Originally Posted by AMF in NJ (Post 13992425)

Never did a total build of a new PC. Whenever I priced out parts the stuff I got in pieces was always more expensive than a Dell. :o

I've done major surgery on them though, going as far on one to replace the mobo/cpu, which is essentially the same a building it.

Bought my last PC back in 2005 and it's still going strong. It's on it's third video card, though (just got one last month), to keep up with the games. :-:

Originally Posted by mwg25 (Post 13992420)

If you purchase an itin for two people, but the same PNR, do you get $5 or $10 in TravelBank credits?

Originally Posted by Mackieman (Post 13992451)

Sure, it's cheaper to buy a dell (which is why I bought a crappy HP last night as a stop gap) but you get VASTLY inferior parts and a lot less bang for your buck. My issue is that I only have so many bucks, so I had to do what I could with what I had.

Originally Posted by AMF in NJ (Post 13992425)

Never did a total build of a new PC. Whenever I priced out parts the stuff I got in pieces was always more expensive than a Dell. :o

I've done major surgery on them though, going as far on one to replace the mobo/cpu, which is essentially the same a building it.

Bought my last PC back in 2005 and it's still going strong. It's on it's third video card, though (just got one last month), to keep up with the games. :-:

Originally Posted by Mackieman (Post 13992381)

The great thing about the Internet these days is that there are so many tutorials available that explain in excruciating detail each step involved with a custom build. There are also parts picking guides and performance comparisons for just about every product under the sun. Back when I started doing it, there was not much of that sort of thing around so it was very much a trial and error exercise. But today, all you need is the time, the parts (or money for the parts), and the willingness to give it a shot.

Originally Posted by bdjohns1 (Post 13992554)

It's always good to have the skills to go in and play with the guts of your own machine. Being able to change/upgrade your hard drive is the IN-TER-NET! version of being able to change your own tires.

Originally Posted by fozz (Post 13992445)

$10. The $5 is per ticket number.

Originally Posted by mwg25 (Post 13992347)

+1. So much fun!! And thank you to the Manhattanites for throwing us NJers a bone and heading south for once! :)



HAHAHAHA. Amazing. Yes, I've seen those at the counter of my local emporium and found them hilarious. The 311 bag is definitely a good place for them - as long as said bag doesn't get scrutinized too thoroughly. Watch out for DEN; I've had 3.xx oz containers removed and tossed there (that have easily made it through every other airport). :mad:



Karen Carpenter = one of the 5 best female voices of the 20th century. In any genre. Unreal.



I'm 1K in about 1.25 years. Just a little behind the pace, but working on it. :)



This is one of the things I would very much like to learn, particularly because it'll force me to actually master the nuts-and-bolts concepts of how the machine works. I am very, very ashamed of my lack of competence in that area and don't really know who to blame besides myself...why was I not thinking about these things in HS when everyone else, apparently, was figuring it out? :o

tjtenor4 is a proud computer-builder as well, so hopefully when we have a little extra cash (and more importantly, more than a couple hours in the same place that's NOT on a plane/in an airport...because that doesn't really happen :p), I can get some lessons. I'd like to build a desktop for media streaming, so that I can watch Netflix Direct/ESPN3/etc and still be able to work on other stuff on my laptop.



Major ^^ to you for coming over for the occasion! :)



I really want to try one of these legendary things sometime. Anyone going to be around IAH tomorrow (Friday) evening between 6 and 7? I can't remember what was just discussed...

Originally Posted by mwg25 (Post 13992627)

This sums up my approach to creating stuff in a nutshell - particularly, I was always a "figure out how most quickly to find the instructions and get the task done efficiently". Very boring. My dad and sister (both engineers) as well as tjtenor4 (scientist) are definitely "tinkerers". I guess I was always too scared to mess up/break stuff, plus I've never really been in a place in my life that involved much "free time". :o

The girls' school that my sisters and I all attended PK-12 is undertaking a major initiative at the elementary level to get more kids into tinkering. ^ Wish someone had beaten me over the head with it a little more 20 years ago!

I agree. I DO know how to change my own tires, obviously, and have done so twice (not counting a rotation, for which I had help). Hence the shame.

Originally Posted by belynch (Post 13992717)

PenaltyBox.ca :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by Mackieman (Post 13991762)

The Box Notification System is back online at the new host. Details are in 2.0. :-:

Originally Posted by Mackieman (Post 13992153)

Yeah, and when I stand up, I can see over the tree and down onto the pool of the apartment complex next door. :-:

Originally Posted by colpuck (Post 13992397)

I remember doing my first computer build with my dad in 1994/1995. 3 hours after we started we did the power-on and all we got was a blinking cursor in the upper left hand corner.

Originally Posted by fozz (Post 13992414)

Novell? Who's that? ;)That does sound pretty nifty.

Originally Posted by bdjohns1 (Post 13992554)

...It's kind of ridiculous how many computers we have at home for 2 adults.

2 work laptops (wife's and mine)
3 personal laptops (Dell laptop for the wife, MacBook for me, plus a little netbook for when I travel)
1 desktop (home theater PC)

Originally Posted by bdjohns1 (Post 13992703)

Yeah, I grew up around computers and tinkering - one of the side benefits of having a software engineer who's also an avid DIY-er as my dad. I still remember playing one of the early monochrome versions of Flight Simulator (either 1.0 or 2.0) on an 8088. You took off from Meigs Field, and the only two buildings you had as landmarks in Chicago were the Sears Tower and the Hancock Tower. I used to fly back and forth CGX-ORD for fun. I think I was 6-7 at the time.

Originally Posted by COFlyerCLE (Post 13992762)

...And on leaving the PC and walking down the concourse, I passed Colt McCoy - our newest Browns QB. He's not as tall as I would have guess, but was very cordial to the fans who recognized him...

Originally Posted by COFlyerCLE (Post 13992762)

As an added bonus this morning - I got to meet Phudnik in the CLE PC upon my return to the North Coast. This has been quite a week for the Box!

And on leaving the PC and walking down the concourse, I passed Colt McCoy - our newest Browns QB. He's not as tall as I would have guess, but was very cordial to the fans who recognized him.

(Another sports aside - the crew seated around me on CO525 this morning was heading to CLE to work the charter for the KC Royals once they finish the game in CLE today.)