The new computer

Wed 10 March 2010 7:31am by Daniel
Filed under: Geek 

Every 3-4 years I’ll buy a new computer. Here’s the latest, a reconditioned (with warranty) HP Pavilion a6760a, to be called “Haddock”.

For the record (because often years later I come back and compare what I got for how much) the specs are: Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 (2.8 GHz), 2Gb RAM, 500 Gb hard disk, NVidia GeForce 9300 GE (256 Mb video memory), DVB TV tuner, and a bunch of other stuff. All up $750 from GraysOnline ($609 plus some strange 15% fee called a buyer’s premium, plus delivery, but at least you know all that up-front).

Unfortunately it came with Windows Vista, so I’m taking the opportunity to upgrade it and the older computer (“Tintin”, which got an upgrade last year) I’m keeping for desktop use to Windows 7. The new one will do the games and video stuff, the old one I’ll chop back to basics: email and web and stuff.

Now I just have to work out what to do with “Snowy”. (Perhaps it’s time for it to upgrade the server, “Nestor”.)

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Comments

11 comments on The new computer

  1. roger on Wed, 10th Mar 2010 7:43 am

    2. “Haddock”? Sounds fishy to me.

  2. Neeraj on Wed, 10th Mar 2010 4:21 pm

    3. I was looking at the GraysOnline auctions too. They don’t turn out to be that good a value, now that lots of people know about them.

    Checkout http://docs.google.com/gview?embedded=true&url=http://cpl.net.au/greenguide/20100304-1.pdf

    It is quite feasible to buy or build a new computer with Lynnfield, which is Nehalem based for about the same price that you paid including the buyer’s premium and delivery.

    Regards,
    Neeraj

  3. Phllip on Wed, 10th Mar 2010 4:24 pm

    4. @Roger I know and whats snowy?

  4. Daniel on Wed, 10th Mar 2010 5:12 pm

    5. Neeraj, you might be right, though some auctions (like the one I bidded on) get only one bid. I’m pretty happy with this new box.

    Roger, Phillip: C’mon, you seriously telling me you’ve never read any Tintin?!

  5. Ben on Wed, 10th Mar 2010 7:11 pm

    6. Next it’ll be two identical computers called Thompson…

  6. Ashwin on Wed, 10th Mar 2010 7:44 pm

    7. Can’t wait for “Rastapopoulous” to come out!

  7. roger on Wed, 10th Mar 2010 8:49 pm

    8. “Read any Tintin”?
    I thought is was a cartoon. The main character looks a bit like K. Rudd.

  8. Daniel on Wed, 10th Mar 2010 9:40 pm

    9. Ben, one would be Thomson, the other Thompson! Too confusing though I suspect.

  9. Tim on Wed, 10th Mar 2010 9:48 pm

    10. MSY all the way. I don’t really do much on my computer except for editing photos.

  10. mikeys on Wed, 10th Mar 2010 10:49 pm

    11. LOL @ your computer names… Geek much Daniel :-)

  11. DD on Fri, 12th Mar 2010 9:18 am

    12. FYI just in case you were planning to buy multiple copies of Windows 7, you can buy a 3 licence pack of Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade from Dick Smith or Officeworks. It costs around $237, only a little more than the $200 it costs to buy one licence.