stupid question... off the shelf pc's

[scottyman]

hey all,
my g/f has laid down an ultimatum - no more bits of computers all over the house, no more custom build jobbies which spend more time on the workbench than under my desk...
you get the idea!

I'm looking for a pretty sexy pre-built system, not too much dosh (about 1100) and a flat screen.

anyone know of any decent online review sites for starters, and anywhere which sells color co-ordinated units?

I've currently got a couple of machines under my desk, and a 22" mitsubishi crt - looking to get a pretty fast machine to run mail daemon and web, with horsepower left over for games - with a 17" or 18" tft.

any ideas of the best place to start? it's going to be my b'day pressie, and something my good lady g/f won't try and hide away!

[Agent]

Try PC pro (magazine)

They do roundups all the time of the latest PC's from shop, and web based stores

[scottyman]

true... thanks - local newsagent has sold out, and it's my birthday next week ... time to a trek to smiths me thinks!

quite fancy the little mesh cubix... funky little machines

[Jonny M]

www.dell.co.uk do some very small boxes. Just don't expect to play games on them.

[Bindibadgi]

Originally posted by scottyman
hey all,
my g/f has laid down an ultimatum - no more bits of computers all over the house, no more custom build jobbies which spend more time on the workbench than under my desk...
you get the idea!

Pff its an addictive hobby, Grr bloody women

Perhaps sell off all the crap you dont need, then get her a nice big box of choccies and some alcohol and then tell her you're not gonna give it up once she's scoffed half of them and is a bit drunk

[[GSV]Trig]

Erm, ditch the biatch

[scottyman]

LOOOOL!

that would be unwise... esp the next day when she's got a hangover and notices!

I'm inclined to say that buying a new lappy and downsizing my system won't be a bad idea ... esp since I don't have enough room for all my cd's in my computer room!

ta for the advice tho!

[kaillum]

Scottyman I feel for you m8e.. I really do.. you've got exactly the same problem as me....

now i've finally got my surround sound sorted, i'm moving onto sorting out my (emphasis on MY) computer room... i sold all my old kit before we bought the new house as the place I was staying in wasnt big enough for 4 17" monitors and 6 base units and I couldnt justify spending money on storage for old kit when I didnt know how long i'd be 'homeless' for....

so now, i'm spec'in up my new pc... got most of the bits worked out, apart from the look..

yep.. i'd be happy with a CM case, and a 17" tft...

but nooo..

that bloody Currys advert with that bint from the "I'm not a celebrity, gimme a job" jungle program... where she's on about the Packard Bell box with free 15"TFT and its all white and Macified... i get a call into the living room..
"now theres a nice pc.. why not go and buy that one... it looks pretty"..
"erm, that would be a no... as i wouldnt give a Packard Bell POS any room in the garage let alone My Computer Room!"
"but its pretty.. its white, and its got the TV style thingy you wanted.."
"erm.. no.. and i'm not going to listen to you anymore!!!"
Cue.. Fingers in the ears "la la la la la la la " hmmm silence...

well anyway, sorry to go off on a bit of a rant there...

This is the box she thinks looks pretty and nice..


now.. there is no way on gods little green earth that i'm having any computer component made or supplied by Packard Bell anywhere near my house... so I thought of the next best thing.. try and find one that looks similar and just tell her that its the one from the advert

so my hunt is on..

and if anyone finds a case similar to that one, or a white decent spec TFT for sale, then lemme know..

[joshwa]

Originally posted by kaillum

looks a bit like a fake sony ...
if i had the dosh, i'd quite like a laptop to replace my big pc...

eg this:


crossed with this:

[fondie]

Originally posted by kaillum
and if anyone finds a case similar to that one, or a white decent spec TFT for sale, then lemme know..

oh dear mate, not again i feel sorry for you ! prehaps you should have thought about an extra clause in your wedding vows ?

just get a sleek looking case and monitor that you like, she'll come round to it eventually, just like the surround sound ! a CM111 and something like a Samsung 172T LCD should fit the bill nicely, she can hardly complain about them being ugly !!

[kaillum]

Originally posted by fondie
oh dear mate, not again i feel sorry for you ! prehaps you should have thought about an extra clause in your wedding vows ?

not even married YET!! and at the rate she's going it'll never bleedin happen!!!

Originally posted by fondie
just get a sleek looking case and monitor that you like, she'll come round to it eventually, just like the surround sound ! a CM111 and something like a Samsung 172T LCD should fit the bill nicely, she can hardly complain about them being ugly !!

yep.. thats exactly what i'm gonna do.. just printed some piccys off of the CM webby and quietly and calmly tell her that she's not getting a choice in the matter...

[fondie]

hehe, show her who's boss i'm sure there's some room for some compromise, you don't want a packard bell, she wants something pretty, i would have thought that ^ would have been an amicable solution for all. she'll like it when she sees it, and if not just bring out the jigsaw for a bit of modding action in the living room and she'll soon change her mind !!

[scottyman]

smart - liking your idea kallium!

[fondie]

scottyman, have you got a shed you can build your pc in secretly? she'll never have to know it came in component form

[Bindibadgi]

Originally posted by kaillum
not even married YET!! and at the rate she's going it'll never bleedin happen!!!

Dont do it! Save yourself!! NOOOOOOOOooooooooooo....

<long drawn out dive "Die Hard" stylee>

[scottyman]

ahhh, my folks have a nice big garage where I can build my devious inventions!