Posted 11/02/2009 at 01:38:29pm

The assumption is that XP users are dropping everything to upgrade to Win 7. They aren't probably because they are waiting for the bugs to get ironed out for Win 7 upgraders or waiting for Black Friday to get a new system altogether. People switching to Mac keeps trickling in since they just released some hardware. The real statistic they ignore is the conversion of Vista to Win7. How's that going along??

Posted 11/02/2009 at 08:35:38am

Don't upgrade because we aren't ready to handle the support calls! That's the message he's sending.

Screw him, I'm ramrodding my in-laws into the world of 7 from XP, and they are fighting. I built them a SFF Athlon 64 X2 based system 2 years ago and all it needs is a new VidCard to be fully compatable. I am going to go ahead and change out the 8 yr old 40GB HDD for a 2.5in HDD, SATA, and a SATA DVD drive to rid them of the IDE cable and improve air flow in that case. Can't happen too soon!

Posted 10/07/2009 at 02:49:43pm

My friend had a similar problem, we diagnosed it finally when the video card caught fire. Bad capacitor. Look for bad caps on the MoBo since everything else was checked. Also, if it is a bad HDD then using a live disc of Ubunto or Knoppix will let you boot. Usually a bad HDD will leave you with a blinking cursor but it boots. Something with the video circuit shuts it down early.

Posted 09/21/2009 at 11:15:24am

So Voodoo's contributions will be less visible now? What a mess. What ever happened to that gaming PC with the aluminum case and the layout turned 90 deg? Will there ever be a flat out, balls to the wall Voodoo PC ever again? Is the Blackbird and Firebird as good as it will ever get?

Posted 09/17/2009 at 01:59:04pm

Seems that this is the new frontier for LAN machines. When is Alienware or Voodoo going to hop on this form factor and give us an all in one that can run Crysis? When is Gordon going to hack one of these things to do the same thing? That would be a fun article.

Posted 09/09/2009 at 02:29:37pm

Linux is incompatible with the software Best Buy wants to SELL you. Which is better for Best Buy, selling a PC with windows and then a copy of Office, or a PC with Linux that comes with Open Office. Hmmmm....

Posted 09/04/2009 at 09:03:07am

I thought this was ironed out and they announced the infringed designs, called the unseen, were coming back. I want to pummel guys in a Maruader, damn it!!

Posted 08/19/2009 at 09:16:10am

WHo is rescue.com? Do they handle all the calls for these OEMs? If so then there numbers are meaningful. Otherwise we can't say how relaible a measure they are. And they are only using the number of calls they receive, which is confusing because a call for help setting up a PC carries the same weight as a call about a dead vid card, right? I have too many questions about the methods and metrics to trust these numbers.

Posted 08/17/2009 at 11:32:29am

Be real, the article isn't talking about the MaxPC gamer, they are talking about OEMs and how laptops are outselling desktops. Gamers are such a small niche. Regardless, it is time for the Manf to step up and adopt a new standard, ATX is way old. Something in the size of a Micro ITX  is a start, build in micro GPUs and slimline stuff. Then we can dispense with the case and simply bolt the chassis to the VESA mounts on back of a display. All we need is a concerted effort to get there. Reduced size means reduced heat which means less energy needed and adds up to savings.

Posted 08/06/2009 at 08:32:45am

The zero point rig is about $1100, but if you added another $150 4870 Video card in crossfire to the budget special, would it beat the ZP and still be over $200 less?