|
I sit near her computer and lately it started to emit a gawdawful hum that slowly gets worse with each passing week. The machine is getting old - 7 years. So I checked and a new Dell for her is within reach financially. So I offered to get her a new desktop for Christmas.
"Why?" She asked.
"That hum is getting worse and it's making me nervous!" I replied.
"But the computer is not smoking yet - is it?" Was her reply.
So there is no need to replace the machine till it catches on fire?!
Her being very frugal is fantastic, but I wonder if I shouldn't just surprise her for Xmas? 
|
|
|
|
|
Cp-Coder wrote: So there is no need to replace the machine till it catches on fire?!
Some people do not replace stuff until it breaks completely. I have socks that are over 25 years in age; they still do what they're supposed to do, and they perform as well as one can expect from socks.
My previous desktop lasted 6 years; I hardly call that old, there's older machines for "sale" in the mall.
She would still like you if you buy her a new one though. Surprise her for New Year, when she doesn't expect it. And prepare for a lecture on how the old machine was fine and still perfect 
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
"If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.
|
|
|
|
|
I wonder what the average age is for computers that belong to Code Project members? Maybe this is a good question for a future survey?
|
|
|
|
|
..and origin; my bet is people from the Netherlands or the former DDR will be more likely to keep using their machines (and pants) until they break.
Bastard Programmer from Hell
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
"If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.
|
|
|
|
|
I am not from any of those places and I use most things until they break (or shortly before they break)
M.D.V. 
If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about?
Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you
Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
|
|
|
|
|
You're Spanish. In Spain and Italy that's quite usual 
GCS d--(d+) s-/++ a C++++ U+++ P- L+@ E-- W++ N+ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t+ 5? X R+++ tv-- b+(+++) DI+++ D++ G e++ h--- r+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
|
|
|
|
|
I still have my first computer, which is almost 42 years old now. Does that count?
I have lived with several Zen masters - all of them were cats.
His last invention was an evil Lasagna. It didn't kill anyone, and it actually tasted pretty good.
|
|
|
|
|
Still running DOS? Wow? I am impressed!
|
|
|
|
|
DOS was not invented yet when I built it. Nor was the PC.
I have lived with several Zen masters - all of them were cats.
His last invention was an evil Lasagna. It didn't kill anyone, and it actually tasted pretty good.
|
|
|
|
|
Cp-Coder wrote: I wonder what the average age is for computers that belong to Code Project members?
Since I've started dabbling with Linux, I've been known to collect laptops from anyone who wants to get rid of them. Reasons generally range from "it's getting old and slow, I want something new" and "it's infected with viruses and not worth anyone's time to try to rebuild". Of course if your goal is to blow away the OS and don't care about the data, the presence of a virus isn't much of a problem. So I collect old laptops (and 2.5" SATA drives if the bay is easy enough to reach, just to swap the OS).
I like to try out various Linux distributions, and some of them simply don't like virtualization environments, so I use physical laptops for those. Since a lot of Linux distributions are much less demanding than Windows, most of them perform just fine.
I think the oldest laptop I have right now that still sees frequent use is about 15 years old (it's still got a "designed for XP" sticker). It's the first laptop I was handed when I started my current job; it was already a few years old when I got it, and I've been there for 12 years now (it's long been returned as it was no longer suitable as my daily driver, and the boss was going to put it at the curb during the last purge). It spent the summer in the gazebo in the backyard, and I've spent a number of weekend afternoons using it for general browsing and the like. Except maybe for bootup time, I had very little reason to complain about performance.
In terms of towers, I still have a Pentium III, but that hasn't been powered on in years (though as I last left it, it was functional). I have another Core 2 Duo-based tower hosting a bunch of RAIDed drives that I only power on once a year or so to update an additional backup set. No need for speed to do that.
|
|
|
|
|
I hear there has been great advances in sock technology in the last 25 years :P
On a more serious note, I was driving an old car and last year upgraded to a more modern one. It's definitely much nicer to drive, especially with things like aircon and other small luxuries. Both cars got me from a to b, but it's more comfy in the newer car.
|
|
|
|
|
It's a fan. Cpu, case or power supply.
As long as it's making noise, you're ok.
If it ever goes quiet, whatever fan was making noise has stopped and what it was to cool is going to overheat unmercifully. Then you must shut it off and have it serviced or replace it.
|
|
|
|
|
Computers are powered by smoke. If the smoke escapes, they quit.
My main machine is 5 years old, I recently purchased a 6 year old workstation to control the surveillance cameras (BlueIris software). We have a Dell server in the office that is about 10 years old, runs 2 VM's 24/7 (ESXi).
I agree with the thought of fan noise. Peel the labels back on the fans and give them a drop of oil.
Lou
If you can keep your head while those about you are losing theirs, perhaps you don't understand the situation.
|
|
|
|
|
It will be ok if the new computer has the right color 
|
|
|
|
|
Do computers smoke electronic cigarettes?
Apart from my bad jokes, my wife is like that too. I'm thinking on buying a new "shared" laptop (hers is decrepit, mine is too but I have a recent performant desktop PC) to replace both for the same reasons.
GCS d--(d+) s-/++ a C++++ U+++ P- L+@ E-- W++ N+ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t+ 5? X R+++ tv-- b+(+++) DI+++ D++ G e++ h--- r+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
|
|
|
|
|
Cp-Coder wrote: So there is no need to replace the machine till it catches on fire?!
Her being very frugal is fantastic, but I wonder if I shouldn't just surprise her for Xmas?
As long as she's not frugal to the point where she doesn't see the need for you to replace the smoke alarm batteries (which you will probably want functional when the computer does catch on fire)...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
... than to speak and remove all doubt.
|
|
|
|
|
PIEBALDconsult wrote: ... than to speak and remove all doubt.
She always reminds me to answer brief, and to only answer, not to speak.
Still I always manage to remove that doubt, even without speaking much 
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
"If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.
|
|
|
|
|
Yes || No || Maybe - I like to cover all bases 
modified 8-Dec-19 15:17pm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
you are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
|
|
|
|
|
Contrariwise, I'm in the Ice cream aisle.
|
|
|
|
|
Keyboard not found?! 
|
|
|
|
General 
News 
Suggestion 
Question 
Bug 
Answer 
Joke 
Praise 
Rant 
Admin 
Submit an article or tip
