OT? Is it safe to buy a new puter before the rollover?

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I know there are some smart people who come to this forum so I'll put this question out there... Do you think it would be wise to get a new puter before the rollover?

I think the prices will be up after, no matter how it turns out.

any thoughts?

-- Allene (allene7@yahoo.com), November 14, 1999

Answers

The one argument that I've heard against it, is that computer chips can sit on the shelf for years before finding their way in a new computer....

I would hate to buy a new one and have the chips go bad sometime after rollover...

-- Mabel Dodge (cynical@me.net), November 14, 1999.


I expect that anything new will have no BIOS Y2K problems. Applications are another story of course.

And as for price risk, if things completely fall apart (no electricity, etc.) you'll have no use for a computer.

But for any scenario where the economy even limps along, there is going to be terrific demand for computers next year. Lots of companies still have old 286/386 machines running DOS or windows 3.1 If they want upgrades for their software, they are going to have to switch to Windows 98, and that means faster hardware. Which means the shelves will be stripped of systems in no time. If you can afford it, buy a couple and sell one next year to some desperate business!

-- You Know... (notme@nothere.com), November 14, 1999.


How about a wedgie?

-- A (A@AisA.com), November 14, 1999.

Buy a Macingtosh (Apple). No Y2K date problem!!!

-- buy a mac (Buy@mac.com), November 14, 1999.

Prices are predicted to rise starting in December because the supply-chain effects from the earthquake in Taiwan and other factors. Manufacturers are reeling from the low prices and I expect them to collectively increase prices.

BIOS have been compliant for the past few years, so that is no longer an issue.

The best free advise I can offer is to get a Mac - you won't regret it.

-- PNG (png@gol.com), November 14, 1999.



Well PNG....where ya been? Are you stil in Japan? Have missed your sessions on Japan and its economy/y2k, etc. I am one that needs to buy a new computer as mine is a 1997 compaq. Not compliant and already screwed up. I have thought about an Apple too. I am visually impaired, mentally impaired and certainly computer impaired. Its very threatening to me to have to learn something new. In the first place, I don't WANT to know how the thing works. I just want someone to tell what buttons to push in what sequence. Do you still think I should get a Mac? Will all my scanners, printers, monitor, etc run off the Mac? Thanks for some more education.

Taz

-- Taz (Taz@aol.com), November 14, 1999.


Hi Taz. Yeah, I'm still in Japan. I just got back from a week in Paris - I needed to start bulking up for the winter ;- ) and Paris is the place to do it.

I know how you feel about all the computer-made headaches. The world hasn't had a good war this generation and the normal percent of masochists have turned to writing software to release their frustrations and inflict grievous damage to the population.

Tell me Taz, what do you do with your computer, other than curse at it? If you let me know the kinds of things you do now and what you might want to do in the future, I can give you a decent answer. How much money do you have to throw away and things like that.

Do you have a large (expensive) monitor now?

You can email me direct, if you wan

-- PNG (png@gol.com), November 14, 1999.


---yes, if you buy an apple macintosh, and follow a few simple guidelines. the mac is OS compliant, and it's hardware is compliant, and over 99% of the software available for it is compliant, much better than any clone wintell machine, right out of the box. Very little of checking software, downloading patches, etc, is required which is almost 100% of the case as regards wondows/intel machines. Plus, the wintell platform has some very serious security issues. "Windows" is a very apt term for that platform, it's like having a wide open window into your hardrive. Most people don't want to have to be a security expert to keep a little privacy on their machines, and you almost have to be if you have a windowws machine connected to a phone line. something else to think about. If you do the research you will find all of this true. Plus, the machines(macs) just work better, at least in all the applications that a "normal" user might require. That is my opinion, owning and using both flavors for quite awhile now. Microsoft lied and lied about their products being y2k compliant, then they finally got around to telling the truth, and now it's really a nightmare for a lot of folks. First, go to microsoft site and look at the y2k patches for their operasting system, software, and third party software for those machines. It's HUGE. Now goto apples site and look. It's a no brainer for me, apple wins hands down. Most of the people have gotten sucked in by cheaper is better. If that was true, we'd all be driving yugos now. You get what you pay for has been my experience. save a couple hundred bucks on a machine, and download patches and fixes forever, and even then you can't be sure. Not acceptable for me. for some people, they enjoy that, I don't. the other question you have to ask yourself is WHAT you are going to be using a computer for after rollover? are you SURE you will have the ole plug in the wall working? You gonna be at work? are yoiu SURE? If you DO NOT have all your survival preparations in order, I'd advise against spending the money on a new computer, put it towards the possibility of a major collapse and the need to STAY ALIVE. this is my opinion, your mileage may very, hope you enjoy gambling and fully understand the risks of being complacent about y2k. It's quite a big gamble to be non-chalant, or "polly" about it. zoggus preparedus

-- zog (zzoggy@yahoo.com), November 14, 1999.

Thanks guys for the imput. I use my computer for y2k info/forums, geneology (when I could use the files),greeting cards and email. Thats about it and I don't see me doing much more than that in the future. We have a 40kw generator and 2000 gal of diesel. Even paid the extra $960 for the "thangie" to be able to use the computer. Money for a new computer is not an issue, other than I don't want to pay for a bunch of stuff I neither need or will use. Do I understand right that windows wouldn't be running on the Mac? Or are the patches for the hardware that you are referring to Zog? I have a HP 720 printer and I have a "Photo reader" scanner and then I have a Paperport One Touch 5300 scanner. I have removed all programs other than windows 95 and I gather that I won't be putting them back on due to compliancy??? The only ones I would be interested in putting on are a geneology program but can buy a new one if and when. My monitor is a 14 inch Panasonic. I use the handicapped version of windows with a large font.

I have been into Compaq re their patches and I get to about step 3 and they loose me. Everyone assumes that we old farts know what all the damn initals mean and how they function. Why can't they just tell you what to do, ie., what keys to press and when? I was told when I bought this computer that it was compliant. Per Compaqs web site it is not. It had all kinds of crap programs on it that I didn't want. So I got this guy to come out, at $65/hour, and remove them. Well, in doing so he removed some shared files. Later I read about shared files but he doesn't seem to grasp it. The scarey thing is this is the same guy that is doing the remediation for one of our large hospitals. To make a long story short, I can't open anything that comes through a download. I put the restore disk in, and the guy where I bought the computer says that will restore everything. It doesn't! So there I am...too dumb to do a work around or fix. I want to be able to watch the world go dark via the internet. Thus would like to have my new computer before Dec 31. On the other hand, its a lot of money for something that I can watch on TV. In other words, is there going to be an internet?

Taz

-- Taz (Taz@aol.com), November 14, 1999.


Windows also has much less net security than the Mac's. You might be surprised if you take the shield tests here.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), November 14, 1999.


---Hi Taz1 i can't really tell you if those devices you mentioned will work or not on the mac system, some will some won't probably. Your monitor should work fine with an adapter for ther cable. mac had the original windows type "look" operating system for consumers, xerox GAVE it to them! hahahahaha it's icon based, like windows, etc, but the two operating sysytems are not the same, but they work so similar that it shouldn't take you just an evening or two to get the difference. it's not hard. there are generalogical programs for it you can get, and the webg is the same, i prefer to use the netscape browser, but macs will work with aol browser, internet explorer, etc, whichever you like. Ya, all those patches and downloads are a hassle. folks I know who bought windows ,machines as their first puter(like your compaq) just seem to have never ending problems. I just want to USE the thing, not be some sort of engineer, that's why i switched to macs years ago after fooling around with ibm/dos machines. Not sure what to tell ya, for about a grand you can get a jam up new mac, or you can keep struggling with that "surprise it ain't compliant" compaq until rollover. as to what's going to happen, who knows, but you know I think it's probably going to be bad news, so I'm not worrying about whether the net stays up or not. I'm worried about civilization staying up, we'll see, then back to other things. right now, looks like a social storm coming, think I'll close the windows........

-- zog (zzoggy@yahoo.com), November 14, 1999.

Last month, I bought a Compaq Presario at Costco...Pentium III, etc. for around 1700 including monitor. I love it! I had been suffering with my 1st and only cpu for about 8 years now...This one is the 5700 series, and according to the company web page, it was built y2k compliant. I have no interest in the Compaq, and barely tolerate Costco...except that they have good prices on beans and rice.

-- Mary (CAgdma@home.com), November 14, 1999.

Well Taz, that settles it. It's time for you get a Mac. And no technical talk here!!

Here are only a few reasons why:

With a Mac, you can actually-

1. Tell it to open programs. It will understand your voice. I'm not kidding, Taz.

2. A Mac can read documents to you. It will talk to you. Again, I'm not kidding, Taz.

3. You can magnify the screen up to 16 times the original size.

4. The Mac Operating System is much easier to use than Windows. It's much more logical to use and when you think: "If I do THIS, maybe THAT will happen." It usually does.

For example: To turn off your Mac, you simply push the ON/OFF button on the keyboard. You don't have to CLOSE any programs first. A Mac will close them all for you and shut down. If you forgot to save a greeting card you were working on, don't worry. It will ask you if you want to save it before the program is closed. Doesn't that just make sense?

5. Macs are easier to get up and running on the internet. Most people are online within minutes of plugging in their new Macs. Without calling anyone!

There are dozens of other ways a Mac is more friendly and logical.

I'll check on your scanners and printer and give you a few suggestions in a day or so. I'm sure others here will be very helpful. (hint hint)

Oh, and about the internet... I think it will be up. After all, it's original purpose was to provide a flexible and self- healing way to maintain communications in the event of a nuclear attack.

The 3-day storm scenario being advised is a planned strategy. Most people simply won't prepare for more than that. They can't even prepare dinner anymore, how can they prepare for more than a 3-day disruption?

The small bump-in-the-road the world will feel at the rollover will end quickly. The real effects will begin to unravel about February or March as disruptions in manufacturing and delivery of goods and raw materials are felt throughout the economy. That's when your investment in preparation will pay a dividend.

It's going to be like a rollercoaster. The shallow thinkers will be crowing "I told you so" after the first week in January. Then they'll be eating crow (if they can catch them) a month later...---------

-- PNG (png@gol.com), November 14, 1999.


I purchased an iMac last spring. I needed to upgrade and didn't expect to see an abundance of computers ahead or any at a reasonable cost. If you upgrade though, at this time, you will be dealing with USB ports and that in many cases means all your peripherals will also have to be replaced. Only SOME peripherals can be salvaged with converters. I was able to "save" my printer but my scanner, ZIP, and QuickCam all had to be replaced. I lost some software and now OS 9 exists and so rumor goes one loses a great deal of software.

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), November 14, 1999.

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