled machine, as much as Id like to build one. But at the same time, I want something which wont be out of date and obselete too soon. It would need to be good at multitasking, often I will be surfing the net, watching TV and fiddling with photo-editing software at the same time... Would like to thing that if I purchased a laptop it would be able to have a fair stab at playing latestgames, even if not at full res with all the settings maxxed out.
A laptop would be handy for me, as I would be able to surf the web and watch TV at the same time, and would also provide me with entertainment when I travel with work (fairly infrequently). My experience of other peoples experience with laptops is not great. My brother had an Acer of some variety which died after a year. My girlfriend had an HP which may is all but dead. I am reluctant to part with cash for a machine which will die after a year. But the laptop would allow me greater flexibility.
However, I have always wanted a Shuttle, and at the back of my mind I am toying with this idea. Simple system with a Blue-ray drive, big HD, adequate graphics card & TV card (would use my current win nova-t) hooked up to my current 17" widescreen monitor, which I may replace with a 40" TV for the bedroom in the near future. But I kind of feel this would be a part solution as Id still want the use of a laptop in my lounge to be social with my flatmates in the evening, so would condider a laptop for surfing the web only.
I have considering the Sony Vaio AR61ZU machine which ticks as many boxes as a laptop is going to, but having seen one in the flesh they arent small and whilst ok for home use, it might be a little big for the occasional work trip I might want to take it on. I like the power it offers, like the blue-ray writer, like the storage & built in TV card.... My experience with Sony products is mixed, but having spec'd up a similar Dell machine the price seemed to be very similar to me, so Im not too worried that Id be paying a premium for the name.
So I hand it to the forum public, do I go for a super laptop, or do I look to a cheaper laptop and media centre Shuttle solution?
All comments and ideas welcome. Budget not really an issue for working solution.
TIA
Looking back, as a student I had more time on my hands than I realised and now I am slaving away for a wage, I have little time to play games like I used to. I have a PS3 that sees little use.
So my dilemma is this. My PC needs a desperate upgrade. It is slow, has lots of junk installed on it and all I use if for is surfing the web, listening to music and downloading photos and watching TV. Given my free time outside work at home is largely spent either in front of the TV, or on my PC, I am looking for the best solution, but am struggling to see the wood from the trees for my needs. I dont need an all singing, all dancing watercooled machine, as much as Id like to build one. But at the same time, I want something which wont be out of date and obselete too soon. It would need to be good at multitasking, often I will be surfing the net, watching TV and fiddling with photo-editing software at the same time... Would like to thing that if I purchased a laptop it would be able to have a fair stab at playing latestgames, even if not at full res with all the settings maxxed out.
A laptop would be handy for me, as I would be able to surf the web and watch TV at the same time, and would also provide me with entertainment when I travel with work (fairly infrequently). My experience of other peoples experience with laptops is not great. My brother had an Acer of some variety which died after a year. My girlfriend had an HP which may is all but dead. I am reluctant to part with cash for a machine which will die after a year. But the laptop would allow me greater flexibility.
However, I have always wanted a Shuttle, and at the back of my mind I am toying with this idea. Simple system with a Blue-ray drive, big HD, adequate graphics card & TV card (would use my current win nova-t) hooked up to my current 17" widescreen monitor, which I may replace with a 40" TV for the bedroom in the near future. But I kind of feel this would be a part solution as Id still want the use of a laptop in my lounge to be social with my flatmates in the evening, so would condider a laptop for surfing the web only.
I have considering the Sony Vaio AR61ZU machine which ticks as many boxes as a laptop is going to, but having seen one in the flesh they arent small and whilst ok for home use, it might be a little big for the occasional work trip I might want to take it on. I like the power it offers, like the blue-ray writer, like the storage & built in TV card.... My experience with Sony products is mixed, but having spec'd up a similar Dell machine the price seemed to be very similar to me, so Im not too worried that Id be paying a premium for the name.
So I hand it to the forum public, do I go for a super laptop, or do I look to a cheaper laptop and media centre Shuttle solution?
All comments and ideas welcome. Budget not really an issue for working solution.
TIA