So I thought that it might be smart to ask some of the engineers I have lunch with if getting a Thinkpad T42 for $1675 was a good deal (this is the system I can get through school, at what appears to be a good price). Ask any group of engineers for computer recommendations, and strangely, the number of system recommended will be an order of magnitude larger than the number of engineers asked. Several of the recommendations even involved the additional purchase of a desktop machine/server farm.
Sigh.
So, my requirements are these:
1 - The system must not cost more than $1675
2 - If it does cost more, I must get a better deal that what the college has negotiated on the T42
3 - System must be capable of running Linux
4 - System must not require the purchase of other systems or data centers
5 - System must not be totally obsolete by the time I get it home
6 - System must be extensible to at least some degree
8 - Must be able to carry this to class (duh)
4-6 are mistakes I made with my sad iBook. I hugely underestimated my future computing needs, and ended up with a system that is now semi-functional, won't do half of what I want, and can no longer be upgraded since Apple doesn't bother to support older hardware and new peripherals and upgrades are almost never backwards compatible.
Anyway, I'm open to advice and suggestions, and also offers to purchase the recommended system. Strong opinions backed up with actual cash, those are the best kind!
I'm having a similar problem with the whole car-purchasing project. 5 people, n(5) different recommendations, none of which are really feasible as far as my bank account goes. I mean, if you really feel that strongly about my need to drive a Aston Martin or 5-series BMW, I'm more than happy to do so if you provide the vehicle.
1 comment:
Hilarious but true about the engineers' recommendations. I say you should get a data center, helpdesk, and a troop of secretaries with the bargain. ;)
!!
()~
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