[CIMC-working] hardware wish list for office computers

[Ian Bicking]

On Tue, 2002-11-26 at 16:32, Chris Kaihatsu wrote:
> (Ian-- Yeah, read your mail now.... That blows. Maybe cuz the cards are old?
> (???) They're so cheap anyway.... )

I wouldn't think that's the problem -- I think a new card will work
better than an old one, considering its an old computer.  I think we
should try the OS upgrade, and see where that gets us.

> Oh, let's do a wish list real quick for this Mac:
> 
> [  ]  RAM, ~$200/gig -- pro. it down from that....

We can only add 64Mb RAM to that computer.  Anything else is essentially
all new guts.  I don't see any reason to invest in the computer more
than the RAM and perhaps a USB card.  I'm anti-radical-upgrade.

> [  ]  Ethernet card -- $20, tops
> 
> [  ]  G4 upgrade card? (to do video, etc.) ~$250
> 
> [  ]  PCI ATA card to allow ATA/EIDE devices?  ~$100
> 
> [  ]  60 GB hard drive (ATA) $100
> 
> [  ]  burner (EIDE) $40
> 
> [  ]  blank CDs  $0 (Office Depot) - $20
> 
> [  ]  speakers/headphones $50   (I got a terrific 3-piece system for $50,
> again, Office Depot)
> 
> 
> Most of this stuff translates 100% to the Dell (PC) side of the issue, so
> I'd support these purchases for either computer to get them to full (video)
> functioning ability. Also keep in mind that blank CDs can be burnt with
> video files to play an hour's worth of video/audio in DVD players -- that's
> $0.00 - $0.10 per hour of video distributed (not including labor and
> hardware). DVD writers are down to $300, media is $1 / DVD / 2 hours of
> video, in bulk.

The Dell is in pretty good shape.  Maybe with RAID disks, a firewire
card, some more RAM... it's not unreasonable to upgrade it to be used
for video.  For video of web quality, I'm sure it's fine right now (web
quality being sucky).  Of course with streaming on Stallman down
indefinitely, it doesn't really matter.

To do it for real someone needs to be completely clear on what really is
required, though.  I see no reason to attempt video unless someone with
experience in computer editing can direct the acquisition, preferably
with an expectation of using them.  It would be easy to overbuild one
part while underbuilding another.

  Ian