[rescue] Compaq Proliant 8000

[Dave McGuire]

On Apr 29, 2004, at 5:21 PM, Charles Shannon Hendrix wrote:
>>> PCs aren't very good, but they are inexpensive, popular, and hard to
>>> compete
>>> with.
>>
>>   I don't have to compete with them.  I just exercise my own judgment
>> and free will, and I....[wait for it]...
>>
>>   DON'T BUY THEM.
>
> Works great for servers, because you can get decent UNIX servers
> relatively cheaply.
>
> I think it is much harder to get a non-PC desktop though.
>
> Desktop software eats a lot of CPU, video, and sound processing power.
> That's what people want, and even I make use of quite a bit of it these
> days.
>
> I have a shit-box PC: 700MHz AMD K7, 256MB RAM, dual Adaptec 2940 SCSI,
> nVidia graphics, emu10k sound, and misc other pieces.
>
> A "real" workstation with even this much outdated power would cost
> quite a bit.

   *bzzt*

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3094280552
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3093954265
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3094000926
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3093530158
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3093685264
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3094005700

   ...and that's just one model I searched for off the top of my head.  
There's precious little that can touch that level of bang-for-the-buck. 
  The idea that "PCs make cheaper desktop machines" is bullshit.

> You *can* build a PC that won't crash if you chose your parts 
> carefully,

   "You *can* use a Volkswagen Beetle to haul construction materials if 
you choose your parts carefully,"

> and in general it will run circles around any used workstation in its
> price range, and even quite a few that cost a lot more.

   "And I won't come in your mouth, I'll only put the head in, and the 
check is in the mail".

   You're drinkin' the wrong kool-aid, man. ;)

> Desktop power outside of the PC/Apple world is *very* expensive.
>
> One thing that might help introduce people to alternative desktops
> would be for people like this group to maintain a website listing
> good workstation desktop setups.  Rate them in terms of their desktop
> computing power, and try to keep tabs on the prices, what hardware to
> avoid, etc.

   You mean people don't just "know" that stuff?

       -Dave

--
Dave McGuire          "PC users only know two 'solutions'...
Cape Coral, FL          reboot and upgrade."    -Jonathan Patschke